William E. Cline Papers
Collection
Identifier: Mss-0404
The bulk of the William E. Cline Papers were created during his service in the U.S. Army, particularly during his service with the African American 758th Light Tank Battalion in the Apennines and Po River campaigns in Italy during World War II and with the 752nd Tank Battalion in the immediate post-war period. The collection also has materials relating to his education at Clemson College and his post-war career at General Electric, as well as historical research materials about the 752nd, the 758th, and World War II in Italy gathered by Cline’s son William.
The material in the collection—particularly the photographs—document the training of the 758th at Fort Knox, Camp Hood, and Fort Huachuca, its deployment overseas to Italy and its service there, as well as the post-war activities of the 752nd, such as the award of a unit citation and inter-army football games. Among the locations Cline served in or visited while overseas that are reflected in the Papers are Cannes in France; Milan, Naples, Pegli, Pisa, Rome, and Udine in Italy; and Switzerland (Zurich).
The Cline Papers is arranged alphabetically by folder title with the two photo albums at the end of the collection. The second photo album, Book 2, incorporates Books 3-4 as well. The material in the collection dates from 1898-2015 with the bulk of the collection dating from 1937-1947. The Papers can be used to research life at Clemson College in the immediate pre-war period, African Americans in World War II, the 758th Light Tank Battalion, and World War II in Italy.
This collection is open to the public without restriction.
William Everette Cline was born on May 10, 1920 in Newton, NC, the son of George Lamar and Lillie Mae Setzer Cline. He graduated from Clemson College in 1941 with a degree in mechanical engineering. After graduation Cline worked for the General Electric Company as an engineer in Lynn, MA. He was called to active duty as a second lieutenant on October 1, 1941.
From 1941-1943 Cline served at Fort Knox, KY where he supervised motorcycle training. In 1942 he was promoted to first lieutenant. In 1943 he was promoted to captain and assigned to the 758th Light Tank Battalion, an African American unit, serving at Camp Hood (later Fort Hood, and now Fort Cavazos), TX and Fort Huachuca, AZ until May 1944, when he returned to Fort Knox for advanced armor training. In late October 1944 the 758th Light Tank Battalion was sent to Italy, arriving at its staging area near Pisa in late November 1944 where it was attached to the 92nd Infantry Division. During 1945 the unit participated in the North Apennines and Po River campaigns. Cline commanded the 758th Service Company which recovered damaged vehicles and provided maintenance and repair for the battalion.
In June Cline was transferred to the 752nd Tank Battalion, which was attached to the 34th Infantry Division at Udine, Italy. He subsequently went to training in Naples and then returned the 752nd. Cline visited Cannes, France; Switzerland; and Austria while on leave. He returned to the United States in late January 1946 and was honorably discharged on February 1, 1946 at Fort Bragg (now Fort Liberty), NC with the rank of major.
He married Lula Gray Harris in 1944 and they had two children, William Everette, Jr. and Cathy. After the war Cline resumed working for the General Electric Company as an engineer and later as a manager of maintenance and repair until his retirement in 1983. He died in Marietta, GA on March 10, 1988.
5 Cubic Feet (2 document boxes, 2 oversize boxes, 11 artifacts)
English
This collection is an important resource for researching life at Clemson College in the immediate pre-World War II period, African Americans in World War II, the 758th Light Tank Battalion, and World War II in Italy.
The collection includes artifacts, biographical information, correspondence, photographs, propaganda leaflets, programs, publications, and research materials that document William E. Cline’s education at Clemson College and his service in World War II with the African American 758th Light Tank Battalion and later with the 752nd Tank Battalion.
Content Warning: This collection contains visual depictions of graphic violence and contains language that is outdated, biased, or offensive.
Alphabetical
Donated by William Everette Cline, Jr. in 2019. Accession 2019-057.
This collection contains visual depictions of graphic violence and contains language that is outdated, biased, or offensive.
The collection was processed and a finding aid created by James Cross in 2023.
Part of the Clemson University Libraries Special Collections and Archives Repository