★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★
Capt Michael King '79, USMC, was lost on October 31, 1988 when the CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter he was piloting collided with another near Okinawa, Japan. The other helicopter was able to land safely, but all four Marines aboard Michael's aircraft were killed (including Major Richard Eisloeffel '76, USMC).
From the March 1989 issue of "Shipmate:"
A foreign service brat, Michael lived with his parents in many places around the world as a youth. He attended Bullis Preparatory School in Washington, D.C, graduating as Salutatorian in 1975. Michael was appointed to the Naval Academy from the State of Oregon, was a member of the 11th company and graduated with merit in 1979.
Commissioned a Second Lieutenant, he graduated from the Basic School with honors, attended flight training in Pensacola and was designated a Naval Aviator in 1981.
While deployed with HMM-162 homeported in New River, North Carolina, Michael was assigned to the Multi-National Peacekeeping Force in Beirut, Lebanon. He piloted the first helicopter to arrive at the Marine Barracks after the terrorist bombing, and participated in evacuation of the wounded. For his actions he was awarded two Air Medals, two Navy Unit Citations, the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal and a Combat Action Ribbon.
Following his return from Beirut, Michael served in a variety of Marine Corps Aviation billets, made a 1985 Mediterranean cruise with HMM-162 aboard USS SAIPAN, and in 1987 graduated from Amphibious Warfare School tops in his class.
Assigned to Hawaii in 1987, he resumed flying duties with HMM-262. With the squadron's deployment to Okinawa in July of this year, Michael assumed the duties of Aviation Liaison Officer to the Marine Corps Special Operations Training Group.
Michael was a life member of the Naval Academy Alumni Association and a member of the United Methodist Church.
He is survived by his wife Constance Pruett King of Kaneohe Bay Hawaii, twins born 9 May 1988, Kathryn Elizabeth and William Michael King, his parents Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Ferris of Bend, Oregon, and a sister Mrs. Jay Jones of Los Angeles, California.
To Honor! ⚓
https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/MICHAEL_F._KING,_CAPT,_USMC