This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Sgt Bill Cline
to remember
Marine LtCol Frank Cline.
If you knew or served with this Marine and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
Contact Info
Home Town Sapulpa
Last Address Sun City, Arizona
Date of Passing Jan 28, 1985
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
Check out this web site: http://parentseyes.arizona.edu/militarynoseart/FrankCline1.htm
Military Officers Association of America Mobile Facility Program
Other Comments:
LtCol. Frank Cline enlisted into the Marine Corps in 1942. Around 1953 the Warrant Officer and LDO, (Limited Duty Officer) programs came out. He applied and was accepted into both. He accepted the LDO program where he rose to the highest authorized rank at that time which was LtCol. During LtCol. Cline's 32 years of service, he survived WWII, Korea and Vietnam. We lost him in 1985 from walking pneumonia. He is buried in Arlington Cemetery across from Headquarters Marine Corps. Here is a URL of a brief history of LtCol Cline. http://parentseyes.arizona.edu/militarynoseart/FrankCline1.htm
Marine Corps Heritage Foundation member National Museum of the Marine Corps
Vietnam War/Vietnam Cease-fire Campaign (1972-73)
From Month/Year
March / 1972
To Month/Year
January / 1973
Description This campaign was from 30 March 1972 to 28 January 1973. On 30 March 1972 the North Vietnamese Army launched its greatest offensive of the entire war. The enemy deployed the greatest array of troops and modern weapons to date in a major effort to end the war with conventional forces and seized considerable territory in an effort to exercise control of key provinces throughout Vietnam.
During this critical period the Vietnamization program continued in the face of the North Vietnamese invasion and the successful counterattack by the armed forces of the Republic of Vietnam. Army aviation units played an impressive role throughout the period, flying reconnaissance, close support missions, and transporting troops. As U.S. combat troops were withdrawn from Vietnam, the role of helicopter units increased in importance and they responded to the challenge of continuing to support while preparing the RVNAF to assume their function. Similarly, advisors of all services contributed immeasurably to the defeat of the enemy invasion and the continued Vietnamization process. Army and Marine advisors fought side-by-side with their RVNAF counterparts to stop and defeat the enemy invasion, as the Vietnamese counteroffensive gained momentum and the reduction of field advisers continued. The advisory effort shifted to emphasize training and to assure that the VNAF attained self-sufficiency prior to the complete withdrawal of the U.S forces.
Recapture of Quang Tri City on 16 September 1972 marked the complete failure of the enemy to hold any of the targeted provincial capitols. Massive aid replaced materiel lost during the spring counteroffensive. Retraining and reconstruction of selected RVNAF units increased their capabilities. The completion of the massive logistical buildup of RVNAF was accomplished, which enabled the RVNAF to become more self-sufficient as direct U.S. participation diminished. The US ground role in Vietnam was totally replaced by the RVNAF. During December 1972 and January 1973 the RVIVAF flew more than 45% of air sorties within Vietnam. In November 1972, the RVNAF began a C-130 training program and by January 1973 realized a significant increase in their capability. RVNAF forward air controllers began directing USAF and RVNAF strike aircraft in January 1973. The US policy of Vietnamization continued.
US combat and combat support operations were conducted in support of RVNAF ground operations during the North Vietnamese invasion and the counteroffensive including intensive interdiction of enemy supply routes into Vietnam. Since US ground forces had been reduced to seven battalions, the US ground combat role was limited to defense of key installations. Further reduction in troop ceilings led to the redeployment of all US ground combat battalions, leaving an Army contingent of combat support and service support units.
