I was 14 years old when I really became aware of what the Vietnam war was all about...POLITICAL and SENSELESS...We didn't need to be there...we DIDN'T need to be there!!!! I sent away for a POW/MIA bracelet very similar to the one pictured above. I received my bracelet in the mail about 6 weeks later. It had the name of an American soldier as well as the day he became MIA (Missing in action). I took a vow that day that when or if he returned, I would some how find him and give my bracelet back to him. The name on my bracelet is Lt. Col. Donald King. He became classified as "Missing in action" on May 14, 1966. My bracelet came with no information about him. I often found myself asking the same questions...Who was Lt. Col. Donald King? Where was he from...Was he married...Did he have children? Even though I never knew who he was, I ALWAYS considered him "my American hero", and carried him in my heart. Today, I am 41 years old and the mother of two children. Through the years I have worn my bracelet in hopes that by some miracle he survived the war and that he would be found, and brought home. For almost 28 years I have worn my bracelet and never knew who Lt. Col. Donald King was. That is, until I went online. About a year ago while surfing the net, I came across a web site by the name of OPERATION JUST CAUSE. It's an organization which allows you to adopt an American soldier online. Just for the heck of it, I asked for "my American hero". A day later I received an email from them, with the name of my newly adopted American soldier.....Lt. Col. Donald King. I will never forget that day as long as I live. I went from knowing nothing about him to knowing more than I wanted to know. It was very sad for me, because reality finally hit. Lt. Col. Donald King was from my home state of Michigan. He was someone's son, husband, father, and friend. My dream now, is to find his family and return my bracelet to them...and i'll wear this bracelet until I do. If anyone out there knows his family or knows where they might be located, PLEASE email me. I would appreciate it more than you could ever imagine. I would like you to meet
"my American hero", Lt. Col. Donald King.



My American Hero

Lt. Col. Donald King



Name: Donald Lewis King
Rank/Branch: O3/US Air Force
Unit: 43rd Tactical Fighter, Squadron (Satan's Angels)
Date of Birth: 28 August 1933
Home City of Record: Muskegon MI
Date of Loss: 14 May 1966
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 172900N 1062300E (XE504390)
Status (in 1973): Missing In Action
Category: 4
Acft/Vehicle/Ground: F4C
Refno: 0338
Other Personnel In Incident: Frank D. Ralston (missing)
Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 15 October 1990 from one or more of the following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews. Updated by the P.O.W. NETWORK 1998.
REMARKS: NO SUB INTEL INFO



SYNOPSIS:

Donald King had been in the Air Force 13 years when he went to Vietnam to fly with "Satan's Angels" out of Ubon, Thailand. His 43rd Tactical Fighter Squadron was among the first fighter squadrons sent to Vietnam. His wife and four children were accustomed to his frequent absences, but eagerly awaited his return. King was regarded as a top pilot and had been invited to join the Air Force aerial performance team, the Thunderbirds. He was a former test pilot, and had learned Russian in a Naval intelligence school. Frank Dalzell Ralston III had a promising career in the Air Force. A 1963 graduate of the Air Force Academy whom classmates called "Brank", Frank was well liked and excelled in athletics. When he shipped out to Vietnam as a young officer, he joined "Satan's Angels" fighter squadron. On May 14, 1966 King was the wing commander and the pilot of an F4C aircraft sent on a night mission over North Vietnam. He and backseater Frank Ralston were about 10 miles behind another F4 Phantom when a flash of light streaked across the predawn sky and the aircraft vanished. A garbled radio message from King's aircraft prompted one jet pilot in the formation to change course over the Gulf. Heading back, he spotted the intense light shooting 20 degrees above the horizon. King's plane, carrying a full load of bombs, was last tracked in the air 20 miles west of the coastal city of Dong Hoi North Vietnam. Donald L. King was promoted to the rank of Colonel and Frank D. Ralston III to the rank of Major during the period they were maintained Missing in Action.



King and Ralston are among nearly 2500 Americans who did not return from Southeast Asia at the end of the war. Some were known to have been taken prisoner. Most can be accounted for by the communist governments of the region. The Vietnamese have continually raised the issue of accountability in the context of aid and/or diplomatic and trade relations, but the U.S. Government has been reluctant to negotiate on this basis, preferring instead to maintain a strict "humanitarian" level of discussion, which has resulted in the return of a few remains, but no American prisoners of war. Our American soldiers go to war prepared to be wounded, taken prisoner, even prepared to die. They do not go prepared to be abandoned. If there is even ONE American alive, we must do everything possible to bring him home. PLEASE!!!!...Help bring "my American hero", as well as ALL of our American heros, back to their families and back on American soil where they belong. Here is how you can do your part to help. Be sure to write a letter to the President, Vice President, your State Senators, and State Representatives. Let them know how concerned you are about the POW/MIA's whom have still not returned home and that you will not rest until ALL of our American POW's and MIA's are brought home where they belong. For email addresses for the elected officials,Click Here!




UPDATE!!!!


On July 26th 2000, I found the family of Lt. Col. Donald King! To read my story, Click Here!




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~Email Me~





I want to thank my friend Travis, for sending me this beautiful poem. : )

THINGS YOU DIDN'T DO

Remember the time I borrowed your brand new car and dented it? I thought you'd kill me, but you didn't.

And remember the time I flirted with all the guys to make you jealous, and you were? I thought you'd leave me, but you didn't.

Remember the time I dragged you down to the beach, and you said it would rain, and it did? I thought you'd say "I told you so," but you didn't.

And remember the time I spilled blueberry pie on your rug? I thought you'd kill me, but you didn't.

Remember the time I forgot to tell you the dance was formal and you showed up in your blue jeans? I thought you'd drop me, but you didn't.

Yes, there were lots of things you didn't do, but you put up with me, protected me, and loved me.

And there were lots of things I wanted to make up to you when your returned from Vietnam........but you didn't.

~Author Unknown~





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This is a rubbing of Lt. Col. Donald King's name from the virtual Vietnam Memorial wall. Click to visit!










This award was a complete surprise. A special thanks to Jeff and Marilyn Grote, for this beautiful award. Thank you so much...I am honored. : )




This award was given to me by Bear. Thanks Bear, I am honored. : )


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Thank you Mark for this beautiful award...what a surprise! I love it!! : )


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All biographical and loss information on POW's provided by Operation Just Cause has been supplied by Chuck and Mary Schantag of POWNET. Please check with http://www.asde.com/~pownet/ regularly for updates."

A special thank you to Doc for the use of your beautiful graphics.