Richard R. Taylor

Surgeon General of the US Army

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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

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.

## Contents

* 1 Biography
* 1.1 Early life and education
* 1.2 Military career
* 1.3 Later life
* 2 Recognition
* 3 References

## Biography[edit]

### Early life and education[edit]

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 Sanitatorium 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 and was well known for keeping the family together and being a great cook. 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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Lieutenant General Richard R. Taylor's ribbon bar:

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|  |
1st Row  | Army Distinguished Service Medal | Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster

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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

## References[edit]

[1]

1. ^ "Barnes". Archived from the original on 2005-11-19. Retrieved 2005-11-27.

Military offices

Preceded by

Hal B. Jennings

|  Surgeon General of the US Army
1973–1977  | Succeeded by

Charles C. Pixley

Authority control

General|

* VIAF
* 1
* WorldCat

National libraries|

* United States