Joseph T. McCloud
Lieutenant Colonel, United States Marine Corps
December 14, 1966 – December 3, 2006
Age – 39
Grosse Pointe Park, MI
Operation Enduring Freedom
2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, HI
Died when the CH-46 helicopter he was in crashed in Anbar Province, Iraq
McCloud, 39, known as Trane, of Grosse Pointe Park, Mich., was killed Dec. 3 when the CH-46 helicopter he was traveling in malfunctioned and was forced to make an emergency landing on Lake Qadisiyah.
McCloud attended high school in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, outside Detroit. He was an outstanding athlete even as a young boy and made the All-City team in football in Detroit, playing linebacker for the Grosse Pointe team. He also stood out as a center fielder in Colt League baseball for teenagers. At 14 he told his father he was going to catch someone loafing to first after making a solid hit. He was true to his word, throwing the ball to first base from center field in time to make the out. He later graduated from the University of Tennessee, where he studied liberal arts and history.
After graduating, he went to the University of Tennessee, where he studied liberal arts and history. He graduated in 1989 and enlisted in the Marine Corps just in time for Desert Storm, during which he served on the USS Missouri. His crew fired a 5-inch gun on the starboard side during the bombardment of the Kuwaiti coastline. He also served on the ship during action in Somalia. During his time on the ship, the captain grew fond of the young Marine and encouraged him to attend Officer Candidate School. He was accepted. His most memorable moment on board the Missouri came at Pearl Harbor, when the captain selected him to escort the first President Bush on the 50th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. After obtaining his commission, McCloud was assigned as an infantry officer. He was a reservist serving on active duty. One of his assignments was with the Navy and Marine Corps News, where he produced a weekly television program that was broadcast weekly to sailors and Marines around the world. After the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, McCloud served in the Philippines.
“He was fully committed and believed whole-heartedly in what he was doing,” said Wade Hutchens, who has been friends with McCloud, known by his middle name, “Trane,” since they both pledged a fraternity in 1985 at the University of Tennessee. “There was never a shred of doubt with anything he did, going all the way back to college.”
“He was the love of my life,” Maggie McCloud said. “I’m so devastated that my children are not going to grow up with him, because he was a man of character and honor.”
Marine Major Pat Zaleski first met McCloud 13 years ago when they served together at Camp Lejeune. They later served together on the staff at Officer Candidate School and remained close friends. “There were very few things he loved more than the Marines, but things he did love more were his wife and children,” Zaleski said. “As good a Marine as he was, he was a much better husband and father. . . . He was an absolutely selfless and humble man. Those are the best kind.”
To the the McCloud Family. Not often enough do former Marines communicate with each other and that is a sad statement. I just learned by default of the death of Trane. I am hurting right now because I had a relationship with this man. Trane was one of my young Marines while we served on board the USS Missouri. I recall when he was promoted, I recall when he became the ship captain’s orderly, and I recall when his paperwork was approved for him to attend Officer Candidate School. By the time he made it to Camp Lejeune as a Second Lieutenant and platoon commander I went to visit him. I kept calling him sir and he said and I quote, “Sgt Brown, stop calling me Sir, you were with me before I became an officer.” And I responded, “No Sir, the respect to be called Sir you earned.” We left it at that, then he tried to get me to leave 2nd Marines can come with him. Trane was a good person, he was smart, well read, and motivated to achieve. I lost a friend when he left us, but you lost more. Trane always had a book in his hands, always. I remember when!!!
Timmie Brown