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Wayne King - Korean War

Wayne King grew up on a farm near Alsey, Illinois. In 1951, he was drafted and ended up in the Marine Corps. He was shipped to Korea in the spring of 1952. He was assigned as a tank crewman in a tank company. In 1953, King was wounded when an enemy round hit his tank, but recovered quickly and returned to the front.

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Abstract

Interview (Audio)

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Photos

Caption

Private First Class Wayne King’s official Marine Corps photograph, taken during Basic Training in 1952.

Where:

Unknown

When:

1952

Ownership:

This image is considered to be in the public domain.

Caption

Wayne King’s Marine Basic Training platoon at San Diego. King is in the front row, second from the left.

Where:

San Diego

When:

Unknown

Ownership:

This image is considered to be in the public domain.

Caption

King in front of the M-46 Patton Tank he was assigned to during his tour in Korea with the 1st Marine Division in 1952-1953.

Where:

Unknown

When:

Unknown

Ownership:

Narrator’s photo

Caption

King in front of the M-46 Patton Tank he was assigned to during his tour in Korea with the 1st Marine Division in 1952-1953. Note the .45 caliber pistol, which was standard issue for tankers during the war.

Where:

Unknown

When:

Unknown

Ownership:

Narrator’s photo

Caption

King’s fellow Marine, Albert Kidd, originally from South Carolina, maintaining some tank treads during some unit down time.

Where:

Unknown

When:

Unknown

Ownership:

Narrator’s photo

Caption

It took a specially equipped tank to recover another disabled tank. These belonged to Wayne King’s unit, B Company, 1st Battalion, part of the 1st Marine Division.

Where:

Unknown

When:

Unknown

Ownership:

Narrator’s photo

Caption

Wayne King’s tank crew proudly stands atop a newly constructed bunker near the front lines in late 1952. From left to right, unknown, Private Flood, Albert Kidd, and Private Kubeck.

Where:

Unknown

When:

late 1952

Ownership:

Narrator’s photo

Caption

Korean children were frequent visitors to the front line units.

Where:

Unknown

When:

Unknown

Ownership:

Narrator’s photo

Caption

King was struck by this bag of supplies from Decatur, Illinois – a touch of home thousands of miles away.

Where:

Unknown

When:

Unknown

Ownership:

Narrator’s photo

Caption

This Korean man with his a-frame loaded to the hilt was a very common site for the Marines in Korea.

Where:

Unknown

When:

Unknown

Ownership:

Narrator’s photo

Caption

Laundry day near the front in Korea.

Where:

Unknown

When:

Unknown

Ownership:

Narrator’s photo

Caption

Crewmember Albert Kidd mans the tank’s .50 caliber machine gun while King spots for him.

Where:

Unknown

When:

Unknown

Ownership:

Narrator’s photo

Caption

The tank crew relaxes while their tank company is positioned behind the front lines in Korea.

Where:

Unknown

When:

Unknown

Ownership:

Narrator’s photo

Caption

A camouflaged tank near the front lines in Korea.

Where:

Unknown

When:

Unknown

Ownership:

Narrator’s photo



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