A former Marine who left Kentucky to defend Ukraine in March was killed this week while fighting with the Ukrainian military, according to his uncle. He is believed to be the first American killed in battle.
Willie Joseph Cancel Jr., 22, lived in Kentucky and worked as a correctional officer before his death, Uncle Christopher Cancel said in an interview Friday.
Uncle said that someone who had fought with the younger Mr Cancel called his father and said that he had gone on a night patrol on April 24 and that his unit had been taken over by Russian troops, probably the next day. The uncle said the caller indicated that his body had not yet been found.
A fundraising page created by the family says Willie’s wife, Joseph Cancel Jr., also received a call Tuesday. “Your husband fought bravely, but unfortunately failed,” said the caller, according to a story written by his father. It was not specified who made the call.
“Our whole family is just crazy and we have no idea how to proceed,” the statement said.
A Ukrainian Defense Ministry official said on Friday that three foreigners – an American, a British and a Dane – had been killed in a fight for the International Legion of the Ukrainian Army. The official did not give their names for the record and asked not to be identified, as he was not authorized to speak about them in public. All foreigners who fight for this branch of the army are practically part of the army of Ukraine, because they receive state salaries and are obliged to sign contracts.
Mr Cancel’s mother, Rebecca Cabrera, told CNN that he worked with a private military company, but his uncle told him on Friday that the family did not know the company’s name and had not contacted any contractors since his death.
According to the Marines, Willie Joseph Cancel Jr. spent nearly four years in the Marine Corps and was fired for misconduct, leaving the service as a private in November after spending time in an unsolved crime brigade.
The State Department said Friday that it was aware of reports of Mr Cancel’s death and would provide consular assistance to his family. “Out of respect for the family during this very difficult time, we have nothing more to announce,” said Jalina Porter, a spokeswoman for the department. “We also want to reiterate that US citizens should not travel to Ukraine during this active armed conflict.
“This is a very dangerous situation,” she added, adding that US citizens in Ukraine had been separated from Russian government security officials and that “US citizens in Ukraine should leave immediately if it is safe to do so through trade.” or privately available ground transportation options. “
Following Russia’s invasion on February 24, an unknown number of Americans have volunteered to help Ukraine in various ways, including hundreds of military veterans seeking to join ground fighters. Ukrainian authorities claim that thousands of foreign volunteers have joined its military, but the true number is difficult to trace.
Two other U.S. veterans in the fighting in Ukraine were injured this week, according to the family of one.
Paul K. Gray, 42, of Tyler, Texas, and Manus E. McCaffery, 20, of Parma, Ohio, both serving in the U.S. military, were wounded Wednesday when a Russian artillery shell hit their combat position, according to the mother. to Mr. Gray, Ian Gray.
They were waiting to ambush a Russian tank when shrapnel struck Mr McCaffer in the face and knocked down a concrete block wall on Mr Gray, injuring his leg, according to Twitter posts by US journalist Nolan Peterson. Video and photos recorded by Mr Gray show the two camouflaged fighters receiving first aid and riding in a military ambulance a little later, with Mr McCaffery’s face and head covered in bloody bandages.
Ms. Gray, a nurse, said she spoke to her son through a video after the attack, which confirmed the two were injured. “He’s doing well,” she said of her son. “The other boy I’m more worried about.”
Mr McCaffery’s family did not respond to a request for comment. Ms Gray said at least one member of the McCaffer family was traveling to Ukraine.
According to the military, Mr Gray was an army infantry sergeant who was stationed twice in Iraq during the height of hostilities there. He told The Daily Texan in 2009 that he had retired for medical reasons with a purple heart.
Mr. McCaffery was in the Army for only two years, far less than the standard set. He was stationed in Afghanistan for one month in August 2021 and left the army in January. The army did not give a reason for his dismissal.
Ms. Gray said the two men became close in Ukraine and went everywhere together.
Mr Gray was an active supporter of Ukraine’s defense, she said. He moved to the country before the war, joined the army when Russia invaded, and has since made several media appearances to explain his decision.
“It’s my moral duty,” he told Fox News in early March. “These are some of the best people in the world.”
Jane Araf contributed to the report and Kirsten Neuss contributed to the study.
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