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Edward Postell King Jr.

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Edward Postell King Jr. Famous memorial Veteran

Birth
Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, USA
Death
31 Aug 1958 (aged 74)
Brunswick, Glynn County, Georgia, USA
Burial
Flat Rock, Henderson County, North Carolina, USA GPS-Latitude: 35.2818409, Longitude: -82.443389
Memorial ID
View Source
United States Army General. A career United States Army officer, he served in World War I as Chief Assistant to the Chief of Artillery and was Colonel Director of War Plans, at the Army War College. In 1940, he was promoted Brigadier General and sent to the Philippines as General Douglas MacArthur's second-ranking ground officer. On March 11, 1942, General MacArthur left for Australia and General King became Major General in command of the Philippine-American forces on Bataan. On April 9, 1942, he was compelled to surrender the largest military force in American history. His courageous act saved the lives of thousands of his troops, who would have been annihilated by the Japanese if he had not surrendered. General King, with his men, spent three and half years as a captive and was often mistreated by Japanese. After their liberation as prisoners, he said he alone was responsible for the surrender, but still was held in respect by his men and regarded as a hero.
United States Army General. A career United States Army officer, he served in World War I as Chief Assistant to the Chief of Artillery and was Colonel Director of War Plans, at the Army War College. In 1940, he was promoted Brigadier General and sent to the Philippines as General Douglas MacArthur's second-ranking ground officer. On March 11, 1942, General MacArthur left for Australia and General King became Major General in command of the Philippine-American forces on Bataan. On April 9, 1942, he was compelled to surrender the largest military force in American history. His courageous act saved the lives of thousands of his troops, who would have been annihilated by the Japanese if he had not surrendered. General King, with his men, spent three and half years as a captive and was often mistreated by Japanese. After their liberation as prisoners, he said he alone was responsible for the surrender, but still was held in respect by his men and regarded as a hero.

Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith


Inscription

HE THAT HUMBLETH HIMSELF
SHALL BE EXALTED



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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Originally Created by: Chuck Garland
  • Added: Oct 12, 2002
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6848145/edward_postell-king: accessed ), memorial page for Edward Postell King Jr. (4 Jul 1884–31 Aug 1958), Find a Grave Memorial ID 6848145, citing Saint John In the Wilderness Cemetery, Flat Rock, Henderson County, North Carolina, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.