Former US Marine, 33, Killed in Russian Missile Attack in Ukraine While Evacuating Injured Civilians
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A former US Marine working as a volunteer medic in Ukraine has died 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, which has become the focus of Putin’s efforts.
It happened when another evacuation team near Reed came under fire, forcing him to respond and provide aid, his wife Alex Potter. told the Washington Post.
Reed served two deployments as a Marine rifleman to Afghanistan and began the nonprofit global response medicine with Potter in 2017.
He is one of at least seven Americans who 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 on two deployments as a Marine rifleman to Afghanistan and started the nonprofit organization Global Response Medicine with his wife in 2017.
‘My husband Pete Reed was murdered yesterday in Bakhmut, Ukraine. He was evacuating civilians and responding to the wounded when his ambulance was bombed,” Potter wrote on social media on Friday.
“He died doing what he was good at, what gave him life and what he loved, and apparently saving a team member with his own body,” he added.
His death came just one month after an assignment in Ukraine for Global Outreach Doctors, where he was serving as Ukraine Country Director.
“In January, Pete stepped away from GRM to work with Global Outreach Doctors on their mission in the Ukraine and died while providing aid,” the NGO said. ‘Pete was the cornerstone of GRM, serving as Chairman of the Board for 4 years.’
Reed joined the Marine Corps in September 2007, shortly after his 18th birthday. As an infantryman, he was deployed twice over the next four years to Afghanistan’s Helmand province, the Washington Post reported.
He was based at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina and obtained a combat action tape indicating that he came under hostile fire or directly engaged enemy forces. Reed left active duty as a corporal in September 2011 after completing four years of mandatory service.
According to Global Outreach Doctors, her humanitarian career began in 2012 when her home state of New Jersey was hit by Hurricane Sandy.
In 2014, he helped train 33 Haitian EMTs. After temporarily settling in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, she went to northern Iraq to oversee medical training operations.
Reed’s wife, Alex Potter (pictured), posted a tribute to her late husband. her saying: ‘she Died doing what was good’
As an infantryman in the US Marines, Reed was deployed twice to Afghanistan’s Helmand province. He obtained a combat action tape indicating that he came under hostile fire or directly engaged enemy forces.
Reed treated over 10,000 trauma patients during the Battle of Mosul, as of 2016
Reed married photographer Alex Potter last year. The two founded Global Response Medicine together in 2017.
Most notably, Reed provided medical assistance during the Battle of Mosul, which began in 2016, treating more than 10,000 trauma patients. Since 2017, she has participated in Global Response Medicine operations in Iraq, Yemen, Syria and Poland.
“This is a stark reminder of the dangers rescue and relief workers in conflict zones face as they serve citizens caught in the crossfire. Pete was only 33 years old, but he lived a life of service to others, first as a decorated 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 the continuing attempts to seize Bakhmut, Moscow has been dumping thousands of troops into Ukrainian positions in the city.
Although some analysts say Bakhmut is of little military importance, he has become the focal point of both the Ukrainian resistance and Moscow’s efforts to regain momentum after territorial losses.
Therefore, the battle is more symbolic than practical, and is believed to be costing Russia more than 100 soldiers a day. However, Putin promised the Russian people that Donbas would be liberated, and the path to that goal lies with Bakhmut.
Missile remnants are seen after shelling as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues, during the winter in Bakhmut, Ukraine, on January 28, 2023.
A damaged car and a pile of debris are seen as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues in Bakhmut, Ukraine, on January 28, 2023.
Fighting continues in Bakhmut, but many analysts say the city is of little military importance.