STUART W. KING, LTCOL, USMC

Stuart King '20

Date of birth: September 25, 1897

Date of death: January 12, 1945

Age: 47

Lucky Bag

From the 1920 Lucky Bag:

Stuart Waller King

Alexandria, Virginia

"Yokel"

HERE'S a man that puts us all to shame when it comes to ideals, traditions, and blue blood. For we have finally discovered that "Yokel" comes from one of the first families of Virginia, in spite of his protestations to the contrary.

We have only to hear his effervescent eulogies on peanut plantations, the tobacco trade, or the "Big Bool" to realize that "Yokel" is a true autocrat of the old school.

"Yokel" is usually of a serious disposition, but when he laughs the rest laugh with him.

In athletics "Yokel" has shown glimpses of previous powers, and rumor has it that the Old Dominion Boat Club isn't what it used to be since "Yokel" left.

But all the time, " Yokel," we inwardly admire your high ideals and self-sacrificing nature, characteristics that are sure to stand you in as good stead as will the many friendships you have cemented at the Academy.

Honors: Buzzard.

The Class of 1920 was graduated in June 1919 due to World War I. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.

Stuart Waller King

Alexandria, Virginia

"Yokel"

HERE'S a man that puts us all to shame when it comes to ideals, traditions, and blue blood. For we have finally discovered that "Yokel" comes from one of the first families of Virginia, in spite of his protestations to the contrary.

We have only to hear his effervescent eulogies on peanut plantations, the tobacco trade, or the "Big Bool" to realize that "Yokel" is a true autocrat of the old school.

"Yokel" is usually of a serious disposition, but when he laughs the rest laugh with him.

In athletics "Yokel" has shown glimpses of previous powers, and rumor has it that the Old Dominion Boat Club isn't what it used to be since "Yokel" left.

But all the time, " Yokel," we inwardly admire your high ideals and self-sacrificing nature, characteristics that are sure to stand you in as good stead as will the many friendships you have cemented at the Academy.

Honors: Buzzard.

The Class of 1920 was graduated in June 1919 due to World War I. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.

Loss

Stuart died in Japanese captivity, probably on January 12, 1945, following his transport aboard the Hell Ship Enoura Maru. (One listing has December 31, 1944; another has January 19, 1945. Believe that the list here, with January 12, 1945, is more accurate.) Stuart had survived the bombing of the Oryoku Maru in December, and was transferred to Enoura Maru where he died right before reaching Takao, Formosa (Jan. 1) or after that ship, too, was bombed (Jan. 9).

He had been captured upon the fall of Corregidor in May 1941.

His wife, Mary, was listed as next of kin. He has a memory marker in South Carolina.

Career

He was once a member of VMI's class of 1919.

At the beginning of the war, he was commanding officer of the Marine Barracks, U.S. Naval Base, Subic Bay, PI. That unit, which included 3 officers and 73 Marines, was disbanded on December 22, 1942 and personnel transferred to the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines. Stuart became "technical advisor" and executive officer to Francis Bridget '21, a patrol plane pilot who was then also the commander of the Naval Battalion. They were involved in action on the Bataan peninsula and later on Corregidor island.

Memorial Hall Error

He is listed on the killed in action panel in the front of Memorial Hall, but not with his classmates in the Class of 1920.

Class of 1920

Stuart is one of 26 members of the Class of 1920 in Memorial Hall.

• ← Elmer Kiehl '20