A 21-year-old US Marine veteran from California was killed as his unit attempted to rescue one of its wounded during a “fierce battle” in the eastern Donetsk region of Ukraine.
Ethan Hertweck was called a “brave American brother in arms” by fellow volunteer, British citizen Macer Gifford.
Gifford, who posted a photo showing him with Hertweck, said he was hit by Russian fire on Dec. 11 as he carried a wounded friend to safety.
According to Gifford, Hertweck was a combat medic in the 131st Reconnaissance Battalion and recently changed his grouping so he could return to the front lines.
Hertweck's mother also reported on her son's death in a post on Instagram and shared a painting of him that was painted by his team leader's wife. She revealed that her son was a US Marine Corps veteran.
In that post, Leslie Hertweck also said that her son would be returning home for Christmas and forever on December 19th.
Ethan Hertweck, a 21-year-old U.S. Marine veteran from Southern California, in a firefight with Russian troops in eastern Ukraine
In a heartbreaking social media post, Hertweck's (pictured far left) mother Leslie (pictured center) revealed that her son would be returning home for good on December 19th
On December 11, Portal reported that Russian forces launched a massive new offensive against the town of Avdiivka, during which Hertweck was killed
An X post from one of Hertweck's brothers in arms said that the medic had recently gone to the front
On December 11, Portal reported that Russian forces launched a massive new offensive against the town of Avdiivka, where Hertweck was killed, as part of their campaign to secure control of the eastern Donbass region.
According to Gifford, Hertweck was involved in training Ukrainian forces away from the front lines until the recent offense. He went “of his own accord to fight side by side in Avdiivka.”
Meanwhile, Leslie said she was contacted on Dec. 8 by U.S. officials who said her son's unit was involved in a “very heavy firefight.”
“This was supposed to be his last mission and then go home for good on December 19th!” she added.
Leslie also posted a link to a PayPal page set up to help repatriate Hertweck's remains and cover all other funeral costs.
The site emphasizes the late Marine's Christian faith.
“Ethan dedicated his life to saving lives and helping civilians throughout Ukraine and believed that “all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing,” one paragraph reads.
A shocking social media post from the Russian Foreign Ministry openly mocked Hertweck's death
Hertweck grew up in Southern California. He has a sister, Hannah, and a brother, Gabriel. His father, John, is a high school math teacher, while his mother runs her own business
The Russian Foreign Ministry mocked Hertweck's death in a post on X.
“Another mercenary from the #USA down in #Ukraine,” the shocking post begins.
“Ethan Hertweck from #California came to Ukraine in mid-2023. After being identified by Russian surveillance authorities, he appeared in the chat room where he made fun of Russian soldiers.
“Five days ago he was eliminated in the battles of Avdeevka,” the post said, with an accompanying picture of Hertweck.
Hertweck grew up in Southern California. He has a sister, Hannah, and a brother, Gabriel. His father, John, is a high school math teacher, while his mother runs her own business.
The family is known to be actively involved in family ministry aimed at spreading Christianity in the Philippines. Both John and Leslie Hertweck are graduates of the private Christian college Vanguard University.