PFC Wiley Gwin King

Our Hometown Heroes

PFC King

Killed Two Days Before German Surrender

PFC Wiley Gwin King was born in Griffin on March 7, 1919. He was inducted into the US Army in June, 1944. This was only one month after the notification that his younger brother, Joseph William (Bill) King, was missing in action and later to be reported as a prisoner of war in Germany.

Following three months of training he was sent to Milan, Italy where he was part of the 10th Mt. Army Infantry Division. He was killed in the battle of the Po River area just two days before the unconditional surrender of Germany on April 14, 1945. His wife, Ermyne Willis King survived him at the time of his death. A child, Carol Gwin King, was born three months after he was killed.

PFC King was awarded the Purple Heart Medal among other medals for his bravery in action. He is buried in the Forsyth (GA) City Cemetery.

A plaque will be installed in Griffin honoring our Hometown Hero.