My name is David, call sign Gringo, I'm from Los Angeles, California.

I've been following the russian aggression against Ukraine since the very beginning, since 2014. But after the full-scale russian invasion in February 2022, I realized: it's time to act. I learned about the recruitment of volunteers for the Ukrainian army and decided to join. I couldn't come right away, because I had certain responsibilities at home. But as soon as I had the opportunity, I came here.

At first, I served in the Khartiia brigade. There I first underwent thorough military training, learned to use different types of weapons. This is real training that saves lives. Keep in mind: no one will send you to the front until they are sure that you are ready for battle.

After training, I performed a defensive mission in the Kharkiv region. It was pretty cool. Now I am trying my hand at the 425th Assault Regiment. And honestly, doing this makes me feel happier. I have learned a lot, gained good experience, met a lot of wonderful people. The Ukrainian army is like a big family. People here are really cool and close-knit. Ukrainians do things every day that other countries take years to prepare for.

Volunteers from Colombia, Brazil, and other parts of the world serve next to me. The language barrier is not a problem for me. I speak English and Spanish, which helps me work in multinational units.

In Ukraine, I fight for freedom. I believe that every American should support Ukraine, because our country was founded on this value. Here I feel the same. Ukrainians want to live freely and do not want to be under the rule of russia. What the russians are doing is unfair.

So, if you believe in freedom, do not be indifferent. You don’t have to come to fight, but you have to support Ukraine. If you decide to come, be 100% ready. Take charge of your affairs at home, choose a unit and come consciously. Be very responsible about it. After all, this is not a game. This is war. But if you have the motivation and the right attitude, you can do something really great here.

Glory to Ukraine!