Even before the smoke ceased fouling the air and the rubble cooled, thousands of young Americans volunteered for military service after September 11, 2001 when the New York City World Trade Center towers collapsed in flames from the nation’s worst terrorist attack.
Johnny Taylor was one of those fresh faced patriots who harbored the twin hopes of avenging the horrific destruction that killed hundreds of innocent citizens, as well as preventing future catastrophes.
A graduate of Brockton High School in Southeastern Massachusetts, he counted among his heroes another boy from Brockton who rose from a job in a shoe factory to become the Heavyweight King of the boxing world, Rocky Marciano.
Always an underdog, the boxing community thought that the Brockton Blockbuster was too small (about 180 pounds) and had started serious training too late (at age 25) to amount to anything in the fight game. From his first win in 1947, to his last in 1955 Rocky’s record was 49 wins and zero losses. He was then, and remains to this date the only unbeaten Heavyweight champion.
In 1963, Sports Illustrated “tested” Rocky’s punch and found that it had the explosive energy of an armor piercing bullet and contained as much force as would be required to spot lift 1000 pounds 12 inches off the ground!
But this story is not about one of the planet’s greatest prizefighters, it’s about another kind of fighter, the previously mentioned Johnny Taylor, who at five foot seven and 140 pounds didn’t look intimidating or impressive.
Though Johnny didn’t have Rocky’s might, he did bear a similar determination that impressed the Drill Instructors and officers at Fort Devens in New England. He sailed through basic training and got slotted into a unit headed for the seemingly endless conflict in Iraq. Johnny served 12 years in the army including two tours each in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Rising to Master Sergeant, he was awarded a number of ribbons and medals, but didn’t achieve military ‘stardom’ until one final action shortly before he was due to return to civilian life.
While facing an overwhelming force near the rebel stronghold at Tecrete, Johnny’s unit was surrounded and captured. Enduring brutal torture for more than a week, the men were convicted of ‘crimes against humanity’ and sentenced to death.
Johnny was put in a small shed, separated from his men who were confined in a rickety wooden barracks a few hundred feet away.
During the night, just hours before the scheduled execution at dawn, a guard made the mistake of checking on Johnny who had been laboring feverishly for hours to untie the ropes binding him hand and foot. Springing to his feet Johnny quickly strangled the enemy soldier with the rope. Scooping up the guard’s weapon from the dirt floor he sprinted to the barracks to free his unit. With only the rifle and ammunition obtained from the fallen guard Johnny led his troops out of the camp, killing more than a dozen pursuing enemy soldiers.
Carrying a badly injured private part of the way, Johnny guided the men through the rugged terrain to an allied post. After first aid treatment, some food and rest, they were transported back to the main U.S. base.
The group was praised by the General in charge of Iraqi operations and given orders to fly back to Washington, where they would receive further medical treatment and evaluation. In addition, honors and awards ceremonies were planned which were to include not only top military officials but the Commander in Chief himself.
The plane took off but Johnny was not on it. He remained in Iraq.
In Washington there was a furor when it was learned that Sgt. Johnny Taylor had not made the flight. Senior officers questioned the men who could offer no explanation.
“He never showed up for the flight, that’s all I know,” said each soldier.
Johnny was officially declared ‘Absent Without Leave’. Four top army cops were sent from Arlington, Virginia to Iraq with orders to bring him back to face trial.
Johnny was not with an American unit when word was received in Iraq that a quartet of elite Military Policemen were coming for him, but he was close by and knew that he was being hunted.
He contacted Colonel Camma in the States, who had befriended him during basic training. The two men had kept in touch over the years.
‘I have something I must do Colonel. I only need a few more days to finish and then I’ll return voluntarily to Washington.”
After speaking with Johnny, Colonel Camma contacted the generals in the pentagon and explained that Sgt. Taylor gave his word that he will be in Washington in less than one week. In light of his fame and outstanding war record, the commanders agreed to suspend the AWOL status for seven days.
Johnny’s story was told from Portland to Portland - Maine to Oregon that is, and everywhere in between. He was a national hero but still faced a court martial.
The public however didn’t know anything about his troubles. The army covered it up. Not a word squeezed out about the trial which could result in one of the greatest military idols of the U.S. being imprisoned for years, decades, or perhaps for life!
Inside the Pentagon, intense internal pressure was put on Colonel Krusher, the prosecutor, to drop the case, but he steadfastedly refused. Finally, on the night before the charges were to be officially brought, Colonel Camma flew from Camp Edwards, his Cape Cod base off the coast of Massachusetts, to Washington D.C. Arriving after nine p.m. he sought out Krusher in his quarters and banged on his door. Krusher threatened to call the guard.
“Listen to me for ten minutes and then call them if you wish. I’ll tell you why Johnny Taylor stayed in Iraq”.
Hesitant, Krusher ultimately agreed to the audience with the Massachusetts Colonel.
“Sgt. Taylor’s not very impressive Colonel Krusher. He’s not even five foot eight. Probably weighs 150 soaking wet. I sure wasn’t impressed when I first saw him 12 years ago at basic training in Fort Devens.
Sitting in my office on the second floor of the admin building I watched the recruits train. During the running I always noticed a little guy far behind the pack. It looked like his legs were going faster than a windmill in a gale, but he was 20 or 30 yards behind the group. I noticed too that after ‘fall out’ was called and everybody else had left, that little recruit was still on the field and he was still running.
After the third week of basic when I looked out during the run and scanned the last ten or twenty soldiers I couldn’t find the little guy. I asked Sgt. Shay what happened to him and Shay said…”He’s running better now. He’s in the middle of the pack!”
After the sixth week, I asked about him again.
“He’s never going to be a great runner sir, but he’s worked himself up to the top ten per cent. It’s the same in everything Colonel. He started out far behind everybody else, but now he’s in the top five or ten per cent of every training category.
I sought out the kid after graduation and congratulated him on his hard work. I came to know him and we became friends. We’ve been in communication for the last 12 years.
He always reminded me of another soldier, Audie Murphy. I never was lucky enough to meet him but he was a hero of mine. Audie Murphy tried to join the Marines after World War Two broke out, they laughed at him. He was too small. The Navy and the Air Force also refused him, but not the army. We took him.
You know the story, he was fearless in battle. His most famous escapade was the time he jumped on top of a burning tank destroyer and single handedly held off an entire company of enemy soldiers and tanks for over an hour. The allied armies gave him every award they possessed after that epic battle.
“Johnny Taylor reminds me of Audie Murphy not just because they are both heroes and of fairly small stature….but because of how they felt about war. Audie killed hundreds of enemy soldiers. Not because he liked killing. He didn’t. He hated it. But he loved America and gladly offered his life for the American Way.
“Audie didn’t have happy days after his glorious service even though he went on to fame and fortune in Hollywood movies. He suffered from depression and other ills that we knew little about during his time. Now we understand more about the problems soldiers face upon returning to civilian life and we have ways to help them.
Johnny Taylor stayed behind in Iraq and refused to come back despite a direct order. That’s true. Here’s why. He felt guilt and remorse about taking 12 enemy lives. He felt great pain at having to kill those men.
He told me, “They were soldiers just like you and me. They were under orders to kill the enemy just like I was under orders. They had mothers who loved them. Perhaps some of them had wives and children. I couldn’t go back home until I sorted everything out. I needed to make amends. I knew that if I went back to the prison camp I’d probably be killed but I had to do something.
“Finally I figured it out. I rounded up all the money I could get my hands on and I’m giving it to an international group that dispenses food and medicine without regard to politics or national origin. That’s not going to bring back the dead on either side, but at least it’s a little ripple in the pond. Maybe if there’s enough ripples someday we’ll be one earth united and there will be no need for armies.”
“That’s what he told me Colonel and I think we should commend that soldier and help him, not punish him. I hope you agree.”
Colonel Camma left without any assurance from Krusher that he would change his mind and drop the case. The following morning the military court convened with the top army brass in attendance, as well as a number of important politicians. Colonel Camma was seated with Sgt. Johnny Taylor and his defense lawyer. Krusher was at the head of the prosecution table with a team of four prosecuting attorneys.
The judge gaveled the hearing open and directed Krusher to present the charges.
“Gentlemen, I called for the prosecution of this soldier because he did not return from the battle field to Washington when directed to do so. That is a fact. The punishment for this offense can be imprisonment for a term of ten years to life.
“The defendant is a military hero of the highest rank and yet it is indeed true that he was absent without leave. I recently received information that shows that Sgt. Taylor was on a mission of mercy during the period in question. I believe that he would have been given permission to carry out his project if he had been able to contact the proper personnel.
“In light of these new facts, I drop all charges against Sgt. Taylor and further recommend him for one of the highest honors that can be bestowed to a member of our military, the Distinguished Service Cross.”
A free man with no charges against him, Johnny Taylor arrived in Washington the following day and was enthusiastically greeted by thousands along with the army band and a parade. He was a free man. Despite offers of promotions and easy duty, he left the army when his hitch was up and went home to New England.
In Washington and all around the country, the public never knew that but for the intervention of Col. Camma, one of America’s greatest heroes might have been sent to prison for life.
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That’s all for now folks. Be sure to look for the upcoming book called “Four Pairs of Shorts of maybe “Eight Pairs of Shorts “or “12 Pairs of Shorts” or……..