Aviator receives Purple Heart posthumously

  • Published
  • By Robert Zoellner
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  In a ceremony in the 56th Fighter Wing conference room Thursday, Mrs. Mary King accepted the Purple Heart medal on behalf of her late husband, Maj. Robert King, who served his country for nearly 37 years as a Marine, Army soldier and Airman. 

Brig. Gen. Tom Jones, 56th FW commander, presided over the ceremony and pinned the Purple Heart and Aviator receives Purple Heart posthumously Prisoner of War medal onto Mrs. King. 

Major King's military service began when he entered the Marine Corps March 21, 1938. In 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps and served as a C-47 co-pilot. While flying his first mission over France, Major King was shot down and sustained injuries upon crash landing and being taken as a prisoner of war. During his time as a POW, the enemy forced Major King to walk for more than five days in blizzard conditions, and as a result, received frostbite to his extremities. After his liberation in 1945, he returned to the U.S. and was released from active duty. In Aug. 1950, Major King entered the Air Force as a pilot. In 1952, Major King was relieved from active duty and entered the U.S. Air Force Reserve until his retirement in 1980. 

"It is imperative that Americans everywhere understand the enormous sacrifices he and other aviators endured during the second world war," General Jones said during his speech. "To me, honoring Major King as well as all hisfellow Army Air Corps veterans is one of the basic responsibilities we have to our nation, and it deserves the highest priority that any of us can give." 

General Jones also presented Mrs. King with the Purple Heart coin. 

"It is specially designed and only awarded to those who have earned that tremendous honor," the general said. 

The inscription on the coin reads, "The Purple Heart is awarded to combat-wounded veterans by the government of the United States of America." 

Mrs. King was pregnant with her oldest daughter when the major was shot down. She did not know for three months whether or not he was alive. As she went into labor, she found out her husband was a POW. 

"I just want to thank everyone for coming," Mrs. King said. "I am so proud of my family for being here. I only wish my husband was here to receive this honor."