[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 50 (Thursday, March 21, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E272]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





        RECOGNIZING THE VALIANT SERVICE OF CAPTAIN LARRY TAYLOR

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARK E. GREEN

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 21, 2024

  Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of 
the valiant service of Captain Larry Taylor and his induction into the 
Army Aviation Hall of Fame. Although no longer with us, having sadly 
passed away on Monday, January 29, 2024, Captain Taylor's legacy lives 
on through the lives he touched.
  Captain Taylor faithfully followed the family tradition of military 
service. His family's service in both World War I and World War II 
exposed Captain Taylor to the sacrifices our brave service men and 
women must endure to protect the homeland. While attending the 
University of Tennessee, he joined the U.S. Army Reserve Officer 
Training Program and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant upon his 
graduation in 1966. He qualified as an Army Aviator assigned to the 1st 
Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 1st Infantry Division, where he completed over 
2000 combat missions as a helicopter pilot.
  One particularly dangerous mission illustrated the deep reservoir of 
bravery that was a hallmark of Captain Taylor's career. In 1968, while 
deployed in Vietnam, Captain Taylor came to the aid of a Long Range 
Reconnaissance Patrol under immense enemy fire, evacuating them from 
far behind enemy lines in the dead of night. Captain Taylor was only 
ordered to lend fire support to the patrol; however, after expending 
his entire stock of 152 rockets and 16,000 minigun rounds, it was clear 
the patrol had no hope of escape. Captain Taylor, realizing immediate 
air evacuation was the patrol's only hope, disobeyed direct orders to 
fall back and instead landed in the dark jungle to extract the patrol 
himself. His Cobra attack helicopter flew the entire patrol--clinging 
to the rocket pods and helicopter skids--to safety.
  From my own time as a flight surgeon supporting U.S. Army Rangers, I 
am intimately aware of the pressures placed upon helicopter support 
squadrons. However, Captain Taylor's act of bravery over 50 years ago 
remains a valiant icon to Army aviators. In September of 2023, Captain 
Taylor was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his act of 
heroism. Yet, when Captain Taylor was informed by the President of the 
United States that he was to receive the Medal of Honor, the Captain 
humbly replied, ``I thought you had to do something to receive a Medal 
of Honor.''
  After completing his service, Captain Taylor returned to his home 
state of Tennessee where he ran a sheet metal company in Chattanooga. 
He was deeply involved as a veteran in his community and generously 
donated to organizations such as the Boy Scouts of America, Habitat for 
Humanity, and the Railroad Museum. He is survived by his wife of over 
50 years, Toni, their two sons, Larry and Grady, and five 
grandchildren.
  Captain Taylor's life is a testament to duty and excellence in 
action, and it is with the greatest honor and respect that I commend 
his induction as part of the newest class of the Army Aviation Hall of 
Fame and humbly remember his bravery.

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