Aviation Machinist's Mate Third Class King was a member of the U.S. Navy serving in Korea. On 16 October 1952, he was a passenger on a C-46D Commando transport on a courier run between Kangnung, Korea, to Pohang, Korea. when it crashed into the sea killing all 25 servicemen on board.

King was awarded the Combat Action Ribbon, 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.