Roger A. Cline was born in Lincoln, NE, May 2, 1946. Him and his parents moved to Grand Island, NE when he was two. Roger received his education and graduated from Grand Island Senior High School in 1966. Roger did his basic boot camp at Fort Bliss at El Paso, TX. While in boot camp, his mother wrote and said he received his draft notice. He was fortunate to be already serving his country. He did mechanic schooling in Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. He was able to take weekend passes to go into Washington DC and Baltimore, MD. He was later sent to Vietnam, which he served from 1966 – 1968. His Unit was 701RST MT BN 1RST INF Division. He was serving during the Tet Offence. He was discharged September 30, 1968. While serving he received the medals of National Defense Service, Vietnam Service, and Vietnam Capital Medal.
While returning home he met his future wife, Elizabeth Peterson, through friends on October 8th. They were married June 8, 1969. Through this union three children were born, Jason, Paige and Ramon Cline. He went to school on the G.I. Bill for heating, air conditioning, and electrical, at Central Community College in Hastings, NE. He later went to truck driving school in Omaha, NE. And became an over the road truck driver, with several companies. He had his own truck for several years. The children accompanied their dad on several trips while growing up through their summers and vacation school days. Later when all of his children were out of the house, his wife went to truck driving school and they teamed together for ten years. Roger put on at least 4 million miles but through his logs probably closer to 7.
Roger really enjoyed becoming a grandfather or papa to his four grandchildren, Thaddeus, Eva, and Maida, children of Ramon and Carrie Cline. And Nathaniel Gibreal, son of Paige Cline. He loved every minute he was able to spend with them.
He retired because of sugar diabetes, and several stents in his heart. Brought on primarily from exposure to agent orange, while serving in Vietnam. He was fortunate to travel on the Hero Flight to Washington D.C. May 1 – 3, 2016. He celebrated his 70thbirthday on this trip. He enjoyed the trip but loved the welcome home, that was very special to him. Roger diagnosed with stage 4 cancer of the esophagus, stomach, and the liver on May 3, 2018, and was not able to fight this last battle. He died on April 19, 2019. Roger never talked much of his service especially in Vietnam. He has always and will always be his family’s hero.
