Staff Sgt. Archie A. Taylor, 37, of Tomball, died in the Kabul province of Afghanistan March 14. He was serving with the 2nd Intelligence Battalion, II MEF Headquarters Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, based out of Camp Lejeune, N.C.

According to First Lt. Phillip Klay, a representative with the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force Public Affairs Office, the cause of Taylor’s death is still under investigation.

As of press time last week there was no word of the exact cause of his death, only that it did not occur in a combat situation.

According to government records, Taylor joined the Army in 1989. He served until November 1995 when he then transitioned to the Army National Guard. He left the Army National Guard in 1997 and joined the Marine Corps in 2001.

While in the Marines, he served as a counter-intelligence specialist. Taylor was deployed twice to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. His first deployment lasted from February to October 2004 and the second from March to September 2007. He was deployed to Afghanistan in January.

During his military career, Taylor received many awards including the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Army Achievement Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, NATO ISAF Medal, and Defense Meritorious Service Medal.

He will be buried in the Arlington National Cemetery at a date yet to be determined. All services regarding Taylor’s burial are to be held at the cemetery.

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