Page 13 - DFCS News Magazine Spring 2013

The honors keep mounting for Major Nathan Kline USAF- ports veterans and their families. LVMAC advocates for im-
Retired.
The 87-year-old World War II veteran from Allentown, Pennsylva- nia was recently inducted into the Hall of Valor in Pittsburgh. He was honored by the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum Trust, which has inducted nearly 700 war veterans who received medals for bravery.
Kline’s military career began with enlistment in the U.S. Army Air Force in 1942. From March of 1944 to April of 1945 he flew 65 bombing missions as a bombardier/navigator on twin-engine B-26 Marauders in the European Theater of Operations as a member of the 454th Bombardment Squadron, 323rd Bomb Group.
Kline was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for “superior airmanship and courage” on a mission during the Battle of the Bulge.
On December 30, 1944, Kline dropped bombs that disrupted enemy supply lines, tended to a flak wounded top turret gunner, success- fully navigated the aircraft back to friendly territory and stayed with the plane as it crash landed into a rock-strewn, snow-covered field with its wheels up.
Earlier that week, Kline’s plane engine cylinder head had been pierced by an 88mm shell at 12,000 feet. The shell failed to explode. With the engine in flames and flak bursting all around, the plane dove to 6,000 feet. Riding in the Plexiglas nose of the plane, Kline’s ear drums were splitting from the whining of the engine and roar of the wind around the plane. The pilot somehow managed to set down the plane safely on an emergency airfield.
Kline’s Army Air Force dreams nearly never came to fruition. Kline failed his original physical due to poor eyesight. As a Private First Class his initial duty included counting blankets. The fortunes of war offered a chance to attend a 90 day school for bombardier/ navigators. Kline memorized the eye chart, passed his physical and thus advanced his Air Force career that encompassed 42 years of active and reserve service during which he was also awarded 10 Air Medals and four Battle Stars for the European-African-Middle East- ern Campaign Medal.
In 2009, Major Kline was awarded the “National Order of the Legion of Honour” by the government of France. The award was conferred upon Kline and some 40 other World War II veterans from across the United States during a ceremony in Paris marking the 65th Anni- versary of the allied D-Day invasion of Normandy. The Legion of Honor was created by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802 and is the most prestigious medal the French government bestows on its citizens and foreign nationals. President Barack Obama and former French President Nicolas Sarkozy as well as Great Britain’s Prince Charles and Academy Award winning actor Tom Hanks were among those in attendance.
The following December Major Kline was recognized by French Ambassador Pierre Vimont during a Pearl Harbor Day ceremony at the Lehigh County Heritage Museum.
Just last year, Major Kline was nominated by U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) for the Presidential Citizens Medal, the nation’s second- highest civilian honor recognizing citizens who have performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens.
Major Kline is one of the founders of the Lehigh Valley Military Af- fairs Council (LVMAC), a community service organization that sup-
portant veteran issues and legislation, in addition to assisting returning veterans in the transition to civilian life and organiz- ing programming for service members and their families.
LVMAC’s contributions are too numerous to list, but some nota- ble examples are worthy of specific mention. For example, LVMAC rallies the Pennsylvania community in support of de- ployed service members by creating care packages, providing phone cards to units and organizing homecoming ceremonies. Its scholarship program raises funds to support families of de- ployed members. LVMAC raises awareness about the sacrifice of veterans with its annual Armed Forces Week celebration and Veterans Awareness Information Program.
Major Kline served as LVMAC’s volunteer President and is cur- rently President Emeritus.
Major Kline was also instrumental in creating a veterans’ sanctu- ary in Allentown to help veterans overcome post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury and drug and alcohol abuse.
In 2008, Major Kline was appointed Liaison to the Military for the City of Allentown by Mayor Ed Pawlowski. In the role Major Kline fosters the relationship and improves communication be- tween the city and those in the military in need of help and as- sistance. Major Kline was chosen for his dedication, skills, abili- ties, knowledge of intergovernmental relations, and familiarity with state and federal bureaucracies. He has also been the com- munity liaison for USAF JR ROTC, where he helps cultivate new generations of airmen.
Major Kline has been featured in many national media television and radio programs and print publications. In 1996 he ap- peared in the famous network television production, American – A Call to Greatness, starring Charlton Heston. Major Kline was also featured in the nationally broadcast television series, World in Crisis, which starred Dick Van Patten, Hugh O’Brien, Richard Roundtree, Deborah Winters and Richard Anderson.
Major Kline has also had a highly successful career in business. He owned and operated Kline’s Auto and Industrial Supplies, Inc. He was the President of Business Concepts International, a highly successful international consulting agency and was Presi- dent of World Film Broadcast Corporation, specializing in the development and production of national film and commercial television projects for the mainstream media.
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The Distinguished Flying Cross News