US Army SEAL who went AWOL in 2019 is killed by Russian forces in eastern Ukraine
>
US Army SEAL who went AWOL in 2019 is killed by Russian forces while fighting in eastern Ukraine
- Daniel W. Swift, a US Navy SEAL, was killed Wednesday
- Former US Special Forces member went AWOL in 2019
- The US State Department would not confirm the identity, but said the American was killed in action.
A US Navy SEAL who went AWOL in 2019 was killed this week during Russia’s assault on eastern Ukraine, officials said Friday.
Daniel W. Swift, a Navy Special Warfare Operator First Class, was killed Wednesday. He died after sustaining injuries with a unit attacked by Russia, an official said. HOUR informed.
The Navy Absentee Collection and Information Centers said Swift had been in “active deserter status since March 11, 2019,” according to his service records obtained by the news outlet.
Although the US State Department did not confirm Swift’s identity, it issued a statement that an American was killed in action.
“We can confirm the recent death of a US citizen fighting in Ukraine,” the statement said. “We are in contact with his family and providing all possible consular assistance. Out of respect for the family’s privacy during this difficult time, we have nothing more to add.”
Daniel W. Swift, a Navy Special Warfare Operator First Class, was killed Wednesday. He died after sustaining injuries with a unit under Russian attack, the official said, TIME reported.
The Navy said washington time that they “cannot speculate as to why the former sailor was in the Ukraine” and did not provide any additional details about his US military history.
Swift, who was from Oregon, first enlisted in 2005. He received a number of medals, including the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. , based on its releasable service records.
Although his records do not detail any of his deployments or SEAL teams in which he may have served, some assignments were listed including Naval Special Warfare ‘Cold Weather Detachment’ out of Kodiak, Arkansas in 2007, and two different assignments in the West Coast-based Special Warfare Unit(s) between July 2007 and January 2014, Time reported.
His most recent assignment began in August 2017 and was with a ‘West Coast Special Warfare Unit’.
The book ‘A Fall of A Man’ by author Ryder Thompson which was released in August 2020 shares Swift’s compelling story as a soldier, father and husband.
The book provides insight into Swift’s life, including discovering her first love at age 15, the woman she would eventually marry. His introduction to military life -began with the BUDS- Basic underwater demolition SEAL training at age 18. He was the father of four children and had his first child at the age of 20.
By age 30, Swift had deployed as a Navy SEAL five times to countries including Iraq, Afghanistan and Yemen.
“He returned home after serving his country to have all that was shattered,” according to the book’s description that is available at Amazon.
Soldiers on the battlefield fighting during the war in Ukraine
Swift is the sixth known American to be killed fighting in Ukraine since Russia first invaded Ukraine in February 2022, according to State Department statements and individual family reports.
The US government has discouraged Americans from going to fight for Ukraine, citing concerns that they could be captured by Russian forces and held hostage. nbc News reported.
There have been at least 6,000 people who contacted the Ukrainian embassy in Washington when the war began seeking information on how to volunteer on Ukraine’s behalf.