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Jul 12, 2023

Niles woman Angel King keeps family tradition

Aug 28, 2023 Angel King served in Army during a time of transition for women in the armed services. NILES — Angel King is the second of three generations of the King family to serve in the military,

Aug 28, 2023

Angel King served in Army during a time of transition for women in the armed services.

NILES — Angel King is the second of three generations of the King family to serve in the military, so far.

“My grandpa King was in the Navy in the 1940s during World War II. He was the reason that I wanted to go in, just to carry on our family name of having military service,” she said.

Her oldest son, Matthew, is serving in the U.S. Army.

Most students during their junior and senior years visit colleges and universities to decide where they will further their education, but King had other ideas.

“I enlisted in my senior year. I used my college days. Instead of going to visit colleges, I took my ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) test, the medical, physical and all that stuff that they require,” she said.

Though she was following her grandfather into the military, she did not want to choose the same military branch in which he served.

“When recruiters came to the school, usually the Army and Air Force were the first ones that you talked to there. I was not (interested in the) Navy. I don’t like water. The Army just seemed to kind of connect with me,” she said.

King said she was fine with the aspects of camping and living in tents that are part of being in the Army.

“I thrived on that. I’m a country girl,” King said.

“I grew up outside. I absolutely enjoyed it. I could probably say I am one of the very few females who enjoyed it from the very start to when I got out.”

Even in 1992, it was still not that common for women to enter the armed services, but her parents were supportive.

“It was unexpected, as they thought I would go to college, but they were excited and very proud,” she said.

AFTER HIGH SCHOOL

Her military career started right after her 1992 graduation from Northwestern High School in Wayne County.

“I did my basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and my son went there, too, for his training,” she said.

After completing basic training, she was sent for further education in a field.

“After Fort Jackson, I was sent to Fort Gordon near Augusta, Georgia, for my MOS (Military Occupational Specialties). I trained for communications,” King said.

King joined the military during a decade of transition for women in the armed services.

“In the beginning, when I first enlisted, there was still the standard ‘this is a lady’s job,’ ‘this is a guy’s job’ kind of thing,” she said.

Progress was made by the time she got to her specialty training base.

“What was nice when I finally got to Fort Gordon, they had started changing things. Our MOS started to get phased together and a new one was created. That also was so we could implement newer technologies, which included satellite systems, radio systems, air-to-ground type communications. What was nice was that our classes were mixed. There were males and females. Everybody trained the exact same way,” King said.

Her first assignment was to stay at Fort Gordon. After two years of active duty status, she wanted a change.

“I switched from active duty to reserves, so I could come back home. The first company I was assigned to was the second PSYOP (Psychological Operations) company in Berea,” she said.

King’s position in the field of communication was to support different missions of deployed service members.

“For example, during Desert Storm, they would fly over the cities and try to warn people with what was coming, and they would drop flyers. That was kind of our role,” King said.

COMBAT SUPPORT

Her second Reserve base was 256 Company, combat support.

“We did a lot of training. Every weekend that we went out to drills we would go someplace like the Ravenna Arsenal,” King said. ”

We would take our equipment out there to make sure it was up to par and working. Set up the antennas. Find the satellite. Connect with the satellite. Find a unit in another state or country and be able to communicate with them”

The Niles resident served two years active duty and 10 years as a reservist. After completing her military service, King was involved in helping the National Guard and civilians prepare for potential disaster situations.

“I worked with the Ravenna Arsenal, where you do scenarios for real life issues, whether they are training for nuclear war or a chemical spill. We would work along with the military personnel. They knew what their role was and we would help them understand how people would react. They would paint you up with makeup to look like you were burned. It was a lot of fun,” she said.

Part of her consideration for joining the military was the possibility of traveling. Overseas travel would be available in her position, but she continued to serve stateside.

9/11

“After 9/11, I got pregnant with our daughter. Part of our hospital unit did deploy to numerous areas. They wouldn’t send us as an entire group. They would send two or three and the rest, including me, stayed stateside to support the missions,” she said.

She did some travel in the reserves to other states, including Fort McCoy in Wisconsin.

King has noticed that some people view her military service differently.

“Some people act like if you did not serve overseas that your military service is less, but they don’t understand that you are supporting the people who are overseas, especially to communicate with them,” King said.

Since she began her military career pre-Sept. 11 in relative peace time, served during the attacks and completed her service after the event, King saw a difference in how she viewed her job and how others viewed her.

“For me, before, it was just my job. After 9/11 I would say I was proud of America. If people knew that you were in the military, they would reach out and ask you questions about what’s going on. There was a sense of pride and a boost of morale for the soldiers,” she said.

She completed her military service career as a specialist/E4.

Since then, King has represented the military, giving talks at schools for Sept. 11 memorial ceremonies.

After suffering extensive broken bones and a concussion from a motorcycle accident three years ago that once in a while hinders her activity, King retains a busy schedule and active life. She is a full-time mom and volunteers for the Niles July 4th car show and is involved with the Farmers Market in Niles, among numerous other community events.

Although COVID-19 restrictions curtailed her military talks at schools, she hopes to once again participate in the Sept. 11 ceremonies as an example to young girls that they too can serve in the military.

Angel King

AGE: 49

RESIDENCE: Niles

SERVICE BRANCH: Army (two years active) Army Reserve (10 years)

MILITARY HONORS: National Defense Service Medal

OCCUPATION: Full-time mom

FAMILY: Four children, Matthew (serving in Army), Brooke, RJ and Gavin

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