Name: Richard Eugene KING
Rank / Rating: S2-Seaman Second Class
Service #: 314 69 24
DOB: Feb 04, 1927
From: Battle Creek, Michigan
Parents:
Went Aboard: May 12, 1945
Age When Ship Went Down: 18 years, 5 months, 26 days
Spouse: Wanda King
Children:
Grandchildren:
Bio Submitted By: Nona Rosemary King Cox (Sister)
Date Posted:

Born February 4th, 1927, in Battle Creek, Michigan. Richard Eugene King was the third of six children. I was the youngest of the six with eleven years between Dick and myself. In the family birth order there was Virginia, Betty, Dick, Donald, Barbara and then me, Rosemary. During those years, if a child was not quite old enough to enroll in the start of the fall school session, they could enter school the following January. K started kindergarten in January one month before his February birthday. Not waiting until the following fall session to begin school.

Since Dick and a high school friend, Lawrence E LaParl Jr (Larry), (also on the USS Indianapolis and Lost at Sea) graduated from high school in January of 1945. People believed the war was finally coming to an end at this time. They both enlisted in the Navy together. Together they left for Great Lakes boot camp for training. The two boys wanted to do their part in serving our country before the war ended. Dick was a good student. He was a member of the student counsel and in his last year was voted the senior class president. Dick was an active church and choir member in the Congregational Church. I remember him walking me to church and enrolling me in a Sunday School class, introducing me to the teacher and to the other kids. I was beaming from the attention I was receiving. After the class was over, I anxiously waited for him to walk me home. On that walk home, I happily skipped along beside him. He was my big brother, Dick. Battle Creek was very fortunate in having a very large auditorium named after W K Kellogg, the corn flakes originator. I have vivid memories of attending with my mother, the annual high school follies in the same name, Kellogg Auditorium. Besides being selected the master of ceremonies of the follies in his senior year, Dick sang and performed in two acts. In one skit, he wore a farmer's outfit, straw hat, singing and strumming a banjo. It was a funny skit and well received. In his other performance and under a beautiful shinning blue shimmering spotlight while showing artificial snow fall, Dick sang the song "Winter Wonderland" by Felix Bernard (1897-1944). It was a very popular song at that time. Experiencing a very warm sense of love while swelling up with pride, I watched Dick's performances in total amazement. I listened to the audience applauding loudly. I was so very proud of my brother. To this day, I still get very misty-eyed remembering his singing that song under that blue spotlight. During high school, Dick also worked part time for the popular Henry's Ice Cream Parlor, located not far from the high school. My mom and I would walk over to see him and of course he would give us each an ice cream cone. Dick like to write poetry. While at boot camp he wrote an anniversary poem to his very special high school girl friend, Wanda. After keeping the poem for years, Wanda gave the original written poem to my brother, Don, who passed it on to me. In memory of both Dick and Wanda, I've included in this writing a copy of the poem as written by Dick. Wanda did marry later and had children. OUR ANNIVERSARY March 3, 1945 On this special remembered day, There are things I wish I could say. But my heart is ill at rest, And the way I feel can't be expressed. One, is how 1 miss you Dear, I wish I were there, or you were here. While I'm on duty, at my post, You are the one I think of most. Why is this? I do not know, Could he, 'cause I love you so. And when at night, I hit the sack, I have my dreams, that bring you back. Dreams of good times we've had together, Which I will remember, forever and ever. So on this anniversary day, There is one thing I'd like to say. For you to remember, read and hear, That is, how much, I love you dear. Your Sailor, Dick Our family lived on the decline of a small hill. When riding his bike, Dick would whistle coming down the hill. That was his way of letting the family know he was almost home. In the front of our house a huge tree grew with its roots showing above the ground. With his bike, Dick was able to jump the roots of the tree, causing a rut in them, much to the displeasure of my mother. Dick didn't have time to go out for many sports He did find time to be a member of the high school track team. He was a cross country and long distance runner. He and my dad were always running together. My other brother, Don, told me while running after them, Dad and Dick would slow down waiting patently for Don to catch up. Dick also like to play tennis and I remember him riding off on his bike to join friends, carrying his racket in his bicycle's basket. Would you believe I still have his tennis racket, worn with age. Dick and a friend took a bike trip between their junior and senior high school years. They took several days for the trip, camping out along the way. I still remember Dick rolling up his back pack and showing me his mosquito netting, telling me they would sleep under the stars. I thought that was wonderful in itself. There are family photos of his adventure. The last Christmas he was home, he bought my mother a set of six beautiful wooden dining room chairs with money he earned working part time. We already had a huge dining room table and needed chairs. Swearing me to secrecy, Dick hid them in the basement. Later however, I did sneak a peak at them and kept the secret. The chairs were a complete surprise to our mother. She was overwhelmed and tearful. What a beautiful gift. The chairs were thereafter referred to as "Dick's Chairs". After Dick left for training at boot camp, his upstairs front bedroom became mine. With it's lights off, it was very spooky and scary to me. After completing his boot camp training, Dick was home on his final leave. I still have vivid memories of his last night at home. After I went to bed that night, the hallway light was not on. If lit, I could see the upstairs light from my open bedroom door. Mother had turned the light off. I started crying. I was sure there were spooks and ghosts under my bed. I was terrified. Dick heard me and came up the stairs. I just clung to him. I told him I could hear sounds from under my bed. He looked under the bed to check to see if anything was there. "Nope none there", he said. He told me, "You will be all right and the light can stay on". "Please don't leave me", I said, crying uncontrollably, clinging to him, he kissed me on the forehead and tucked in the blankets. I felt comforted and Dick said, "Good Bye". Feeling much better, I fell asleep. That was the last time I saw Dick. I often thought if he had just listened to me and not leave, he would not have been on that ship. So many "if" questions unanswered Dick's memorial service was held in the church auditorium. I remember it well. I sat next to mother not knowing what to expect. It was very sad. There was a huge turnout of people for the service. Dick was so well thought of and popular. The pulpit was surrounded hy flowers and in the center was placed his high school graduation picture. I didn't quite understand what was happening. I had so many questions. Did anyone ever understand why he was never coming home again? I am very thankful for the opportunity to put into writing the memories I have of Dick. Even though it has been difficult to write, I wrote these memories of Dick with warmth and with love. Burial at Sea Richard was one of the eight crew members picked up and identified by USS French Monday August 6, 1945. His official Burial at Sea Ceremony was performed by the Commanding Officer, LCDE Reginald C. Robbins at 1835 hours. Richard was reverently placed in a sea bag, weighted with two 5" shells and "committed to the deep". MICHIGAN MEMORIAL PLAQUE See photographs (posted below) to view a copy of a memorial plaque that was dedicated circa 1946 to honor seventy-two (72) State of Michigan men who served on USS Indianapolis CA-35 and who were Lost At Sea. Richard Eugene King's name is listed on the plaque! Per the caption on one of the photos, the plaque was originally planned in 1946 for display at a proposed Detroit Civic Center. The plaque was initially displayed at the Detroit Naval Post VFW #233. However, the plaque had vanished for decades, fueling rumors of theft, being melted for scrap, or hidden away in a private basement. Thanks to the tireless efforts of Jeff Ortiz (nephew of LAS Y3 Orlando Ortiz) and Joni Deaver (cousin of LAS sailor S2c Charles Roof Jr.), this priceless piece of history has been re-discovered in the Detroit Historical Society storage basement in Michigan. One of the photos shows Jeff Ortiz and Ralph McNabb (nephew of LAS F2 Thomas McNabb, Jr) standing behind the very dusty plaque as it was found.