Harold D. Had Taylor, Jr., 85, Rapid City, died Wednesday November 17, 2010, at Rapid City Regional Hospital. Had was born in Providence, Rhode Island to Harold D. and Mabel L. (Gustafson) Taylor on September 5, 1923. While growing up with an older brother, Ralph, in the rural country of Cranston, RI, it was there that he attained his education, love of nature, sports, interest in aircraft, and graduated from Cranston High School in the Class of June 1941. During the years of growing up and schooling, he was known by the nickname of Buff to the hometown crowd. His first career job at Cherry and Webb Ladies Dept. Store was cut short by the Japanese attack upon the U.S. at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Both brother Ralph and Buff entered the Army Air Corp in 1942. Ralph went to pilot training and Buff to become a tail gunner on a B-24 Heavy Bomber crew flying combat missions out of Italy with the Fifteenth Air Force into lower Germany, Austria, northern Italy, and Romania. On April 12, 1944, Buffs bomber encountered a squadron of German ME 110 fighter planes and during the course of aerial battle, his bomber, after bombs away was shot down. Bail-out procedures were followed, and being wounded in his left leg, was captured by Austrian military and interned as a Prison of War at Stalog 17B, Krens, Austria until April 1945. A forced prison camp march followed them until liberation by Pattons Thirteenth Armored Division on May 3, 1945 in the pine forests of western Austria. Honorable discharge from the military came on Sept. 24, 1945; and it was then home to Cranston. Buff married Rose Mary Coughlin in Nov. 1945 in Providence, RI. In 1946, a boy hood dream came true when he took flying lessons and earned his Private Pilots license for single engine aircrafts. In 1948, Buff re-enlisted into the United States Air Force as a flight crew tail gunner on the B-29 and B-36 Heavy Bombers to defend the U.S. in the Cold War years with Russia, at what is now Ellsworth Air Force Base. Had (new nickname) retired from the military after helping to establish Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, as a new B-52 bomber base in 1961 and returning to Ellsworth to retire on April 20, 1965 with over 20 years of service as a well decorated Master Sergeant. Had then turned to a new career in the Automotive industry, and completed twenty successful years in motor home, car, and truck sales with almost all of it at Rapid Chevrolet. In May 1968, he married Beverly J. Erstad, and became the step dad to three growing youngsters. Had was very active as an elder and moderator of the church deacon program and choir member for many years at Big Bend Presbyterian Church; an active life member of the Rushmore VFW Post 1273, a life member of the Air Force Sergeants Association, a member of TREA, and a member of the Canyon Lake Senior Citizens Centers pancake supper and noodle soup programs. Had is survived by a stepson, Ron (Laura) Erstad, Tampa, Fla.; two stepdaughters, Leann (Norman) Olson, Rapid City, and Janet (Jim) Rawls, Columbus, Miss.; a brother, Ralph H. (Evelyn) Taylor, North Kingstown, R.I.; one brother-in-law and two sister-in-laws: Elaine Roetman of Wessington Springs and Larry (Shirley) Roetman of Platte, SD; and three grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Had was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife RoseMary; and his wife of 37 years- Beverly; a sister-in-law, Virginia and her husband Owen Kluksdahl; a brother-in-law, Darrel Roetman, and Beverlys mom and dad. Memorial services will be at 10:00 AM on Monday, November 22, 2010 at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home with Rev. Robert Savot officiating. Inurnment will follow with military honors being performed by the Rushmore VFW Post 1273 and South Dakota National Guard at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, SD. A memorial has been established for the Big Bend Presbyterian Church and the Rushmore VFW Post 1273 Honor Guard.