Willy Cancel was 22 years old and is survived by his wife and 7monthold daughter in the state of Kentucky. Photo: REPRODUCTION TWITTER/EUROMAIDAN PRESS
Willy Joseph Cancel, a US citizen and Navy veteran who fought alongside Ukrainian forces against the Russian army, was killed in action this week. He was 22 years old and his death was confirmed by his family.
The young man died on Monday (25) while fighting in the international brigade of soldiers against Russia in the country, his mother Rebecca Cabrera told CNN. He, who left with a private military company, is the first American to be killed in the fighting.
The young man’s mother said he left to defend Ukraine
In an interview with CNN, Cancel’s mother said: “He wanted to go because he believed in what Ukraine is fighting and he wanted to be a part of it, um[den Krieg]contain it there so that it doesn’t come here, and that maybe our American soldiers wouldn’t have to get involved”.
His wife Bittany told ABC News, “My husband was very brave and a hero,” she said. “I didn’t expect to be a widow at 23 or that our son would be fatherless.”
Family members are now demanding that the soldier’s body be found and returned to the United States.