Birth date: Nov 4, 1933 Death date: Sep 27, 2012
Major Taylor B. McKinnon,USAF (ret) passed away peacefully at his home Thursday, 9-27-12. He served a distinguished 31 year military career, including service in both the Korean War and Vietnam; the latter for which he was awarded Read Obituary
Taylor was instrumental in dedicating his Victors CD to my husband and others who died at Tan Son Nhut during the Tet Offensive in Jan 1968. He was a special person. I was so saddened to read of his death. My deepest sympathies to his family.
Lydia Luza Hebron Mousner
Taylor was a good friend and fine officer, a credit to the Armed Forces of the United States. He and I served together as Squadron Commanders at Norton AFB in the early 70s. We were not just friends on the job, but spent a lot of time together socially and I thoroughly enjoyed his "down to earth" approach to life and musical talents. Taylor was also best man in our wedding in 1974 at Norton AFB. We will miss him. God rest his soul.~
Lt Col Angus McIntosh,
San Antonio, Texas
Taylor and I had a long, heartfelt conversation by phone two weeks ago. He referred to me as "old chum" because we were both from Alabama. We commiserated over our old age infirmities and he brought me up to date on his music activities. Being about the same height, in OCS we were often next to each other in formations. TB was a very humble and honest person. He was also one of the most unpretentious people I have known. He loved his wife dearly and never tired of telling me what a lovely person she was. He would break into tears when recalling how they met. Though struggling to breath, in our last conversation he found it difficult to end it, doing so only when he heard his wife returning home after an errand. He threw himself totally into whatever he attempted, whether music, teaching at the local college, or life in general. I never had the pleasure of meeting his lovely wife in person but I felt that I had. He was a wonderful friend.
May he rest in peace.
Bill King
I knew Barry through my husband, Bill Chandler, as they were boyhood friends and grew up together. They renewed their friendship in more recent years and remained in touch until my husband passed away last November.
I have stayed in touch with Barry since then and was saddened to learn of his passing, as he was a kind and gentle man and I always admired and respected his intelligence.
I am sure that he and Bill are together in Heaven now so their friendship will last for all time.
Margaret Chandler
OCS is a life time bond and the loss of Taylor is a loss to all of us. I only had contact with Taylor in our wonderful emails where we talked of airplanes, flying, and engines. Taylor's success in life reflects the truly great individual and team member that he is/was. It is with a very sad and heavy heart that I am saying goodbye to this great man and wonderful individual.
Hayyim A. Grossman
AKA Howard A. McLaughlin
Psychologist and classmate.
Although I did not see or serve with Taylor after we graduated U.S. Air Force Officer Candidate School and were commissioned, a bond was built between all of us in our class that has lasted since those days. I still remember Taylor as a tall, smiling young Officer Candidate who, like all of us, was trying to better himself and be a leader of men. He became that and more and we will all miss him.
Sheldon A. Goldberg, Ph.D.
Enjoyed him as a teacher in aeronautics at SBVC. He shared great knowlege to me that I will never forget. My prayers and well wishes go out to his family.
Jacqueline Watkins SBVC student 1996-1997.
I was saddened to hear the news. Taylor and I were stationed together in Saigon in 1966. He was a Captain and I was a First Lt. With his Enlisted Service he was older than I was and I looked up to him. Our offices were in the same building and we went to lunch together frequently. I lost track of him after Vietnam and only got together again during the last few years on-line.
Taylor introduced me to drinking "tomato-beer" to cure a hangover. . .I never forgot him during all those years after Vietnam. . .and when I found Taylor B. McKinnon on the Tan Son Nhut site. . .I sent him an e-mail. He will remain a fond memory.
With sincere sympathy,
Fred Miranda
Colonel, USAF Retired
