A veteran’s story
By Kristin Dellavecchio
In recognition of Veteran’s Day, The Ledger spoke with 29-year-old veteran and UW Tacoma student, Sergeant Joe Kloby.
Born and raised in Chugiak, Alaska, he signed up for the Delayed Entry Program in 2001, and officially joined the military at the age of 18. He dedicated five years to the Army as a Cavalry Scout, specializing in reconnaissance. The general responsibilities of a scout include gathering information about enemy forces, and maintaining the location of and reporting movements of the enemy.
During his time served, he took part in two 13-month deployments in Iraq. He trained at Fort Knox in Kentucky and completed the training in the year of 2002. Soon after leaving Kentucky, he was stationed at Ft. Carson in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in January of 2003.
Two months later, Sgt. Kloby was deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF-1). This was his first 13-month deployment where he traveled from Kuwait to Iraq, proceeding to Baghdad, Fallujah, Ramadi, Al Asad, Haditha, and Husaybah. During this deployment Sgt. Kloby was awarded the Purple Heart.
Sgt. Kloby’s second deployment from February of 2005 to March of 2006 was again part of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) where his unit (3rd ACR 1st Squadron Crazyhorse Troop) served from South Baghdad to western Ninewa Province until the end of the deployment.
In September of 2005, his unit conducted Operation Restoring Rights, defeating insurgents in the city of Tal Afar.
In 2010, Joe attended the University of Puget Sound for the dual degree program in engineering. During his first semester at the university, funding was reduced for the Yellow Ribbon Program, so he could no longer afford tuition.
Kloby now attends the University of Washington Tacoma, and is currently enrolled in the dual degree program of Computer Engineering and Computer Science. He dedicates his time to his three children Julian, Jaden, and Jamie, and aiding other veterans attending UW Tacoma at the Veteran Advisory Office.
As of September 29, 2013, Sgt. Kloby has been appointed as the President of the Student Veteran Organization.
