thedrifter
09-18-05, 08:03 AM
East Tennessee honors a military hero whose homecoming was decades overdue
Declared "Missing in Action" for nearly four decades, Corporal Gerald "Jerry" King finally got the attention his family says he deserves.
King was just 20-years old when he was killed in a battle with North Vietnamese forces.
The military found his remains in the late 1990's, but only identified King last month.
Saturday, King found his final resting place at the New Gray Cemetery.
After shedding 37 years of tears, his family and fellow marines can also rest.
"Marines don't like to leave their dead behind, but in this case there was no choice," former Marine Corps Captain Conrad Kinsey explained.
King's return brings relief for Kinsey, King's commanding officer who traveled to East Tennessee from his West Virginia home for the funeral.
Kinsey says King is the second Marine he's buried since the military found the remains of 12 service members in Vietnam.
All died in an attack at Ngok Tavak, where 43 enlisted men and one officer were sent to prevent the building of a bridge.
"I gave everyone the option," Kinsey explained. "They didn't have to go if they didn't want to, but none of them would refuse. They all wanted the adventure."
Kinsey says 13 Marines were killed. Eleven of them were left on the hill. None made it home until now.
"The news they found the people was just glorious," Kinsey said. "Bearing it over the years was difficult, very difficult."
Kinsey says he has been drawing disability for post traumatic stress disorder, in large part because of what happened at Ngok Tavak.
Now that he is finding closure, his wife agrees a burden has been lifted and he's a different man.
Those who never knew King or the others, but knew they were missing, also came to show their respects Saturday.
"I'm a former Marine. Once a Marine, always a Marine," Johnny Cagle said.
Cagle came to the New Gray cemetery service for King, because he wore a bracelet bearing King's name. He gave the bracelet to one of King's brothers.
"I've had his bracelet 6 years now," Cagle explained. "It's like giving up a piece of me. I always wondered what he looked like, what could he have done? But I was very honored to wear it and give it to his family to be put to rest."
Cathy Keating felt like she knew King as well.
"About eight years ago I adopted him as a virtual POW," Keating explained. "We had the same birthday, but different years. Still, of all the men they could have sent me, it was just too much."
Now it's enough for them to know King is back where he belongs in East Tennessee.
The military is holding a service at Arlington National Cemetery on October 7 for King, ten other Marines and one Army soldier whose remains were returned to the U.S.
A marker will stand for the five who were identified, and seven who weren't.
The Pentagon confirms they are the largest group of MIA's found in Vietnam.
Kevin Umberger , Photographer
Kay Watson , Reporter
Last updated: 9/18/2005
http://www.wbir.com/assetpool/images/05917174934_September17_2005_091705MIAFuneral3.jpg
Ellie
Rest In Peace
Declared "Missing in Action" for nearly four decades, Corporal Gerald "Jerry" King finally got the attention his family says he deserves.
King was just 20-years old when he was killed in a battle with North Vietnamese forces.
The military found his remains in the late 1990's, but only identified King last month.
Saturday, King found his final resting place at the New Gray Cemetery.
After shedding 37 years of tears, his family and fellow marines can also rest.
"Marines don't like to leave their dead behind, but in this case there was no choice," former Marine Corps Captain Conrad Kinsey explained.
King's return brings relief for Kinsey, King's commanding officer who traveled to East Tennessee from his West Virginia home for the funeral.
Kinsey says King is the second Marine he's buried since the military found the remains of 12 service members in Vietnam.
All died in an attack at Ngok Tavak, where 43 enlisted men and one officer were sent to prevent the building of a bridge.
"I gave everyone the option," Kinsey explained. "They didn't have to go if they didn't want to, but none of them would refuse. They all wanted the adventure."
Kinsey says 13 Marines were killed. Eleven of them were left on the hill. None made it home until now.
"The news they found the people was just glorious," Kinsey said. "Bearing it over the years was difficult, very difficult."
Kinsey says he has been drawing disability for post traumatic stress disorder, in large part because of what happened at Ngok Tavak.
Now that he is finding closure, his wife agrees a burden has been lifted and he's a different man.
Those who never knew King or the others, but knew they were missing, also came to show their respects Saturday.
"I'm a former Marine. Once a Marine, always a Marine," Johnny Cagle said.
Cagle came to the New Gray cemetery service for King, because he wore a bracelet bearing King's name. He gave the bracelet to one of King's brothers.
"I've had his bracelet 6 years now," Cagle explained. "It's like giving up a piece of me. I always wondered what he looked like, what could he have done? But I was very honored to wear it and give it to his family to be put to rest."
Cathy Keating felt like she knew King as well.
"About eight years ago I adopted him as a virtual POW," Keating explained. "We had the same birthday, but different years. Still, of all the men they could have sent me, it was just too much."
Now it's enough for them to know King is back where he belongs in East Tennessee.
The military is holding a service at Arlington National Cemetery on October 7 for King, ten other Marines and one Army soldier whose remains were returned to the U.S.
A marker will stand for the five who were identified, and seven who weren't.
The Pentagon confirms they are the largest group of MIA's found in Vietnam.
Kevin Umberger , Photographer
Kay Watson , Reporter
Last updated: 9/18/2005
http://www.wbir.com/assetpool/images/05917174934_September17_2005_091705MIAFuneral3.jpg
Ellie
Rest In Peace