My Dream


I decided after reaching many dead ends that I would take a chance and make some phone calls. I started with the City of Muskegon because it was his home town. The first call I made was to the Muskegon city manager's office. I explained to her why I was calling, and she led me in the direction of the City Clerk. She in turn led me to the Muskegon County Clerk's office. I talked to a woman from that office, and she gave me 4 telephone numbers of people with the last name of King. One by one, I dialed all of the phone numbers and none of them were the one that would lead me to the King family. My heart just sank....I had reached another dead end. Not wanting to give up, about an hour later I decided to go online and check out the internet. I went into a search engine and typed in Muskegon, Michigan. I then looked under Chamber of Commerce, and then under newspapers. I decided that there must have been some kind of article printed about him over the years. I came across the Muskegon Chronicle. I dialed their number, and the gal that I spoke with said that I needed to speak with the librarian, but that she had just left for the day. I called back the next morning and spoke with the librarian and again explained my story...that I was trying to find the family of Lt. Col. Donald King. She got very quiet and then said "you're never going to believe this, but for Father's Day, we printed a two page article about him and his family". This is a picture that appeared on the front page of the Muskegon Chronicle.



This picture is of his wife and and son at the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C.

This is a picture of the article that appeared on the front page of the Muskegon Chronicle.



I then asked the dreaded question..."Do you know where I can find his family? I think my heart stopped when I heard her say..."his wife still lives here in Muskegon....would you like her telephone number?" At that point, the tears started streaming down my face. I must have thanked her a gazillion times. LOL It took me about 10 minutes to stop crying and get it together enough to dial the number. I slowly dialed the number and waited for an answer. A woman answered the phone, and I said to her...."Please believe me when I tell you that this is NOT a prank call." I told her my name and that I was 41 years old, and that since the age of 14, I had been wearing a POW bracelet that bears the name of an American soldier by the name of Lt. Col. Donald King. All of a sudden, there was a big sigh...I asked her..."Are you his wife?" She said YES!!!! Well folks, I have to tell you...There were a lot of tears being shed. She was crying, and I was crying. We talked for about 45 minutes. She told me about her children and grandchildren, and she also told me that she never remarried. We exchanged telephone numbers and addresses and promised to keep in touch. About a week later, I received a package in the mail from Ginny King. I opened it up, and there in front of my eyes was a picture of her husband, and my American hero, Lt. Col. Donald King. (the one you see on this web page) I always wondered what he looked like, and now I know. He's so handsome! She also sent a picture of herself and her children. It was taken last Thanksgiving.



Left to right
Ron...age 42, Kaylene...age 39, Ginny...age 66, Cindy...age 43, and Bob...age 40.

What a beautiful family! It breaks my heart to know that he couldn't be in the picture. Only part of my dream has come true. However next summer it will all come true. Ginny and I spoke about me wanting to return my POW bracelet to her. She said that she would like to wait until next summer when all of her kids can be there. They all live on the west coast, and come home every summer for a week. She wants them to be a part of it, and I am thrilled....not only to meet Lt. Col. Donald King's wife, but also his children. It will definitely be a day filled with mixed emotions. I will be sad, but also extremely happy. Lt. Col. Donald King, and this POW bracelet have been a part of my life for almost 28 years. I'll take it off and give it to his family and THEY will become a part of my life....I hope, for a very long time.

I'm so fortunate to have found the King family after all these years. I remember my sister telling me that maybe it wasn't a good idea that I try to find the King family, and that maybe his wife had remarried and wanted the past left in the past. Sherry just didn't want me to get hurt. I told her that it was a chance that I had to take. I'm SO glad I took that chance. It could have turned out so different, but it didn't. I promise, i'll let you all know when the rest of my dream comes true. Just watch for another update.




UPDATE!!!

On Saturday, July 7, 2001....My dream came true! My dream that i've had since I was a kid, of giving my POW/MIA bracelet back to the family of Lt. Col. Donald King came true! The first person I met was his wife Ginny. We hugged, and to be honest, I didn't want to let go. It had been a long time coming. She then introduced me to three of their four children...Oldest son Ron from Phoenix Arizona...youngest son Bob also from Phoenix Arizona.... and youngest daughter Kaylene, from Lakewood California. Their oldest child daughter Cindy, couldn't make it home. She lives in Seattle Washington. But I did get to meet Bob's wife Tracy, and six of their eight grandchildren. It was truly wonderful. My daughter Amanda, and my mom were with me, so they were able to share in the excitement. While talking with his family, we figured out that I had the bracelet for 30 years, and not 28 years like I had originally thought. Susan Harrison Wolffis, a writer for the Muskegon Chronicle was there to cover our story. Pictures were taken, and stories were shared about him and his family, and about my bracelet....A story will appear in the Chronicle very soon. It was a VERY emotional day for everyone....lots of tears...hugs, etc. I cried like a baby when I took my bracelet off my wrist. His wife asked me if I was sure I wanted them to have it, and I told her that I was never so sure of anything in my life. I was happy that my dream (that I had since I was 12 years old) had finally come true, yet I was sad that I was taking my bracelet off after 30 years. She has plans to have a wood and glass box made to put his dress white Air Force hat, and all of his medals in. She said that she had kept putting it off, and now knows why. "Your bracelet was the missing piece", she said. She also told me that it will be put in the case with the rest of his military things. She also said that she is going to have a name plate inscribed with the date I presented my bracelet to them on the front. I came home last night to an empty house. I have a 5" x 7" picture of him (that his wife sent me) sitting on my entertainment center. When I turned a light on in the living room, I saw his picture and started crying. I cried, and cried, and cried. I think it finally hit me...The magnitude of emotions I had felt, and what the day was all about. For me, I had a dream for 30 years and I persued that dream, and yesterday it came true. And for his family, it was also a way to put some closure to a chapter in their lives....an original POW bracelet bearing the name of her husband, and their father had come back to them after 30 years. That bracelet brought the King family and I together. We have a bond that will never be broken, and forever, will stay in touch. They are a wonderful family, and I am truly blessed to know them. It was a day that I will ALWAYS cherish, and NEVER forget. Today, my sister thought my wrist looked a little bare so she gave me a beautiful sterling silver bracelet that resembles my POW bracelet...Sherry, I love my bracelet, and I love you!!! So there you have it...My dream is no longer a dream, because It happened...It came true!!! Even though I no longer wear Lt. Col. Donald King's name on my wrist, I will carry him and his family in my heart, until I draw my last breath...and THAT is a promise.



UPDATE!!!

On Friday July 13th, 2001 our story appeared on the front page of the Muskegon Chronicle. Susan Harrison Wolffis, the writer called me to let me know when it would run. She also told me that it was released to 9 other newspapers in Michigan, including our local paper...the Flint Journal. It appeared in the Flint Journal on Sunday, July 15th. This is a picture of the article that appeared in The Muskegon Chronicle.



This picture was taken immediately after I gave Ginny King my bracelet. I can't tell you what it meant to me to finally realize my dream after all those years.



This is my bracelet, as it appeared in the newspaper.



Here I am with the King family! From left to right...Ron, Cathi, Ginny, Kaylene, and Bob.



This is myself, Ginny, and Susan Harrison Wolffis (the writer)



And this is Lt.Col. Donald King's oldest son Ron, and I.



Since this all happened, I have stayed in very close touch with Ginny. I am eternally greatful to the King family for opening up their hearts to me, and making me feel so welcome.

I'm apparently allergic to the sterling silver bracelet that my sister gave me to replace my POW bracelet. While talking on the phone to Ginny, I told her that I was thinking about ordering a copper POW bracelet with his name on it....for two reasons. I have arthritis in the same wrist that I wore my bracelet, and have heard that copper helps with the pain. And also, I would be able to carry him with me where ever I go, just as I did for all those years. She told me that if I could wait until she gets out to Phoenix in October, that she HAS an original copper bracelet with his name on it, and would very much like me to wear it. That would mean soooooo much to me. I received a beautiful card in the mail from Ginny, thanking me for keeping my promise to Don and her family. She wrote "I feel like you are one of mine now, and I love you Cathi." At that very moment, I felt an overwhelming love from this wonderful, wonderful lady.....a lady I met because of a vow that I took. And because of that vow, i'll never be apart from "My American Hero". Because he lives on through his family....my extended family. And soooooooo my story goes on! Keep watching for another update!



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