Thats Valor: Biden Awards Medal of Honor to Vietnam-Era Army Pilot
The New York Times First Lt. Larry L. Taylor, whose helicopter was running out of fuel and ammunition, rescued four soldiers who were taking intense enemy fire in Vietnam.
The four American soldiers were pinned down in June 1968, taking intense fire from the enemy near the hamlet of Ap Go Cong in Vietnam. The large Huey helicopter sent to rescue them had abandoned its attempt, citing the great likelihood of failure.
But First Lt. Larry L. Taylor refused to give up.
Flying in his two-man Cobra helicopter, which was nearly out of ammunition, Mr. Taylor landed in the middle of the firefight, extracting the four men who hung onto the helicopters skids and rocket pods as the helicopter carried them to safety. It was the first time a rescue like that had even been attempted during the war.
On Tuesday, President Biden awarded Mr. Taylor the Medal of Honor at the White House, citing his conspicuous gallantry for rescuing the soldiers under heavy enemy fire and with complete disregard for his personal safety more than five decades ago.
