Public invited to honor Capt. Larry Taylor during funeral procession

Larry Taylor / Medal of Honor Heritage Center

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Local Medal of Honor recipient Capt. Larry Lowe Taylor will be laid to rest on Wednesday, February 7, 2024.

The Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center released the information on Friday regarding his memorial.

Family, invited guests and dignitaries will meet for a closed memorial service at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Heritage Center.

Taylor’s family invites veterans and the general public to line the streets while his procession leaves the Heritage Center and heads to the Chattanooga National Cemetery. All are welcome to honor and pay tribute to Captain Taylor during the funeral procession.

The Heritage Center says the official procession route will leave the Heritage Center at about 2:45 p.m. It will then travel down Market Street to E. MLK Boulevard and Bailey Avenue. The procession will then turn onto Holtzclaw Avenue and enter the Chattanooga National Cemetery.

There will be an Internment Service will full U.S. Military Honors for Capt. Taylor at 3:30 p.m. This will take place at the Armed Forces Pavilion in the Chattanooga National Cemetery.

The service will end with a 21-gun salute, an Army Apache helicopter flyover and the playing of Echo Taps.

Capt. Taylor’s family will have a private graveside service afterwards.

Taylor passed away on Monday, January 29.

Official Obituary from Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center:

Former Captain Larry Lowe Taylor, 81, of Signal Mountain, Tenn., went to be with the Lord on Sunday, January 28, 2024. He was born on February 12, 1942, in Chattanooga, Tenn. After attending McCallie School before graduating Chattanooga City High School, he joined the U.S. Army Reserve Officer Training Program at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Upon graduating in June 1966, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Reserve before joining the regular Army in August 1966, volunteering to serve his country as an armor officer.

After completing training at the U.S. Army Armor School at Fort Knox, Kentucky, Taylor felt better suited to be a pilot. Having already obtained a fixed-wing pilot’s license prior to joining the Army, he thought that experience would make it easier to master the rotary-wing. After graduating from the Army’s Primary Helicopter School at Fort Wolters, Texas, Taylor would go on to helicopter training at Fort Rucker, Alabama where he qualified as an Army aviator in June 1967.

Taylor served in Vietnam from August 1967 to August 1968, first flying a Bell UH-1 “Huey” helicopter before being reassigned to pilot one of the first Bell AH1-G Cobra attack helicopters used in combat during the Vietnam War. As a member of D Troop (Air), 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 1st Infantry Division, Taylor flew more than 2,000 combat missions, was engaged by enemy fire 340 times, and was forced down five times. During his one-year tour, he received 56 combat decorations, including a Silver Star for his heroic action on June 18, 1968. His action was deemed worthy of further recognition and was upgraded to the Medal of Honor. On September 5, 2023, he would receive the award from the President of the United States at a White House ceremony.

He also was worthy of a Bronze Star, four Distinguished Flying Crosses, 44 Air Medals, and several other medals and commendations over the course of his career, including the Republic of Vietnam’s Gallantry Cross. Taylor concluded his military service as a Captain with the 2nd Armored Cavalry in West Germany.

After the Army, Taylor operated a successful roofing and sheet metal company (Lookout Sheet Metal Company) in Chattanooga. He was heavily involved with the Military Officers Association of America – Chattanooga Chapter, Vietnam Veterans of America – Chapter 203, American Legion – Post #14 and several other veterans’ organizations. Larry was also a member of St. Elmo Avenue Baptist Church in Chattanooga.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Robert L. Taylor and Frances L. Taylor; and grandparents: Harry T. and Etta K. Taylor and Howard B. and Carrie G. Lowe. Survivors include his wife of over 50 years,

Toni B. Taylor; Two Sons, Larry T. Hough of Knoxville, Tenn and Grady T. Hough (Nancy) of Reston, VA; sister, Barbara T. Lemley (Glenn) of Hixson, Tenn.; and five grandchildren.

In leu of flowers, please send memorial contributions to the Larry Taylor Exhibit Fund at the Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center, P.O. Box 11467, Chattanooga, Tenn. 37401 or online at https://www.mohhc.org.

Those who wish to pay Tribute, Respect and Honor the life and legacy of Medal of Honor Recipient Captain Larry L. Taylor may do so by signing a special condolence book at the Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center, 2 W. Aquarium Way Suite 104, Chattanooga, Tenn. through 5 PM on Tuesday, September 5.

Captain Taylor will be laid to rest on Wednesday, February 7, beginning with a closed Memorial Service at 2 PM at the Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center. The family extends an invitation to all Veterans, Veterans Groups & Associations, as well as the General Public, to help honor and pay tribute to Captain Taylor by lining the streets as his procession departs the Heritage Center at approximately 2:45 PM and travel down Market Street, E. MLK Boulevard and Holtzclaw Avenue to his final resting place at the Chattanooga National Cemetery.

The Committal Service with full United States Military Honors for Captain Taylor is scheduled for 3:30 PM at the Armed Forces Pavilion at the Chattanooga National Cemetery. The service will conclude with a 21-gun salute, an Army Apache helicopter flyover and the playing of Echo Taps. A private graveside service for the family will be held afterwards.

Arrangements entrusted to Lane Funeral Home, 601 Ashland Terrace, Chattanooga, TN 37415, (423) 877-3524; https://www.lanefh.com.