[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Pages 17033-17034]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO SERGEANT MAJOR BEN TAYLOR

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to an 
outstanding Kentuckian, Ben ``Buster'' Taylor, a retired Special Forces 
sergeant major and former Letcher County Sheriff. Sergeant Major Taylor 
is not one to brag about his accomplishments, but he should be honored 
for his courageous and selfless acts during the two decades he spent 
serving this Nation in the U.S. military.
  In 1950, inspired by the heroism of World War II veterans, Taylor 
joined the United States Army's 11th Airborne Division at Camp 
Campbell, KY, which is now known as Fort Campbell. As he worked his way 
through various

[[Page 17034]]

divisions, the Army began organizing its Special Forces Branch, the 
Green Berets. Taylor enthusiastically joined the Green Berets and spent 
the better part of two decades serving with his comrades in Japan, 
Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, the Philippines, Burma, China, Laos, and 
Vietnam.
  Taylor's missions exemplified his bravery and altruism. During his 
tours of duty, he was awarded 24 medals and 18 ribbons, among these 
four bronze stars. With each honor, a story revealing his heroism is 
told. He has notebooks full of citations and commendations that tell of 
the many times he risked his own life to save others. But of all these 
honors, the one most memorable to Taylor is the role he played in the 
funeral of President John F. Kennedy. Taylor was selected to represent 
the Green Berets at President Kennedy's funeral. He walked alongside 
the casket of the fallen Commander in Chief.
  Today I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring and recognizing a 
true American hero, Sergeant Major Ben Taylor.

                          ____________________