Van Taylor

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Taylor with Congressman Peter Sessions after returning from Iraq.

Nicholas Van Campen "Van" Taylor^[1] (born 1972) is a Texas businessman and Iraq War veteran who was an unsuccessful Republican candidate for the United States Congress in Texas' 17th Congressional District in 2006. Taylor challenged 16-year incumbent Chet Edwards. He is a former Marine platoon leader in Iraq.

1 Early years
2 Military service
3 2006 campaign
4 Personal
5 Media appearances
6 See also
7 References
8 External links

[edit] Early years

Taylor, a seventh generation Texan,^[2] was born in Dallas.^[1] Van grew up in Midland where he attended the Hillander School and San Jacinto Junior High School, Taylor graduated from St. Paul's School, a prep school in Concord, New Hampshire. He did his undergraduate studies at Harvard College in Cambridge, Massachusetts, having graduated with a degree in history.

He then joined the United States Marine Corps, completed infantry and intelligence training, and served as a reconnaissance platoon leader and an intelligence officer. After his four year active duty tour ended, Taylor joined the Marine Corps Reserves. He returned to Harvard and earned a Masters of Business Administration from the Harvard Business School; he then worked for McKinsey and Company and the Trammell Crow Co. in Dallas until he volunteered for active duty service in Iraq.^[2]

[edit] Military service

Taylor volunteered for duty with the Marine Corps' C Company, 4th Reconnaissance Battalion and fought with the 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company. As a Captain, Taylor led missions behind enemy lines for the 4500 Marine Task Force Tarawa, including the leadership of the Task Force's first platoon to enter Iraq before the start of the main invasion. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, Taylor's platoon encountered, and defeated, several Fedayeen ambushes, participated in the operation to rescue U.S. prisoner of war Private First Class Jessica Lynch and rescued 31 wounded men-under-fire during a counter attack by several thousand Iraqi soldiers.^[2]

Taylor's military decorations include the Navy Commendation Medal with "V" for Valor, the Combat Action Ribbon, and the Presidential Unit Citation. Taylor is currently a major in the Marine Corps Reserves.^[2]

[edit] 2006 campaign

Taylor was one of a number of Iraq War veterans to run for elected office in 2006.^[3] After Taylor "received a tremendous amount of encouragement to run for Congress, Taylor kicked off his campaign with a 2-day, 4-city tour of the district on Oct. 11"^[2] 2005. Taylor was considered "one of the GOP's top prospects for knocking off a sitting Democrat."

Taylor was endorsed by President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush who reside in House District 17.^[4] “Van Taylor is an outstanding leader and decorated combat veteran who will make a difference in Congress,” Mr. Bush said. “I strongly support Van and urge my neighbors to do so, too.”^[4]

On November 7, 2006, Edwards defeated Taylor, 93,198 votes (58 percent) to 64,617 votes (40 percent). The remaining 2 percent went to Libertarian Party candidate Guillermo Acosta.^[5]^[6] Taylor's defeat can be seen as part of a nationwide trend — no Republican challenger defeated an incumbent Democrat in any race for the United States House of Representatives in 2006.^[7]

Taylor's campaign slogan was: "I fought for you in Iraq. I'd like to fight for you in Washington."^[8]

[edit] Personal

Taylor married his wife, Anne, after he returned from Iraq in May 2004. They have two daughters Laura Taylor (born 2005) and Helen Taylor (born 2006).^[9] They live in West, Texas, a small town with a distinct Czech ethnicity located north of Waco in McLennan County. Van and his family attend St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Waco.

[edit] Media appearances

Taylor and Chet Edwards appeared in their first debate against each other on October 7, 2006

"Edwards, Taylor Spar In First Debate". KWTX video. Accessed October 10, 2006

Taylor on KWTX on August 15, 2006

"Van Taylor on KWTX". Youtube video. Accessed October 10, 2006

Taylor, along with fellow Iraq War veteran Paul Hackett, appeared on Hardball with Chris Matthews on August 22, 2006

Taylor seemed to lack a basic knowledge of the issues that were central to understanding the War in Iraq despite having served there for several years. At one point Matthews asked him "I‘m asking the question, why did we attack Iraq? Why did we go into Iraq?" and Taylor avoided the question, responding "That‘s not the question that we need answered."

"Transcript of Van Taylor on Hardball". MSN.com Accessed October 8, 2006

"Van Taylor on Hardball". Accessed August 4, 2007