James Allen Taylor
Grand Marshall
2015 Morgan Hill Freedom Fest
Parade Grand Marshall
James Allen Taylor
“ America was not built on fear . America was built on courage , on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand ”
– Harry S . Truman .
Keep your eyes open for the Morgan Hill Freedom Fest 2015 Grand Marshall , James Allen Taylor , who is a retired United States Army officer and a recipient of the United States military ’ s highest decoration — the Medal of Honor — for his actions in the Vietnam War . We are honored and pleased that he will be joining us this year .
Taylor joined the Army from San Francisco , California in 1956 and was commissioned as an Army officer in 1965 . By November 8 , 1967 , he was serving as a First Lieutenant in Troop B , 1st Squadron , 1st Cavalry Regiment , Americal Division . When his commander was wounded in action , Taylor was ordered into the combat zone to take command and prepare a search-and-destroy mission . During a battle the next day , west of Que Son in the Republic of Vietnam , Taylor repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to rescue crewmen from damaged assault vehicles and personnel carriers . He was subsequently promoted to Captain and awarded the Medal of Honor on November 19 , 1968 .
Taylor reached the rank of Major before retiring from the Army in 1980 . He holds a bachelor ’ s degree in criminology from the University of Tampa . Please make a special effort to acknowledge Taylor as he passes you while riding in the parade . Also , he will be wandering around the various events this weekend ; please pay your respects with a ‘ hello ’ and ‘ thank you ’ for choosing to spend this celebratory weekend with us in Morgan Hill , CA .
Taylor ( fourth from left ) receiving the Medal of Honor from President Lyndon B . Johnson along with four fellow recipients : Gary Wetzel , Dwight H . Johnson , Sammy L . Davis , and Angelo Liteky .
22 THE GREAT AMERICAN ROAD TRIP P Morgan Hill Freedom Fest 2015