Last week, the world lost two men who exemplified the values of the Medal of Honor. Medal of Honor Recipient Roger Donlon passed away on January 25, 2024 at the age of 89, and fellow Recipient Larry Taylor passed away on January 28, 2024, at the age of 84. We remember these two extraordinary men for both their valor in combat and the commitment they showed to their country, their communities, their families, and the Medal of Honor values through the rest of their lives.

Roger H. C. Donlon

President Lyndon B. Johnson presented Donlon with the Medal of Honor in the East Ballroom of the White House in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 5, 1964, for his actions near Nam Dong, the Republic of Vietnam, on July 6, 1964.

On July 6, 1964, then-Captain Donlon was commanding officer at Camp Nam Dong, Vietnam, when a Viet Cong battalion launched a pre-dawn attack. During the next five hours, Donlon repeatedly exposed himself to heavy fire while defending against the enemy, moving ammunitions and weaponry to effective positions, aiding the wounded, and rallying his men. Throughout the battle, he was severely injured several times but persevered and insisted others receive medical attention before him. When the sun finally came up, the enemy retreated into the jungle. Donlon’s bravery and leadership had resulted in the defeat of the attackers and preserving the lives of the friendly Vietnamese camp defenders and fellow Americans.

Humble in every respect, Donlon didn’t feel what he had done was heroic: “In my situation and every other situation that leads to the Medal of Honor, there is absolutely no input from the Recipient. It’s all done by observers. Heroism is a product of what other people see.”

Donlon was born in Saugerties, New York, on January 30, 1934. He grew up wanting to serve his country. He attended St. Mary’s Elementary School and graduated from Saugerties High School in 1952. He attended the New York State College of Forestry at Syracuse University for one year. Donlon then enlisted in the US Air Force from Dec. 1953 to July 1955, after which was admitted to the US Military Academy at West Point. He left the Military Academy in 1957 but enlisted in the US Army the next year. After graduating from Officer Candidate School at Fort Moore (then Fort Benning), Georgia, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant. He earned the “Green Beret” upon completion of the US Army Special Warfare School at Fort Liberty (then Fort Bragg), North Carolina. He retired as a Colonel in 1988.

Donlon’s military and civilian education include: Special Warfare Course; Infantry Advanced Course; CGSC; Foreign Services Institute; US Army Institute for Military Assistance, School of International Studies; Army War College; Received a Bachelor of General Studies from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and a Master of Science in Government from Campbell University; Held an Honorary Master of Military Arts and Sciences from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas.

His honors include being inducted into the Fort Leavenworth Hall of Fame in May 1995; being recognized as the first recipient of the Outstanding Alumnus Award at the US Army War College in May 1997; and serving as “Honorary Colonel” of the First Special Forces Regiment from May 2004 to April 2010.

He is survived by his wife Norma and numerous family members.

Learn more about Roger Donlon by watching his Living History video.

Larry L. Taylor

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., presented Taylor with the Medal of Honor at the White House in Washington, D.C. on September 5, 2023, for his actions near the village of Ap Go Cong, Binh Du’ong Providence, Vietnam.

Born on February 12, 1942, after graduating from Chattanooga High School (Chattanooga, Tennessee), Taylor attended the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and joined its U.S. Army Reserve Officer Training Program. He was commissioned as an Army second lieutenant in the Army Reserve upon graduation in June 1966. He volunteered for the regular Army in August. He attended the U.S. Army Primary Helicopter School at Fort Wolters, Texas, and then advanced helicopter training at Fort Novosel (formerly Fort Rucker), Alabama, where he qualified as an Army aviator in June 1967. Taylor flew more than 2,000 combat missions, first in a UH-1 Huey helicopter before becoming one of the first AH-1 Cobra helicopters pilots during the Vietnam War.

Then-First Lieutenant Taylor was commander of a team of two Cobra helicopter gunships responding to an urgent call for support by a four-man patrol team. Once reaching the area, Taylor and his wingman targeted the enemy encircling the patrol team, flying multiple low-level passes under intense enemy fire. As the gunships’ ammunition ran low, Taylor continued to make fake gun runs at low altitude to distract the enemy from the men on the ground. He observed that the patrol team’s planned evacuation route was unviable, given the heavy fire they were still encountering. Taylor then landed his helicopter 100 yards away, still under intense enemy fire, to meet the patrol team on the ground. With the team climbing onboard wherever they could, including seated on rocket-pods and skids, Taylor was able to evacuate the entire patrol team, thereby saving their lives.

Taylor’s awards include the Medal of Honor (upgraded from the Silver Star), the Bronze Star, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, numerous Air Medals and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Bronze Star. He subsequently was assigned to the 2^nd Armored Cavalry Regiment in Germany. Upon leaving active duty as a captain, Taylor operated a successful roofing and sheet metal company in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

He was actively engaged in veterans’ organizations and his church, and known to be a philanthropist, supporting various charitable nonprofits in the Chattanooga, Tennessee, area. He is survived by his wife, Toni, and other family members.

Read Larry Taylor’s full citation and learn more about him on his page.

The Congressional Medal of Honor Society is honored to help perpetuate the legacies and share the stories of Recipients Donlon and Taylor.

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About the Congressional Medal of Honor Society 

The Congressional Medal of Honor Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Medal of Honor and its Recipients, inspiring Americans, and supporting the Recipients as they connect with communities across the country. 

Chartered by Congress in 1958, its membership consists exclusively of those individuals who have received the Medal of Honor. There are 63 living Recipients. 

The Society carries out its mission through outreach, education, and preservation programs, including the Medal of Honor Museum, Medal of Honor Outreach Programs, the Medal of Honor Character Development Program, and the Medal of Honor Citizen Honors Awards for Valor and Service. The Society’s programs and operations are funded by donations. 

As part of Public Law 106-83, the Medal of the Honor Memorial Act, the Medal of Honor Museum, which is co-located with the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s headquarters on board the U.S.S. Yorktown at Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, was designated as one of three national Medal of Honor sites. 

Learn more about the Medal of Honor and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s initiatives at cmohs.org.