How a Vietnam Hero’s Song Led to the Medal of Honor

It is not often that a song is performed at a Medal of Honor ceremony, especially when it tells the story of a hero’s actions in Vietnam 55 years earlier. And it is surely unprecedented for a song to have been partly responsible for the awarding of our nation’s highest decoration for valor.

Former U.S. Army officer and helicopter pilot Capt. Larry Taylor, now 81, received the Medal of Honor at a White House ceremony in September this year that recognized his bravery while flying his AH-1G Cobra helicopter gunship out of Phu Loi base camp, north of Saigon, on the night of June 18, 1968.

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The words of “No Man Left Behind” were written by Taylor himself two years ago along with professional songwriters Steve Dean and Don Goodman, co-founders of the organization Freedom Sings USA, a charity that pairs veterans with songwriters to help treat combat-related trauma through music and writing.

It was Dean who sang Taylor’s words at the White House: “Four men were surrounded, Outnumbered and outgunned … Looking back on that day, we were in the hands of God…Looking back on that war, They wouldn’t let us win, If I could do it over, I’d do it all again.”

Dave Hill, 75, was one of the four men who Taylor rescued that night and the only one still alive today. Now living in Nevada, the former sergeant, who attended the White House ceremony, recounted to AARP Veteran Report the incredible tale of Taylor’s courage.

Sgt. Dave Hill was one of the men Larry Taylor rescued on June 18, 1968.

Courtesy Thomas W. McMahon

Under intense fire from Vietcong forces, the pilot, who was serving with Troop D (Air), 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 1st Infantry Division, disobeyed orders to return to base, choosing instead to risk his life for a long-range reconnaissance patrol (LRRP) surrounded by the enemy and out of ammunition.

As the song puts in, from Taylor’s perspective as his Cobra swept in: “Eight seconds, we were out of there, and everybody lived, Two straddling the rocket pads, two clinging to the skids.”

Hill joined Freedom Sings in large part to help with the campaign to get Taylor’s Silver Star upgraded to a Medal of Honor.

“I think he perfectly captured the experience in the song,” Hill said. “In just three minutes he tells the story not just of what was done, but why it was done. Larry’s actions were dictated by his own motto, ‘Leave No Man Behind,’ which is the name of the song.

"Had he gone back to base and refueled and re-armed like he was supposed to do, there would have been no repercussions. Everyone would have just said he was doing his duty. But Larry chose to do otherwise. And if he hadn’t, I wouldn’t be sitting here today.”