U.S. citizen Willy Joseph Cancel, 22, was killed in Ukraine while fighting alongside Ukrainian forces, members of Cancel’s family confirmed to media outlets Friday.
Rebecca Cabrera, let CNN know that her child was recruited in February by a private military contracting organization on top of his regular occupation as a prison guard in Tennessee. Whenever the conflict in Ukraine broke out, he consented to go battle.
“He needed to go over in light of the fact that he had faith in the thing Ukraine was battling for, and he needed to be a piece of it to contain it there so it didn’t come here, and that perhaps our American troopers wouldn’t need to be engaged with it,”
She also said Cancel’s body had not yet been recovered.
Cancel was a native of Orange County, New York. The county’s executive, Steven M. Neuhaus, said he was saddened to hear of Cancel’s death in a statement.
“We will never forget Willy’s bravery and sacrifice, and Orange County’s thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time,” Neuhaus said.
Cancel is the first U.S. citizen known to have been killed while fighting in Ukraine, though other Americans have been killed during the war. Cancel leaves behind a wife and 7-month-old son, Fox News reported. Brittney Cancel, Cancel’s widow, also confirmed his death.
