Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Field Artillery)

    Batallion:

    2d Battalion

    Regiment:

    33d Artillery Regiment, Division Artillery

    Division:

    1st Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    February 1, 1969

    Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 1138 (April 2, 1969)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Field Artillery) James Edward Taylor (ASN: 0-5429070), United States Army, 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, 33d Artillery Regiment, 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.