John Nathan King Jr

Technical Sergeant John Nathan King Jr was killed in action on August 7, 1944 in Mortain, France during World War II.  He was 20 years old.

John Nathan King Jr. was born on September 23, 1923 in Williamsboro, Vance County, North Carolina, the son of John Nathan King Sr. and Mary Lillian Wade King.  He was married to Edith Rogers King.

TSgt King enlisted in the Army National Guard in 1940.  He was deployed to the European Theater of War in February, 1944 serving in Company C, 1st Battalion, 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division.

The Regiment landed at Omaha Beach, Normandy and moved into positions on the front line on June 13, 1944 in the area near Carentan.  During July, the 120th drove into enemy held territory a distance of 30 miles fighting under typical Normandy hedgerow-to-hedgerow conditions, each yard being stubbornly contested by the Germans.  The Regiment was constantly vulnerable to counterattacks from one or both flanks resulting largely from the fact that the Regiment moved forward faster than units to their right and left.  The objective of the U.S. forces was the town of St. Lo, a major crossroads which, if taken, would prevent German forces in Normandy from reinforcing the German front lines.  St. Lo was taken on July 19 and this enabled the 120th to break out of the hedgerows. 

After rest and reorganization on August 3d and 4th, the 120th resumed the offensive and advanced seventy miles south and east to Mortain where its objective was to hold both Mortain and Hill 314 which commanded roads leading east and west on the north and south of the hill. After assuming their positions, friendly aircraft bombed the U.S. troops in Mortain on the afternoon of August 6, 1944. The following day, German forces counter-attacked in strength. TSgt King was killed in action on August 7, 1944.

Technical Sergeant John Nathan King Jr. is buried in the Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial, Saint-James, Basse-Normandie, France. 

Last edited: 30 May 2026