Junior was one of my best friends. He died a few years back... and the conversation he had with (LT) Bob Pearson (the platoon leader) in Atlanta at the VHPA reunion about his 3 shoot downs at Dak To in 24 hours, is the stuff of legend. They were best buds but the LT had to order Jr. to fly that 3rd mission and Jr. got his foot broke in the last crash. I still remember the end of the conversation in Atlanta in the early 1990s, when Jr. was telling me about his first mission after the cast was removed at least a week early. Junior's ship arrived at the 18th surg pad with a new guy in the right seat, and in the left seat was junior's boot and an order. It was a frag order to Dak To and old Bob Pearson chimed in at that point in the story with, "God dammit Junior, I told you, I was short of pilots". Still arguing close to years later. Damn, I love those guys. When we were instructing at Hunter AAF Jr. crashed and really messed his back up bad. he was told he'd never walk again but he did, albeit in pain.
Once he got a husband after me after he got caught on the phone talking to the man's wife. (he thought they were estranged). When the guy demanded to know who he was he said "Bob Taylor". With friends like that, who needs enemies LOL.. anyway, when I asked him about it he said my name was all he could think of and I said "did it ever occur to you to just hang up"? He just laughed. Anyway he was a great warrior and a hell of a guy. He is missed.
BT