 Editor in Chief Bill   | 04 Sep 2023 7:59 p.m. PST |
…Taylor, who was an AH-1 Cobra pilot between August 1967 and August 1968, is credited with the daring rescue of a small patrol of soldiers who were surrounded by the enemy in Vietnam. He made the rescue amid enemy fire and despite the fact his helicopter wasn't designed to carry extra people… Military: link |
Dn Jackson  | 05 Sep 2023 4:26 a.m. PST |
God bless him. Looks well deserved. |
| 79thPA | 05 Sep 2023 6:37 a.m. PST |
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| Andrew Walters | 05 Sep 2023 9:06 a.m. PST |
Indeed. 55 years is some time, but it's good it happened. |
 deadhead | 05 Sep 2023 1:43 p.m. PST |
I told this story in a pub in North Yorkshire tonight and several folk (some ex our military) asked why only now? I think we do not have a system of delayed awards here. You get a VC or that is it. But that one story, let alone his entire service, surely represents the ultimate in valour (OK I do accept many a Huey pilot did the same but died in the attempt and we all know that tends to lessen your chances of recognition. That is how it works in most countries) But what happened after 55 years to suddenly acknowledge his incredible heroism? I will not suggest politics influenced this, as it ain't my country. But I had no idea that four folk could hang onto a Cobra. Mind you, given the alternative, I like to think I would still give it a try, even now. |
| Wolfhag | 05 Sep 2023 6:46 p.m. PST |
I think he's from Chattanooga. The co-pilot relates the details: link Wolfhag |
| 79thPA | 06 Sep 2023 7:39 a.m. PST |
Good question, deadhead. I know that several years ago the army started reviewing all silver stat and above awards to see if the recipient was entitled to a higher level medal. This was for awards during the "War on Terror." Perhaps they decided to go back to Vietnam? Or perhaps someone's relative contacted their congressional representative? |
| Wolfhag | 06 Sep 2023 9:53 a.m. PST |
There is a committee: link and link It's called the "Congressional" Medal of Honor for a reason. One of the problems with all awards is the need for eyewitness accounts to be written up and it normally takes a long time. By the time it gets considered eyewitnesses are dead or can't be found or records are lost. During VN a Platoon Leader may see an act of heroism and in the middle of combat attempt to write it up on a C Rat container. Then he gets killed and the paper is lost. This is a good movie to show how long and difficult it can be: link During the WOT the incidents were witnessed by a number of people and easily documented so it did not take decades. However, there may still be some upgrades in the future. Wolfhag |
| 79thPA | 06 Sep 2023 11:47 a.m. PST |
"Congressional" MOH is a misnomer. It is the Medal of Honor -- not the CMH. The DoD is very clear on what the name of the decoration is. |
| deadhead | 07 Sep 2023 4:28 a.m. PST |
Interesting to see Wolfhag's link, where it is called the Congressional Medal of Honor, although I always thought it was the Medal of Honor of Congress. Either way that was a moving list of rights that winners enjoy. If ever it was deserved this is a case. I wonder if disobeying an order to abandon the team influenced the earlier decision
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