SGT Walter E. Taylor, USAAF
About WALTER
Veteran
Walter Taylor was a chemist whose technical skills were put to work in WWII in the Army Air Corps running a fresh water treatment plant. We always see movies of guys drinking from a canteen when there is a break in combat, but rarely do we think of where that water came from and was it safe to drink. Walter Taylor provided water in the Azores, which was a stop over point for injured soldiers returning home from the European theater.
Walter was also blessed with a beautiful tenor voice, and was further blessed by a Chaplain who could not sing. The chaplain asked Walter to assist him with services and other Chaplain duties. Water’s duties changed. Providing aid and comfort, assisting with church and funeral services, tending to the needs and desires of the wounded and giving him an outlet for his singing voice.
Upon return to the states, he used his GI bill to go to the NY College of Music to study Opera. His instructor, a famous Russian opera singer commented that “you could have been wonderful if I had worked with you a few years earlier….” Professional Opera aspirations dashed, Walter went to work and sang in the church choir for over 50 years. You have not lived until you have been in a car on the way to church and an opera singer is warming up at full volume singing the scales. Mi, mi, mi, mi. I was blessed to hear this and truly blessed to be his son.
Flag Location
Flag
AC-21
Sponsor
Todd Taylor
Location
Honor Field A
