As US aid evaporates in Ukraine, civilian heroes are stepping up
Alongside him died Nick Parsons, a 28-year-old former Australian Special Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal operator.
I had the privilege of working with both men as part of a four-man bomb disposal unit just days before their deaths. Their loss illustrates a painful truth: As official U.S. government aid to Ukraine dries up, private citizens from America and around the world are stepping into the breach — sometimes at the ultimate cost.
The roughly $130 billion of American aid has been essential in maintaining Ukraine's struggle for survival. But that aid, for the moment at least, will not be continued with any new assistance packages from the U.S. government. This is why the work of civilian organizations has become even more critical.
During my three-week humanitarian trip to the Kyiv, Kharkiv and Donbas regions, I witnessed firsthand what dedication to a dangerous cause looks like.
Garrett and Parsons would drive past army checkpoints into areas littered with mines, burning fields and freshly dug trenches in anticipation of fighting to come. Between clearing lanes on minefields and warily eyeing the sky for lethal drones, they maintained an almost surreal humor and calm.
At one point on the road south from Izium, Garrett abruptly halted our truck after spotting a red fox standing in a field. 'Watch out for mines, buddy,' he muttered before driving off. Like navigating a minefield himself, he was always alert, scanning for anything out of place. Not afraid to confront danger.
There's a famous George Orwell quote that states, 'People sleep soundly in their beds at night because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.'
Garrett was one of those rough men, and while he no longer did violence himself, his dangerous work allowed Ukrainians to sleep more soundly. In the 'most mined country on earth,' he made countless acres safer for civilians and soldiers alike.
Garrett and Parsons weren't alone. Prevail's teams operate across Ukraine, eliminating threats from landmines, unexploded ordnance and improvised explosive devices. Their medical teams deliver critical healthcare, transporting wounded civilians, police officers and military personnel to hospitals.
Another group, Task Force Antal, consisting of retired military combat veterans, has trained over 20,000 Ukrainian civilians in emergency response, with a waiting list of 50,000 more.
Prevail Together and Taskforce Antal are entirely volunteer organizations — warriors turned humanitarians. These organizations embody something profound about the global relationship with Ukraine: it transcends government policy.
While official U.S. aid may pause, the spirit of supporting those fighting for freedom continues through citizens from America and around the world willing to donate time, money and sometimes their lives. They deserve and need our continued support.
Beyond the humanitarian mission, there are strategic reasons we can't afford to abandon Ukraine. Russia is not America's friend; it is a hostile dictatorship, and Ukraine is fighting a courageous war of self-defense.
History has taught us to stop predators like Putin before they launch even larger wars. What message would Putin's success send to China regarding Taiwan, or to North Korea and Iran?
The Western world appeased Hitler, leading to World War II. We won't avoid World War III by appeasing Putin.
Despite the tragic loss of its founder, Prevail continues its mission in Ukraine. But it and other civilian groups like it need support — our support — to replace what the U.S. government has withdrawn.
When I think of Chris Garrett and Nick Parsons, I remember men who risked everything for people they had never meet. Their sacrifice demands we ask ourselves: If they were willing to give their lives, what are we willing to give?
Ukraine deserves peace, but not at the cost of sovereignty or territory. They deserve the just peace that brave defenders like Garrett and Parsons died trying to deliver.
As Americans, we may disagree about government policy, but we can still uphold our finest traditions by supporting the humanitarian heroes working on the ground.
Owen Pataki, who served in the 10th Mountain Division in Afghanistan, is an author and has recently returned from Ukraine's frontline regions as a humanitarian volunteer.
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