By Courtney Goins, Nick Hill
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — On Wednesday, Chattanooga laid to rest an American hero.
Captain Larry Taylor, who is the most recent recipient of the Medal of Honor, an honor he received from President Joe Biden in September 2023, passed away on September 28 at the age of 81.
A series of services were held through Chattanooga in honor of his memory.
They started with a private memorial service was held at the Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center.
On the night of 18 June 1968, Taylor, together with his gunner CWO2 J. O. Ratliff, rescued a four-man long-range reconnaissance patrol (LRRP) that had been surrounded by Vietcong forces near the village of Ap Go Cong, Bình Dương province. After exhausting his munitions, Taylor (callsign Darkhorse 32) landed his AH-1G Cobra and the four LRRP soldiers clung to the skids and rocket pods of the helicopter as Taylor flew them to safety. For his actions, Taylor was originally awarded the Silver Star. His Silver Star was upgraded to the Medal of Honor in 2023.
Afterwards, the funeral procession began at the Medal of Honor Center in front of the Tennessee Aquarium and headed down Market Street, MLK Boulevard, Bailey Avenue, and Holtzclaw Avenue as the procession ended at the Chattanooga National Cemetery.
Those who wanted to pay their respects for Captain Taylor lined the streets of downtown, many waving American flags.
When that procession reached the National Cemetery, Captain Taylor was given an interment ceremony.
The ceremony was highlighted by a 21 gun salute, the playing of Taps, and an Army apache helicopter flyover.
Retired Army General B.B. Bell spoke at that ceremony about Captain Taylor’s sacrifice during the Vietnam War in 1968, where he saved four fellow soldiers.
General Bell said, “Larry, they tell me your next mission is going to be solo. It’s to Heaven’s Gate. I won’t be your co-pilot on this one Larry, but I’ll follow you up if the Good Lord gives me the same followup mission. Godspeed sir.”
Many dignitaries were present at the ceremony, including the lone surviving soldier who Captain Taylor saved that fateful night in Vietnam, Dave Hill.
Hill said, “Captain Taylor was not only a leader, but also a friend and mentor to countless comrades, who had the distinct privilege of serving with him, alongside him in the air and those of us who fought beneath him on the ground.”
General Bell added, “Dave, your presence is the ultimate tribute to Larry, and to his valor. As we know, without Larry, your service would have held a long time ago.”
Captain Taylor’s final sendoff had to be perfect for the decorated Chattanoogan.
Vince Butler of the Medal of Honor Museum said, “As a Chattanoogan I couldn’t be prouder. The turnout on the streets, from business people walking up and down handing out American flags.”
At his celebration for the Medal of Honor back in September, Captain Taylor recalled what the honor meant to him.
However, he said the meaning went beyond any award he could have received.
Captain Taylor said then, “When you realize that those people on the ground are your brothers, and if you were on the other foot, they would stop for you.”
Captain Taylor’s story of heroism will continue to outlive him.
Butler said, “Just because you’re told to do something, sometimes the harder right is easier to do than the easier wrong. He could’ve easily returned to base, filled up, come back, nobody would’ve questioned him. But he knew that if he went back to base, those four rangers down there would likely be killed.”
Captain Larry Taylor will be laid to rest next to fellow Medal of Honor recipients Charles Coolidge and Desmond Doss.