REMEMBERING CHILDHOOD FRIENDS - MIKE AND BOBBY TAYLOR
Taylor and Sons --- Joe Taylor (top right) with sons --- Mike (front row left) and Bobby (front row right)
(From yesterday's - February 10th - BLOG post that didn't get posted on time!)
As some of you know, Mike and I left Providence College in the Fall of 1967, opting to fulfill our military obligation sooner -- rather than later -- with the idea of returning to college in the future under the GI Bill.
Those were difficult times for young men coming of age during the Vietnam War and just at the onset of the "Sexual Revolution". If you didn't have a military deferment, such as those afforded young men in college, Uncle Sam would be calling about the time you were a 'grown man' of 19 years, 7 months --- give or take a month or so.
Rather than applying for student loans and having all that debt weighing us down, and a seemingly endless war awaiting our participation after graduation, Mike and I weighed the merits of enlisting in the Army --- and getting it (our birthright of being young, free, patriotic and duty-bound to defend our country young men) over with. The discussion gained both momentum and others in similar circumstances and spilled over to the embankment overlooking our playground basketball court. The site of many epic battles of teenaged boys hooping it up for countless hours almost daily --- even while snow made the footing a 'bit' difficult --- was our 'ground zero' in discussions that would alter the course of our lives.
When everything was said and done, Mike, Charlie, Paul, myself, and a friend of a friend, joined the Army on the "Buddy System" (where they promise to keep you in training together for as long as possible. And they did!) --- and left home weeks later: Halloween Nite 1967!
Among those opting out of our plan to enlist and, hopefully, get a better gig with Uncle Sam than those he went calling for (and yes, Mike and I did go to Vietnam), was Mike's younger brother, Bobby. "I'll take my chances with the draft", declared the then 18 year old kid. I'll always remember Bobby's words. He was killed in action on February 27, 1970 in Vietnam --- at the ripe 'old age' or 20!
My last visit to Guadalajara was in 1993. A phone call from Mom brought with it the tragic news --- Mike Taylor had died of a heart attack after playing basketball with a group of guys in their 20's and 30's.
That was 15 years ago, today!
Michael Dennis Taylor
February 16, 1948 - February 10, 1993
Robert Thomas Taylor
July 5, 1949 - February 27, 1970
Rest in peace, my friends...
As some of you know, Mike and I left Providence College in the Fall of 1967, opting to fulfill our military obligation sooner -- rather than later -- with the idea of returning to college in the future under the GI Bill.
Those were difficult times for young men coming of age during the Vietnam War and just at the onset of the "Sexual Revolution". If you didn't have a military deferment, such as those afforded young men in college, Uncle Sam would be calling about the time you were a 'grown man' of 19 years, 7 months --- give or take a month or so.
Rather than applying for student loans and having all that debt weighing us down, and a seemingly endless war awaiting our participation after graduation, Mike and I weighed the merits of enlisting in the Army --- and getting it (our birthright of being young, free, patriotic and duty-bound to defend our country young men) over with. The discussion gained both momentum and others in similar circumstances and spilled over to the embankment overlooking our playground basketball court. The site of many epic battles of teenaged boys hooping it up for countless hours almost daily --- even while snow made the footing a 'bit' difficult --- was our 'ground zero' in discussions that would alter the course of our lives.
When everything was said and done, Mike, Charlie, Paul, myself, and a friend of a friend, joined the Army on the "Buddy System" (where they promise to keep you in training together for as long as possible. And they did!) --- and left home weeks later: Halloween Nite 1967!
Among those opting out of our plan to enlist and, hopefully, get a better gig with Uncle Sam than those he went calling for (and yes, Mike and I did go to Vietnam), was Mike's younger brother, Bobby. "I'll take my chances with the draft", declared the then 18 year old kid. I'll always remember Bobby's words. He was killed in action on February 27, 1970 in Vietnam --- at the ripe 'old age' or 20!
My last visit to Guadalajara was in 1993. A phone call from Mom brought with it the tragic news --- Mike Taylor had died of a heart attack after playing basketball with a group of guys in their 20's and 30's.
That was 15 years ago, today!
Michael Dennis Taylor
February 16, 1948 - February 10, 1993
Robert Thomas Taylor
July 5, 1949 - February 27, 1970
Rest in peace, my friends...
posted by Jack at 12:44 PM
1 Comments:
Thank you Jack, Mike and Bobby were very special people. Being younger, I looked up to the both Taylor brothers with respect, admiration and felt safe with them living close by. They never were too busy for me no matter what the circumstance, and that I am forever grateful.
With warmest regards,
Susan J Berg (Allison)
May they rest in peace.
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