Benjamin King was born in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1944. He graduated from the University of Connecticut with a degree in Liberal Arts (History) in 1965. From the time of his graduation until 1977, he was on Active Duty with the Army serving in Germany and Vietnam where he was awarded the Bronze Star with "V," the Air Medal, and the Purple Heart. After his release from Active Duty, he served as a contract historian to the Casemate Museum from 1978 to 1979. In 1984 he was selected Chief of Simulations at the US Army Transportation School. During his tenure he designed the simulations TRASWAR