Michael V. Taylor – Captain, United States Army

by

U.S. Department of Defense

Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)
News Release

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 081-07
January 24, 2007

DoD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the death of 12 soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died in Baghdad, Iraq, on January 20, 2007, when the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter they were in crashed.

Killed were:

Colonel Brian D. Allgood, 46, of Oklahoma, who was assigned to the 30th Medical Brigade, Europe Regional Medical Command, Heidelberg, Germany.

Staff Sergeant Darryl D. Booker, 37, of Midlothian, Virginia, who was assigned to the 29th Infantry Division, Virginia Army National Guard, Sandston, Virginia.

Sergeant First Class John G. Brown, 43, of Little Rock, Arkansas, who was assigned to the Arkansas Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 185th Aviation Regiment (Air Assault), 77th Aviation Brigade, Camp Robinson, Arkansas.

Lieuetnant Colonel David C. Canegata III, 50, of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, who was assigned to the Virgin Islands Army National Guard, Christiansted, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Command Sergeant Major Marilyn L. Gabbard, 46, of Polk City, Iowa, who was assigned to Joint Forces Headquarters, Iowa Army National Guard, Camp Dodge, Johnston, Iowa.

Command Sergeant Major Roger W. Haller, 49, of Davidsonville, Maryland, who was assigned to the 70th Regiment, Regional Training Institute – Maryland, Maryland Army National Guard, Reisterstown, Maryland.

Colonel Paul M. Kelly, 45, of Stafford, Virginia, who was assigned to the Joint Force Headquarters of the Virginia Army National Guard in Blackstone, Virginia.

Sergeant First Class Floyd E. Lake, 43, of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, who was assigned to the Virgin Islands Army National Guard, Christiansted, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Corporal Victor M. Langarica, 29, of Decatur, Georgia, who was assigned to the 86th Signal Battalion, Fort Huachuca, Arizona.

Captain Sean E. Lyerly, 31, of Pflugerville, Texas., who was assigned to the Texas Army National Guard’s 36th Combat Aviation Brigade, 36th Infantry Division, Austin, Texas.

Captain Michael V. Taylor, 40, of North Little Rock, Arkansas, who was assigned to the Arkansas Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 185th Aviation Regiment (Air Assault), 77th Aviation Brigade, Camp Robinson, Arkansas.

First Sergeant William T. Warren, 48, of North Little Rock, Arkansas, who was assigned to the Arkansas Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 185th Aviation Regiment (Air Assault), 77th Aviation Brigade, Camp Robinson, Arkansas.

The incident is under investigation.

February 27, 2007 – EGLIN AFB – Cradling a plaque honoring their son, all the parents of Arkansas Army National Guard Major Michael V. Taylor could do was weep. “I’m just very proud of my son,” Suzanne Taylor said quietly. His father, Robert Taylor, just shook his head as the tears slid down his face. And the Monday morning memorial service for their son ended. Sponsored by Chapter 566 of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the brief service at the Air Force Armament Museum honored Taylor, whose parents and grandmother live in Shalimar.

Michael died January 20, 2007, when his Black Hawk helicopter was shot down in Iraq.

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In the past, the local MOPH chapter has given actual Purple Heart medals to parents such as the Taylors. But Commander Bill Everett said they were no longer able to do that. Instead, they had a plaque made with Michael’s picture and presented it to the Taylors before a somber young color guard and several dozen friends and family members.

The Taylors brought pictures of Michael, which were arranged on a table. In the smallest picture, he was a 19-year-old “baby” in Air Force blues. After he got out of the Air Force, Michael married and moved to Arkansas, where he joined the Army National Guard and became a pilot.

“He wanted to be a pilot,” Suzanne said. “He wanted to fly.”

Michael was 40 when he died. He left a wife, an 11-year-old son and a 5-year-old daughter. Although the weeks since he died have been difficult, his mother said Monday’s ceremony helped “honor his commitment. “He did what he thought he had to do,” she said. “We’re so proud of Mike. We grieve, but we’re proud, all at the same time.”

Born: Dec. 27, 1966, Maj. Taylor is survived by his wife, Wendy, children Justin and Meredith, and parents Robert and Suzanne.

He served on active duty with the United States Air Force from April 24, 1986, to January 29, 1990, where he was an Electronic Components Switch System Operator. He then joined the United States Air Force Reserve and served from Jan. 30, 1990, to June 20, 1993, where he worked in Components System Repair. On June 21, 1993, he accepted an appointment as a commissioned officer and became a platoon leader for Battery C, 1st Battalion, 233rd Air Defense
Artillery Regiment in Dardanelle, Arkansas. From March 7, 1996, to January 15, 1997, he was ordered to active duty
for flight school, where he was assigned as a platoon leader for Company A, 1st Battalion, 114th Aviation Regiment in North Little Rock, Arkansas.

Then, on January 1, 1999, he was transferred to the 172nd Medical Company (Air Ambulance) in North Little Rock as a section leader. On August 1, 2000, he branch-transferred from Air Defense to Aviation. On May 1, 2002, he was transferred to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Bn., 114th Aviation Regt., in North Little Rock, as the S1. He was promoted to captain on June 5, 2002, and began an Active-Guard-Reserve tour on June 6, 2002. He then became the company commander on July 1, 2002, for HHC, 2nd Bn., 114th Aviation Regt. He was transferred to HHC, 1st Battalion, 114th Aviation Regiment, in North Little Rock, on August 1, 2004, assigned as the S4. On July 1, 2005,
he was assigned as the company commander for Company B, 1st Battalion, 185th Aviation Regiment, which became Company C, 1st Battalion, 131st Aviation Regiment, in April, 2006, for mobilization in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Military Awards and Decorations: • Bronze Star Medal • Purple Heart • Army Commendation Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster • Army Achievement Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster • National Defense Service Medal
• Iraqi Campaign Medal • Global War On Terrorism Service Medal • Humanitarian Service Medal • Armed Forces Reserve Medal with ‘M’ Device • Kuwait Liberation Medal • Arkansas Federal Service Ribbon • Arkansas Service Ribbon • Arkansas Emergency Service Ribbon • Senior Aviator Badge • Combat Action Badge

Interment ceremony set for 12 killed in crash
4 October 2007

Twelve soldiers who were killed on January 20, 2007, when their UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed in Baghdad will be honored during a group interment at Arlington National Cemetery.

The ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. October 12, 2007.

The soldiers, who belonged to a number of active Army and Army National Guard units, are: Colonel Brian D. Allgood, 46, of Okla. Colonel Paul M. Kelly, 45, of Stafford, Virginia, Lieuetnant Colonel David C. Canegata III, 50, of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, Captain Michael V. Taylor, 40, of North Little Rock, Arkansas, Captain Sean E. Lyerly, 31, of Pflugerville, Texas, Command Sergeant Major Marilyn L. Gabbard, 46, of Polk City, Iowa, Command Sergeant Major Roger W. Haller, 49, of Davidsonville, Maryland, First Sergeant William T. Warren, 48, of North Little Rock, Arkansas, Sergeant First Class Floyd E. Lake Sr., 43, of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Sergeant First Class Class John G. Brown, 43, of Little Rock, Arkansas, Staff Sergeant Darryl D. Booker, 37, of Midlothian, Virginia, and Corporal Victor M. Langarica, 29, of Decatur, Georgia.

After the ceremony, Lieutenant General Clyde Vaughn, director of the Army National Guard, will host a reception for all 12 families at the Army Guard’s Readiness Center in Arlington, Virginia.

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