When veterans Alex Drueke and Andy Huynh were taken prisoner by Russian forces near the northern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, they didn’t know if they would see their home state of Alabama ever again.
However, after 105 days in captivity, the men returned home.
Now, one of them has gone back to the war-torn country as a non-combatant.
Drueke, who is from Tuscaloosa, returned to Ukraine to serve with Ukrainian Patriot, a group that is dedicated to connecting small villages in the country with food, medical supplies, and psychological trauma aid.
The veteran spoke with ABC News about his choice to go back.
“I feel pretty good,” said Drueke. “You know, Ukraine is like a second home to me, so it’s nice to be home again.”
He is under no illusions of what could happen if he is captured again.
“I’m a marked man and I think I got my one second chance at life,” he said. “So, yeah, if I get captured again. I’ll disappear.”
Once Drueke arrives stateside after his work in Ukraine he has another important mission almost immediately.
And, it’s another where Drueke and Huynh will have to rely on each other.
This time it will be for Huynh’s August wedding in which Drueke is set to be the best man.
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.
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