Stephen King to pay for troops’ holiday trip home

By xxxevilgrinxxx | Published: December 13, 2009

Even more reason to love Stephen King:

FILE - In this Feb. 9, 2009 file photo, author Stephen King reads from his latest book "Ur" at a news conference in New York. King and his wife are donating money so 150 Maine Army National Guard soldiers can come home for the holidays. King and his wife, Tabitha, who live in Bangor, are paying $13,000 toward the cost of two bus trips so that members of the 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Unit can travel from Camp Atterbury, Ind., to Maine for Christmas. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

BANGOR, Maine – Author Stephen King and his wife are donating money so 150 soldiers from the Maine Army National Guard can come home for the holidays.

King and his wife, Tabitha, who live in Bangor, are paying $13,000 toward the cost of two bus trips so that members of the 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Unit can travel from Camp Atterbury in Indiana to Maine for Christmas. The soldiers left Maine last week for training at Camp Atterbury. They are scheduled to depart for Afghanistan in January.

Julie Eugley, one of King’s personal assistants, told the Bangor Daily News that the Kings were approached about giving $13,000.

But Stephen King thought the number 13 was a bit unlucky, so the couple pitched in $12,999 instead. Eugley chipped in $1 to make for an even $13,000.
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Information from: Bangor Daily News, http://www.bangornews.com