On June 23, 1918, Macy Nelson Taylor was born in Norlina, N.C. He was the first of three children to Doma and Samuel Taylor.
He went joined the Navy before World War II, in part because he met a cute young girl in his teens and thought that if he got a Navy uniform, he could get the girl. He did get the uniform but he didn’t get the young lady. After quitting school, he served in the Navy and got out in September of 1940.
When Pearl Harbor was attacked, he joined the Army a few days after Dec. 7 and was sent to the Pacific Theatre. He served under Gen. Douglas MacArthur. He thought that MacArthur was the greatest man who ever lived, including Jesus. He was there when the Japanese took Corregidor, and was there when MacArthur said “I shall return.”
Macy came back with MacArthur when he returned, parachuting onto Corregidor. He was standing on the Japanese soil when they raised the American flag after the surrender.
After WWII, Macy served two tours in Korea, leading platoons into battle as a sergeant. Macy meanwhile got married to Dorothy Hardee of Benson in 1950; they had two kids. Pamela and Daniel. He retired in 1961 from the 82ndAirborne Division at Fort Bragg, with the rank of Sergeant Major. He was a Master Blaster, Jump Master, and parachutist with over 250 jumps. He stated he was scared every time he jumped out of a plane. After four years of the Navy and 22 years in the United States Army, he retired. He saw Vietnam on the horizon and had seen enough.
Macy and his family retired to a little neighborhood called Jerome in the northern part of Bladen County. I came along five years later.
My dad was working for the U.S. Post Office by then, where he would deliver mail for 30 years. I would ask him about his military action but he wouldn’t say much. I didn’t know it but war was tough on him. He wouldn’t say it but death can be a terrible thing. Kill or be killed is a bad way of life.
He passed from cancer on March 14, 2001. The earth lost a great man. I lost my best friend.
I admired my dad so much I never really told him how proud I was of him or how much I love him. I’m ashamed of that. He deserved to know. Maybe he knew.
I have a lot of respect for our military. They do unthinkable things to keep us safe. I don’t agree with 99 percent of the wars but the military has 100 percent of my respect because of my dad.
My father said to me one day, ”Son, I fought in those wars so you may never have to.”
Thanks, Dad.
He did these things for us and future generations.
He did it for me.
That’s why I’m proud to be the son of the Greatest Generation that ever lived.
