Russ Strayer, standing, left, who led the American Legion Harold Kerr Post #173 honor guard for the Saturday, March 30, Vietnam Veteran award ceremony, presented an American flag to this year’s recipient James Cline, seated. The flag had flown over the nation’s Capitol, the Ohio statehouse and the Logan County Courthouse before landing in Cline’s hands. (EXAMINER PHOTO | SHARYN KOPF)
When the American Legion paid homage to Bellefontaine resident James E. Cline at a ceremony Saturday, March 30, emcee Robert Walker asked Cline if he wanted to say anything.
“No,” Cline stated, and pointed to the words “Vietnam Veteran” on his cap. “My hat says it all.”
But though the recipient of the annual award may be a man of few words, Walker spoke highly of Cline and his service.
“We are gathered to give tribute and show appreciation to one of our brave combat veterans from the Vietnam war era,” Walker said. “It is with great pride and honor that I … speak on behalf of all of us here today.”
A member of the United States Marine Corps (USMC), Cline was inducted on Aug. 10, 1969, then sent to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina for his basic training. He learned radio communications skills before being sent to Vietnam, where he was stationed at Marble Mountain.
Standing out in his memory is the weather—the heat and humidity on one hand and the cold on the other. And the monsoons, which he did not like.
Cline also recalls the almost nightly mortar and rocket attacks. Still, according to his daughter Mindy Fulmer, he doesn’t have regrets.
“He says all the time if he could he’d do it again,” Fulmer shared before the ceremony. “He was proud to serve.”
After finishing two tours of duty, Cline came home to a country in division. He struggled to find work, eventually landing at Bellefontaine City Schools as a custodian.
Though single when he entered the military, Cline was, in the years since, married and divorced six times to four women, including twice to his children’s mother, Kathryn. He now lives with Fulmer. His second daughter, Krystal May, resides in North Lewisburg.
Yet for all he’s experienced, it’s Cline’s time with the USMC that stands out. While serving his country, he received: a National Defense service medal, a Vietnam service medal with a bronze star, a Vietnam campaign medal, a combat action ribbon, a rifle marksman badge, a Good Conduct medal, a humanitarian service medal and a Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit citation.
Cline expressed appreciation for this recognition, but refers to his service in a straightforward manner, concluding, “We had to do it.”
Due to inclement weather for the second year in a row, the ceremony had to be moved from Veterans Plaza at the courthouse in Bellefontaine to the American Legion Harold Kerr Post 173.
Saturday was also Cline’s birthday. He turned 72.
U.S. Marine Corps Veterans James Cline