SSGT Karl G. Taylor

[Summer]

Dear current and former members of the U.S. Marine Corps,

I am a journalist looking for those who perhaps knew SSGT Karl G. Taylor, who died in combat on Dec. 8, 1968 in Vietnam during Operation Meade River.

SSGT Taylor earned the Congressional Medal of Honor, and he will be honored again noon Saturday at the Independence Cemetery on state Route 844 in Avella, Washington County, Pennsylvania by Gen. David Papak and a Marine Corps honor guard, who will present his three children, one of them also a Marine, with the Medal of Honor flag.

I am respectfully asking that those who knew him to contact me, so I can write a story in his honor and remembrance. I approach this with the utmost respect for SSGT Taylor, his family and the U.S. Marine Corps.

If you would like to contact me, please do so at swallace@pafocus.com.

Thank you.

Summer Wallace-Minger
Pennsylvania Focus

[usmchauer]

I know of one Marine on this forum that had him as a Platoon Sgt. He may be around shortly. Good luck.

[Summer]

Thank you, usmchauer.

The ceremony is expected to draw between 1,000 and 1,500 veterans of all forces and U.S. Marines, which is quite a number for our little town. Many are coming from Maryland and the Washington, D.C. area on buses, and the local volunteer fire department will be offering their hospitality and a meal following the ceremony.

Sgt. Joshua Knaufs and the Detachment 5 Military Police Co. Bravo color guard are the honor guard for the event, and one of our commissioners, Larry Maggi, a former sheriff and marine, is organizing the event.

[FistFu68]

:usmc: S/Sgt.Karl Gorman Taylor Sr.was My S/Sgt. in VietNam,way before Meade River @ during Meade River.He was acting Co.Gunny after our Co.Gunny was very seriously wounded @ later Died of His Wounds.India Co.3rd.Bn.26th Marines."PathFinder" PFC.Gruenwald J.E. :usmc: :iwo:

[Summer]

Sir, would you be interested in speaking to me about S/SGT Taylor?

[FistFu68]

:evilgrin: Yes as long as You call Me Jack. I appreciate the Sir but makes Me feel like an Old Fart(lol) :beer: :iwo:

[Summer]

Jack, thank you so very much. Is there a particular story about your service with S/SGT Taylor that you would like to share?

[FistFu68]

:evilgrin: I have many believe Me,But the day I got Shot Twice in tha Bunkers of Dodge City,How He held my hand Like He was My Father awaiting a Dust Off "Medivac Chopper" under Heavy Enemy Fire and staying with Me the whole time telling Me I was the Best PFC. in tha'whole Marine Corps.S/F Jack :usmc: :iwo:

[Summer]

That is an incredible story. He must have been a man who was dedicated to the welfare of his fellow Marines.

Would you be comfortable with speaking to me over the phone?

[FistFu68]

:evilgrin: We were His Boys and Marines I heard Him tell A higher ranking Marine once.We can talk only after I have time 2 get a Few Drinks under My belt,Have never really shared this with anyone since the last Time I saw S/Sgt.Taylors live Face.My# is 414-427-2659 Respectfully Jack :usmc: :iwo:

[Summer]

Jack, I am deeply honored that you would share your memories of S/SGT. Taylor with me. Thank you. I hope that I can do justice to his memory and to you.

With your permission, I will call you between 8:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Central Time?

[FistFu68]

:usmc: I should Be Good 2 Go by then Respectfully Jack Heres Too Ya S/Sgt.Taylor S/F Gung-Ho-OOHRAH :beer: :iwo:

[Summer]

I look forward to speaking to you in person. Again, thank you.

[Summer]

Thank you again to Jack, a lovely gentleman. I have posted some pictures from the ceremony to the album in my profile so others who couldn't travel to the ceremony can look at them.

[kenr57]

Hello Summer. Perhaps we met at ceremony. I am Ken Rodwick, Karl's son-in-law. I joined here recently myself as I was looking for old friends of Karl's to let them know of the presentation. The family and I will look forward to see how your project progresses. Good Luck. Hope you don't mind if I post links to newspaper sites that had front page articles about the ceremony.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com:8000/x/pittsburghtrib/news/regional/s_638538.html

http://www.observer-reporter.com/OR/Story/06-16-medal-of-honor-flag-presented

[Summer]

Ken, I do not believe I had the priviledge of meeting you or your wife at the ceremony.

Thank you for the links; I appreciate the thoughtfulness. I hope that I will be able to do your father-in-law justice and please the family with the article I am writing. It will appear in the Aug. 20 PA Focus, and I would be happy to link it here, if you are interested.

[kenr57]

Yes, Summer, a link for your story would be appeciated. Thanks for the pix, too. I am hoping to put together a CD/DVD for family members from pix I can collect. WTAE and WPXI had segments on their TV channels that we watched that night, but we were at my mother-in-laws house and forgot to throw a tape in to record it. Hoping I may be able to contact their staff and possibly get a copy from the channels.
It was a wonderful presentation. If anyone involved views this I would like to thank you very much from the family. Marine Corp leagues, young marines, American Legion Motorcycle Riders, etc. all did great job.
Hope you survived the 90+ degrees heat. I remember when we had the ceremony for the commemorative stone at the cemetary entrance a few years ago it was as hot, plus it was when the cicadias? where there in hundreds or thousands in the trees during their 7 year cycle! All those loud bugs made it rough to hear even when using a microphone.

[Summer]

Ken, here is a link to the story that ran Monday:

http://www.heraldstaronline.com/page/content.detail/id/524724.html?nav=5010 (http://www.heraldstaronline.com/page/content.detail/id/524724.html?nav=5010)

However, there will more extensive coverage of the ceremony in Thursday's PA Focus. I've just seen the proofs, and I think that they did a really nice job with the presentation. I hope you are pleased; if you would like, I can send you some copies -- the Internet is convenient, but the presentation is better in the print copy.

If you would like me to send them to you, I will try to burn the photos onto a disk for you so you can have the raw copies and send that, too.

I hope you can get the television tapes. For anyone else interested, here is the link so you can read WTAE-TV's story and see the video:

http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/new/20413209/detail.html (http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/new/20413209/detail.html)

The heat was terribly uncomfortable; it made me think about how awful it must have been for our Vietnam veterans, carrying their gear in the jungle.

One last thing, I received an e-mail this morning and Vanessa G. Butler had some lovely things to say about Capt. Hoover:

"Oh and tell Capt. Hoover I love a rough and tough Marine and that this country needs more like him and Staff Sgt. Taylor.
Semper Fi."

If anyone knows the captain, please pass it on.

[Summer]

Here is the extended coverage from today's Pennsylvania Focus.

Veterans honor warrior:

http://www.pafocus.com/page/content.detail/id/503603/Veterans-honor-warrior.html?nav=5004

'He was my big brother':

http://www.pafocus.com/page/content.detail/id/503605/-He-was-my-big-brother-.html?nav=5004

A Marine remembers:

http://www.pafocus.com/page/content.detail/id/503604/A-marine-remembers.html?nav=5004

Learning to honor our armed forces:

http://www.pafocus.com/page/content.detail/id/503607/Learning-to-honor-our-armed-forces.html?nav=5001

Again, thank you to everyone, especially SGT. Taylor's family & Jack.

[MontezumaCpl]

Phenomenal story! The Best of the Best and a true Warrior and Marine!

Semper Fi!

[FistFu68]

:usmc: Thank You Summer,maybe when I take my Daughters too Gunny Taylors grave on the 8th of December You could accompany Us.You are a Credit too Your Gender Young Lady.GodSpeed 2 You in all You do in this life.Respectfully Jack G-Man Semper~Fidelis :usmc: :iwo:

[ssgtH]

Summer, I'm sitting here trying to think of a way to put in words Thank You but, I can't seem to get this stuff out of my eyes !!!! It is an Outstanding thing that you did for the memory of the Gysgt and to honor his family. Just knowing that there are still people out there that think that way about us makes me proud to have served the United States and people like you.

[Summer]

Jack, it would be my priviledge to do so. Please let me take you and your children to lunch, as well, to thank you for all your assistance and your service to our country.

I'd like to thank everyone for the compliments I have received on this story here and elsewhere, however, I would be remiss to allow you to think it turned out well through any particular talent of mine. If it moved you, it was because Sgt. Taylor's friends and family allowed me to re-tell his story. It is solely a testiment to the sort of person he was, and I am honored that I was allowed to tell his story to a new generation.

[FistFu68]

:usmc: Thank You Summer,But this Marine does the Buying;since it will be Winter.We through Your guidence will have 2 find a Local Florist so I can Buy a Wreath for His Grave.Oh one more thing is there any way I can get Hard copies the News Papers themselves on all that was Written will pay for Postage @ price of News Papers.Will put them In My Family Archives.GodSpeed 2 You @ Yours Summer.Semper~Fidelis~Jack G-Man :usmc: :iwo:

[MontezumaCpl]

Thanks again for that awesome story!

Semper Fi!