United States. A Signed Photograph of Vietnam War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient, Captain (Armor) James Allen Taylor

In black and white, matte finish, signed "Jim Taylor CMH Vietnam" in gold-colored ink across his chest near the bottom of the photo, stamped "OFFICIAL U.S. ARMY PHOTOGRAPH / JAMES A. TAYLOR / 573-46-2313 / MAJOR / 1 DEC 77 / OAKLAND ARMY BASE, OAKLAND, CA." on the reverse, measuring 126 mm (w) x 177 mm (h), extremely fine. Accompanied by a 88 mm (w) x 51 mm (h) business card signed by him in black ink "Jim Taylor Vietnam 1967-68", illustrating the Army CMH and inscribed "JIM TAYLOR C.M.H. U.S. Army (Ret.)". 

Footnote: James Allen Taylor was born on December 31, 1937 in Arcata, California and made his home in San Francisco, California. Taylor joined the Army from San Francisco, California in 1956 and was commissioned as an Army officer in 1965. By November 8, 1967, he was serving as a First Lieutenant in Troop B, 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, Americal Division, United States Army. When his commander was wounded in action, Taylor was ordered into the combat zone to take command and prepare a search-and-destroy mission. During a battle the next day, November 9, 1967, west of Que Son in the Republic of Vietnam, Taylor repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to rescue crewmen from damaged assault vehicles and personnel carriers. For his actions that day, he earned a Congressional Medal of Honor from the Department of the Army, General Orders No. 78 (December 10, 1968). His citation states: "The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Captain (Armor) James Allen Taylor (ASN: 0-5329439), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Executive Officer of Troop B, 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, Americal Division, in action against enemy aggressor forces in the Republic of Vietnam, on 9 November 1967. Captain Taylor's troop was engaged in an attack on a fortified position west of Que Son when it came under intense enemy recoilless rifle, mortar, and automatic weapons fire from an enemy strong point located immediately to its front. One armored cavalry assault vehicle was hit immediately by recoilless rifle fire and all five crew members were wounded. Aware that the stricken vehicle was in grave danger of exploding, Captain Taylor rushed forward and personally extracted the wounded to safety despite the hail of enemy fire and exploding ammunition. Within minutes a second armored cavalry assault vehicle was hit by multiple recoilless rifle rounds. Despite the continuing intense enemy fire, Captain Taylor moved forward on foot to rescue the wounded men from the burning vehicle and personally removed all the crewmen to the safety of a nearby dike. Moments later the vehicle exploded. As he was returning to his vehicle, a bursting mortar round painfully wounded Captain Taylor, yet he valiantly returned to his vehicle to relocate the medical evacuation landing zone to an area closer to the front lines. As he was moving his vehicle, it came under machine gun fire from an enemy position not 50 yards away. Captain Taylor engaged the position with his machine gun, killing the three-man crew. Upon arrival at the new evacuation site, still another vehicle was struck. Once again Captain Taylor rushed forward and pulled the wounded from the vehicle, loaded them aboard his vehicle, and returned them safely to the evacuation site. His actions of unsurpassed valor were a source of inspiration to his entire troop, contributed significantly to the success of the overall assault on the enemy position, and were directly responsible for saving the lives of a number of his fellow soldiers. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military profession and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army." Taylor reached the rank of Major before retiring from the Army in 1980. He holds a bachelor's degree in criminology from the University of Tampa.