Richard R. Taylor

Richard Ray Taylor (November 21, 1922 – November 8, 1978) was a lieutenant general in the United States military and served as the 33rd Surgeon General of the United States Army.

Richard Ray Taylor
Lieutenant General Richard R. Taylor
Born	(1922-11-21)November 21, 1922 Prairieburg, Iowa, US
Died	November 8, 1978(1978-11-08) (aged 55) Arlington, Virginia, US
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1945–1977
Rank	Lieutenant general
Commands held	Surgeon General of the US Army
Battles/wars	World War II Korean War Cold War Vietnam War
Awards	Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit (2) Bronze Star Medal
Relations	First wife, Betty Lou Simson, mother of Carolyn and Richard

Biography

Early life and education

Born on November 21, 1922, in Prairieburg, Iowa. He was raised in the small town of Norton, Kansas. His father and two of his four brothers were physicians. His father, Charles Fletcher Taylor, MD was the Superintendent of the State Sanatorium for Tuberculosis, where his brother, David Taylor, MD also served on staff for a time. His mother, Harriet Taylor, was Kansas mother of the year. Dr. Taylor was one of eight siblings. His youngest brother, Danny, died in an automobile accident while he was an architecture student at the University of Kansas. Richard Taylor graduated with a BS from the University of Chicago in 1944 and later from the University of Chicago School of Medicine with his MD in 1946.

Military career

He worked his way up in ranks in the army from First Lieutenant in 1946 to Colonel in 1964, and eventually to Surgeon General of the US Army in October 1973. He was also in charge of M.A.S.H. units in Vietnam.

Later life

He died on November 8, 1978, at Arlington Hospital (now known as Virginia Hospital Center) in Arlington, Virginia. His first wife died of polio in 1949. He is survived by his wife, Frances Colby Taylor, his daughter, Carolyn Jean, and his four sons, Richard Ray Jr., Colby Fletcher, Bryan Dudley, and David Webster.

Recognition

Lieutenant General Richard R. Taylor's ribbon bar:

1st Row	Army Distinguished Service Medal				Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster
2nd Row	Bronze Star Medal			Joint Service Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster			Army Commendation Medal
3rd Row	American Campaign Medal			World War II Victory Medal			National Defense Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
4th Row	Korean Service Medal			Vietnam Service Medal with four service stars			Vietnam Army Distinguished Service Order, 1st Class
5th Row	Vietnam Meritorious Medical Award			United Nations Korea Medal			Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badge	Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge