Larry Taylor: Medal of Honor Award, Pending...

From the article: A pending Medal of Honor petition for consideration is that of Vietnam Veteran Capt. Larry Taylor, who I first met two decades ago. The account of his actions follows.

For context, over the course of his multiple tours in Vietnam beginning with the 1st Squadron/4th U.S. Cavalry, 1st Infantry Division, Larry flew over 2,700 missions, including 1,200 combat missions, in the UH-1 and Cobra, was engaged by enemy fire 340 times, and was forced down five times. He was awarded 61 combat decorations, including 44 Air Medals, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, two Bronze Stars, four Distinguished Flying Crosses and a Silver Star. There were many harrowing operations, and of course a few humorous tales associated with those awards, but one award for a death-defying action rises above the others.

Taylor received the Silver Star for his heroic role in a rescue operation on the night of 18 June 1968, while piloting his AH-1G “Cobra” helicopter gunship as the flight leader of his two-gunship fire team. As our military readers know, the Silver Star is the third-highest military award for valor, behind the Medal of Honor and the service branch crosses.