FREEDOM FIGHTER

Tim Taylor wanted to be Rambo when he was growing up.

He got close.

A 2002 Kingfisher High School graduate, Taylor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army, was deployed four times to the Middle East and took part in more than his share of combat.

He wanted it no other way.

“I’ve always known since I was about 4 years old that I wanted to join. Every time and every year I was asked in school by my teachers what I wanted to do when I graduated, I always said ‘join the Army,’” said Taylor.

“Rambo came out the year I was born, I believe. I grew up watching it over and over as a kid. I always played in the woods and pretended to be John Rambo, Army Special Forces.”

Taylor started his journey right after high school and completed basic training at Ft. Benning, Ga.

During his time in the military, Taylor earned the rank of Staff Sergeant E/6 and spent almost four-and-a-half years in combat before being honorably discharged in 2012.

He was stationed at Ft. Hood in Texas and deployed four times during the 10 years he spent in service.

His first deployment was to Iraq and lasted 13 months.

Taylor spent a total of three deployments in Iraq, the second time for 15 months and the final time for an additional 13.

“I was in the initial invasion into Iraq. We convoyed and flew in Blackhawk helicopters from city to city fighting the insurgents along the way. People would and still ask what it was like, I tell them at times it was like a video: tanks on fire, bullets whizzing by, and bombs exploding near by,” said Taylor. “I experienced more combat than any young person should have but I wouldn’t change it for a thing. The more fighting I had to do, was fighting my friends and family back home didn’t have to do.”

He was also deployed to Afghanistan where he served for one year.

“It changed my life for sure,” said Taylor of his time serving in the military.

He added that the time he spent serving his country gave him a new outlook on life.

“I don’t take life for granted,” he said. “It taught me to always cherish time spent with family.”

He also said one of the most difficult parts of serving was being away from friends and family.

“It not only made me appreciate life, but made me more attentive to everyday life no matter where I am,” he said. “It made me more respectful to people and especially to older veterans because I now know a small piece of what they went through.”

Being deployed was tough, Taylor admits, but there were some things that brightened the long days and nights.

“There weren’t a lot of ‘best parts’ of being deployed, but if I had to choose something, it’d be the care packages from family and friends,” said Taylor. “I was also lucky enough to have classes from my hometown write me. It was great getting pictures and letters from little kids thanking me for my service, the same little kids I could remember looking up to me when I was an athlete at KHS.”

In high school, Taylor played football and basketball, was involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and participated in track and weightlifting.

While in high school, Taylor also worked for Brian Walter at Walter Building Center.

“Tim is someone that always has that real, work-hard attitude,” said Walter.

He added that Taylor never fails to have a smile on his face.

“Tim could have easily taken a different course and not gone into the Army,” said Walter. “He took opportunities as they came and faced opposition with a great attitude.”

After joining the Army, Taylor lived in Texas where he was stationed.

“I took up carpentry making decks and furniture,” said Taylor.

At the end of May, Taylor moved back to Kingfisher to be with his fiancé, Christina Padilla.

Taylor added that his sister is also a Kingfisher resident and his mother and brother both reside in Oklahoma City.

Taylor said he has continued doing small carpentry jobs, such as furniture pieces, since moving back to Kingfisher.