By Army Sgt. 1st Class Eric Pahon82nd Combat Aviation BrigadeKHOWST PROVINCE, Afghanistan, June 26,2012 – Army Sgt. Koku Adzoble joined the U.S. Army to make a better life forhimself.
“Back in Africa, I was a teacher in highschool,” said Adzoble, who claims Bronx, N.Y., as his stateside home. “When Icame here, I was working in a store, and it wasn’t good for me. So, I joinedthe Army. I saw a way to make a difference in my life, and this is a muchbetter place. That’s why I’m staying in.”
Adzoble emigrated to the U.S. in 2007from Togo under the U.S. State Department’s visa lottery, which makes up to55,000 visas available each year to countries with underrepresented populationsin the U.S. The program requires applicants to either have a high schooleducation, or two years’ work experience.
Adzoble won one of 3,777 visas offeredin Togo. He graduated with a degree in physics from the University of Lomé in2006 and was teaching high school until he moved to the United States a yearlater.
“I had a chance,” Adzoble said. “Somecountries don’t get that chance [to award U.S. visas], so you play every yearyou’re eligible, and if you win, you get to come to the United States and get avisa. I was very lucky.”
Adzoble was working as a stock clerk ina New York City department store when a co-worker suggested that he join theU.S. Army.
“I was working for this one guy, and hejoined the Army,” Adzoble said. “He left, and when he came back to visit, Ilistened to what he told me [about the Army]. What he was doing was better thanwhat I had going at the time, so I decided to follow him. He’s the reason Ijoined.”
In basic training, Adzoble faceddifficulty understanding English. He said his drill sergeant wanted to hold himback for additional English language training, but the company commander lethim stay on and work toward graduation.
“French is our official language,”Adzoble said. “We went to school and took English as a second language, but noone really takes that seriously. We have two or three hours of English class,but no one pays that much attention to it so they don’t speak English thatwell.”
Adzoble improved his English skills andgraduated with honors as an automated logistical specialist at Fort Lee, Va.
Following a two-year tour in Korea,Adzoble was stationed with Task Force Wolfpack, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade,Fort Bragg, N.C., in December 2010. Eleven months later he deployed here toForward Operating Base Salerno.
Army Sgt. 1st Class James Crews,Adzoble’s supervisor, says an unfailingly-positive attitude has allowed him tobecome a model soldier.
“He’s a hard worker,” said Crews. “Hehad some great leadership before he came to me in 2010. He’s one of those guyswho goes straight to work when you ask him to do something. He doesn’t ask why;he just does it.”
Adzoble is a supply clerk at the base’smotor pool, keeping track of the parts inventory and monitoring deliveries. Hisjob is critical to keeping the unit’s vehicles on the road, requiring attentionto detail and the ability to keep track of dozens of components.
“He’s an encyclopedia,” Crews said ofAdzoble. “He’s that type of guy who’ll pretty much look over something once ortwice and he’s got it memorized. It comes in very useful. When I’m trying tofind a part, I ask him, and he knows what I’m talking about and where to findit right away.”
Adzoble has a wife and a daughter inWest Africa. His daughter, he said, is too young to leave Africa right now, buthe hopes to establish a permanent home in the United States so his family canjoin him in a few years. First, he wants to explore the country and find aplace he’d like his family to settle.
“I don’t want to bring them, then, thenext day we have to move again,” Adzoble said. “It’s not like I don’t enjoyFort Bragg, but I want to see more of the United States and see if there’ssomewhere I might like even more.”
Adzoble hopes to earn a physics degreein the United States.
He re-enlisted for three more years ofArmy service, and he’s looking to earn a promotion before he leavesAfghanistan.
“He got pinned E-5 [sergeant] inDecember, and we’re probably going to send him to the E-6 [staff sergeant]promotion board before we leave Afghanistan,” Crews said. “He’s just that typeof worker and has that type of leadership style.”
As for his daughter, Adzoble has noplans to push her into following in his footsteps.
“I’ll try my best to guide her on herown way,” he said. “She might want something different. The thing I can do isprovide for her and do my best to support her. The one thing I want for her isto succeed and do something better with her life.”
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