



Grave of King Neptune the Pig

Mount Pleasant, Illinois

Died 1950

King Neptune was the unofficial mascot of the U.S. Navy for nearly nine years. In the early 1940s he was given as a piglet to Navy recruiter Don Lingle, who saw greater potential in the porker than just barbecue. At Illinois war bond rallies Lingle would bring out King Neptune -- dressed in a navy blue robe, a gold crown (made by an Illinois women's club), silver earrings, and painted toenails -- and "auction off" the pig to the highest bidder. In the spirit of patriotism, King Neptune's high bidders always returned him. In this way King Neptune helped raise over $19 million in war bonds during World War II.

King Neptune's reign ended with his death in 1950. He was buried at a roadside pull-off, but time and morons took their toll on his limestone headstone, eventually cracking it in half. In April 2019 it was replaced with a much less visually interesting -- although likely more durable -- flat grave marker. All of the inscriptions from the old headstone were reproduced on the new marker, but for some reason King Neptune's birth year was shifted from 1941 to 1942.

"King Neptune 1942-1950. Buried here King Neptune, famous Navy mascot pig. Auctioned for $19,000,000.00 in War Bonds 1942-1946 to help make a Free World."