Richard R. Taylor

Richard Ray Taylor
Lieutenant General Richard R. Taylor
Born	(1922-11-21)November 21, 1922 Prairieburg, Iowa
Died	November 8, 1978(1978-11-08) (aged 55) Arlington, Virginia
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1945–1977
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands held	Surgeon General of the US Army
Battles/wars	World War II Korean War Cold War Vietnam War
Awards	Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit (2) Bronze Star Medal
Relations	First wife, Betty Lou Simpson, mother of Carolyn and Richard

Dr. Richard Ray Taylor (November 21, 1922 – November 8, 1978) was a Lieutenant General in the United States military and served as the 33rd Surgeon General of the United States Army.

Biography

Early life and education

Born on November 21, 1922 in Prairieburg, Iowa. He was raised in the small town of Norton, Kansas. His father and two of his four brothers were physicians. His father, Charles Fletcher Taylor, MD was the Superintendent of the State Sanitatorium for Tuberculosis, where his brother, David Taylor, MD also served on staff for a time. His mother, Harriet Taylor, was Kansas mother of the year and was well known for keeping the family together and being a great cook. Dr. Taylor was one of eight siblings. His youngest brother, Danny, died in an automobile accident while he was an architecture student at the University of Kansas. Richard Taylor graduated with a BS from the University of Chicago in 1944 and later from the University of Chicago School of Medicine with his MD in 1946.

Military career

He worked his way up in ranks in the army from First Lieutenant in 1946 to Colonel in 1964, and eventually to Surgeon General of the US Army in October 1973. He was also in charge of M.A.S.H. units in Vietnam.

Later life

He died on November 8, 1978 at Arlington Hospital (now known as Virginia Hospital Center) in Arlington, Virginia. His first wife died of polio in the 1950's. He is survived by his wife, Frances Colby Taylor, his daughter, Carolyn Jean, and his four sons, Richard Ray Jr., Colby Fletcher, Bryan Dudley, and David Webster.

Recognition

Lieutenant General Richard R. Taylor´s ribbon bar:

1st Row	Army Distinguished Service Medal				Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster
2nd Row	Bronze Star Medal			Joint Service Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster			Army Commendation Medal
3rd Row	American Campaign Medal			World War II Victory Medal			National Defense Service Medal with one service star
4th Row	Korean Service Medal with two service stars			Vietnam Service Medal with four service stars			Vietnam Distinguished Service Order, 1st Class
5th Row	Vietnam Civil Actions Medal, 1st Class			United Nations Korea Medal			Vietnam Campaign Medal

References

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