HEIDELBERG, GM
U.S. Army
MAJ, HHC, 2D BN, 6TH INF, 4 BCT, BAUMHOLDER, GERMANY
10/22/2006, BAGHDAD, IRAQ
Major David Gladney Taylor Jr. was killed on Oct 22, when his Humvee was hit by an IED. He was on volunteer patrol with his unit in Bagdad, Iraq. He had just two weeks left to fulfill his current assignment with the 1st Armored Division before he was to return to Heidelberg and move his family to Baumholder, Germany. Major Taylor was part of the Army’s 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany.
Every day, Dave carried a photo of his unit, a photo of his baby son, drawings of the American flag, and a handwritten copy of this quote with him:
“War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse.
The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.” — John Stuart Mill
He was a man at peace with himself; but with a flourishing, devilish sense of humor. He loved and cared for his troops and desperately wanted to be with them in harm’s way. He had a great sense of fun that sprung straight from his spirit and led to his prankster ways at times. He was always cheerful and had a passion for life that often proved to be contagious to others.
Soldiering was in Dave’s blood. His father served two tours of duty in Vietnam, his grandfathers served in World War II, and his great-grandfather fought in World War I. He was even born at a fort, and lived the typical life of an Army brat moving from his birthplace at Fort Hood, Texas, to other army posts in Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and Germany. He moved up the scouting ranks quickly, attaining the rank of Eagle Scout at the early age of 13. He acquired more leader-ship skills from his many activities in school, including student council, Varsity Athletic Club, and basketball. As a senior he mastered the intermediate hurdles on the track team and was elected the president of the Class of ’87. He pursued his love of the military with two ROTC scholarships and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science at Davidson College in 1991. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant Infantry. He continued his studies obtaining a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. Major Taylor was awarded two Bronze Stars and the Purple Heart.
He was the first son to his parents, an awesome brother, loving father, and hero-leader to his fellow soldiers.
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