It was April 1, 1967, as Viet Cong soldiers, attacking in mass, breached lines maintained deep in Viet Cong territory by U.S. Army soldiers who included Specialist Larry Don Taylor, of Topeka. Refusing to withdraw, Specialist Taylor threw hand grenades and placed a devastating volume of fire on the Viet Cong as they swarmed around his position, says a document accompanying the Bronze Star Medal with V device Taylor received for valor. When the insurgents were so close that he could no longer effectively employ his weapon for fear of hitting his comrades, he engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the insurgents.