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Warm MemoryGolden Yc—Continued from page 1sured her that if they could dishlt; out, he could take it.OHS ClmtHe did. Following completion, of basic, Lee was stationed at: The men and women were Ft. Gordon to attend signal! hesitant. For many, it was aschool. On March 3, 1967, he was graduated from the Avionics Mechanic Course and was sent to Vietnam later that same month. Prior to his departure, though, Mrs. King began noticing 'a change in her son. His attitude was becoming more mature,” she said while shuffling some of the pictures Lee had sent her.strange place filled with strangers! They stood in the doorway, searching, trying to remember. They scanned each other’s faces, but in the beginning, the faces did not register.They were members of OHS Class of 1918 who were meetingSMOKING MOREHot rods were no longer of • prime importance to him. 11 ENJOYING IT LESS think that his next car would 1 have been a quiet one. 1 believe Lee had found himself in tlx* 1 Army. He often talked about • wanting to make it his career, j He even wanted to apply for of-1 ficer’s candidate school. Lee King apparently had taken the;giant step from adolescency to _____________________________manhood. | , _i continued. He never talked tooTB X-RAY TRUCK ATMUNICIPAL BUILDING MONDAY, AUGUST 129:30 A.M. — 12:30 P. M. 1 :30 — 1:30 P.M. .tlArriving in Vietnam in March much about what conflict theyof 1967, Lee trained as a door gunner before he actually took part in flying missions in July. During this time, King, a specialist fourth class, earned distinction as recipient of the Air Medal for heroism. On September 8, 1967, he was in a helicopter near Phan Tbict when he courageously assisted the pilot, informing him of dangerous obstacles ill the area. For his action, King received the Air Medal with a V” on October 27, which he sent to his mother, informing her that it was a long story” which he would tell her 1 “when I get home.’*But that time will never come. With one month remaining on his Vietnam tour of duty, SP 4 King, a member of the First Airborne Cavalry Division and crew chief of an assault helicopter carrying the command commission officers, was killed instantly when, on take-off, the | plane crashed without warning at Landing Zone English in the vicinity of Bong Song.were engaged in or where he was. His letters were never very long, and he never complained.” With the exception of one let-er, Lee always signed his letters to his mother: Be good . . . love always.” That one exception came on a letter received February 5,- the day he was killed. He always looked so happy and healtlvy in the pictures he sent me,” Mrs. King commented. Flying was what he loved to do.”at SnCChtUIMrs city s came Sandu ccmbi ried Wille: found one. j cent ! or 21 ; Thirt j bcrs band: mem • Tw state ance gcr ! Elmi | Micl: Mr. Kraf Fillr and Gift Mrs. Fore and ingt. Mrs and Cuy Fi Mrs Mrs Mrs Leoger.Today, SP-5 Lee R. King, re- forMrs. King placed a stack of Lee’s letters on the coffee table. He was very good about writing,” she smiled. He was al-cipient of the Bronze Star, Air Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal and Purple Heart, is buried next to his father in Holy Cross Cemetery in Cleveland.At first, I was faced with the terrible shock,” Mrs. King repeated slowly, “and now. even harder is the realization that I shall never see him again.Deeply moved but understanding, Mrs. King sympathizes with the many families across . the nation faced with similar tragedies. As a token of appreciation for young men who have served their country to the highest degree in Vietnam, thefellcsunways very considerate that I would not worry.” Many times he would write twice a week, assuring her that he was all right.SP-5 Lee R. King Memorialplaque has been placed at OHS.Mrs. King hopes to expand this appreciation in the form of a scholarship to be awarded in memory of the local young men‘Lee wrote nice letters,” she who have served.
Newspaper Details
Orrville Courier Crescent
Orrville, Ohio, US
Thu, Aug 08, 1968
Page 12
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
OH, USA 22 Oct 2017
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