PVT Marion W. Taylor
We honor and remember PVT Marion William Taylor of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 327th GIR, 101st Airborne Division.
Private (PVT) Marion William Taylor of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 327th Glider Infantry Regiment (GIR), 101st Airborne Division, was born in Smyrna, Cobb County, Georgia, to Howard O. and Mary P. (Gonzales) Taylor on May 7, 1914. He had four brothers, Gordon K., Charles A., John M., and Robert H. Taylor, and two sisters, Louise T. and Mary F. Taylor.
Marion graduated from Smyrna High School. While at school, he distinguished himself on the football team and was known as “Stumpy” to his friends. His first job was as a manager of the local Roger’s Store, a job he held for several years. During that time, he won a name for himself in efficient and dependable service.
He married Robbie Mayes Bramlett on March 26, 1935. Their marriage was blessed with two children: a daughter, Mary Jo, born on February 13, 1937, and a son, William Howard, born on October 19, 1938.
Marion registered for the draft in Atlanta, Cobb County, Georgia, on October 16, 1940. At the time, he was employed by Highland Bakery Inc in Atlanta. His next job, prior to his induction, was with “The Little Farm” in Miami. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in Camp Blanding, Florida, on December 22, 1943.
On January 12, 1944, he was attached unassigned to Company B of the Reception Center at Camp Blanding. He left for the Infantry Replacement Training Center at Camp Croft, South Carolina, on January 19, and upon arrival the next day, he was assigned to Company B of the 40th Infantry Training Battalion. Marion received his basic infantry training at Camp Croft.
On May 22, 1944, he traveled by train with 92 other enlisted men to Fort Benning, Georgia. On May 26, he was transferred from the Reception Company of the 1st Parachute Training Regiment at Fort Benning to Company L of the same unit to begin jump training with Parachute Class No. 127. Two weeks later, on June 10, his class was transferred to Company F to continue its parachute training.
After PVT Taylor received his wings, he attended a specialist course, Basic Communication, which started on July 2. He successfully completed the course on September 2, 1944, ranking highest in his class at code school and among the top in communication school.
On October 8, 1944, he was transferred with a group of 150 EM from Fort Benning to the AGF Replacement Depot No. 1 at Fort George Meade, Maryland, awaiting shipment to England. PVT Marion Taylor was attached to Company C of the 8th Replacement Battalion on October 26, and mentioned on an outgoing transport list, being processed for duty overseas through Camp Kilmer, New Jersey.
On December 16, 1944, he was assigned to the 11th Replacement Depot (Detachment 105, Ground Forces Replacement System) in Givet, France, and two weeks later, on December 30, to the Headquarters Company, 327th GIR.
On January 5, 1945, PVT Marion Taylor reached his final destination, Charlie Company of the 327th, only to be killed in action the next day, under unknown circumstances. The 327th lost seven men that day (five KIA, two DOW), despite several sources indicating that January 6 “was a quiet day for the 101st”.
Another Screaming Eagle had soared to the ultimate height. 🦅
PVT Marion Taylor died at 30 years of age in Belgium. Besides his mother, four brothers, and two sisters, he was survived by his wife, son Billy, and daughter Mary Jo.
PVT Taylor was first buried at the temporary military facility of Grand Failly, France, at Section F, Row 1, Grave 18. Under the WWII “Return of the Dead Program”, he was repatriated home on April 15, 1949, and reburied the next day at the New Smyrna Cemetery, where he rests eternally at Section C, Plot 148.
PVT Taylor was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart Medal.
Happy Birthday in Heaven, Marion.
Lest we forget! 🇺🇸
Sources:
Find a Grave
Family Search
NARA
Ancestry
Other sources used for this article are known to the author and available on request.
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