Remembering One of Our Own This Memorial Day

From an April 14, 2003 article on the News Net…

The Department of Defense announced Sunday it has changed the status of three Marines from Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown (DUSTWUN) to killed in action. They are: Pfc. Tamario D. Burkett, 21, of Buffalo, N.Y. Lance Cpl. Donald J. Cline, Jr., 21, of Sparks, Nev. Pvt. Nolen R. Hutchings, 19, of Boiling Springs, S.C. They were assigned to 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, based in Camp Lejeune, NC. They were engaged in operations on the outskirts of An Nasiriyah on March 23.

Cline was born and lived in Sierra Madre for 10 years before moving to La Crescenta, and then to Nevada, and still has several relatives in Sierra Madre, including his mother and an aunt. A tearful Hilda Guzman, “Johnny’s” aunt, left a voice mail message for the News Net that “They found the remains of my nephew, Johnny’s coming home.” Cline is survived by his wife Tina and two sons, Dakota, 2, and Dylan, 7 months, and his mother, Cynthia (last name withheld by request).