Colonel Royal R. Taylor joined the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Camp Blanding, in 1942. He commanded the 501st Airborne Battalion at Fort Benning in 1947. He served with the 511th Airborne Regiment and the 503th, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He graduated from The Command and General Staff College in 1953 and became a Battalion Commander of the 32d Infantry Regiment in Korea. He subsequently served as G3, 11th Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky and XO, Headquarters Florida Military District, Jacksonville, Florida. | Colonel Taylor attended the Army War College in 1957 and served as a Support Group and Battle Group Commander with the 82d Airborne Division. In 1960, he was assigned J3 Headquarters SOTEE, Paris, France. | His awards and decorations include: Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star w/Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star w/2 Oak Leaf Clusters and V Device, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Ribbon w/ Metal Pendant, Combat Infantryman Badge 2d Award and various foreign decorations including the French Croix-de-Guerre w/gold Star, French and Belgium Fourragere, Militaire Willems Order and the Korean Ulcher Medal w/Gold Star.