James Edward Taylor was born May 6, 1942, to Mary and Ralph Taylor. He had an older sister, Joan, and a younger brother Steve. They were raised on the family farm in Renssalaer, Indiana. He was a popular student and star basketball player at Renesselaer High School and graduated in 1960. Jim loved having a good time and really enjoyed the muscle cars of the 50's and 60's. He went on to attend Butler University and later graduated from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana. After graduation from college, he was employed by The Virgin Island Rum Industry and moved to St Croix, Virgin Islands in 1965. He lived and worked there until he was drafted into the Army in 1966. After induction into the armed services he was sent to Fort Benning, Georgia for basic and advanced individual training. There, volunteered to become an Officer Candidate and be commissioned as an infantry officer. OCS Candidate Jim and his mother Mary Upon graduation from Officer Candidate School, his first duty station as a 2nd Lieutenant was at a base in Texas, where he served as an instructor before going to Vietnam. He was ordered to duty in Vietnam, beginning his tour on July 9, 1968 as a member of B Battery, 2nd Battalion, 33rd Artillery. The Battalion operated 3 batteries, each with six towed 105 millimeter howitzers. They were part of II Field Force, 54th Artillery Group. During the period December 1968 to February 5, 1969, Jim Taylor had worked his way through various positions in the battery to become the Executive Officer and then Acting Battery Commander. During this period his performance was stellar as evidenced by the awards noted next below.

Department of the Army Headquarters 1st Infantry Division APO San Francisco 96345 General Orders Number 1075                                                                        8 February 1969 Award of the Soldier's Medal 1. TC 320.   The following AWARD is announced posthumously. TAYLOR JAMES E. O5429070 (SSN) FIRST LIEUTENANT FIELD ARTILLERY United States Army, Battery B, 3d Battalion, 33d Artillery Awarded: Soldier's Medal Date of action: 27 December 1968 Theater: Republic of Vietnam Reason: For heroism not involving actual conflict with an armed enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, Lieutenant Taylor was serving with his unit at Fire Support Base Junction City when an explosion in an incineration pit deposited a burning illumination round in a howitzer parapet, and the round rolled underneath the ammunition. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Lieutenant Taylor dashed into the parapet, extracted the flaming round and then proceeded to extinguish the blazing emplacement. Fully aware of the possibility that the ammunition could have exploded at any time, Lieutenant Taylor displayed courage beyond the call of duty and undoubtedly save many personnel in the area from death or injury. First Lieutenant Taylor's heroic actions are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division, and the United States Army. Authority: By direction of the President, under the provisions of the Act of Congress, approved 2 July 1926. FOR THE COMMANDER: OFFICIAL:                                      ARCHIE R. WHITE                                                       Colonel, GS (Signature)                                    Chief of Staff LARRY L. WARREN Captain, AGC Assistant Adjutant General

Department of the Army Headquarters 1st Infantry Division APO San Francisco 96345 General Orders Number 1127                                                                        11 February 1969 AWARD OF THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL (Third Oak Leaf Cluster) 1. TC 320.   The following AWARD is announced posthumously. TAYLOR JAMES E. O5429070 (SSN) FIRST LIEUTENANT FIELD ARTILLERY United States Army, Battery B, 3d Battalion, 33d Artillery Awarded: Bronze Star Medal (Third Oak Leaf Cluster) with "V" Device Date of action: 6 January 1969 Theater: Republic of Vietnam Reason: For heroism not involving participation in aerial flight, in conjunction with military operations against a hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, Lieutenant Taylor was serving as Executive Officer for his artillery battery at Fire Support Base Junction City. At approximately 1830 hours, the battery area was suddenly subjected to an intensive barrage of enemy mortar fire. One round struck a howitzer section's ammunition bunker, injuring all members of the section and starting a dangerous fire among the stacked howitzer rounds. With complete disregard for his own welfare, Lieutenant Taylor immediately ran across the battery area from his position to the burning ammunition bunker. Ignoring the incoming enemy fire and the possibility of the explosion of the artillery rounds, Lieutenant Taylor pulled the burning ammunition away from the bunker and distinguished the fire. His selfless courage and quick reaction prevented a large scale explosion of ammunition and extensive destruction of the battery and it's personnel. First Lieutenant Taylor's outstanding display of aggressiveness, devotion to duty, and personal bravery is in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division, and the United States Army. Authority: By Direction of the President, under the provisions of Executive Order 11041, 24 August 1963. FOR THE COMMANDER: OFFICIAL:                                      ARCHIE R. WHITE                                                       Colonel, GS (Signature)                                    Chief of Staff LARRY L. WARREN Captain, AGC Assistant Adjutant General

Department of the Army U.S. Army, Vietnam APO San Francisco 96345 General Orders Number 1138                                                                        2 April 1969 AWARD OF THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS 1. TC 320.   The following AWARD is announced posthumously. TAYLOR JAMES E. O5429070 (SSN) FIRST LIEUTENANT FIELD ARTILLERY United States Army, Battery B, 3d Battalion, 33d Artillery Awarded: Distinguished Service Cross Date of action: 1 February 1969 Theater: Republic of Vietnam Reason: For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Battery B, 2d Battalion, 1st Infantry Division Artillery, 1st Infantry Division. First Lieutenant Taylor distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 1 February 1969 as acting commander of an artillery battery twelve miles northwest of Lai Khe. Shortly after midnight Lieutenant Taylor's fire support base came under intense mortar and rocket-propelled grenade fire, followed by a ground assault. As he was checking his six howitzer positions to insure that they were properly manned, he spotted a break in the perimeter wire made by an enemy bangalore torpedo. Braving the hostile shrapnel and automatic weapons fire, he ran to one of the howitzer positions and fired the gun directly into the charging communists. Although he became the target of a rocket-propelled grenade team, he continued his suppressive fire and succeeded in preventing the enemy from entering through the break in the wire. A rocket-propelled grenade struck his position, wounding him and throwing him against a sandbag wall of the howitzer parapet. Ignoring his painful injuries, he returned to the howitzer and fired the weapon until fatally wounded by a second direct hit on his position. First Lieutenant Taylor's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army. Authority: By Direction of the President, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963). FOR THE COMMANDER: OFFICIAL:

Rensselaer Republican Lt. Taylor Killed In Vietnam On Monday, 3 February 1969, on page 1 of the paper, the announcement was made: Lieutenant James Taylor, a former resident of Rensselaer who was graduated from Rensselaer high school with the class of 1960, was killed in Vietnam Sunday. His parents, Ralph and Mary Taylor of Punta Gorda, Florida, were notifed. There were no details as to the cause of his death. His parents had moved to Punta Gorda in recent years. Word of Lieutenant Taylor's death was received here last evening in a telephone call received by friends of the family. He was, killed on February 1, 1969 in Bing Long Province of South Vietnam. Killed in the same incident as Jim was Sergeant First Class Frederick Schmitt of Kiel Wisconsin who was awarded the Silver Star for his actions. 1st Lieutenant James Edward Taylor was survived by mother Mary Elizabeth (Blume) Taylor (1918-1999) and father Lester Ralph Taylor (1910-1977). They are buried in Remington Cemetery, Remington, Indiana. He was also survived by his older sister Joan Pohl and younger brother Steve. - - - The Virtual Wall, May 9, 2018

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