Pool Reports of September 5, 2023

In-town pool report #1 - lunch lid

Good morning folks -

Lunch lid until 12:45 p.m.

As a reminder, Jake Sullivan is scheduled to join today's briefing, which is listed for 1 p.m.

In-town pool report #2

Briefing now at 1:15 p.m., per the White House.

In-town pool report #3 - two minutes to briefing

Two minute warning for the briefing issued at 1:18 p.m.

In-town pool report #3 - Sullivan

[APP Note: This is Report #4. See reporter's comment in Report #5.]

Briefing underway as of 1:21 p.m.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan began his portion of the program at 1:26 p.m.

In-town pool report #5 - briefing over

Jake Sullivan finished up his portion of the briefing at 2:07 p.m. Karine Jean-Pierre then took questions until 2:32 p.m.

(The report on Sullivan beginning his remarks should have been #4, so this is #5)

In-town pool report #6

Gathering now for the Medal of Honor Ceremony in the East Room. This is open to pre-credentialed media and pooled for TV, so I will not be sending detailed remarks.

In-town pool report #7

Two minute warning for the Medal of Honor ceremony at 3:27 p.m.

In-town pool report #8 - background

POTUS began speaking at 3:31 p.m.

From the White House:

In attendance for the President's remarks at the Medal of Honor ceremony:

Captain Larry L. Taylor, Medal of Honor Recipient, U.S. Army

Secretary Lloyd Austin, Department of Defense

Secretary Denis McDonough, Department of Veterans Affairs

Senator Marsha Blackburn (TN)

Senator Bill Hagerty (TN)

Secretary Christine Wormuth, U.S. Army

General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

General Randy George, Acting Chief of Staff of the Army

General Daniel Hokanson, Chief of the National Guard Bureau

The Honorable Gabriel Camarillo, Under Secretary of the Army

Michael Weimer, Sergeant Major of the Army

Chaplain Brigadier General William Green Jr.

LTC Azizi Wesmiller, Military Aide to the President, U.S. Army

Lt Col Ann Hughes, Military Aide to the President, Space Force

Department of Defense leadership, members of the Army, and guests of Captain Taylor

Speaking Program

Chaplain Brigadier General William Green Jr. delivers the invocation

The President

Military Aide, Lieutenant Colonel Ann Hughes reads the citation

Chaplain Brigadier General William Green Jr. delivers the benediction

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The White House also sends along this background on the ceremony:

The President is awarding the Medal of Honor to Captain Larry L. Taylor, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry.

Background

On June 18, 1968, near the hamlet of Ap Go Cong, Republic of Vietnam, then-First Lieutenant Taylor was serving as a team leader of a helicopter light-fire team deployed in support of a long-range reconnaissance patrol that had been surrounded by an enemy force. First Lieutenant Taylor and his wingman arrived at the contact site and, once overhead, Taylor radioed the patrol team and asked the four Soldiers to mark their location with flares. Using the illumination as a reference point, he and his wingman strafed the enemy with mini-guns and aerial rockets. Braving intense ground fire, the two Cobra gunships continued to make low-level attack runs for the next 45 minutes.

With both helicopters nearly out of ammunition and the enemy still closing in, Taylor reconnoitered the escape route the team intended to take. Returning to the patrol team's location, Taylor learned that a plan to rescue the Soldiers with a UH-1 "Huey" helicopter had been canceled because it stood almost no chance of success. Running low on fuel, with the patrol team nearly out of ammunition, Taylor decided to extract the team using his two-man Cobra helicopter, a feat that had never been accomplished or even attempted.

He directed his wingman to fire his remaining mini-gun rounds along the eastern flank of the patrol team and then return to base camp. Taylor fired his own remaining mini-gun rounds along the team's western flank, using his Cobra's landing lights to draw the enemy's attention while the patrol team headed southeast toward a nearby extraction point Taylor had designated.

When the team reached the site, Taylor landed his Cobra under heavy enemy fire and with complete disregard for his personal safety. The patrol team climbed aboard, grabbing on to rocket-pods and skids, and Taylor carried them to a safe location before landing them back on the ground. Taylor's conspicuous gallantry, his profound concern for his fellow Soldiers, and his intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.

Personal Background

Captain Taylor was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. On June 5, 1966, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve, and entered the Regular Army on August 14, 1966. He received training at the U.S. Army Armor School, Fort Knox, Kentucky, and the U.S. Army Primary Helicopter School, Fort Wolters, Texas. On June 30, 1967, he qualified as an Army Aviator. He later served in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot from August 1967 to August 1968. Other military decorations include multiple awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal. He was honorably released from active duty on August 31, 1970, having attained the rank of Captain, and was discharged from the U.S. Army Reserve on October 17, 1973.

Additional Information on the Medal of Honor

The Medal of Honor is awarded to members of the Armed Forces who distinguish themselves conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of their own lives above and beyond the call of duty while:

engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States;

engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or

serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.

The meritorious conduct must involve great personal bravery or self-sacrifice so conspicuous as to clearly distinguish the individual above his or her comrades and must have involved risk of life. There must be incontestable proof of the performance of the meritorious conduct, and each recommendation for the award must be considered on the standard of extraordinary merit.

In-town pool report #9

POTUS concluded his remarks at 3:42 p.m. ahead of the reading of the Medal of Honor citation.

The medal was presented at 3:46 p m., followed by sustained applause.

Event was over as of 3:49 p.m.

Note: POTUS departed just before the conclusion. Other reporters closer to his exit point said he told them that FLOTUS was doing "well."

In-town pool report #10 - lid

We have a lid as of 4:43 p.m., per the White House.