4^th Infantry Division

1^st Battalion, 12^th Infantry Regiment

CASUALTY REPORT

-- Personal --

Last Name:	Cline
First Name:	Curtis
Middle Name:	Roy
Home of Record (official):	Burlington
State (official):	MI
Date of Birth:	29 July 1949
Sex:	Male
Race:	Caucasian
Marital Status:	Single

 

-- Military --

Branch:	Army
Rank:	SSGT
Serial Number:
Component:
Pay grade:	E-6
MOS:	11B20 (Infantryman)
Awards:	Unknown
Unit:	Delta Company

 

-- Action --

Start of Tour:
Date of Casualty:	18 Sept 1969
Age at time of loss:	20
Casualty type:	Drowned (see below)
Reason:	accident
Country:	South Vietnam
Province:	Pleiku
Location:
The Wall:	Panel 18W - Row 108

Source:  POW Network

"On September 18, 1969, then-PFC Cline was serving as a rifleman in Company D when his unit was attempting to make a river crossing in South Vietnam. (Note: State Department records list this loss in Pleiku Province as do JCRC records; however, Defense Department coordinates place the location on the Se San River in Kontum province, about 15 miles north of Pleiku Province.)

"PFC Cline was the second man with combat gear to cross. When he reached a point about mid-stream, he got water in his mouth, and released the vine being used as a hand-hold. The swift current carried him a few meters downstream, where he caught hold of a safety line. In his attempt to release his rucksack and equipment, he began to splash vigorously, and seemed to be in a state of panic.

"Two members of the platoon immediately entered the water in an attempt to reach him, but were unsuccessful. One of the men got caught in a whirlpool, and the other was within 10 meters of him when PFC Cline went under water and was never seen again.

"Other members of the unit went downstream along the banks of the river, but lost sight of PFC Cline. An extensive search was begun, including the use of observation helicopters and infantry troops. After one week, the search was terminated with no success.