Taylor, Edd David, Navy Lt

Navy lieutenant's remains brought home for burial
By Linda Hicks
Staff writer
The Searcy Sun

A Kensett mother laid her son to rest Sunday more than 36 years after he was killed in the line of duty while serving his country in Vietnam.
Navy Lt. Edd David Taylor was laid to rest with full military honors Sunday at Cleburne County Memorial Gardens in Heber Springs. A Navy Honor Guard manned his casket while members of the Leonard Stark VFW of Heber Springs stood at attention presenting the flags in the backdrop.
About 500 people were in attendance including Lt. Taylor’s mother, Lois Taylor, of Kensett, who was presented the burial flag following a 21-gun salute and Taps.
“I know this is a blessing for Mrs. Taylor,” said Chaplain Lt. Raynard Allen of Millington, Tennessee, who performed the service. He was referring to bringing Lt. Taylor’s remains home for burial.
Lt. Taylor, a member of Carrier Wing 16, was an A1H Skyraider pilot with VA-152, “The Friendlies,” Allen said. VA-152 flew many missions over North Vietnam during their tour from May 10 to Dec. 6, 1965. In fact, Allen said, they flew over 12,000 sorties, dropped nearly 10,000 tons of ordnance and received 18 unit awards.
Lt. Taylor ‘s plane was struck by ground fire while on a search and rescue mission Aug. 29, 1965. His wingman reportedly saw his plane crash into a ridge and burst into flames. Lt. Taylor was listed as killed in action, however, his body was not recovered. On Jan. 2, 1996, a joint United States/Socialist Republic of Vietnam team traveled to Son La Province and conducted interviews with Vietnamese villagers who supplied information. A survey of the crash site was conducted in Oct. 1999. The crash site was excavated in March 2000 and Taylor’s remains were recovered and sent to Hawaii for DNA analysis. Lt. Taylor’s identity was confirmed.
At Sunday’s service, Allen read a couple of Lt. Taylor’s letters home including his last one.
“I doubt if you’ll ever read this, however, if it becomes necessary, I’d like for you to feel better by knowing I’ve had a very full and rewarding life. If my death is in the line of duty, I can think of no more honorable way to go and I’ll probably be doing a job I enjoy more than any other I can think of. Sincerely, Ed David.”
When Lt. Taylor was killed, Allen said, he was searching for F-105 pilot Captain Wesley D. Schierman, who was shot down on his 37th combat mission over North Vietnam. Capt. Schierman’s plane went down Aug. 28, 1965. Lt. Taylor was on his third low-level pass trying to locate the source of the emergency radio when his plane was struck by ground fire, Allen said. Captain Schierman was captured and spent the rest of the war as a POW.
The search and rescue missions for downed pilots, Allen said, were the number one priority for the men in the Skyraiders.
Allen read a letter to the family from Capt. Schierman.
“I hope that this finally will help to give you some peace. Lt. Taylor died for a noble cause. This cause might not have been recognized by the politicians, or the services, but among the airmen who flew in Vietnam, the attempt to rescue a fellow American was the number one priority.. Men would willingly risk their lives toward that end. Sometimes it worked and as in this case, sometimes it did not, but the effort was held in the highest esteem by us all. My thanks to Mrs. Taylor for raising a son who was willing to risk his life in an attempt to aid his fellow man.”
Allen ended the service by saying that Lt. Taylor was committed and dedicated pilot who upheld the Navy values.
“Lt. Taylor was a man of courage. If the situation was so today, and he was here, he would be one of the first pilots to step forward to do his part,” Allen said.
Taylor was born in Heber Springs and graduated from Heber Springs High School in 1957. He attended Southern State College in Magnolia. He entered the service as a naval aviation cadet in July 1960 and received his commission and wings of gold Dec. 1, 1961.