The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1388456
A-6 Wednesday, June 30, 2021 The Press-Dispatch SERVICES Now buying grain at 605 S. Oak St., Winslow (Formerly ADM Growmark) For hours and prices, call: Tom Anson 812-890-6105 or Nathan Andrews 812-309-0178 script before they were al- lowed entry. He said at the beginning of the day, they were given a "Book of Knowledge." While they were standing in line, they were reading and mem- orizing it. He said during the day, they got haircuts. "All the guys had long hair and now at the end of the day, they were all bad." They did a formal parade out for their families to see them take their oath of office. "It is a super emotional time for the families." He said they then went in- to a giant mess hall and took their seat, and stared at their plates until their food came, and then "speed ate" their food. "It was more of the same for the next six weeks." "It is an adjustment." They got up at 4:30 a.m. to do physical training for a cou- ple of hours, had a few minutes to shower and then they went to breakfast. "That was the pace for the whole summer. Summer is 100 percent mili- tary training." The second summer was splitting off into specialty schools, then the third sum- mer was Cadet Leadership training. When the fall semester started, King said everyone had to pick a sport. They have all the traditional sports of other Division 1 schools. But King chose the parachute team. "It is super sick. They have the parachute team compete in skydiving, and they jump into the football games and demonstrations. It is a very selective team." "It has a reputation for be- ing one the most selective teams at the school. A lot of people shy away from it." Not King. "I thought heck with you, I'm going for it." King made it through the five-month tryout. He was one of 10 selected out of the 200 who tried out for the team. When you see guys jump- ing into professional baseball or football stadiums or other venues, King is one of those guys. He got to jump into the Black Knights football stadi- um during the season open- er. But because of COVID, he didn't get to do any of the big- ger events, like jumping into Yankees Stadium. "Dealing with winds off the stadium is tough, it creates a different turbulence. On hot days, you have sun on the turf. A lot of lift then turbulence from the stadium is created and side winds create down force. It is a balance to learn how to control it," said King. "Nothing matches the feel- ing of that." He was up to the task and more. King and his partner, Finn Peterson, from Kansas City, were the two-way belly for- mation sky diving collegiate national champions in 2018. He was also a member of the second place four-way belly formation team in 2019 at the national championships. King was selected two years in a row as Captain of the Black Knights. He said every year they have a national championship competition, with universities from all over the country par- ticipating in it. 'But it always comes down to Army and Air Force as the champions." He said it is a rivalry be- tween the Army and Air Force in the competition, but at the end of it, they all celebrate to- gether. The Army-Navy football ri- valry is not so friendly. "The Army-Navy football game is huge. The whole semester builds up to that game. The rest of the year is anticipating for that. The rivalry is real, full of love and respect, but every- one and everything is about beating Navy. . . It is good stuff," said King of the trash talk between the two. He said it is so big, even the Chief of Staff for both the Ar- my and Navy get involved. The Secretary of Defense gave us a shout out," said King. During his years at West Point, King said he faced a lot of challenges. "It is a dynamic experience. I'm very proud and grateful to have had the opportunity to go through it. There were chal- lenging times, but I never con- sidered leaving." "When you look at the leg- acy and of the folks who have gone through there and come out of it, you can't help but be in awe of it. Going from Winslow Eskimo to Charger to a Black Knight is a steep chart. It was huge to bring our families in there," said King. When he saw the first class graduate while he was at West Point, it made a big impression on him. "When I saw the first grad- uation, I thought I don't know what is going to happen, but I'm going to get that for the family," he said. On May 22, he took part in that ceremony as a graduate. He said as they were going through their four years at West Point, they were being ranked the whole time. At the end of the year, when it was selected where they would go after the academy, those rank- ings gave them priority. "It was a pure draft system," said King. He said, in the middle of his senior year, by ranking in their class, the 17 different jobs were put up with so many slots in each. King wanted in- fantry and got it. Then at the end of the year, he said they put up all the bas- es and infantry positions that were open at those bases. Each base has so many spots. King's choice was Hawaii. His best friend was ranked high in the class and got the first spot. King said it was a stress-filled ceremony as he sat and waited for his number to be called, and watched the spots at Hawaii get taken one by one as graduates walked up on stage and got their se- lection. "I didn't think I would get it." But with only one spot left in Hawaii left, King's name was called. "I got the last slot." He was home recently fol- lowing graduation, visiting his family, including siblings Levi King, J.P. Meece and Pau- la Bolin. He is the son of Don and Donna King. Now he is a 2nd Lt. in the Army, headed to the 3rd Bri- gade, 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii. "I'm just going to run with it and see where it takes me," said King. ZACH KING Continued from page 2 Zach King in the back row with the Army Black Knights 2021 dive team graduates. Zach King, in his gray over white uniform, with his proud father, Don King, following graduation ceremo- nies at West Point. Corner of 231 & Division, Jasper 812-482-2246 OPEN: Mon., Tues., Thurs. 9-5:30; Wed. & Fri. 9-7; Sat. 9-3 ENGLERTSHOME COMFORTCENTER.COM *Offer valid June 20–July 12, 2021, at participating retailers. Maximum savings of $200 requires purchase of a Sealy ® Hybrid Premium-level mattress. Save $200 on Sealy ® Hybrid Premium-level mattresses. Save $100 on Sealy ® Hybrid Performance mattresses. Savings realized at time of purchase. Certain offers may not be combined. Not valid on prior purchases. See store for availability and details. Copyright 2021 Sealy, Inc. 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