THE WALL OF FACES

Charles Douglas King
Date of birth: March 29, 1946
Date of death: MIA: December 25, 1968
Burial location: Honolulu, HI
Place of Birth: Iowa, Muscatine
Home of record: Muscatine Iowa
Status: MIA

Charles King was a Pararescueman on "Jolly Green 17," who was Missing in Action after the rescue mission attempt for which he was awarded the Air Force Cross. In February 1986 a Laotian refugee in the United States reported that he had witnessed King's capture and watched as he was taken away in a truck. The refugee's story matched most details of the incident, but he had no knowledge of what subsequently happened to A1C King's body. His identity papers were later seen on display in the Central Army Museum in Hanoi, but his remains have never been recovered.
AWARDS AND CITATIONS

Air Force Cross

Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pride in presenting the Air Force Cross (Posthumously) to Airman First Class Charles Douglas King, United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force as a Pararescue Specialist in an HH-3E Rescue Helicopter of Detachment 1, 40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, 3d Air Rescue and Recovery Group, Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand, in action near Ban Lathama, Mahaxia District, Khammouan Province, Laos, on 25 December 1968. On that date, Airman King was aboard a helicopter engaged in the recovery of a downed United States Air Force pilot from an extremely hostile area. With complete disregard for his own safety, Airman King voluntarily descended on a rescue hoist more than one hundred feet to the ground to aid the injured pilot. Once on the ground, he carried the rescue device to the pilot, freed him from the parachute, secured him to the rescue device, and then used the cable hoist to drag the pilot to a point near the hovering helicopter. Suddenly, enemy soldiers closed in and directed automatic weapons fire at Airman King, the injured pilot, and the helicopter. Though wounded, Airman King, in an extraordinary display of courage and valor, placed his comrades lives above his own by refusing to continue their exposure to the murderous enemy fire. Without taking time to secure himself to the hoist cable, he radioed that he was hit and for the helicopter to pull away. Airman King made this selfless decision with the full realization that once the helicopter departed, he would be alone, wounded, and surrounded by armed, hostile forces. Through his professional dedication, aggressiveness, and extraordinary heroism, Airman King reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

Action Date: December 25, 1968

Service: Air Force

Company: Detachment 1

Battalion: 40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron

Regiment: 3d Air Rescue and Recovery Group

Division: Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand

Silver Star
Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Airman First Class Charles Douglas King, United States Air Force, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as a Pararescue Specialist in an HH-3E Rescue Helicopter of Detachment 1, 40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, 3d Air Rescue and Recovery Group, Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand, in action in Southeast Asia, on 17 September 1968. On that date, while under heavy ground fire, Airman King voluntarily descended on the rescue hoist to recover a seriously injured Air Force pilot. While he was on the ground his aircraft again came under heavy fire, but Airman King continued cutting the man loose from his harness and immobilizing his fractured limbs until he could drag the inert pilot to the forest perimeter and have him hoisted to safety. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Airman King has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

Action Date: 17-Sep-68

Service: Air Force

Rank: Airman First Class

Company: Detachment 1, 40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron

Regiment: 3d Air Rescue and Recovery Group

Division: Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand

Distinguished Flying Cross

Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Airman First Class Charles Douglas King, United States Air Force, for heroism while participating in aerial flight as an HH-3E Pararescue Specialist in Southeast Asia, on 6 December 1968. On that date, Airman King penetrated heavy anti-aircraft flak to successfully rescue a downed Air Force pilot. When automatic weapons fire pierced his helicopter, Airman King remained in his exposed crew position providing suppressive firepower which enabled his helicopter to locate and retrieve the pilot then return to safety. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Airman King reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

Action Date: December 6, 1968

Service: Air Force

Rank: Airman First Class

Company: Detachment 1, 40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron

Regiment: 3d Air Rescue and Recovery Group

Division: Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand

I have worn his bracelet since the early 1970s. Had it through my 23 year Air Force career. Still wear it today and I am almost 67 years old.

On Christmas Eve, 1968, MAJ Charles R. Brownlee's F-105D aircraft was shot down over Laos between the city of Ban Phaphilang and the Ban Karai Pass. Brownlee successfully ejected from his plane and landed safely on the ground. On Christmas Day, CMS Charles D. “Doug” King volunteered to be aboard an HH-3E helicopter leaving Nakhon Phenom Air Base to rescue Major Brownlee. The helicopter located the pilot, believed to be dead by then, and King was lowered 100 feet into the jungle to the ground. Once on the ground, King freed Brownlee from his parachute, secured him to the rescue device and dragged him to a point near the hovering helicopter. Suddenly, enemy soldiers closed in and began firing. King radioed that he was under fire and for the helicopter to pull away. Brownlee was secured to the hoist cable, but King had not yet secured himself to the cable. When the helicopter pulled away, the hoist line snagged in a tree and broke, dropping King and Brownlee about 10 feet to the ground. No news surfaced about King or Brownlee until February 1986, when a Lao refugee came to the United States and reported that he had witnessed King's capture, and watched as he was taken away in a truck. The refugee's story matched most details of King's loss incident. Less clear were the details of Brownlee's fate, although a 1974 list published by the National League of POW/MIA Families states that he survived his loss incident. During the period they were maintained Missing in Action, Charles R. Brownee was promoted to the rank of Colonel, and Charles D. King to the rank of Chief Master Sergeant. [Narrative taken from pownetwork.org; images from wikipedia.org]