Captain Larry Taylor

[Tobra]

So this is the man who had his Silver Star upgraded to Congressional Medal of Honor recently. I wanted to read up on him a bit, and know I am not the only one

I don't know what it is with helo pilots. Shot down 5 times and kept going back. The action where he earned his CMH is sort of nuts, does not really sound plausible even, but he is still walking around, and the 4 guys he saved stayed with the rest of us too. Still pretty steely eyed for an octogenarian.

https://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/taylor/

[Seahawk]

We all think we can, he did. Jesus.

I was an escort at the MOH Ball when Bush the first was elected.

Best folks in the world...funny and self effacing. We should all follow that example.

[Tobra]

You would know the answer to this.

43 Air Medals, that is sort of crazy, right?

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Tobra

You would know the answer to this.

43 Air Medals, that is sort of crazy, right?

I have one, which I never wore, for hauling trash during the first dust up in 1990. The rules for getting one were stupid.

Captain Taylor is everything all pilots think, helicopter pilots in particular since the threat is right there, we could be.

Not true.

That is a man.

[Arizona_928]

Thanks for posting that

[Tobra]

If you liked that, you are going to lose the rest of the night if you click on this link.

Read a couple of the citations. Incredible to me I share the planet with men like that, humbling.

https://www.cmohs.org/

[Tobra]

I liked this

[KNS]

Many years ago I had the privilege of working with Fred Ferguson, a Medal of Honor recipient from who flew a UH-1 Huey in Vietnam. He never talked about his service though he did tell me about what led to his receiving the Medal of Honor when I asked him about it. I really neat, humble guy. He mentioned once he enjoyed working with me which, as a young helicopter pilot, put me on cloud nine coming from him.

I recall saying "Medal of Honor winner". He was quick to correct me and say, "not winner - recipient".

[Tobra]

Maj Ferguson CMH, Two Silver Stars, Two Distinguished Flying Crosses and a Bronze star

39 Air Medals, I wonder how many hours flying a helicopter with holes in it that works out to be.

[oldE]

"Did you get in trouble?"

"What were they going to do, send me to Viet Nam?"

I'm going to guess he didn't get the MoH right away because his CO had his panties in a twist when Taylor disobeyed a direct order.

I am amazed the gunship could lift the four grunts out of there. I suppose once they had fired off all their ordinance that gave them some extra capacity. Still the ship had to lift Taylor's huge brass balls.

Best
Les

[Tobra]

Yeah, I was thinking that too. Would have been too heavy if they had not expended all their ordinance already

It was the same drivetrain as the Huey, I think, and is not a large aircraft. Looks like it could carry about 1700# so if you are out of ammo and low on fuel, it will take off with half dozen guys hanging off it. Lucky they guys he was going after could still hang on to the rocket launcher pods

[Crowbob]

So I’m gonna first off intercept any notions that I’m dissing this hero for his bravery because that is not my intention and I apologize in advance if misconstrued by anyone.

However, I’m curious as to why haven’t we heard about the guy in the second seat? He was there and in just as much peril:

“… TAYLOR AND CO-PILOT CW2 JAMES RATLIFF REALIZED THAT THEY WERE DANGEROUSLY LOW ON FUEL. AS REPORTED BY TAYLOR, THEY HAD TO MAKE A "25-MINUTE FLIGHT ON 20-MINUTES OF FUEL."

[Tobra]

Robert, that is an excellent question

[oldE]

I think in the case of the cobra the co-pilot is the gunner and doesn't have command authority. Seahawk, please correct me if this is not the case.

Best
Les

[matthewb0051]

I know/knew a guy just like this from my 1st Armored Combat Aviation Brigade days at Fort Bliss TX. Apache pilot. His front seater was killed during a fight after they crashed in A'Stan.

Dude was a straight up hero but you'd never know it, nice guy that always had something positive to add.

Just like Captain Taylor, a guy doing what has to get done. We need more like guys like this.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by oldE

I think in the case of the cobra the co-pilot is the gunner and doesn't have command authority. Seahawk, please correct me if this is not the case.

Les, I was on the same track but I don't know how the Army does it. In the Navy the person who "signs" for the aircraft is the pilot in command.

When you toss in Section Lead, etc. it get a bit more complicated.

I flew a single engine Cobra with the Maryland National Guard in the late '80's I sat in the gunners seat up front and Pilot in Command was a Vietnam era Cobra pilot. Great fun.

I also flew in a Hughes 500 which, frankly, may be the coolest machine on Earth.

One Quick Sea Story:

In helo flight school after Primary, on of the LT flight instructors had been an Army Cobra pilot. He left the Army, went to college and became a Navy pilot. Not that unusual at that time.He was a big softball player so we got to know each other well.

We flew together four or five times and he was the best, by far, instructor I have every had. Case in point:

The Navy is big on "Standard Procedures", which I have no problem with.

We, Terry and I, were practicing full autos in the T-57 and I entered the first auto and hit all the numbers (rotor speed - Nr - descent rate, forward velocity, flair altitude aircraft pitch, etc. then the transition to the ground.

Terry asks me why.

Huh?

That is what NATOPS says.

But, he asks, if you need to drop faster, bleed off energy quickly to meet the only spot in the woods you can safely auto? What, then?

Well, Terry, show me ecause you have stumped the Ensign. So he did. Master class in how to fly a helo.

Vietnam era helo pilots, and I know many, were flying in an environment that was tactically, mechanically and environmentally unforgiving.

Hope that helps!

[matthewb0051]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

I have one, which I never wore, for hauling trash during the first dust up in 1990. The rules for getting one were stupid.
.

Good friend of mine got to Iraq in 2003/4 from officer basic course. Had been in country about a month when he was told he was getting a Bronze Star just like everyone else.

Then when we both went back in 2005 the rules got tightened up; some smart person realized they shouldn't just give those out like candy. Problem was that horse was already out of the barn and it would create disparity when people got looked at for promotion.

So for our tour we both got Army Commendation Medals. And when we both left Fort Campbell a few weeks after returning from Iraq we both got Army Commendation Medals for the time at Campbell. Totally non-sensical.

Putting that aside... I had numerous Soldier clients/defendants at Fort Campbell that had been in no joke combat in A'Stan. Dudes came back to Campbell and did drugs to kill the pain or get in some other trouble. They would tell me about the firefights they were in and their buddies getting killed. I'd ask them if they had any awards/decorations that we could present in court to show their commitment to duty. Not a one of them had a award or decoration but they all said and knew that their commanders and other senior leaders got Bronze Stars and the like working in the Tactical Operations Centers while these kids were out in the $hite.

Edit: sorry for the rant but this really touches a nerve with me. No blame to anyone here just stupid Army stuff.

[matthewb0051]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Les, I was on the same track but I don't know how the Army does it. In the Navy the person who "signs" for the aircraft is the pilot in command.

Same in Army. PIC is the head dude.

[Seahawk]

vvv And that is exactly why I chucked mine.

I flew with the Desert Ducks since they were assigned to COMMIDEASTFOR. I was the Air Boss on the La Salle and managed the Duck's schedule.

Three Commanders on the Staff got Bronze Stars with COMBAT V's, because we did a lot of mine sweeping to get into Kuwait after the Tripoli hit a mine.

It nauseated me.

When I keft the ship, as a LT, I got a Navy Comm and they wanted the Combat V thingy for me.

No f'ing way, gents. I stood on the flight deck and watched.

Originally Posted by matthewb0051

Putting that aside... I had numerous Soldier clients/defendants at Fort Campbell that had been in no joke combat in A'Stan. Dudes came back to Campbell and did drugs to kill the pain or get in some other trouble. They would tell me about the firefights they were in and their buddies getting killed. I'd ask them if they had any awards/decorations that we could present in court to show their commitment to duty. Not a one of them had a award or decoration but they all said and knew that their commanders and other senior leaders got Bronze Stars and the like working in the Tactical Operations Centers while these kids were out in the $hite.

[Seahawk]

BTW, and this is important:

In the Navy, personal awards count toward enlisted advancement points. The awards are part of the mix.

I pin-banged every command award, Staff award, etc. for my guys if they deserved it. I "Command Advanced" two Petty officers (one facing high time tenure as a 3rd Class - he later made 1st and retired at 20, the other a really strong runner in a difficult rate. He made Senior Chief in the end) as well in the year I was on the La Salle.

My Mini Boss and I really worked it.

Once again, Captain Taylor and crew, I am in awe.