PFC Leo E. King Jr. was born in 1924 the son of Leo E. King. Prior to being drafted in July 1943, Leo had lived in Alameda, California and completed 3 years of high school. After entering the service and completing his initial training, Leo was sent to England and assigned to C Company 116th Infantry. He trained for the amphibious assault on "fortress Europe" with that unit and was with 1st Platoon, C Company on D-Day. PFC King was killed by machinegun fire about 300 yards beyond Vierville-sur-mer.
About three hundred yards beyond Vierville-sur-mer the company was fired on by two machine guns. The first platoon and an attached mortar squad deployed to the left to outflank them. The third platoon came forward to give covering fire. They did not see a target, however, so did not fire a shot. This was according to the training which the men had previously been given. The first platoon felt that covering fire, regardless of the accuracy, would have been of real assistance.PFC King is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery.
When the first platoon was within thirty yards of the gun without seeing it, the machine gun opened up. 2LT Schwartz, SSG Ted F. Moubray, and PFC Leo King were killed and PFC James Page was wounded. The remainder of the platoon fired into the hedge. When the machine gun ceased firing the men moved forward to find the German gunner dead. Four other Germans tried to flank the platoon, but several grenades were thrown at them – killing two and causing the remaining two to surrender.
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