I met this gentleman, James 'Blinky' Taylor at the Jacksonville, Florida Memorial Day Rod Run car show this past Saturday.
While I was walking around looking at all the really neat old cars and hot rods, I saw this gent sitting in the trunk of his 1941 Cadillac Fleetwood, under the shade of the trunk lid. Yesterday was bright and sunny and very HOT, (about 98 degrees), so I was concerned about him overheating. I stopped and asked if he was OK, and he said he was 'just gettin' some shade'. The front wheel of his motorized wheel chair had gone flat and a couple of the host car club members had gone to find him another inner tube.
Being a retired Marine, I was immediately drawn to his ball cap, which said Marine Corps Veteran, and had a small pin on it that said Korea. I talked with him for awhile about the Corps and what he did during his time. He told me that he served in the Marine Corps from 1950 - 1954. I asked about Korea, and he shared his story with me. He was initially assigned an MOS of 3500 Motor Transportation, but was sent to be a drill instructor at Parris Island once the war broke out. He was one of the first DI's to be courtmartialed for maltreatment of recruits. He said that what had happened is that he had a new group pf recruits all in their teens, and one Army re-tread. The Army re-tread was older and more experienced in the ways of the military, and was ruining the atmosphere of teamwork in the platoon. He said the re-tread was generally being a pain in the ass. Finally after disobeying an order, Cpl Taylor ordered him to lay on the deck and the other recruits to march over him. Blinky didn't think it caused him any serious harm, but it should have been enough to teach him lesson in teamwork.
Well, that night, the re-tread snuck out of the barracks and found the company commander and complained about what happened. The company commander reported the incident and Blinky was court martialed. At his court martial he was found guilty and the judge, a Colonel told him, "Son you're either going to the brig for 6 months or you're going to Korea!". Blinky didn't hesitate, and said "I ain't ever been locked up and I don't plan on starting now!"
He soon shipped out to Korea. He was still there near Panmunjon, at the signing of the cease fire. He said he was still digging trenches weeks after the POWs were repatriated, when a Captain came to the group of them and asked if there were any 3500 MOS Marines in the group. Blinky said "I am", and he turned his shovel and B.A.R. (Browning Automatic Rifle) over to another Marine and went on to become the battalion CO's driver. That assignment ended up bringing him home on time, when he finished his contract. The CO landed a job in Washington and called Blinky to be his driver, but he turned it down to stay in sunny Florida.
Blinky is PROUD of his service as a Marine as evidenced by the fact he wears his Marine Corps Veteran ball cap 50 years later! He has a collection of old cars that he has 'street rodded' and enjoys going to car shows.
He started a roofing business some 35 years ago and still works there, though the management of it has been turned over to his son. He now lives in Ft Pierce, FL, about 4 and half hours south of here.
I was honored to meet him and thank him for his service to our country and Corps!
Semper Fidelis, Blinky!
