| Larry L. Taylor | |
| Nickname: | Darkhorse 32 |
| Birth Date: | 12 February 1942 |
| Birth Place: | Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Signal Mountain, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Branch: | United States Army |
| Serviceyears: | 1966–1971 |
| Rank: | Captain |
| Unit: | 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment |
| Battles: | Vietnam War |
| Awards: | Medal of Honor Distinguished Flying Cross (4) Bronze Star Medal Air Medal (43) Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross |
Larry L. Taylor (12 February 1942 – 28 January 2024) was a United States Army officer and helicopter pilot who was awarded the Medal of Honor on 5 September 2023 for his actions on 18 June 1968 during the Vietnam War.
Taylor was born on 12 February 1942 and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee,[1] and attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, where he served in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps.[2]
Following his graduation in June 1966, Taylor attended the United States Army Armor School at Fort Knox, then trained on helicopters at Fort Wolters and then Fort Rucker, graduating as an army aviator on 30 June 1967.[3]
Taylor was sent to South Vietnam in August 1967 joining D Troop, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, part of the 1st Infantry Division, at Bien Hoa Air Base.[2]
On the night of 18 June 1968, Taylor, together with his gunner CWO2 J. O. Ratliff, rescued a four-man long-range reconnaissance patrol (LRRP) that had been surrounded by Vietcong forces near the village of Ap Go Cong, Bình Dương province.[2] After exhausting his munitions, Taylor (callsign Darkhorse 32) landed his AH-1G Cobra and the four LRRP soldiers clung to the skids and rocket pods of the helicopter as Taylor flew them to safety. For his actions, Taylor was originally awarded the Silver Star. His Silver Star was upgraded to the Medal of Honor in 2023.[3] [4] [5]
Taylor flew over 2,000 combat missions during the Vietnam War in the Cobra and the UH-1, was engaged by enemy fire 340 times and was shot down five times.[6]
Following his Vietnam service, he served in the 2nd Cavalry Regiment in West Germany.[2]
Taylor left active duty in 1971 with the rank of Captain.[2]
Taylor died at his home in Signal Mountain, Tennessee, on 28 January 2024, at the age of 81,[7] [8] after "a long struggle with cancer".[9]
Taylor's personal decorations include: the Medal of Honor (upgraded in 2023 from a Silver Star awarded 1968), Distinguished Flying Cross (4), Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal (43), and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross, with 2 bronze stars.[10]
| Army Aviator Badge | ||
| Medal of Honor (Upgraded from Silver Star) | Distinguished Flying Cross with three bronze oak leaf clusters | Bronze Star Medal |
| Air Medal with Award numeral 43 | Army Commendation Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster | National Defense Service Medal |
| Vietnam Service Medal with four bronze campaign stars | Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with two bronze stars | Vietnam Campaign Medal |
| Army Presidential Unit Citation | Valorous Unit Award | ||||||||||
| Meritorious Unit Commendation | Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation | Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation | |||||||||