Chief Petty Officer Don Coram Lingle, A Sailor's Story
Chief Petty Officer Don Coram Lingle, A Sailor's Story
Chief Petty Officer Don Coram Lingle was born on October 21, 1899, in Union, Illinois. Before the war, he worked as a food broker and grocery purchaser—experience that reflected an understanding of logistics, persuasion, and public engagement that would later prove unexpectedly valuable.
Following the United States’ entry into World War II, Lingle enlisted in the U.S. Navy on October 22, 1942. He was assigned to naval recruiting duty, serving on the home front at a time when public morale and financial support were essential to sustaining the war effort.
In December 1942, Chief Petty Officer Lingle conceived an imaginative fundraising campaign involving a pig he named King Neptune. The idea was simple, visual, and memorable—exactly what was needed to capture public attention in crowded wartime bond drives. Appearing at events and rallies, King Neptune became a symbol of participation and patriotism, encouraging Americans to buy war bonds in support of naval construction.
Though the battleship USS Illinois was never completed, the King Neptune campaign was a resounding success. Together, Chief Petty Officer Lingle and his unlikely partner helped raise approximately $19 million in war bonds, a remarkable contribution to the wartime economy and naval funding.
Lingle remained in the Navy until 1947 and continued working in civilian life until his retirement in 1968. He later settled in Clearwater, Florida.
Chief Petty Officer Don Coram Lingle died on February 27, 1987. His service stands as a reminder that victory in World War II depended not only on those who fought overseas, but also on ingenuity, persuasion, and commitment on the home front, sometimes delivered in the most unexpected forms.
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About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life
She shares her journeys at Take the Back Roads, explores new reads at Rite of Fancy, and highlights U.S. military biographies at Everyday Patriot.
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