Tombstone Tuesday - Orin E. Taylor

In five days it will be the 66th anniversary of Orin Edward Taylor’s death. Orin was killed in action during WWII in Anzio, Italy at the age of 24. He was a 1st Lieutenant in the 4th Ranger Battalion that suffered heavy casualties at Anzio along with the 1st and 3rd Rangers.

Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery

Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

Orin E. Taylor, Kansas, 1 Lt., 4 Ranger Inf Bn, World War II

November 13, 1919 - January 31, 1944

When Orin’s father, William Robert “Bill” Taylor, was a young child his parents divorced and his mother took him from Kentucky to Kansas to live when she moved there with her parents shortly after 1900. Bill had been told as a child that his father, John C. Taylor, died and did not learn that he was actually still living in Mt. Vernon, Kentucky until about 1930 when his mother was dying and told him the truth.

By the time Orin joined the army in 1941, Bill had traveled to Kentucky to visit his father, half-sisters and other relatives several times but Orin had never gone with him. For some reason, Orin decided to make the trip from Kansas to Kentucky before he reported for duty. He came alone and was welcomed by his grandfather and the rest of the family who all immediately fell in love with him. Sadly, it was their one and only chance to see him.

Orin with some of his Kentucky relatives during his visit.

[Headstone photo courtesy of Find A Grave volunteers, Ed n Edna Lane.]