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Colonel David Taylor entered the Army in February 1967. After basic training and advanced individual training (Infantry AIT) he entered Infantry OCS at Fort Benning in the 91st Company (Class 6-68). After receiving his commission on 9 February 1968 he was assigned as a Tactical Officer in the 62nd Company (Class 509-68) where he took his assigned 5th platoon through the six-month cycle to commissioning on 5 August 1968.

Colonel Taylor then successfully completed the Airborne and Ranger schools and was assigned as an infantry platoon leader to the 5th/46th Infantry Battalion, 198th Light Infantry Brigade, Americal (23rd) Infantry Division, Vietnam, in late February 1969. On 3 June 1969, he was severally wounded while leading a rescue operation of a light observation helicopter crew that had been shot down.

Taylor spent one year at Walson Army Hospital (fort Dix) recovering from wounds after which he was assigned to the 3rd AIT Brigade, Fort Jackson, SC in charge of the Small Arms Training Committee. In February 1971, he left active duty to enter into the corporate world at B.F. Goodrich Company (Akron, Ohio) and shortly after joined the U.S. Army Reserve Special Forces (Company C, 2nd Battalion, 11th Group Airborne) where he served as S-1, Operations Office and Executive Officer.

At B.F. Goodrich, Taylor was the international liaison for England and Europe for two years and later the Area Manager for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean for four years. In January 1977, Taylor moved his family to Venezuela on assignment as part of the international division of the Goodrich Chemical Group, where he resided for three years. During this time he participated in special assignments on active duty when required to do so.

Returning back to the United States in April, 1980, Taylor was given numerous product management and marketing management assignments in his civilian job, culminating as the head of advertising and public affairs. During this time Colonel Taylor served in joint special operations (SPECOPS) assignments as a staff augmentee, 1st Special Operations Command (1st SOCOM), assigned as a SPECOPS planner to the U.S. Southern Command, Panama. In 1984 he was assigned as SPECOPS Officer, U.S. Army Reserve Augmentation, U.S. Forces Caribbean in Key West.

From 1988 to 1990, Colonel Taylor was appointed Chief, Unit Training Division, and later, Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, Training, Headquarters, 83RD U.S. Army Reserve Command. On 1 July 1990 he assumed command of the U.S. Army reserve Augmentation, U.S. Atlantic Command (USLANTCOM). In addition to commanding the reserve unit, while on active duty, he served as the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Commander-in-Chief (D/CINC), USLANTCOM. After his three year tenure as commander, his reserve unit was subsequently awarded the Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation.

Colonel Taylor retired from the Army Reserve in September, 1993, the same month he was inducted into the OCS Hall of Fame (17 September 1993). His awards and decorations include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart (2), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Meritorious Service Medial (2), Army Commendation Medal, Combat Infantryman's Badge, Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, and Airborne Wings.

In 2013 Colonel Taylor was awarded The Americal Division Veterans Association Lifetime Achievement award and, in 2017, he was inducted into the State of Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame.

Colonel Taylor has been married 50 Years to his wife Susan, a former Army nurse (Captain) who worked in the operating room at Fort Dix, NJ, where they met while he was recovering from wounds (the Army issued her to him). They have two children, a boy and girl and four grandchildren He and Susan reside in Medina, Ohio.

In 2011 Colonel Taylor published his book about the three year history of his infantry battalion in the Vietnam War, titled, “Our War. The History and Sacrifices of an Infantry Battalion in the Vietnam War” The book is now in its third printing.Taylor has authored numerous articles about Vietnam and World War II in national publications.