Harrison Jozefowicz give up his job as a Chicago police officer and headed abroad quickly after Russia invaded Ukraine. An Military veteran, he stated he couldn’t assist however be part of American volunteers looking for to assist Ukrainians of their battle.
Jozefowicz now heads a bunch known as Process Drive Yankee, which he stated has positioned greater than 190 volunteers in fight slots and different roles whereas delivering practically 15,000 first support kits, serving to relocate greater than 80 households and serving to ship dozens of pallets of meals and medical provides to the southern and jap fronts of the war.
It’s troublesome, harmful work. However Jozefowicz stated he felt helpless watching from america final yr through the U.S. pullout from Afghanistan, notably after an in depth buddy, Workers Sgt. Ryan Knauss, died in a suicide bombing at Kabul.
“So, I’m simply attempting to do the whole lot I can to ensure I can assist others not undergo what I went via,” he stated Saturday throughout an interview performed via a messaging platform.
A former U.S. Marine who died final week was believed to be the primary American citizen killed whereas preventing in Ukraine. Willy Joseph Cancel, 22, died Monday whereas working for a navy contracting firm that despatched him to Ukraine, his mom, Rebecca Cabrera, advised CNN.
An undetermined variety of different Individuals — many with navy backgrounds — are regarded as within the nation battling Russian forces beside each Ukrainians and volunteers from different international locations despite the fact that U.S. forces aren’t straight concerned in preventing other than sending navy materiel, humanitarian support and cash. The U.S. authorities discourages Individuals from preventing in Ukraine, which raises authorized and nationwide safety points.
Russia’s invasion has given Ukraine’s embassy in Washington the duty of fielding inquiries from hundreds of Individuals who wish to assist in the battle, and Ukraine is utilizing the web to recruit volunteers for a international power, the International Legion of Defense of Ukraine.
“Anybody who needs to hitch the protection of safety in Europe and the world can come and stand aspect by aspect with the Ukrainians in opposition to the invaders of the twenty first century,” President President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in a recruitment pitch.
Texan Anja Osmon, who did excursions in Iraq and Afghanistan whereas serving within the U.S. Military from 2009 via 2015, stated she went to Ukraine on her personal. A medic, she stated she arrived in Ukraine on March 20 and lived within the woods with different members of the Worldwide Legion earlier than a brand new commander despatched her away as a result of he didn’t need feminine fighters.
Osmon, 30, stated her mom needs her residence earlier than September. However for now she’s anxious to get out of the lodge the place she is staying in Lviv and catch on with one other preventing power nearer the motion.
“I can’t flip away from injustice,” she stated. “Nobody needs to be scared.”
Eddy Etue by way of Related Press
U.S. Marine veteran Eddy Etue stated he give up his job within the gig economic system, discovered a buddy in Colorado to look at his cat and gave up his residence 4 blocks from the seaside in San Diego, California, to assist out in Ukraine, the place he’s been about two weeks. He first labored with an support group however now’s coaching with the Worldwide Legion.
Etue, 36, stated he merely couldn’t keep residence. “It’s simply the proper factor to do,” stated Etue, who financed the journey via a web-based fundraising marketing campaign.
Etue’s household historical past pulled him towards Ukraine. He stated his grandparents left Hungary with nothing however their 4 youngsters and garments after the 1956 revolution, which was put down by Soviet forces that killed or wounded hundreds.
“What’s occurring right here will have an effect on not solely the people who find themselves experiencing it however their youngsters and grandchildren as properly,” he stated. “I do know that from private expertise.”
Jozefowicz, the previous Chicago cop, says there are millions of American and different volunteers in Ukraine. A number of organizations are working within the nation, and Jozefowicz stated his group alone has positioned scores of volunteers in positions everywhere in the nation, with about 40 of these being fight jobs.
“We don’t facilitate a civilian going into any direct-action position. We solely information and join prior navy volunteers,” he stated.
However there’s loads of different work to do. Teams of volunteers are getting medical and meals provides to folks within the nation of 44 million folks, he stated, and others are working with refugees and others who’ve needed to flee their properties.
“The nearer I bought into Ukraine and the extra time I spent in Ukraine, the extra voids I discovered that wanted to be crammed to maximise my teams volunteer efforts,” he stated.
Osmon, who stated she’s been involved with Jozefowicz’s group, stated she provided troops with antibiotics and anti inflammatory medicines after days within the woods.
“Most everybody had air raid fever from hiding within the trenches within the snow and chilly air,” she stated. “Bronchitis was ravaging us.”
Etue stated he bought a really feel for the nation after making a 24-hour spherical journey with one other volunteer to select up a automobile in Odessa. He stated he’s been impressed with the standard of individuals serving within the Worldwide Legion since Ukrainians have executed an excellent job of removing the inexperienced and “conflict vacationers” who don’t have a lot to supply a navy unit.
“I believe they’re doing amazingly properly on condition that they’re at conflict with one of many largest standing armies on the planet,” he stated.
