Future Retirement Success
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Stocks
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Stocks

Future Retirement Success

Politics

Biden to award Medal of Honor to Vietnam pilot for heroic rescue: ‘Never been accomplished or even attempted’

by September 5, 2023
September 5, 2023
Biden to award Medal of Honor to Vietnam pilot for heroic rescue: ‘Never been accomplished or even attempted’

President Biden will award the Medal of Honor, the highest military award for valor, to a Vietnam War Army helicopter pilot whose rescue efforts include willfully flying into heavy enemy fire to save four members of a reconnaissance team about to be overrun with just seconds to spare.

On Tuesday, Biden is expected to recognize retired Capt. Larry Taylor, of Tennessee, at the White House for his valor and bravery on display during a specific rescue mission in June 1968 that included a feat ‘that had never been accomplished or even attempted,’ the White House announced.

Taylor flew hundreds of combat missions in UH-1 ‘Huey’ helicopters and Cobra helicopters during a year’s deployment in Vietnam and proudly told The Associated Press, ‘We never lost a man.’

‘You just do whatever is expedient and do whatever to save the lives of the people you’re trying to rescue,’ Taylor added during an interview.

Taylor’s Medal of Honor will be awarded at the White House for the ‘conspicuous gallantry’ he showed on the night of June 18, 1968 while successfully executing a rescue mission that was initially canceled as it stood no chance of survival — before Taylor defied the odds.

On that night, the Army became aware a long-range reconnaissance patrol near the Saigon River had been discovered by North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops and came under intense ground fire.

Then-1st Lt. Taylor, who was serving as a team leader of a helicopter light-fire team, flew to the extraction site in his Cobra attack helicopter and radioed the patrol team. Both helicopters also fired upon the enemy with mini-guns and rockets.

‘Braving intense ground fire, the two Cobra gunships continued to make low-level attack runs for the next 45 minutes,’ the White House said, noting both helicopters were nearly out of ammunition when the mission took a turn for the worse.

While flying overhead the patrol team, Taylor was notified the plan to rescue the men was to be scrapped as it ‘stood almost no chance of success’ with the men still under heavy fire, and the enemy still closing in, the White House said.

Then Taylor took action.

‘Running low on fuel, with the patrol team nearly out of ammunition, Taylor decided to extract the team using his two-man Cobra helicopter, a feat that had never been accomplished or even attempted,’ a statement from the White House continued.

The new rescue mission included Taylor and his crew exhausting the last of their ammunition and a subtle diversion to distract the enemy forces while the patrol team heads out a different way. Then, the four patrol team members had to cling to the exterior of the helicopter during the extraction.

Here is how the White House described the events:

He [Taylor] directed his wingman to fire his remaining mini-gun rounds along the eastern flank of the patrol team and then return to base camp. Taylor fired his own remaining mini-gun rounds along the team’s western flank, using his Cobra’s landing lights to draw the enemy’s attention while the patrol team headed southeast toward a nearby extraction point Taylor had designated.

When the team reached the site, Taylor landed his Cobra under heavy enemy fire and with complete disregard for his personal safety. The patrol team climbed aboard, grabbing on to rocket-pods and skids, and Taylor carried them to a safe location before landing them back on the ground.

Taylor was on the ground for about 10 seconds. He then got his crew and all four of the patrol team members to safety.

Taylor, now 81, recalled during an interview last week with The Associated Press that failure was not an option. He had to figure out how to get them out — otherwise ‘they wouldn’t make it,’ he said.

‘I finally just flew up behind them and sat down on the ground,’ he explained. ‘They turned around and jumped on the aircraft. A couple were sitting on the skids. One was sitting on the rocket pods, and I don’t know where the other one was, but they beat on the side of the ship twice, which meant haul a–. And we did!’

David Hill, one of the four members of the patrol team that Taylor saved that night, described the Taylor’s as ‘thinking outside the box.’

What Taylor accomplished that night had never before been attempted, the Army said.

Taylor, a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, left Vietnam in August 1968. He was released from Army active duty in August 1970, having attained the rank of captain.

He was later discharged from the Army Reserve in October 1973.

Taylor and his wife, Toni, live in Signal Mountain, Tennessee.

He has received scores of combat decorations, including the Silver Star, a Bronze Star and two Distinguished Flying Crosses.

After not receiving the Medal of Honor for that harrowing night, several of his supporters pushed for him to be awarded one.

Their eventually successful efforts spanned nearly six years when Biden called Taylor in July with the news.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

<!–>

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
–>
0
FacebookTwitterGoogle +Pinterest
previous post
Impeachment trial of Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton set to begin
next post
Barbara Corcoran’s Triumph Over Dyslexia: A Powerful Business Success Story

You may also like

Tyrant Zelensky to Ban Ukrainian Church After He...

December 2, 2022

The Supreme Court must bring gavel down on...

February 20, 2025

Justice Department clears US Postal Service to deliver...

January 4, 2023

Senate leaders reach short-term budget deal with $6B...

September 27, 2023

Biden admin continues push for two-state solution as...

January 12, 2024

Pentagon releases data on controversial abortion travel policy...

March 27, 2024

Soaring Medicare prescription drug prices targeted in Trump’s...

April 15, 2025

Walz in 2010 said plan to curb Social...

August 8, 2024

Trump 100% disagrees with federal judge’s ‘crazy’ ruling...

February 10, 2025

Putin viewed as ‘great competitor’ but still a...

February 12, 2025

    Get free access to all of the retirement secrets and income strategies from our experts! or Join The Exclusive Subscription Today And Get the Premium Articles Acess for Free

    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Recent Posts

    • Rubio condemns assassination attempt on Colombian presidential candidate Miguel Uribe

      June 8, 2025
    • Obama WH physician says Biden doc should have performed cognitive test

      June 8, 2025
    • Trump warns of ‘serious consequences’ if Elon Musk funds Democrats

      June 7, 2025
    • Musk jokes about reconsidering stance on Big Beautiful Bill after Schiff’s praise

      June 7, 2025
    • Musk deletes explosive posts about Trump and Epstein files

      June 7, 2025
    • House witness flips script on Dem who ambushed him during hearing with unearthed tweet: ‘Iceberg is ahead’

      June 7, 2025

    Categories

    • Business (8,152)
    • Investing (2,019)
    • Politics (15,570)
    • Stocks (3,136)
    • About us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Disclaimer: futureretirementsuccess.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2025 futureretirementsuccess.com | All Rights Reserved