Neil Taylor grew up in Blandinsville, Illinois, and enlisted in the Illinois Air National Guard in 2005. His unit, the 182nd Air Wing, based in Peoria, Illinois, deployed to Afghanistan in 2010. While in Afghanistan, Taylor worked in Nuristan Province helping coordinate close air support to local forces responding to insurgent attacks.
Interview Links
Audio Excerpt
Home Field Advantage
Abstract
Interview Session 01 (Audio)
IL Air National Guard service in Afghanistan
Interview Session 02 (Audio)
Afghanistan experiences, continued.
Photos
Caption
Neil Taylor posing with his drums about the time of his high school graduation in 2003.
Where:
Unknown
When:
2003
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
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Neil in combat gear and camouflage paint during his training at Hurlburt Field in Florida near the time of his graduation in 2005.
Where:
Hurlburt Field in Florida
When:
2005
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
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Taylor went through rigorous physical training while attending school in Florida in 2005.
Where:
Florida
When:
2005
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
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This is Neil’s graduation picture from training at Hurlburt Field in Florida in 2005.
Where:
Florida
When:
2005
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
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Neil Taylor wears a TACP (Tactical Air Control Party) helmet during TACP training.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
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Neil in full TACP (Tactical Air Control Party) gear.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
In 2007, Taylor went through training at the Army’s National Training Center at Ft. Irwin, California.
Where:
Ft. Irwin, California
When:
2007
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
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Neil is preparing for patrol in Kalagush, Nuristan in 2010.
Where:
Kalagush, Nuristan
When:
2010
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Neil Taylor while on patrol in Kalagush, Nuristan Province, in Afghanistan in 2010.
Where:
Kalagush, Nuristan Province, in Afghanistan
When:
2010
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Neil Taylor prepares to bed down in Nuristan Province, Afghanistan in 2010.
Where:
Nuristan Province, Afghanistan
When:
2010
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Neil (on the left) with his partner TSgt John Oliver (also a TACP/JTAC- Joint Terminal Attack Controller) in Kalagush, Nuristan in 2010.
Where:
Kalagush, Nuristan
When:
2010
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Neil on duty as an Emergency Medical Technician at McDonough District Hospital in Macomb, Illinois following his tour in Afghanistan.
Where:
McDonough District Hospital in Macomb, Illinois
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Neil with an ambulance at McDonough District Hospital in Macomb, Illinois, following his return from Afghanistan.
Where:
Macomb, Illinois
When:
Circa 2011
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Senior Airman Neil Taylor (on the right) was in Chicago, Illinois at Navy Pier with a unit vehicle during a public relations/recruiting session.
Where:
Chicago, Illinois
When:
Circa 2011
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo