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Staff Sgt. Jesse Knott is pictured with Koshka, the cat he credits with saving his life in Afghanistan (Image courtesy Jesse Knott)

JBLM soldier saves cat who saved him

BY Josh Kerns  on March 21, 2013 @ 7:41 am (Updated: 9:42 am - 3/21/13 )

A soldier stationed at Joint Base Lewis McChord is crediting a stray cat with helping survive the war in Afghanistan.

Staff Sgt. Jesse Knott shared his heartwarming story with the Andrew Walsh Show this week.

"There was this cute cat running running around and doing his cute kitten things," Knott said about the first time he saw cat at his base in Southern Afghanistan. "Everybody fell in love with him."

As the cat got older, Knott began noticing signs of abuse.

"That's when I stepped in and intervened."

Knott was doing intelligence work and lured the cat into his office with a piece of steak. He took the cat in and nursed his wounds. He named it Koshka, which is Russian for cat.

"This bond just started to develop between the two of us that I couldn't put words to."

Knott said most of the guys just ignored the feral cats roaming the base and left them alone because they help keep the rodent population down. But when it came to Koshka, he was technically breaking the rules.

"It was kind of an understanding that if the cat became an issue, it would have to be dealt with."

When things got tough, Koshka helped get him through the darkest days. When two of his friends were killed in a suicide attack, Knott said the cat "was my saving grace."

"I just kind of started going into a deep depression, and the cat really keyed up on me and started playing more," he said. "He wouldn't let me stew and kept reminding me to take care of him."

The bond became so strong, Knott became desperate to bring Koshka back to the United States with him when his deployment was over. But it wasn't easy.

Knott said he was desperate and thought about taking the cat in his duffel bag, but an interpreter who knew the situation offered to take Koshka through Kabul while on a vacation.

"The interpreter could have gotten into trouble because the locals believe cats are simply rodent catchers and would have caught on that this cat with a collar was an American soldier's cat."

Why would the man risk it for an American?

"It's one of the remarkable things about the Afghan people is their sense of friendship and honor."

It was the start of a journey half-way around the world. A group known as the Afghan Stray Animal League helped facilitate a series of flights from Islamabad to New York to Portland and ultimately to Oregon City, Ore. where Knott's parents live.

It cost Knott just under about $3,000 for all the airfare. But it was worth every penny.

"To think that that was a feral cat and he just behaves like the most domestic cat... he's part of the family."

Knott is not allowed to have the cat at JBLM and said he misses him terribly, and can't wait to be reunited after he leaves the military.

Josh Kerns, MyNorthwest.com Reporter
Josh Kerns is co-host of KIRO Radio's Seattle Sounds (Saturday nights 7-8) and a digital content producer for MyNorthwest.com.
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Comments (29)


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  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    Cats are cool.
    March 20, 2013 5:08 pm
    ....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • wsualumn wrote...
    LOVE IT!
    March 20, 2013 5:12 pm
    A great story! Too often we hear the bad ones.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    http://www.kgw.com/lifestyle/animals/Wash-prison-inmates-get-shelter-cats-150015425.html
    March 20, 2013 5:15 pm
    Very much like this story prison inmates get shelter cats and the cats change lives.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    $3000.00 to fly a CAT to the USA
    March 20, 2013 5:27 pm
    This should show everyone that our soldiers are extremely well compensated
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    It's only money!
    March 20, 2013 9:52 pm
    Has nothing to do with a soldiers base pay.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • intransit wrote...
    Cat
    March 20, 2013 11:05 pm
    Messiah101 What a load of crap. His family probably helped with the cost you ignoramus. Grow a brain!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Jesse_knott wrote...
    I could only wish!
    March 20, 2013 11:37 pm
    Extremely well compensated? Well FYI my family actually had to pay for the bulk (most of) the cost to have him shipped to the states. And secondly, I would invite you to specify what compensation you would deem "extremely well" to be separated from your family and loved ones for a year or longer at a time, in a country where you are shot at or some one is trying to kill you most days you are there, and you have the distinct joy of watching friends and civilians torn to pieces by IEDs, mortars, and machine guns? I can tell you the precious sea hawks make far more than I will ever see in my life time especially considering I now have permanent nerve damage from one of those road side bombs and live in pain 24x7, so I doubt any amount of money could ever be considered "extremely well" But thank you for you support! :)
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  • Jesse_knott wrote...
    Sorry replied to the wrong post!
    March 20, 2013 11:38 pm
    My apologies! :) meant to reply to the one above... Sorry
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    Jesse,Face it
    March 21, 2013 10:44 am
    The average family Stateside would not have almost $3000.00 to spend on shipping a stray cat from Afghanistan to the USA.Perhaps this Airman should be checked for PTSD,or at least have his head examined.
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  • messiah101 wrote...
    Jesse
    March 21, 2013 10:48 am
    From my understanding the US Military is all Volunteer so quit your whining.Remember your service had absolutely NOTHING to do with protecting Americans here at home.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Jesse_knott wrote...
    Really? Do you understand simple addition as well?
    March 21, 2013 2:57 pm
    Sounded more like you were the one whining to me about how exceptionally well complicated I was. I was just making the point that my service has nothing to do with mo ey, I was making 3 times my current income as a software engineer before I joined the military, but unlike some whiny megalomaniacs "messiah" really? I valued the lives of my brothers above my own. Which made losing them so much harder to bear, however that said I part with two points, one if I had it to do all over again, I would change nothing but to try to prevent the loss of my brothers, and two I never said I was protecting Americans at home, I was protecting Americans in combat, and to me there is no difference...
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  • Jesse_knott wrote...
    Here's the part I don't get
    March 21, 2013 3:28 pm
    I know I said I was done with this conversation but I hate leaving conversations or threads on a pissed off note... What's up with all the anger? You said you're an airman yourself? You should know we make s@!t for income, the pay is the same for Air Force and for Army. Then what was up with the whole attack and "stop whining" comment? I was pointing out that no amount of money could be considered enough to endure the pains that we all go through when deployed even if you never go outside the wire and never see combat just being in those places is bad enough... I don't care what your uniform says, if you're in a uniform were brothers in arms and should behave as such, so what's going on? Just where is all this animosity and spite coming from?
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  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    Jesse
    March 22, 2013 12:00 am
    Mess iah is here obviously to display how shallow and petty liberals are! He is known here for that , Andrew Walsh must be proud.Ty for your service!!
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  • jcason2121 wrote...
    Your point?
    March 21, 2013 7:02 am
    What point are you trying to make, exactly?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • jcason2121 wrote...
    Me Compensation
    March 21, 2013 7:04 am
    That reply is directed at mr "extremely we'll compensated" up there.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • kato1967 wrote...
    wrong again
    March 21, 2013 8:46 am
    Actually, I have read on another website that his parents put up the money. So no, their pay really isn't all that great.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Yugsie wrote...
    Really?
    March 22, 2013 5:18 am
    Let's see. Just under $3000.00" to send a cat to the US. The soldier is a Staff Sergeant, which means he has a few years of seniority, in today's Army that usually means between 6 and ten years. He is in a middle management position, responsible for the lives of a number of lower ranking soldiers, and thousands of dollars worth of equipment. AND, unlike you, Messiah101, his job has required that he put his life on the line, and in this war (and the one in Iraq) it also means frequently. The Federal Government paid nothing for the transport of this pet, the soldier did, out of his own pocket. Sounds to me like you couldn't qualify to join the military (if you even tried) and are probably in a low paying, mindless drudge type of job. Before you carp about another's compensation, walk a mile in his of her shoes.
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  • Newton wrote...
    Theres a soldier that has a great start to a life with out war.
    March 20, 2013 7:59 pm
    Thanks to Koshka. Great Story.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SeaMike01 wrote...
    Cool Story
    March 20, 2013 8:04 pm
    I'm glad this guy got to keep his cat friend.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4goPodxJaI
    March 20, 2013 9:54 pm
    video of Koshka
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Jesse_knott wrote...
    Thank you every one!
    March 21, 2013 12:01 am
    I appreciate the support and well wishes from everyone, Koshka is doing well, and has been loving the additional attention he gets. I mainly love that I have finally gotten to share the story of how a simple cat helped saved me.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • wsualumn wrote...
    jesse
    March 21, 2013 4:52 am
    Thanks so much for serving our country and thanks for giving that cat a great home!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Georgia rescuer wrote...
    Koshka
    March 27, 2013 12:35 pm
    I currently rescue cats from shelters in GA because as animals they have much fewer sources of rescue than other animals such as dogs and horses. My husband is a Hospital Administrator and I am in HR. We did a 2 year stint in Saudia Arabia and rescued 2 cats from abuse. When it was time to leave, we couldn't leave them behind or they would have been killed as you know the Moslems consider cats unclean and love to run over them with their cars and routinely cut their ears off. We were able to bring them back to the states and one is buried in our rose garden here in GA. We could never have lived with ourselves had we left those cats behind to suffer as animals do in Middle Eastern countries. Money is irrelevant when you know if you don't try to get them out, they will be injured, tortured or killed outright. There is no humane euthanasia in the Middle East. Torture of animals is common. Most Americans reading your story don't believe that because the media doesn't report grisly stories about what they do to animals there. I am just happy that your parents helped you get Koshka out and that the Interpreter took the risk for you. It was a good outcome because of them.
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  • jcason2121 wrote...
    Find a way
    March 21, 2013 7:01 am
    If you can't have the cat on base, I'm guessing you live in barracks. Otherwise that's a strange policy. On the Navy side of things, an E5 can get BAH. I'd go that route. No reason why an E6 should have to live on base. Granted, the Army may have different policies.
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  • Fuego wrote...
    Cats can sense
    March 21, 2013 8:55 am
    just as much as dogs, some better than others. Glad that the Sergeant was able to find a friend that helped him through the he!! that the rest of us will never know. Hopefully the rest of our troops will make it home soon as well.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Yugsie wrote...
    Jesse
    March 22, 2013 5:30 am
    I served in Vietnam in 69 thru 71, and the difference that having a "pet" to not having one, in the combat zone, is great. The American soldier (regardless of the branch of service) is known for having a soft heart for two things, local animals and children. With the animals, mostly dogs, the repayment is fantastic! We had one that laid down her life for us when we were overrun by the Viet Cong. She accounted for two known VC deaths, and there were 4 or 5 confirmed blood trails leaving the area, around her body. Even if she had lived, none of us could have brought her home, as that was not allowed because of infectious organisms common in SE Asia, that could have been transmitted to dogs here. I am very happy that you were able to bring Koshka home. Best of luck to you in your future. BTW I'm a medically retired Army E-6.
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  • Jesse_knott wrote...
    Amen brother!
    March 22, 2013 4:16 pm
    We had dogs that would go out with us and keep locals at safe distances, they would also serve as amazing alarms and detectors for us keeping us safe on night patrols. Thank you for serving, and fighting in such hard time brother! Hopefully I should be joining the ranks as medically retired here soon, and can begin to rebuild my life as well.
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