Navy reservist from Irvine among those killed in Baghdad embassy attack

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Tuesday, February 1, 2005

(02-01) 07:08 PST IRVINE, Calif. (AP) --

Lt. Cmdr. Keith Edward Taylor, a Navy reservist who previously served in Bosnia and Haiti, was among those killed last weekend in a rocket attack on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, officials said.

Taylor, 47, helped award and close out contracts granted to reconstruct Iraq. As chief of contracting for the transportation and communication sector he dealt with contracts for road improvements, water-treatment plants and schools.

"He was a top-performing guy and always took the tough jobs," said Capt. Steve Ethridge, who worked with Taylor a few years ago at the Naval Air Force, Pacific in San Diego.

He said Taylor was positive and enjoyed talking to everyone.

"He would have a smile on his face most of the time," Ethridge said. "He's a good man, a good man."

Taylor lived in Irvine, but grew up in Jacksonville, Fla., where he joined the Navy after graduating from Sandalwood High School in 1975. He became a reservist about 14 years ago.

Family members gathered at his Irvine home Monday, where an American flag was draped near the door, but declined to comment on his death.

Taylor had five weeks left on a six-month deployment and is survived by a wife and three young daughters.

MILITARY DEATHS

Navy Reserve Lt. Cmdr. Keith Taylor, 47, Irvine; Killed in Embassy Attack

By Rong-Gong Lin II

Times Staff Writer

February 6, 2005

Keith Edward Taylor had always felt at home in the Navy.

He enlisted straight out of high school in 1975, lured by his cousins' exciting stories and the Navy's promise to help pay for college. He rejoined as a Navy Reserve officer once he finished school, doing tours in Haiti, Bosnia and Kosovo.

When the 47-year-old lieutenant commander was called up for duty in Iraq in September, he was ready to serve. Recently, though, he eagerly counted the days until he could return home to his wife and 17-month-old daughter in Irvine.

Taylor told his wife, Diane, that this would be the last Thanksgiving and Christmas they had to spend apart.

Taylor was killed Jan. 29 in a rocket attack on the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad on the eve of Iraq's elections, two months shy of his scheduled departure. A Defense Department civilian also was killed, and four other Americans were wounded. Taylor was assigned to the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Central Command, Iraq Detachment.

"We were both scared when he was going," his wife said. "It was bittersweet for him — he was sad to go, but he was eager to go and make a difference."

Described by former supervisors as a hard worker who always got the job done, Taylor worked in the embassy as a chief contracting officer for transportation and communications, awarding and overseeing contracts to companies rebuilding Iraq's infrastructure, such as road construction and maintenance.

Born in Tucson, Taylor was raised in Florida. He later majored in English at Cal State Long Beach and went to the University of Redlands for a master's degree in business administration. He worked in a variety of jobs as a civilian, including overseeing contracts at McDonnell Douglas Corp. and UC Irvine.

But Taylor was most proud of being a father, his wife said. He always wore a smile and exuded a warm, outgoing personality and loved playing with his children.

"He was the absolute best husband," his wife said. "He was absolutely a gentlemen among men, and I will miss him."

In addition to his wife and daughter, Taylor is survived by his former wife, Leslie, and their two daughters, ages 13 and 10; his parents; and two siblings.

Private memorial services will be held Monday.