
The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to
*TAYLOR, KARL G., SR.
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant,
U.S. Marine Corps, Company 1, 3d Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment, 3d Marine Division
(Rein), FMF. Place and Date: Republic of Vietnam, 8 December 1968. Entered
service at: Baltimore, Md. Born: 14 July 1939, Laurel, Md.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the
call of duty while serving at night as a company gunnery sergeant during Operation MEADE
RIVER. Informed that the commander of the lead platoon had been mortally wounded when his
unit was pinned down by a heavy volume of enemy fire, S/Sgt. Taylor along with another
marine, crawled forward to the beleaguered unit through a hail of hostile fire, shouted
encouragement and instructions to the men, and deployed them to covered positions. With
his companion, he then repeatedly maneuvered across an open area to rescue those marines
who were too seriously wounded to move by themselves. Upon learning that there were still
other seriously wounded men Lying in another open area, in proximity to an enemy
machinegun position, S/Sgt. Taylor, accompanied by 4 comrades, led his men forward across
the fire-swept terrain in an attempt to rescue the marines. When his group was halted by
devastating fire, he directed his companions to return to the company command post;
whereupon he took his grenade launcher and in full view of the enemy, charged across the
open rice paddy toward the machinegun position, firing his weapon as he ran. Although
wounded several times, he succeeded in reaching the machinegun bunker and silencing the
fire from that sector, moments before he was mortally wounded. Directly instrumental in
saving the lives of several of his fellow marines, S/Sgt. Taylor, by his indomitable
courage, inspiring leadership, and selfless dedication, upheld the highest traditions of
the Marine Corps and of the U.S. Naval Service.
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