Second Lieutenant Taylor was a member of Company B, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. For his ability, he received a battlefield commission. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in North Korea on 16 April 1951.

For his leadership and valor, Second Lieutenant Taylor was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.