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HERO HONORED
Karl Gorman Taylor Jr. was only a lad of five years old when his father U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Karl Gorman Taylor Sr. died a hero saving fellow marines on a battlefield in a Vietnam rice paddy.
Taylor's mother, Shirley Ann Piatt Taylor, never let him or his older sister, Sheryl A. Taylor Rodwick, or younger brother, Kevin Taylor, forget their father or his gallantry as she raised them at their home in Avella. His sister was six years old and brother was two years old when their dad was killed on Dec. 8, 1968, during Operation Meade River.
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Their mother died last month at the age 69, four days after the Secretary of the Navy approved the presentation of the flag to the family. The Medal of Honor Flag was established by U.S. Congress in 2002 and the design approved two years later.
Taylor, a 29-year-old staff sergeant, was on his second tour of duty in Vietnam with the 3rd Marine Division as platoon sergeant of Company G, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment.
During Operation Meade River, Taylor was informed that the lead platoon was pinned down by heavy fire and the commander was mortally wounded. Taylor and another Marine crawled forward through an open area under hostile fire to rescue the Marines who were too seriously wounded to move. Learning there were more wounded men in another open area, Taylor along with four others led his men in an attempt to rescue the Marines.
After they were stopped by enemy fire, Taylor ordered his men to return to the command post. He took his grenade launcher in full view of the enemy and charged across the open rice paddy toward the machine gun position, firing his weapon. Although wounded several times, he was able to reach the machine gun bunker and silence the fire moments before he was killed.
His actions earned him the Congressional Medal of Honor which was presented to the family during a White House ceremony by President Richard M. Nixon on Feb. 16, 1971. Taylor also earned the Purple Heart, the Presidential Unit Citation with one bronze star, Good Conduct Medal with two bronze stars, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnamese Service Medal with three bronze stars, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm, the Military Merit Medal, Gallantry Cross with Palm and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. Taylor was selected for promotion to gunnery sergeant but died before the promotion.
Retired Marine Capt. Ron Hoover was one of those saved by Taylor.
"He had the courage of his convictions," said Hoover, who broke down in tears as he remembered the man who like him was a drill instructor. "Karl knew what to do that night. He didn't stop; he just reacted. Most stop to look fear in the face, but Karl didn't even think about fear."
Taylor said his wife, Diane, had been trying to get the flag after learning of its existence. After trying to no avail with various representatives to get a flag, Washington County Commissioner Larry Maggi stepped in to help. He talked with Shirley Taylor about it during Memorial Day services.
"I made some calls and eventually was put in touch with the medals branch of the Marine Corps," Maggi said. "We tried to get the flag before Shirley died."
David Papak, retired brigadier general with the Marine Corps, said that the flag is yet another symbol to honor a fellow Marine who made the ultimate sacrifice.
"His personal bravery was second to none, and his gallantry went above and beyond the call of duty," Papak said before presenting the flag to Taylor's family. "He made the ultimate sacrifice of giving his life. It serves as a reminder that freedom isn't free."
"Your mother's passion and determination to have this day and ceremony come to fruition ...," he added. "I know the flag will join the medal in a special place. It is the legacy of your dad's bravery and the determination of your mom that will never be lost."
Taylor said the flag meant a lot to him and his family. It will be displayed with his father's Medal of Honor.
"But what really pleases me is the number of people who thought enough of my father to show up for the ceremony," Taylor said.
