Mr. John King was 18 years old when he arrived in Vietnam. The oldest son of seven siblings, he was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. Unable to afford college, he volunteered for the draft in 1967 to get the G.I. Bill. He arrived in South Vietnam in August 1967 as a replacement, and the ‘repo depot’ sent him to the 1st Cav (Air Mobile). His first assignment was as the radio operator (RTO) for the mortar platoon leader, he was responsible for fire direction of the mortars, later in his tour he became the platoon sergeant for the mortars. King speaks candidly about his most vivid memories and his belief in a guardian angel, but he credits the friendships he made in his platoon as the reason he is alive today. He says, “Loyalty and dependability are invaluable, to this day.” When asked about his emotions during an assault of the A Shau Valley Mr. King says, “When you’re new you’re scared to death, but you survive that. Once you’ve been there for a while you don’t really have fear – you’ve kind of surrendered your soul – and you become brave. …You don’t worry about it so much – until you become a ‘short timer’.” His best day was the gift of the simple pleasure from a sound sleep on a warm black rock. He was ‘in country’ for Tet but does not mention it specifically. After the Army, Mr. King served veterans and their families as the State Director of Veterans Affairs in Washington. He is “very proud of serving those that served.”