Dragons Veteran Salute Program to Honor Lance Corporal Joe Kleiner on Sunday

DAYTON, Ohio -- CareSource Military & Veterans and the Dayton Dragons will host United States Marine Corps veteran Lance Corporal Joe Kleiner during the Dragons Veteran Salute Program presented by CareSource Military & Veterans on Sunday, June 1 at 1:05 pm when the Dragons take on the West Michigan Whitecaps at Day Air Ballpark in the heart of the Water Street District. Sunday will be the second of five special Veteran Salute dates of the 2025 season.

The Dragons Veteran Salute Program presented by CareSource Military & Veterans provides veterans in the Dayton region with a once-in-a-lifetime experience to celebrate their service to our country. Each honoree’s story is shared in front of the crowd at Day Air Ballpark, followed by a standing ovation in appreciation of the veteran's hard work and dedication both in military and civilian affairs.

Lance Corporal Kleiner’s Story:

Retired Lance Corporal Joe Kleiner was born and raised in the Miami Valley. Many of his family members had served in the military, including his father and brother who served in the Marine Corps. Because of this as well as the draft, Kleiner decided to join the Marine Corps. He had only 90 days before starting basic training.

Kleiner began basic training in 1966 at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego. This training was a rigorous 13- week program, including a three-week marksmanship phase. After graduating basic training, Kleiner was stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina with the 8^th Marines as part of an infantry regiment of the Marine Corps. He was also deployed to Vietnam where he walked point as the lead solider for his infantry unit, advancing his group through hostile or unsecured territory. Kleiner ended his career at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virgina in 1968.

Throughout his time in Vietnam, Kleiner, also known as “Cowboy,” to his fellow Marines, was part of two human waves. A human wave attack refers to a tactic where a large number of enemy personnel are sent in a mass assault against the American defenders. During the second human wave, he lost 60 percent of his battalion and was exposed to napalm, a flammable liquid used by the Americans to defend the human waves.

Kleiner was wounded twice throughout his time in the Marine Corps, but turned down both Purple Hearts, as he didn’t want to worry his wife who traveled with him to all stations aside from Vietnam. He explained that he is still the same happy-go-lucky guy now that he was when serving and still continues to take care of his people just as he did then. His perspective has changed since he initially returned from the Marine Corps and is now proud to be a veteran who bravely served the United States.

Kleiner, who now goes by “Uncle Joe,” was married for 56 years, has a daughter, son, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. When he isn’t spending time with his family, he enjoys golfing and playing poker and softball.

To nominate a veteran in your life for the Veteran Salute Program presented by CareSource Military & Veterans, visit daytondragons.com/veteransalute.