An effort is underway to locate two Alabamians who volunteered to fight alongside the Ukrainian Army to help the beleaguered nation combat the ongoing Russian invasion.
According to U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt’s (R-Haleyville) congressional office, Andy Tai Ngoc Huynh of Lawrence County has not made contact with his family in more than a week.
“The family of Andy Tai Ngoc Huynh, 27, of Trinity, Alabama in Lawrence County, reached out to my office this week,” noted Aderholt in a release. “Huynh, a former U.S. service member, volunteered to go fight with the Ukrainian Army in their current war against Russia.”
Aderholt, a member of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, advised that he had sought coordination with federal authorities to help locate Huynh.
“According to Huynh’s family, they have not been in contact with him since June 8, 2022 when he was in the Kharkiv area of Ukraine,” he added. “As you can imagine, his loved ones are very concerned about him. My office has placed inquires with both the United States Department of State and the Federal Bureau of Investigation trying to get any information possible.”
The congressman concluded, “While my office works to get more details, I would ask everyone to pray for Andy’s safety and to pray for the comfort of his family back in Lawrence County.”
The family of Tuscaloosa resident Alexander Drueke made contact with U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell’s (D-Birmingham) congressional office and requested help to find the U.S. military veteran.
“Earlier this week, the mother of Alexander Drueke, a Tuscaloosa Army Veteran who volunteered to assist the Ukrainian Army in combating Russia, reached out to my office after losing contact with her son,” noted Sewell. “According to his family, they have not heard from Drueke in several days.”
“My office has been in contact with the State Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other members of the Alabama Congressional Delegation regarding this urgent matter,” added the congresswoman. “We will continue to do everything in our power to assist in locating him and finding answers for his family.
Huynh and Drueke are part of an effort consisting of numerous members of the U.S. military veteran community assisting the Ukrainians fend off Russian President Vladimir Putin’s onslaught of the Eastern European country.
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
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