Corporal King was a member of the 2nd Airborne Ranger Company, U.S. Army. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy near Majo-ri, South Korea on 14 January 1951.

King was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.