Orville Rhea King was born in Knoxville, tennessee to Audley Rhea King and Lucrettia Ella Burnette. He was the brother of Dorothy Evelyn King, Lynn Bernice King, John Blankenship King, and Burnette King. Orville enlisted on October 12, 1942, in Camp Forrest, TN.
He was killed in action on Mindanao Island, Philippines. Buried in Manila American Cemetery in Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines, J, 5, 4. He also has a memorial stone at New Prospect Presbyterian Church (Part 1) in Knoxville, TN.
The Knoxville News-Sentinel, July 18, 1943
Pfc. Orville R. Kings, son of Mr. and Mrs. Audley King, Route 9, was killed in action in Mindinao June 21, according to word received from Major James Charlmers, commander of Pfc. Kings medical detachment. Pfc. King was a company aid man. He was 38 years old. Pfc. King was killed by a Jap machine gun bullet while he crawled from one wounded man to another giving first aid. Pfc. King had been overseas since February, 1944. He was a graduate of Young’s High School and a member of New Prospect Presbyterian Church.
In addition to his parents, he leaves sisters, Mrs. Evelyn McClain, Mrs. Bernice Thomas, Mrs. Kenneth Born, Mrs. Lonalyce Thomas and Miss Peggy Jo King, and two brothers, Pvt. Billy S. King in Germany, and Burnette King of Knoxville.
The Knoxville News-Sentinel, October 26, 1945
Pfc. Orvilel R. King, son of Mrs. Ella L. King of Knoxville, has been posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal for heroic performance of duty in the Philippines. The citation which accompanied the award stated that, as a medical aid man with the 31st “Dixie” Division on Mindanoa, he braved enemy machine gun fire to administer first aid to a wounded man, the, after evacuating him to a safe position, pushed forward with the assualt platoon until he was fatally wounded. In addition to the Bronze Star, Pfc. Was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific and Philippine liberation ribbons, three battle star, the bronze invasion arrowhead and the Combat Medical Badge.
- Rank: Private First Class
- Date of birth: 30 June 1907
- Date of death: 21 June 1945
- County: Knox
- Hometown: Knoxville
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 167th Infantry Regiment, 31st Infantry Division
- Theater: Pacific
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, Asiatic-Pacific and Philippine liberation ribbons, three battle star, the bronze invasion arrowhead, Combat Medical Badge
- Burial/Memorial Location: Manila American Cemetery, Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XIV, Middle Panel
- Contact us to sponsor Orville R. King
Image Gallery
Click a thumbnail below to view at full size.
