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Casualty Info
Home Town Mount Vernon, NY
Casualty Date Jun 25, 1944
Cause KIA-Died of Wounds
Reason Burns
Location Pacific
Conflict World War II
Location of Interment Manila American Cemetery - Taguig City, Philippines
Wall/Plot Coordinates F 7 88
Military Service Number 122 496
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
On June 24, 1944 at 4:30pm PT-193 under the command of Taylor with PT-331 under the command of Capitan Lt. Montz departed Mios Woendi PT Boat Base on a mission to Noemfoor Island. After completing their mission, both PT Boats hunted Japanese barges and became grounded on a coral reef.
While preparing to abandoned ship, gas was poured over all compartments. Taylor went below deck to his quarters for a final check of the ship. While below decks, the gas ignited and exploded, severely wounding Taylor and blowing four of the crew members overboard onto the reef and all sustained injuries. Taylor was severely burned and went into shock. Afterwards, transported to hospital ship AHS Maetsuycker, but at 9:45pm died from his wounds.
Comments/Citation:
Silver Star
"The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Cyrus R. Taylor (NSN: 0-122496), United States Naval Reserve, for gallantry in action when Motor Torpedo Boat ONE HUNDRED NINETY-THREE (PT-193), was bombed by an enemy float plane while patrolling with another torpedo boat on 13 March 1944. Lieutenant Taylor directed highly effective evasive tactics and enabled his crew to destroy the Japanese plane and bring the torpedo boat through without casualties among personnel or damage to the vessel. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service."
US Navy Action Report, PT 193 24/25 June 1944
Bronze Star
AWARDED FOR ACTIONS DURING World War II
Service: Navy
General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 333 (December 1944)
Citation:
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Cyrus R. Taylor (NSN: 0-122496), United States Naval Reserve, for gallantry in action when Motor Torpedo Boat ONE HUNDRED NINETY-THREE (PT-193), was bombed by an enemy float plane while patrolling with another torpedo boat on 13 March 1944. Lieutenant Taylor directed highly effective evasive tactics and enabled his crew to destroy the Japanese plane and bring the torpedo boat through without casualties among personnel or damage to the vessel. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.
LT Taylor was the Officer in Charge
PT-193 "Bitchin' Witch" Laid down 30 November 1942 by the Electric Boat Co., Elco Works, Bayonne, NJ
Launched 11 February 1943
Completed 27 February 1943 Placed in service under the command of LT Cyrus R. Taylor, USNR
World War II/Asiatic-Pacific Theater/New Guinea Campaign (1943-44)
From Month/Year
January / 1943
To Month/Year
December / 1944
Description The last obstacle in liberating all of New Guinea island was the Vogelkop Peninsula in Dutch New Guinea. The Japanese resistance on the peninsula gathered at Manokwari, and MacArthur did not wish to contest with this force. Instead, his "hit 'em where they ain't" strategy took the Allied forces to a number of undefended beaches near Cape Opmaria and Sansapor. Like Rabaul, the 25,000 men at Manokwari were now stranded, frustratingly idling uselessly.
In Sep 1944, Allied troops occupied the Halmahera Islands, concluding the New Guinea Campaign. MacArthur was now only several hundred miles from the Philippines. In his memoir, MacArthur attributed to the Allied victory over New Guinea to mobility and the ability to achieve surprise at key confrontations. Additionally, he also insisted that his refusal to deploy military governors over conquered regions helped his command focus on the task at hand. Instead, he brought in Dutch and Australian civil administrators immediately after the area had been deemed secure. "The success of this method was reflected in the complete lack of friction between the various governments concerned", he noted.
Although Allied attention would move toward the Philippine Islands by this time, small pockets of Japanese resistance would continue to fight until late May 1945.