US War Hero Joins Ukrainian Armed Forces After Seeing Russian Invasion Firsthand

A decorated US Army veteran has joined the ranks of Ukraine’s 128th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade after originally arriving in Ukraine as a volunteer.

His decision to remain followed a series of frontline deployments and a symbolic moment involving a Ukrainian flag recovered during combat.

According to an official statement from the 128th Brigade published on November 17, the veteran, identified only as Michael “Tex,” now serves as an instructor and combat serviceman within the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Tex, 57, is a retired US Army Sergeant First Class with over 20 years of military service. He participated in operations in Panama and the Persian Gulf and was also stationed in Latin America and Africa. He holds two Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts.

Before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, he worked as an energy engineer and missionary, building hospitals in Peru and running a renewable energy business, which he later sold. Tex arrived in Ukraine in March 2022 with the intention of staying only six to seven months.

The decision to remain came during operations between Mykolaiv and Kherson. In one encounter, Tex observed a Russian soldier removing a Ukrainian flag from a civilian home. After Ukrainian forces retook the building, Tex recovered the flag and handed it to his commander, who reportedly responded: “You’re Ukrainian now.” Tex replied, “Then I must stay.”

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The veteran later served in combat operations near Pokrovsk, in Zaporizhzhia region, and around Mykolaiv, sustaining multiple injuries and concussions. He now works as an instructor for foreign volunteers in the 128th Brigade, drawing on his military experience and language skills.

Tex is divorced and has six adult children in the United States. He now plans to remain in Ukraine after the war. He told the brigade’s media team that he is considering purchasing property in the Carpathian Mountains and building a home. “I’m retired from the military and sold my business,” he said. “So I don’t need to work financially.”

In a closing message directed at Ukrainians, he said: “We will win this war… so don’t lose hope. We need your help. We need you to be strong… Slava Ukraini .”

Earlier, it was reported that Ukraine’s Armed Forces had recruited foreign volunteers from 72 countries, with nearly 40% coming from South America. According to Kostiantyn Milevskyi, who oversees international enlistment, monthly recruitment of foreign nationals has quadrupled since 2022, reaching 600 per month following the launch of Ukraine’s Foreign Recruitment Center.

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