The President of the
United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3, 1863,
has awarded in the name of The Congress the Medal of Honor to
Captain James A.
Taylor
United States Army
Captain James A. Taylor,
05329439 (then First Lieutenant) Armor, United States Army, who was serving
as Executive Officer of Troop B, 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry, on 9 November,
1967, in the Republic of Vietnam. His troop was engaged in an attack on
a fortified position west of Que Son when it came under intense enemy recoilless
rifle, mortar, and automatic weapons fire from an enemy strongpoint located
immediately to its front.  One
armored cavalry assault vehicle was hit immediately by recoilless rifle
fire and all five crewmembers were wounded. Aware that the stricken vehicle
was in grave danger of exploding, Captain Taylor rushed forward and personally
extracted the wounded to safety despite the hail of enemy fire and exploding
ammunition. Within minutes, multiple recoilless rifle rounds hit a second
armored cavalry assault. Despite the continuing intense enemy fire, Captain
Taylor moved forward on foot to rescue the wounded men from the burning
vehicle and personally removed all the crewmen to the safety of a nearby
dike. Moments later, the vehicle exploded. As he was returning to his vehicle,
a bursting motor round painfully wounded Captain Taylor, yet he valiantly
returned to his vehicle to relocate the medical evacuation landing zone
to an area closer to the front lines. As he was moving his vehicle, it
came under machine-gun fire from an enemy position not fifty yards away.
Captain Taylor engaged the position with his own machine-gun, killing the
three-man crew. Upon arrival at the new evacuation site, still another
vehicle was struck. Once again, Captain Taylor rushed forward and pulled
the wounded from the vehicle, loaded them aboard his vehicle, and returned
them safely to the evacuation site. His actions of unsurpassed valor were
a source of inspiration to his entire troop, contributed significantly
to the success of the overall assault on the enemy position, and were directly
responsible for saving the lives of a number of his fellow soldiers. His
actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military profession
and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States
Army.
The President of
the United States, Lyndon Baines Johnson, signed this citation
Born in Arcata, California,
Captain Taylor went on to graduate from the University of Tampa, majoring
in Criminology with a minor in Business. He also achieved a Master of Arts
from Pepperdine University with a major in Education. He also attended
Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
His awards include the Congressional
Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Bronze Star, Air Medal, Army
Commendation, (10LC), Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, (3rd Award), National
Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, (4 Campaigns), Republic of
Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry w/Palm. Major
Taylor served in the Army for 24 years and retired at the rank of RA Major.
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