James Burl King

Submitted by: James Williamson {Grandson}

James Burl King was born around 1892. James King served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1919.

Story of Service

He enlisted and got all the way to France before an officer figured out he had a glass eye. They assigned him to driving trucks and ambulances.

He had a lot of stories from the war. He met the poet Joyce Kilmer and somehow got an autographed copy of one of his books. Mr. Kilmer was killed in action a short time later. My mother's middle name is Joyce, in his honor.

One time a German aircraft was shot down near his location. He and other soldiers cut pieces from the plane. I have the piece he cut out. He was part of the occupation force that was stationed in Germany after the war.

The picture below was taken in 1919 in Paris.