William Richard Taylor (Sept. 18, 1931 – Sept. 21, 1951), son of Bijah William and Elizabeth P. Taylor, was born in Mascot, TN in Knox County. He was a graduate of Central High School and enrolled at the University of Tennessee in 1949. He attended UT for one year before he was called to active duty with the National Guard’s 278th Infantry Regiment which left Knoxville for Korea in September 1950.

Corporal Taylor went to Korea in August 1951 with the 89th Medium Tank Battalion, 25th Infantry Division and was killed in action on September 21, 1951.

Corporal Taylor was repatriated to his hometown of Mascot and is buried at Roseberry Cemetery. His funeral services were held March 3, 1952 at McCarty Funeral Home Chapel. American Legion Post Number 2 was in charge of services at Roseberry Cemetery and his pallbearers were the ROTC Cadets at the University of Tennessee.

Corporal Taylor was awarded the Purple Heart, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal for his service in the Korean War.

Application for gravestone for Taylor, William R

William R Taylor gravestone