Travis King (Soldier) Wiki, Age, Wife, Girlfriend, Family, North Korea, Army Career & More

Travis King is a 23-year-old American soldier who made headlines in July 2023 when he crossed the inter-Korean border and entered North Korea without authorization. He is believed to be held in custody by the North Korean authorities, while the US government is trying to negotiate his release.

King is a cavalry scout who joined the army in January 2021 and was assigned to an element of the 1st Armored Division on a rotation with the US military in South Korea. However, he had a troubled history of legal issues and disciplinary actions that led to his imprisonment and possible deportation.

Early Life and Biography

Travis T. King was born in 2000 in Racine, Wisconsin, America. He is of black race and holds American nationality. His mother is Claudine Gates, who lives in Racine and works as a nurse. His father’s name and whereabouts are unknown.

He has a brother named Sedrick Rodale Gates, who died in a car accident in 2019. King attended Horlick High School in Racine, where he played football and basketball. He graduated in 2018 and enlisted in the army in January 2021.

Career and Military Service

King is a cavalry scout, a reconnaissance specialist who gathers and reports information on enemy activity and terrain. He was originally assigned to an element of the 1st Armored Division based at Fort Bliss, Texas. In June 2021, he was deployed to South Korea as part of a rotational force that supports the US-ROK alliance and deters North Korean aggression. He was stationed at Camp Casey, near the border with North Korea.

Family, Parents & Siblings

Travis King was born in 2000 in Racine, Wisconsin, to Claudine Gates and an unknown father. His mother is a nurse who lives in Racine and works at a hospital. His father’s name and whereabouts are not known. He has a brother named Sedrick Rodale Gates, who died in a car accident in 2019 at the age of 19. King and his brother were close and shared a love for sports, especially football and basketball.

Travis King attended Horlick High School in Racine, where he played on the football and basketball teams. He graduated in 2018 and enlisted in the army in January 2021. His mother said she was proud of his decision to join the military and serve his country. She also said she was shocked and confused by his defection to North Korea and did not know why he would do such a thing. She said she had not heard from him since he crossed the border and hoped he was safe and well. She said she loved him and wanted him to come home.

Age and Physical Attributes

As of the date 2023-07-20, Travis King is 23 years old, having been born in the year 2000. He stands at an impressive height of 6 feet (182.8 centimeters or 1.828 meters) and weighs approximately 81.4 kilograms (179.4 lbs). He has striking brown eyes and black hair.

Personal Life

Travis King’s personal life has been a subject of curiosity for many. As of now, there is no information available about his romantic relationships or girlfriend. His social media profiles indicate that he prefers to keep his personal life private.

Net Worth

Details about Travis King’s net worth are not readily available. There is no credible information about his financial status or earnings from his military career. We recommend exercising caution when considering any unverified claims about his net worth.

Travis King WIKI/BIO

Real Name	Travis T. King
In News	Defected to North Korea
Age	23 years old
Birth Date	2000
Birth Place	Racine, Wisconsin, America
Gender	Male
Nationality	American
Race	Black
Zodiac Sign	Unknown
Parents	Mother: Claudine Gates Father: Unknown
Siblings	Brother: Late Sedrick Rodale Gates
Marital Status	Single
Relationship	None
Girlfriend	None
Career	Profession: Soldier Rank: Private
Net Worth	Unknown
Height	In feet: 6’ 0″ In centimeters: 182.8 cm In meters: 1.828 m
Weight	In kg: 81.4 In pounds: 179.4 lbs
Hair Color	Black
Eyes Color	Brown
Education	Horlick High School in Racine, Wisconsin (Graduated in 2018)
Alma Mater	None
Ethnicity	African-American
Religion	Unknown
Instagram	travisking
Facebook	ctravisking
Homepage	Dreshare.com

Legal Troubles and Defection

Travis King had a history of legal troubles and misconduct that tarnished his military service. In September 2020, he was reported to South Korean police after allegedly punching a Korean national at a nightclub in Seoul. However, he was not indicted because the victim did not want to press charges. In February 2021, he was fined 5 million won ($3,950) by a Seoul court for damaging public property. He was accused of repeatedly kicking a police patrol car and shouting foul language at the officers who apprehended him.

In July 2021, King was released from a South Korean prison where he had been held on assault charges. He was facing additional military disciplinary actions in the US and was escorted by the military to Incheon International Airport for a US-bound flight. However, instead of proceeding to his gate, he joined a commercial tour group headed for the joint security area (JSA), the only place along the demilitarized zone (DMZ) where North Korea and South Korea interact.

On July 18, 2023, Travis King crossed the inter-Korean border into North Korea without authorization. He ran past the South Korean and American soldiers guarding the JSA and entered the North Korean side of the border village of Panmunjom. He was captured by North Korean soldiers and taken into custody. His motives for defecting are unclear.

Current Status and Controversy

Travis King’s defection sparked a diplomatic crisis between the US and North Korea, as well as between the US and South Korea. The US government expressed concern for King’s welfare and safety and demanded his immediate release. The US Indo-Pacific Command said it was investigating how King managed to leave the airport and join the tour group without being detected by the military or airport security.

North Korea has not responded to any attempts to communicate or negotiate with them regarding King’s status. The country has also not made any official statement or propaganda about King’s defection. However, hours after his detention, North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea, which some analysts interpreted as a provocation or a warning to the US.

King’s family and friends have expressed shock and disbelief at his actions. They described him as a loyal and patriotic soldier who loved his country and his job. They said they did not know why he would defect to North Korea or what he hoped to achieve by doing so.

Facts About Travis King

• Travis King is a 23-year-old cavalry scout who joined the U.S. Army in January 2021 and was assigned to an element of the 1st Armored Division based at Fort Bliss, Texas.
• He was deployed to South Korea in June 2021 as part of a rotational force that supports the U.S.-ROK alliance and deters North Korean aggression.
• Travis King had a history of legal troubles and misconduct that led to his imprisonment and possible deportation. He was fined for damaging public property and charged with assault after allegedly punching a Korean national at a nightclub in Seoul.
• Travis was released from a South Korean prison on July 10, 2021, where he had been held for 47 days following an altercation with locals.
• Travis King was escorted by the U.S. military to Incheon International Airport on July 17, 2021, for a U.S.-bound flight, but instead of proceeding to his gate, he joined a commercial tour group headed for the joint security area (JSA), the only place along the demilitarized zone (DMZ) where North Korea and South Korea interact.
• On July 18, 2021, he crossed the inter-Korean border into North Korea without authorization. He ran past the South Korean and American soldiers guarding the JSA and entered the North Korean side of the border village of Panmunjom.

• Travis King was captured by North Korean soldiers and taken into custody. His motives for defecting are unclear.
• He is believed to be the first U.S. soldier to cross into North Korea since 1982 when Pvt. Joseph T. White defected after shooting and killing a fellow soldier at his guard post.
• His defection sparked a diplomatic crisis between the U.S. and North Korea, as well as between the U.S. and South Korea. The U.S. government expressed concern for his welfare and safety and demanded his immediate release.
• Travis King’s family and friends have expressed shock and disbelief at his actions. They described him as a loyal and patriotic soldier who loved his country and his job.

Conclusion

Travis King is an American soldier who defected to North Korea in July 2021 after crossing the border from South Korea without authorization. He is currently held in custody by North Korea while the US government tries to secure his release. He has a history of legal troubles and disciplinary actions that may have influenced his decision to defect. His defection has caused a diplomatic crisis between the US and North Korea as well as between the US and South Korea.