The following letters were sent to me by  Lt Colonel John Morse.
I think they speak for themselves about the special man that Charles Douglas King was.

This letter is from LtCol Morse to the troops:

28 Nov 68

1-40(C)

ARRS Outstanding Airman of the Year

All Personnel, Det. 1, 40 ARRS
1-40(0) LtCol Brown
1-40(M) Capt White

1. It is a tremendous pleasure to publicize the following messages:

a. From General Brooks, Commander, Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service.

"Pass to SSG Richard L. Adomnik, A1C Charles D. King. I am very pleased to advise that you have been nominated as ARRS representatives for the MAC Outstanding Airman of the Year for 1968. I sincerely wish that both of you could be the MAC recipient of the award for both of you are equally deserving. Please accept personal congratulations."

b. From Col Bridges, Commander 3rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group.

"Add my congratulations to those extended Sgt Adomnik and A1C King for being nominated from ARRS to MAC for the Outstanding Airman of the Year award. I am proud that they were selected from 3ARRGp as the very best in the whole of Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service. These outstanding young men were fully deserving of this honor."

2. To the above are added the congratulations of every man in the squadron, my appreciation for the effort of their supervisors and credit to all those who participated in preparing the award packages.

John H.I. Morse, Lt Colonel, USAF
Commander

This is the notification letter from Colonel White, who was commander of the 56th Special Operations Wing at NKP at the time:

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
Headquarters 56th Special Operations Wing (PACAF)
APO San Francisco 96310

27 December 1968

Mr. Charles L. King and Miss Sherry L. King
(address deleted)

Dear Mr. King and Miss King,

It is with deep regret and sorrow that I write concerning your son and brother, Airman First Class Charles D. King, missing in action as of 25 December 1968. Charles is a respected pararescueman who earned the admiration of all who worked and became associated with him during the time he was stationed at this installation.

Charles was participating in a combat rescue mission on the morning of 25 December 1968 attempting to rescue a pilot who had been forced to eject over hostile territory. Charles was lowered from the helicopter to effect the rescue. He prepared himself and the downed pilot to be hoisted up by the helicopter. He then reported hostile fire in the area and that he was wounded. Both Charles and the downed pilot were being hoisted up when the hoist broke and they fell about ten feet to the ground. No further radio contact could be established with Charles. The helicopter received strong hostile fire, forcing it to depart the area. Neither Charles or the downed pilot could be rescued due to the intense hostile fire. An electronic and visual search is being conducted and will continue for an indefinite period. I am sorry I cannot define the recovery area due to regulatory restrictions. I wish to assure you that it is not our intent to withhold any information that would be beneficial.

Charles was in possession of survival equipment and weather conditions in the area were ideal. Any new information that becomes available will be furnished you immediately.

An officer from a nearby installation will visit you and will remain available to assist you in any way possible. If I can be of any assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,
Edwin J. White Jr., Colonel, USAF
Commander

This is an excerpt from a letter home, written by LtCol Morse on 26 December 1968:

Well, it was a sad Christmas over here. We had gone out the night before for a Thud pilot. Darkness fell before he could be located, so it was launch in the dark so as to arrive at the area by light-ready. After some time the chute was located and the Sandys could see the pilot hanging in the harness. They received no ground fire while trolling the area. No radio contact with the pilot. So, an impasse. No contact means no way of telling whether a trap had been set overnight. Yet, maybe no trap and the man is unconscious but alive.

Quite a decision to make. Finally, in went Jolly Green 17, flown by Bill Cameron. They finally came to a hover and the PJ (pararescueman) went down on the forest penetrator to check. Recall that we'd saved a conscious but blinded pilot this way not too long ago. The PJ got to the ground and was pulling the Thud pilot (never found out whether he was conscious or not) to the penetrator and had just started up when he called out that he'd been hit, and to pull up. Just then rifle fire hit the helicopter and up Bill went. The cable broke, the hoist nearly came off and out went Jolly Green 17 to the north.

We went back this afternoon when radio signals were detected from the area, but nothing ever came of it.

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