Lieutenant Colonel King was a veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was the pilot of a B-26B Invader bomber and squadron commander of the 13th Bomber Squadron, 3rd Bomber Group. On 21 February 1951, while on a combat mission, a 1,000 pound bomb prematurely exploded destroying four B-26Bs. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.
For his leadership and valor, Lieutenant Colonel King was awarded the Silver Star Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, the Republic of Korea War Service Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.