Taylor Prazynski was born at the Medical Center at Hill Air Force Base located in Utah. Taylor and his family lived at Chanute AFB located in Illinois from 1985 through 1989. Afterward the family moved to Fairfield, Ohio and lived there from 1989 to 2003. Growing up Taylor played football and ran track through high school. He volunteered to work with the students with multiple disabilities in high school. He was a good kid who always had a smile, and people liked to be around him. In 2003 Taylor joined the USMC; he served as a 0311 infantryman and saw gunner with the 3rd Bat/8th Marine Reg Lima Company 4th Platoon. His unit did a peacekeeping mission in Haiti 2004 and deployed to Iraq 2005. Taylor was part of history supporting the 1st free election in Iraq. He was killed 9 May 2005 in the Al Anbar Province supporting Operation Matador. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery Section 60 Site 8111. – Submitted by family

Taylor’s service and sacrifice have been honored by his father John and fellow Marine Nick during the Travis Manion Foundation Men’s Expedition to Oregon. To read more about this hero please visit one of the links below.