Joseph Taylor

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private Joseph Taylor, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 18 August 1864, while serving with Company E, 7th Rhode Island Infantry, in action at Weldon Railroad, Virginia. While acting as an orderly to a general officer on the field and alone, Private Taylor encountered a picket of three of the enemy and compelled their surrender.

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to Joseph Taylor, Commander, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane in Torpedo Squadron FIVE (VT-5), embarked from the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-5), in action against enemy Japanese forces at Tulagi Harbor on 4 May 1942, and in the Battle of the Coral Sea on 7 and 8 May 1942. These attacks, vigorously and persistently pressed home in the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire, and on 8 May opposed also by enemy fighters, resulted in the sinking or damaging of at least eight enemy Japanese vessels at Tulagi and the sinking of one carrier and the sinking or severe damaging of another in the Coral Sea. Commander Taylor’s conscientious devotion to duty and gallant self-command against formidable odds were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Navy Cross to Joseph Taylor, Commander, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Executive Officer of the Aircraft Carrier U.S.S. FRANKLIN (CV-13), which was striking the Japanese home islands in the vicinity of Kobe, Japan, on 19 March 1945. When his ship was hit and severely damaged by enemy air attacks and rocked by violent explosions of her own ordnance, Commander Taylor supervised and directed the efforts to save the ship, controlling raging fires, flooding magazines and personally leading and participating in the jettisoning of heated live ammunition and bombs, some of which were extricated from amidst the wreckage of burning aircraft and were so heated and damaged it was impossible to defuse them. With utmost disregard for his personal safety, he visited all sections of the badly damaged ship, leading, inspiring the crew in the gallant and successful effort to salvage the drifting and erupting carrier. In the face of further enemy attacks and explosions of the carrier’s own arms he took charge of the towing operations which resulted in getting his ship underway. His cool, calm determination and outstanding leadership were an inspiration to all officers and men, and contributed greatly to the ultimate saving of the ship. The conduct of Commander Taylor throughout this action reflects great credit upon himself, and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Joseph Taylor, Commander, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane and Commanding Officer of Torpedo Squadron FIVE (VT-5), embarked from the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-5), in action against enemy Japanese forces over New Guinea, on 10 March 1942. Commander Taylor and his squadron destroyed aircraft on deck of an enemy aircraft carrier, and disabled that vessel. His outstanding courage and determined skill were at all times inspiring and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.