Lloyd Arlon King Jr. passed peacefully at home in Kimberling City, Missouri, on March 27, 2018.
Lloyd was born March 26, 1944, to his Oakfield, NY hometown parents, Lloyd A. King, World War II Army Air Corps and Alice R. King. Graduating from high school in 1962 in Sweetwater, Texas, Lloyd attended college at Philadelphia College of Art majoring in Industrial Design and Fine Arts.
Lloyd served during 1968 and 1969 in Vietnam as a non-commissioned officer, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was a highly decorated and ultimately disabled Vietnam veteran soldier, having received the Silver Star for gallantry in combat, the Soldier’s Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, two Purple Heart Medals, two Air Medals, and nearly a dozen other medals and ribbons including The Republic of South Vietnam’s highest award, the Gallantry Cross with Gold Star.
Following his service, Lloyd worked over 30 years in various fields focusing on safety and training roles in the oil and gas industry. A life-long Boy Scout participant and supporter, he was Scout Master for a troop based in Lafayette, Louisiana, that produced 16 Eagle Scouts during his tenure. Lloyd again enlisted in the US Army in 1987 and served as a recruiter for six years.
As an author, Lloyd’s book “From ‘Nam with Love” was the recipient of the 2006 Gold Medal for Best Book of Poetry, awarded by the Military Writer’s Society of America, as well as the 2010 Gold Medal in the Stars and Flags Annual Book Contest. A second book, “Kings of the Green Jelly Moon,” also received a Gold Medal.
In later years Lloyd dedicated himself to furthering many causes as life member in numerous veteran support organizations such as the Military Order of the Purple Heart. Working tirelessly with members of the US Congress, local associations, his comrades, and the medical community, Lloyd pushed for more awareness and support for key health issues he and so many other Vietnam veterans face, such as the results of Agent Orange, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and ultimately Lloyd’s final health impact – Cholangiocarcinoma or Bile Duct Cancer which has been linked to in-country ingested parasitic river flukes.
Survivors include stepson, Grant Garrett; daughter, Mary Alice (King) Leary; sister, Stormy Strauss; sister, Shirley Jean Curtis; brother, James A. King of Cambridge City; nieces, nephews, aunts, uncle, cousins, and many “brothers” and their spouses from his beloved Bravo Company, “No Slack” 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division-Airmobile.
Lloyd was preceded in death by his wife, Paula (Breaux) King, son Jeffrey Elliot King, his brother Jeff King, and his parents.
No services will be held at this time as burial is being planned for Arlington National Cemetery.
Memorials can be made to the service organization of your choice.