A former US Marine working as a volunteer medic in Ukraine was killed while evacuating civilians from Bakhmut in the east of the country.
Pete Reed, 33, died on February 2 after his ambulance was hit by a missile while evacuating people from the besieged city that has become a focus of Putin’s efforts.
It happened when another evacuation team was attacked near Reed, prompting him to respond and provide assistance, his wife Alex Potter told The Washington Post.
Reed served two deployments as a Marine rifleman in Afghanistan and founded the nonprofit Global Response Medicine with Potter in 2017.
He is one of at least seven Americans to have died in Ukraine since the Russian invasion in February 2022.
Pete Reed, 33, died on February 2 after his ambulance was hit by a missile while evacuating people from the besieged town of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine
Reed served two deployments as a Marine rifleman in Afghanistan and founded the nonprofit Global Response Medicine with his wife in 2017
“My husband Pete Reed was killed yesterday in Bakhmut, Ukraine. He was evacuating civilians and tending to the wounded when his ambulance was fired upon,” Potter wrote on social media on Friday.
“He died doing what he was great at, what gave him life and what he loved, and apparently saving a team member with his own body,” she added.
His death came just a month after a deployment to Ukraine for Global Outreach Doctors, where he served as Country Director for Ukraine.
“In January, Pete resigned from GRM to work with Global Outreach Doctors on their Ukraine mission and was killed while providing assistance,” the NGO said. ‘Pete was the foundation of GRM and served as CEO for 4 years.’
Reed enlisted in the Marine Corps in September 2007, just after his 18th birthday. As an infantryman, he was deployed twice to Afghanistan’s Helmand province over the next four years, the Washington Post reported.
He was stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and received a combat action ribbon indicating he came under enemy fire or had directly engaged enemy forces. Reed left active duty as a corporal in September 2011 after completing four years of compulsory service.
According to Global Outreach Doctors, his humanitarian career began in 2012 when Hurricane Sandy hit his home state of New Jersey.
In 2014, he helped train 33 Haitian paramedics. After temporarily settling in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, he went to northern Iraq to oversee medical education.
Reed’s wife Alex Potter (pictured) posted a tribute to her last husband. say, “He died at what he was great at”
As an infantryman in the US Marines, Reed served twice in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. He received a combat action ribbon indicating he came under enemy fire or directly engaged enemy forces
Reed treated more than 10,000 trauma patients during the Battle of Mosul as of 2016
Reed married photographer Alex Potter last year. In 2017, the two co-founded Global Response Medicine
Notably, Reed provided medical assistance during the Battle of Mosul as of 2016, treating more than 10,000 trauma patients. Since 2017, he has been involved in Global Response Medicine operations in Iraq, Yemen, Syria and Poland.
“This is a stark reminder of the dangers that rescue and relief workers in conflict zones face when serving citizens caught in the crossfire. Pete was only 33 years old but lived a life of service to others, first as a Distinguished US Marine and then in humanitarian aid. GRM will strive to honor his legacy and the selfless service he practiced,” Global Outreach Doctors wrote after his death.
In ongoing attempts to capture Bakhmut, Moscow has thrown thousands of troops at Ukrainian positions in the city.
Though some analysts say Bakhmut has little military significance, it has become the focus of both Ukrainian resistance and Moscow’s efforts to regain steam after territorial losses.
The battle is therefore more symbolic than practical, and is said to cost Russia more than 100 soldiers a day. However, Putin promised the Russian people the liberation of Donbass, and the road to this goal lies in Bakhmut.
Rocket remnants are seen after shelling as the Russo-Ukrainian war continues in Bakhmut, Ukraine, January 28, 2023
A damaged car and a pile of debris are seen as the Russo-Ukrainian war rages on January 28, 2023 in Bakhmut, Ukraine
Fighting rages on in Bakhmut, but many analysts say the city is of little military importance