Karl G. Taylor Sr.

Charging a machine gun, he freed wounded Marines from danger

Karl Gorman Taylor Sr. was born at Laurel, Maryland, on 14 July 1939. He and his younger brother Walter grew up on a small farm. Taylor left Arundel Senior High School to work in construction, then joined the Marine Corps with his brother in January 1959. He later completed his high-school equivalency qualification while serving. He married Shirley Ann Piatt, and they had a daughter and two sons.

His early assignments included Camp Lejeune, drill-instructor duties and Quantico. He served a first tour with the 3rd Marine Division in 1964–1965, then worked in leadership and officer-candidate training. Promoted to staff sergeant in September 1966, he returned to Vietnam in February 1968 as a platoon sergeant and company gunnery sergeant in Company I, 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines.

On 8 December 1968, during Operation Meade River in Quang Nam Province, his company was pinned down and the leading platoon commander was killed. Taylor and another Marine went forward to reorganise the survivors and bring wounded men into cover. When further casualties remained near an enemy machine gun, he led another rescue attempt. Intense fire stopped the group, and he ordered his companions back.

Taking a grenade launcher, Taylor charged across an exposed rice paddy, firing as he approached the machine gun. Although repeatedly wounded, he reached the position and silenced it before being killed. His assault enabled other Marines to survive.

President Richard Nixon presented the posthumous Medal of Honor to his wife and children on 16 February 1971. Taylor was buried in Independence Cemetery in Pennsylvania. His son Kevin later became a career Marine and dedicated his promotion to gunnery sergeant to his father.