download a PDF version - KU Endowment

ku voices
Healing by degrees
A retired Army sergeant, Kortney Clemons graduated in spring 2012 with a master’s degree in
curriculum and instruction through the Army Wounded Warrior Education Initiative. Clemons
served as a combat medic for five years and was wounded during a combat tour in Iraq with the
First Cavalry Division. He trained with the KU track and field team to prepare for national trials for
the 2012 Paralympic Games in London but was not selected to the U.S. team.
Tell us about your service history.
I joined the Army in 2001 as a combat medic.
I assisted troops and was the first-line responder.
I was injured 12 months into the Iraq deployment,
on Feb. 21, 2005. We stopped on the road to help
injured passengers in an overturned vehicle. An IED
exploded while I was helping carry someone to a
Blackhawk helicopter. I lost my right leg above the
knee. Three other servicemen died.
What brought you to KU?
During my recovery, I learned about an adaptive program
and went to school to get my bachelor’s degree.
Later on, the Army Wounded Warrior Education
Initiative at Fort Leavenworth brought me to Kansas.
The program is set up for wounded warriors to get a
master’s degree and continue military careers or be
civilian employees.
What are your plans and goals?
I am disappointed I didn’t go to London, but I’m not
bitter about the journey at all. I have a lifelong love
of education and believe
my experience will help
me teach others. I am
working with the School
of Advanced Leadership
Tactics at Fort Leavenworth
and plan to continue
working for the Army. And
I hope to continue working
with people with disabilities,
especially children.
Kortney Clemons prepares
to burn up the track at
Memorial Stadium.
How did you get interested in
the Paralympics?
The U.S. Paralympics came to the hospital and held a
Learn to Run Clinic. Seeing a person with the same
injury as mine running inspired me. Initially, I couldn’t
run, so I got involved in powerlifting and was on
several teams. Then I pursued running and have been
doing that ever since.
How has KU supported your training?
KU has been outstanding, allowing me to be a volunteer
coach and train with the other athletes. It made
my training so much better and made me part of the
team. We motivate each other. The young athletes
keep me young, and they look at me and figure if I
can do it, so can they.
What has the Army Wounded Warrior Education
Initiative meant to you?
It means a lot, because it is the Army taking care
of one of its own, and it has allowed me to follow
another career path. I’m grateful to be a part of it.
It’s going to positively affect my life moving forward.
How can private giving benefit veterans?
Support can mean a lot, especially if someone wants
to come back and get an advanced degree. Having
military personnel get a degree and a new career so
they can help their families is a good thing.
— Valerie Gieler
YOU CAN HELP
With the aid of donors, KU’s Office of Professional
Military Education has established a Wounded
Warrior Scholarship Fund open to wounded
veterans and their primary caregivers and
dependents. To support it, contact Jerome Davies,
785-832-7460 or jdavies@kuendowment.org, or
visit kuendowment.org/warriors.
steve puppe
20 KU GIVING | SUMMER 2012