COL (Ret) Joseph S. King
Colonel Joseph S. King was born December 18, 1936 in Dallas, TX. He attended the University of Oklahoma from 1954-58 on a basketball scholarship, lettering in basketball for three years. COL King was selected to the first team All-Conference in 1956 and 1958 while being selected as the outstanding student-athlete in 1958. He was a member of the Wichita Vickers AAU basketball team in 1958-59 and 1959-60, which won the National AAU championship in 1959. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a BA in Journalism and commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Transportation Corps, with an immediate assignment to Military Intelligence.
After COL King completed Military Intelligence Officer Basic Course at Fort Holabird (formerly in Baltimore, MD), he was assigned as a member of the 95th Division from 1960-63 in Shawnee, OK in a reserve duty status. As a reservist he was fully employed as a coach, teacher, and staff member at St. Gregory’s High School in Shawnee, OK. COL King then voluntarily requested an active duty assignment and was on active status by 1963. He then attended numerous military schools including Military Intelligence Order of Battle Course, Aerial Surveillance Officer Course, Defense Intelligence Course 1, National Security Management Course, Command and General Staff Course, and the Air War College.
During his 28 years in the Army COL King served in a variety of staff and command slots including Executive Officer and Commander of a Training Company, 95th Division, Shawnee, OK; Executive Officer and Commander, D Det., 1st Military Intelligence Battalion (Air Reconnaissance Support), Nha Trang, Republic of Vietnam; G-2, 2d Infantry Division, Camp Casey, Korea; Chief, Doctrine and Studies, Combat Developments Department, U.S. Army Intelligence Center and School, Fort Huachuca, Arizona; Commander, 101st Military Intelligence Battalion, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, KS; G-2 U.S. Army Japan and IX Corps, Camp Zama, Japan, in addition to numerous other active duty assignments.
His awards and decorations include: the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with four bronze service stars, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Unit Citation with Palm, and the Army Staff Badge.
After retirement from the military, COL King was employed by the Earth Observation Satellite Company, working at the Norman Field Station. He has been active in the Norman Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, Army ROTC Alumni Association, Center for Children and Families, and Chairman of the Military Affairs Committee (where he served on the board of directors for six years). COL King was quoted as saying ROTC instilled his values: “The first and foremost value was integrity. This is a most essential personal trait of all Soldiers, no matter what rank or duty.”