In 2026, Deputy Aaron Taylor patrols our community’s skies as a member of the Erie County Sheriff’s Office’s Aviation Unit. But back in 2023, he was flying a CH-47F Chinook through the skies of the Middle East. It was his second deployment to the region since he joined the New York Army National Guard in 2009 and his first to Iraq.
Duty called on the night of August 28, and Taylor’s response earned him a prestigious recognition from the French government this week.
“An old friend of mine says each pilot will have that one mission that sticks with them, that made everything worth it,” Taylor said of that night. “This was that one.”
With a rank of Chief Warrant Officer 3, Taylor was the pilot in command of one of two chinooks on that dark night. His detachment received the call when a team of French Special Forces was engaged in a firefight in Iraq’s Kirkuk Province. One soldier was wounded with another missing. This mission was to depart Erbil Air Base, transport 30 commandos to the battlefield and eventually exfiltrate the French allies.
“We got the green light to go,” Deputy Taylor recalled. “We normally carry U.S. infantry. They were right there next to our tent. They said, ‘We’re not taking them. You guys are taking French Special Forces.’”
Taylor had never met any of the 30 French soldiers he flew into the firefight. After finding his landing zone, he dropped them onto the ground.
“Our ramp to the 47 dropped and these guys are off the aircraft in 10 seconds,” Taylor said. “It was the fastest I’ve ever seen somebody get off the aircraft.”
Taylor continued on to a staging area, where he waited for hours. Then, it was time to get back into the air to pick up the dozens of French fighters and fly them back to safety.
“We dropped them off quick (at a French base) on the way back up to Erbil. I think I came into Erbil with one low fuel level light on,” Taylor said.
On February 22, Taylor was one of six soldiers from his battalion to be awarded the French National Defense Gold Medal with Bronze Star for their performance on that night three years ago. The honor was authorized by France’s Chief of National Defense Staff in 2024.
“We could not be prouder of Aaron for serving our nation and flying our French allies out of danger that night,” said Sheriff John Garcia. “I ask the residents of Erie County to join me in offering him congratulations. We should all take great pride in the fact that a hero like him is working in the Erie County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit and keeping our region safe.”
Whether serving with the National Guard or the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, Taylor is where he belongs when in the sky.
“It’s a lifetime of serving the public,” he said. “I go up in the aircraft. It’s not because I like getting a paycheck. It’s because I enjoy the job. It’s giving back to the community.”
