THE WALL OF FACES

Dear SGT William Louis Cline, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, and the best salute a civilian can muster for you, Sir

Curt Carter

You gave your life for your country and for this we Salute You.

Photo by Douglas Fields.

I went to high school with Billy. We played football together and fished together. We did lots of things together including fighting others. Billy wrote me while I was in Guam and he was in Vietnam. I made it home for his funeral. My wife and I put flags at his grave on memorial day along with flags for tommy Holtzclaw and Larry harrison buried next to Billy. I think of him often and miss him.

William is buried at Crestlawn Cemetery, Atlanta, Fulton County, GA. SS

I was a Cpl in the Marine Corps when Billy was in Viet Nam. When his father, Burr, called to let my family know of the sad news, I volunteered to be the Body Escort for Billy. The Marine Corps cut me a set of orders, and off to Dover, Delaware I went. At age 20, it was the saddest experience of my life. After looking through warehouses full of coffins, we found Billy's. I was instructed on how to fold the flag correctly, and how to transport the body. We travelled by hearse to the airport, where I helped load Billy onto the aircraft. When we arrived in Atlanta, a hearse from Patterson's Springhill Funeral Home picked us up. After arriving at Springhill, I began wondering if it was really Billy in the coffin., since his was an unviewable casket. I asked the funeral director if I could open the casket and see for myself. This was about 2 a.m. He said sure, but to be careful. By myself, I wewnt upstairs into the room where the casket was. I opened it and started weeping. My cousin, who was always full of cheer, with a broad smile on his face, lay under a sheet of glass to seal the coffin. The smile was gone, along with a few other parts of his body. I cried and cried, until I could cry no more. Since I was his Marine Body Escort, I had to maintain my composure in front of others. I went back downstairs , got a short nap, and changed into my dress blues. For the next 3 or 4 days, I stood beside Billy while people came to offer their condolences. After the first couple days, Billy's father wanted to open the casket. I urged him not to, but he insisted. He said he wanted everyone to see. I folded the flag back and opened the casket and resumed my position. Everyone who viewed the body wept, with most of the women having to be helped out of the room. I stood there trying to conceal my emotions. With most people at that time being fed up with the war in Viet Nam, you can imagine the comments I got. When the time came for the burial, we went through Atlanta to the northwest side to Crest Lawn Cemetery. Billy was buried with full military honors on top of a hill. With tears running down my cheeks, I presented Billy's father with the flag that had draped the casket. Later on, I read about the battle in which Billy had been. At his funeral, I had no idea that he had saved others lives by sacrificing his own. The Army had seen fit to award him the Silver Star for his heroism. They have even erected a brick arch beside his grave with a silver star in the center of it. Billy was a fine young man. I can't say that we were best friends, that would be untrue. We liked each other sometimes, and sometimes we disliked each other. We were cousins. One thing is for sure, we always loved one another. I salute Billy Cline. I miss Billy Cline. His memory will live on forever with me. God bless his family. Semper Fidelis, SSgt Tony Henry, USMC.