Patrick Edward King
Patrick was the first born of two Irish immigrants on August 11, 1921. His parents were John King of “Tully Cross” in Galway County, and Mary Harrington of “Bantry Bay”, in County Cork. John’s Tully Cross favored the Northwestern Atlantic end of their homeland, while Mary’s Bantry Bay favored the far southwestern end of the island. They lived a considerable distance apart making it seem unlikely that they would have encountered each other on their home island; but they were each within easy walking distance of the Atlantic shore, where they no doubt looked towards America, with some combination of fear and hope.
While this writer has little firsthand knowledge of Patrick’s parents, John and Mary, before their arrival in America or their presumed hardships in Ireland, It would be safe to say that they lived in a conquered land that had been in a state of civil war for hundreds of years. They would have had the memories and mindset of a people who were deemed suspicious and dispensable by the British governing authorities. They must have heard stories of the many tenant families who were evicted from their land during the infamous crop failures. Some of the desperate and starving, left Ireland seeking opportunity, only to die imprisoned near Canadian shores, on the infamous “Coffin Ships” of 1847.
John had been to America once before. In fact, he was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, on January 25, 1895. His own parents were faced with the same terrifying unknown as they left Ireland near the turn of the century. They crossed the Atlantic, hoping for a better future in America. John’s parents survived the journey and the immigration gauntlet, but within a few years John, still an infant, was on his way back to Ireland with his widowed mother. His father had died during a flu epidemic.
John and Mary would need to cross the ocean before their lives would intersect. It is reported that Mary was scheduled to join the masses of immigrants who crowded the steerage areas, deep inside the RMS Titanic. Her departure was delayed. She arrived in America on board the “Adriatic” in 1912. A record of her arrival, her signature and an invoice of belongings has even been recently obtained. Mary worked as a household servant, as did many of her contemporaries. John, on the other hand, would arrive back to America in 1914 at the age of 19, and quickly enlisted in the navy, serving in the First World War as an American. His service to the cause must have been troubling in some ways. He was announcing his allegiance to his new homeland by serving in the armed forces. However, he also found himself allied with the British-- defending British soil and British rule. The cruel irony must have occurred to him. John was hospitalized with appendicitis shortly after enlistment. He was reassigned to shoveling coal in the bowels of a Navy supply ship, when he displayed his conditioned, irreverence for authority. He was disciplined for his contrary attitude more than once.
Apparently, John and the men in the boiler room provided reliable volumes of steam. John and his ship evaded assaults from Germany’s submarines, her notoriously powerful battle ships and deadly dreadnoughts. At the end of the war, John would receive an honorable discharge and begin again as an American civilian.
It was reported that John and Mary met each other in a park, and began their courtship as the result of some mutual friendships. John secured a job as a U.S. mail carrier in Brooklyn, NY. Mary and John, married and rented an apartment in Green Point, Brooklyn for a short time, but spent most of their early years in an apartment in the “Irish section” of Coney Island, where they raised five children. Patrick would relate that the Coney Island area was sectioned as Irish, Italian and Jewish. Their apartment was less than a 5 minute walk, if John or Mary wished to stand in the Atlantic surf, facing towards their homeland. John was known to return home to the apartment, long enough to eat dinner and grab his fishing pole. He would fish off the Coney Island pier well into the night. He would return to his family and add to the bushel basket of salted fish at home. John and Mary opened their home many times, to otherwise, lost, immigrant families. It was a reunion meeting place on several occasions. Two of those visitors would one day give birth to, and nurture, the honorable Long Island Congressman, Peter King.
Patrick’s youth was much different than his parents. He often spoke of playing baseball in Coney Island--all day, every day, all summer long. On hot summer days there would have been over 1,000,000 people, trying to escape the inner city heat. Most would arrive via the newly constructed elevated subway. A short sprint on Patrick’s young legs would have him in the cool surf in minutes. He lived in the midst of a continuous carnival, all summer long--day and night. Coney Island was full of energy. He would become accustomed to the side walk barkers and circus acts; there was Steeple Chase, Luna Park, Feltman’s arcade, the Thunder Bolt and the newly constructed Cyclone roller coasters. Of course, there were also the famous Nathan’s 5 cent hot dogs. With the installation of the subway, Coney Island was no longer an exclusive summer resort for the wealthy. It would become known as “The Nickel Empire” as businesses began to compete for shares in the large volume of less affluent visitors. On rainy days Patrick could play basketball at Our Lady of Solace Gym. It seems that he lived every young boy’s dream.
Most seaside businesses would board up in the fall and remain preserved in the darkness until Memorial Day of the following season. Patrick’s attention would turn to his schoolwork, basketball, rough tackle football on the beach, and drama’s on the radio. Patrick attended Our Lady of Solace through grade school.
His parents eventually saved enough money to purchase a new semi-detached home in Marine Park, Brooklyn, NY. John and Mary became the proud owners of 3316 Fillmore Ave. Patrick says that his father, John King, seemed to be at peace for the first time. He had brought his family through the great depression and owned a piece of the earth for the first time. John’s Irish Catholic ancestors were forbidden to own land in their home country of Ireland in accordance with penal laws dating back to the 1500’s. Patrick completed his formal education at nearby Lincoln High School. He had taken the FDNY exam and waited to be called. His father had repeatedly prodded him to take all the civil service tests. “You won’t get rich, but you’ll always have food on the table,” he said.
As the Japanese armada made way toward Pearl Harbor, Pat worked his job as a “shipping checker”. Following the sneak attacks on December 7, 1941, Patrick enlisted in the military. Rather than opting for the Navy like his father, Patrick chose the U.S. Army. His unit was to be shipped out to fight the war in Europe, like his father before him. As his unit made final preparations to disembark, Patrick was summoned to appear before a superior officer. He would be evaluated as a candidate for officer’s training school. Patrick, made known, his reluctance to assume such a position, having absolutely no field experience. The inquiring officer chose to respect Patrick’s opinion, however his future had been altered as a result of the meeting.
Patrick’s originally assigned unit had begun the journey, which would bring them to the war across the Atlantic. The logistics of Patrick rejoining his unit would be complicated. As a result, he would be reassigned to the Pacific Theater of Operations, as a Radio Operator in the 63rd field artillery Battalion in the 24th Division. His job would involve getting in close to the enemy, with a small group of men and an officer. He would be expected to position behind enemy lines if necessary, in order to transmit effective fire commands to the land and naval artillery. Patrick became familiar with a place called “Camp Caves” in Queensland, Australia. Camp Caves served as a green Zone staging area for many thousands of the American and allied troops.
Patrick has said that most soldiers did a lot of marching around and jungle warfare preparation, while they waited to enter the war. Patrick’s first invasion would take place on the 24th of April 1944 at a place called Humbolt Bay, Hollandia (now called Jayapura). The allies secured the island successfully. Patrick next volunteered to take part in the invasion of Leyte again as a radio operator attached to the 13th Field Artillery Battalion. Patrick remembers the fear as his landing craft dropped the ramp into the surf. They were immediately exposed to enemy fire. He stated that the men were very reluctant to leave the transport under such heavy fire. Upon arrival on the beach; he and his relatively small infantry unit were assigned to one of the most important tasks of the invasion.
The allied forces had secured the eastern side of Leyte Island, but had not anticipated that the Japanese would engage so much of their naval and land military recourses in a counter attack on the western side of the island. Although the Japanese would lose one of the largest naval engagements in all of military history, they would succeed in adding 34,000 battle-hardened reinforcements to the already deeply entrenched Japanese forces. There were desperate bloody battles for control and confinement underway between the American and Japanese soldiers on the Western side of the Island while the bulk of American Naval artillery took position in the Leyte Gulf to the east. The technology of the day would prevent direct communication between the heavily engaged American ground forces and the much needed naval artillery on the opposite side of the island. It was determined that a radio communication relay would be required.
Patrick would move forward through the Leyte Valley on foot with an American Naval Officer and a group of approximately 200 men. The hilly topography created endless obstacles to successful communications. The mission would require that the Radio relay equipment be operated in open and therefore; more visible areas. The island was peppered with well hidden enemy observers and ground troops. Patrick was threatened by enemy rifle and artillery fire numerous times and he would later tell of entering an elevated, native hut, after dusk, with a Naval Officer. The location and height of the hut seemed to be promising. Pat and the officer were offered little protection when enemy rifle fire began to rip through the grass walls. Patrick lost his helmet when he and the officer dove to the floor of the hut during the initial volley. As Patrick lost his helmet, the officer simultaneously gained a helmet and extra protection. Patrick had accepted the idea that he might very well be pierced by a bullet during the night. However, he found himself most disturbed by the thought of being hit in the head.
The rifle shots continued at random until morning. Patrick was unable to locate and reclaim his helmet until it became apparent, at first light that the officer had been making use of both helmets, throughout the long sleepless night. The hidden Japanese snipers attempted to conceal the muzzle flash of their weapons in order to remain obscured but the threat was eliminated by morning. Patrick was however, once again pinned down by enemy fire later in the mission, while climbing an embankment. Patrick’s comrades once again successfully subdued the sniper. He was scolded by the same “helmet loving” officer for not shielding the Radio equipment with his body during the encounter.
Upon completion of his mission, Patrick received a commendation for his “Courage, aggressiveness and devotion to duty”. It was noted that he and his comrades had been under attack by Japanese artillery for 13 days. None the less, Patrick “calmly and efficiently relayed fire missions and important messages”. The commendation was endorsed by Lt. Col. W. Lang of the 63rd. Field Artillery Battalion.
Patrick had been greatly influenced by Army, Lt. Col. Thomas Edgar Clifford of the 24th infantry division, who was a key figure during many of the major ground conflicts in the south Pacific. It seems likely that Lt. Clifford relied heavily on Patrick to relay accurate messages in order to preserve American lives during the Battle for Leyte. Lt. Col. Clifford would lose his life during the battle for Mindanao, where Patrick was also part of the liberating force. Lt. Col. Clifford was reputed to be a soldier’s soldier, who got in close to the fighting. Patrick often referred to him as “a nice man”.
Patrick also took part in the invasion of Mindoro, where he most likely contracted delayed onset Malaria. He stated that Mindoro was an important strategic victory but it was sparsely defended by sick and starving Japanese soldiers. The battle for Leyte Island had been very costly to every branch of the Japanese military.
Patrick returned to the states, and underwent successful malaria treatment. He received an Honorable Discharge on the 16th of September 1945. He resumed his work as “shipping checker” but was summoned to begin his career as a N.Y.C. firefighter within a few months. He served during some of the busiest years in FDNY history.
Patrick married Dorothy M. Carney, “the girl across the street” on January 25, 1948. The handsome couple; danced to “Apple Blossom Time” at their wedding reception. They began raising the first of their nine children in the new “Glenwood Housing Projects”. They purchased a one family home at 1720 east 53rd street in Brooklyn. Their East Flatbush home was listed as a handyman special and was purchased for $ 15,000, where Patrick and Dorothy gave life to four sons and five daughters. In age order their children are Patrick, Stephen, Dorothy Ann, Mary, John, Theresa, Thomas, Margaret and Catherine. Patrick retired from the FDNY as a Deputy Chief in 1975 after 27 years of service. Patrick and Dorothy became grandparents to twenty six grandchildren and great grand parents to twenty. Patrick’s wife, Dorothy, would succumb to cancer in July of 1978 and was buried in Saint Charles Cemetery. Patrick remained a devout Catholic throughout his life and was active in religious instruction for grade school children for many years. He wrote several lesson plans that are currently in use by other teachers in his former Parish of Mary Queen of Heaven.
Patrick began a long time friendship with a fellow parishioner by the name of Dorothy “Dottie” Lapp. They were daily companions until a stroke took Dottie’s freedom of mobility in 2009. She is currently residing in a long term care facility in Coney Island, Brooklyn. Meanwhile, Patrick’s health and age related ailments became increasingly more difficult. He moved from his home on east 53rd Street and became a member of the household of Catherine King and Ralph Nieves in 2010. He resided at 13 Howell Road in Campbell Hall N.Y. Patrick went to the Lord peacefully on October 16, 2012. He was 91 years old and surrounded at bedside by many of his loved ones. Patrick now knows perfect love, peace and health for the first time since he began his long journey in 1921. He leaves us with the challenge of faith. It is believed that he has rejoined his wife Dorothy, who has also been restored by the Lord.
“For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?” Romans 8:24
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Revelations 21:4.
“But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint”. Isaiah 40:31