FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Karl G Taylor Sr ~ 03 March 2025

Serving the Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | The Canteen Crew

[Kathy in Alaska]

Our Troops Rock!  Thank you for all you do!

For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces.

Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today!

~ Hall of Heroes ~

Karl G. Taylor, Sr.
Information from here.

           

Karl Gorman Taylor, Sr. (July 14, 1939 - December 8, 1968) was a United States Marine who posthumously received the United States' highest military decoration the Medal of Honor for his actions in Vietnam in December 1968.

Karl Taylor was born on July 14, 1939 in Laurel, Maryland. He graduated from Arundel Junior High School in 1953, then attended Arundel Senior High School for three years until 1956. After leaving high school, he was employed by a construction company as a Tournapull-Scraper Operator. In 1961, he received a high school equivalency diploma from the Armed Forces Institute in Madison, Wisconsin.

He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps along with his brother, Walter William Taylor, at Recruiting Station Baltimore on January 15, 1959. Upon completion of recruit training with the 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, he went on to infantry combat training with the 1st Infantry Training Regiment, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. After completing infantry training in July 1959, he was assigned duty as a rifleman, section leader, and a platoon guide, successively, with Company A, 1st Battalion 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Division. He was promoted to private first class on July 1, 1959; to Lance Corporal on March 1, 1960; and to Corporal on October 24, 1960. From January until February 1962, he attended the Drill Instructor School at Parris Island, then served as a Drill Instructor at 2nd Recruit Training Battalion until January 1963.

After this enlistment tour was over, Cpl Taylor returned to inactive duty for three months and was with the 4th Marine Corps Reserve and Recruitment District at Philadelphia. On March 26, 1963, he returned to active duty at Marine Corps Base Quantico, and served as Assistant Police Sergeant and, later, Police Sergeant, Guard Company, Service Battalion, Marine Corps Schools. He was promoted to sergeant on December 1, 1963.

Transferred to the 3rd Marine Division, in August 1964, Sgt Taylor saw a one-year tour of duty in the Vietnam war as rocket section leader and platoon guide, with Company G, 2nd Battalion 3rd Marines. Reassigned to Sub Unit #2, Headquarters Company, Headquarters and Service Battalion, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, in August 1965, he served as an instructor for the NCO Leadership School until the following November.

Upon his return to the United States in January 1966, Sgt Taylor returned to Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, for duty as Candidate Company Platoon Sergeant and Platoon Sergeant of Company A, Officer Candidate School. He was promoted to staff sergeant on September 1, 1966. In February 1968, he returned to the Far East and the 3rd Marine Division, this time for duty as platoon Sergeant and Company Gunnery Sergeant of Company I, 3rd Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment. While participating in Operation Meade River on December 8, 1968, he was mortally wounded, while charging an enemy machine gun bunker to allow his platoon to rescue wounded Marines. He was able to take out the enemy position just before he was killed. For this action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

On February 16, 1971, President Richard Nixon, in a White House ceremony, presented SSgt Taylor's Medal of Honor to his family his wife, daughter, age 8, and two sons, age 7 and 4.

He was buried in Independence Cemetery at Independence Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania.

 

The President of the United States in the name of the Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to

STAFF SERGEANT KARL G. TAYLOR UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Company Gunnery Sergeant during Operation MEADE RIVER in the Republic of Vietnam on the night of 8 December 1968. Informed that the commander of the lead platoon had been mortally wounded when his unit was pinned down by a heavy volume of enemy fire, Staff Sergeant Taylor along with another Marine, crawled forward to the beleaguered unit through a hail of hostile fire, shouted encouragement and instructions to the men, and deployed them to covered positions. With his companion, he then repeatedly maneuvered across an open area to rescue those Marines who were too seriously wounded to move by themselves. Upon learning that there were still other seriously wounded men lying in another open area, in proximity to an enemy machine gun position, Staff Sergeant Taylor, accompanied by four comrades, led his men forward across the fire-swept terrain in an attempt to rescue the Marines. When his group was halted by devastating fire, he directed his companion to return to the company command post; whereupon he took his grenade launcher and, in full view of the enemy, charged across the open rice paddy toward the machine gun position, firing his weapon as he ran. Although wounded several times, he succeeded in reaching the machine gun bunker and silencing the fire from that sector, moments before he was mortally wounded. Directly instrumental in saving the lives of several of his fellow Marines, Staff Sergeant Taylor, by his indomitable courage, inspiring leadership, and selfless dedication, upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

/S/ RICHARD M. NIXON

 

Please remember, the Canteen is family friendly and we exist to support and honor our troops and their families, as well as our Allies Troops and theirs.  Thank you to every Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine and Coast Guardsman out there for doing what you do to keep us safe.  We are ever in your debt.  And thank you, too, to the families and friends who support them.  God bless our troops.

[MoochPooch]

Evening, Kathy.

Woohoo! Top 10!

[onona]

Hi Kathy, and thank you for all you do.

[PROCON]

Thanks for honoring tonight’s Hero, Kathy!

[radu]

Greetings to all at the Canteen!

To all our military men and women, past and present,

THANK YOU
for your service!

[Kathy in Alaska]

~ Hall of Heroes: Karl G Taylor Sr ~

FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT

Showing support and boosting the morale of
our military and our allies' military
and the family members of the above.
Honoring those who have served before.

CLICK HERE TO FIND LATEST THREADS

CLICK FOR Current local times around the world

CLICK FOR local times in Seoul, Baghdad, Kabul,
New York, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Anchorage

To every service man or woman reading this thread.
Thank You for your service to our country.
No matter where you are stationed,
No matter what your job description
Know that we are are proud of each and everyone of you.
To our military readers, we remain steadfast
in keeping the Canteen doors open.

The FR Canteen is Free Republic's longest running daily thread
specifically designed to provide entertainment and moral support for the military.
The doors have been open since Oct 7 2001,
the day of the start of the war in Afghanistan.

We are indebted to you for your sacrifices for our Freedom.

NOTE: CANTEEN MUSIC
Posted daily and on the Music Thread
for the enjoyment of our troops and visitors.

[radu]

Howdy, Kathy.

I hope the day’s been good.
It warmed up there a bit today. Between the sunshine and the temp, a lot of snow on the lake ice has melted and the ice is melting too. Very sloppy.

[left that other site]

Hi Everybody!

(((HUGS)))

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mooch...you are first!

Is your winter winding down?

We have had several weeks of days above freezing, and have practically no snow left. I would love to say winter is over, but Mother Nature usually slaps us down for thinking such a thing.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, onona...glad you enjoy.

And we thank you for your service to our country.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Pro...we must remember the sacrifices of our heroes.

Is winter over yet in your neck of the woods?

We haven’t had snow for weeks, but day temps up to 40. Dare I think winter is over this early? Nope!

[PROCON]

Hey Kathy, we went from snow to Spring-like weather almost overnight and more warm weather is on the way, no complaints!

[MoochPooch]

Winter has been intense. Last week was mild; now we have a polar vortex. However, weather will be warming next week.

[luvie]

Karl Gorman Taylor, Sr.
July 14, 1939 - December 8, 1968
A United States Marine
Posthumous Medal of Honor recipient
.... for actions in Vietnam in December 1968.
What a brave young hero!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, radu...did you have sunshine today?

It was sunny and bright on my side of town.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Mooch!!

1st!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

onona!!

2nd!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Pro!!

3rd!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, ML...((HUGS))...any sign of spring?

Lots here with temps, but I don’t believe it.

[radu]

Howdy, luvie.

Still enjoy decent weather for the moment? Enjoy what you have for now, before Tuesday’s blustery weather arrives.
They’re talking 40+ mph winds here with gusts up to 50 in this part of the state. I do NOT look forward to that!