Roy L. Kline

Roy Lewis Kline (September 10, 1914 – May 11, 2020) was a decorated naval aviator in the United States Marine Corps with the rank of brigadier general.

While at the college, Kline served as vice president of the Class; was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity; and was chief editor of Iowa Engineer magazine.

This class provided two future Marine Corps Commandants (Leonard F. Chapman Jr. and Robert E. Cushman Jr.), five lieutenant generals (Lewis J.

[3][1] In April 1938, Kline completed the training and was ordered to San Diego, California, and joined the 2nd Marine Aircraft Group under Colonel Louis E. Woods.

In August 1944, Kline was ordered to the Schofield Barracks in Honolulu, Hawaii, and joined the headquarters of recently activated Tenth Army as assistant air officer under Lieutenant General Simon B. Buckner.

[6] In August 1945, Kline returned to Hawaii and joined the staff of Commander-in-Chief, Pacific as Assistant Fleet Aviation Officer and served consecutively under Admirals Chester W. Nimitz, Raymond A. Spruance and John H. Towers.

[1] In August 1952, Kline was ordered to the Naval War College at Newport, Rhode Island, and completed the senior course in the Strategy and Tactics in June 1953.

He served in that assignment until August 1954, when he departed for the Far East again and joined the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in Korea as assistant chief of staff for personnel (G-1) under Major General Marion L.

[1] He was responsible for the planning and execution of the training and replacements until June 1955, when he returned to the United States and ordered to the Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia.

[1] Upon the appointment of lieutenant general Merrill B. Twining as new commandant of the schools in September 1956, Kline served as his chief of staff until June 1958, when he was transferred to Washington, D.C., for new assignment.

[10][11] Upon his retirement from the Marine Corps, Kline moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where he worked as an engineer for then newest manufacturing operation of Motorola Company.

Following the death of his wife, Jean Cruikshank, in 2003, Kline remained in Phoenix with the help of his family until 2018, when he moved to the retirement home in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Kline (right) pinns on the new two-star insiginia on MG John P. Condon , 1st MAW Commander. On the left is Inspector general of the Marine Corps, BG Thomas F. Riley , MCAS Iwakuni , Japan , August 1961.