MEMORIAL BIOGRAPHY for CLINE L. SAVILLE, SR., WWII VETERAN
NEVER FORGOTTEN: Proudly Served Our Country
Cline Luster Saville Sr. was born in Eagle Rock, Virginia on February 5th, 1906.
He was drafted in January of 1944 at the age of 37, one of the oldest in our area. His first day of active duty, which fell on his 38th birthday- February 5th, 1944, was basic training at Camp Croft near Spartanburg, South Carolina.
He was trained as an Infantry Replacement as part of Patton’s 3rd U.S. Army, 90th “Tough Ombres” (Texas-Oklahoma) Division, 358th Regiment, Company A.
Operations included the countries of England, France, Germany, Belgium, and Luxembourg. We were told that he did not enter France on D-Day (June 6th) but went in a few days later, maybe D-Day+3. Research confirms that some of the 358th went on D-Day and some a few days later. Patton was in England, being punished by General Eisenhower for public relations issues and was not allowed to be part of the invasion on the first day.
Cline was wounded twice and received two purple hearts. The first wound was not serious, only a shrapnel wound in the leg. The second more serious wound occurred near Oberwampach, Luxembourg on January 20th, 1945. A bullet wound below the left shoulder nearly cost him his arm. Medics wanted to amputate his arm but he would not let them. On March 26th, 1945 he was evacuated to the United States for additional stateside medical treatment in New Jersey. After several years, he regained most use of the wounded arm.
Cline was welcomed home by his wife Cecile Hunter Saville, daughter Joyce “Sissy” Saville Stull, sons Cline L. “Sonny” Saville Jr. and Donald H. “Bebe” Saville. Grandchildren are Robert Stull, Sherry Stull Mason, Don Saville, Andy Saville, and Patrick Saville. Great Grandchildren are Jordan Saville and Makayla Saville.
Before being drafted, Cline was employed by the paper mill in Covington, previously Owens-Illinois, currently WestRock. Due to his injuries from the war, he could not return to work at the mill. After the war, he worked many years as a self employed carpenter. He was an active member of the Eagle Rock Fire Department and Eagle Rock Baptist Church. His hobbies included gardening and flowers which were used on occasion as backdrops for local TV news stations.
Cline passed away on January 23rd, 1980 almost two weeks before his 74th birthday.
Created DHS 6-18-17