On January 25, 2019, Marine Capt. Grady Kurpasi, the commanding officer of Headquarters Company, 2nd Marine Regiment, addressed students in Swansboro, North Carolina.
(Photo: Aaron Douds, U.S. Marine Corps)
The remains of a U.S. Marine veteran who disappeared while fighting in Ukraine have finally returned to the United States after more than a year. Retired Marine Corps. Capt. Grady Kurpasi, 50, went missing in April 2022 after being hit by gunfire in the Kherson region. The Weatherman Foundation, a global human rights advocacy group, located his remains and ensured their safe repatriation.
Kurpasi’s remains arrived on Friday at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York on a Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul. A brief ceremony was held at the airport before his body was flown by private plane to Wilmington, North Carolina, where he was returned to his family.
On the day of his disappearance in April 2022, Kurpasi left his position to investigate incoming fire in southern Ukraine alongside British citizen Andrew Hill. Hill was captured by Russian-backed forces and charged with being a mercenary, while Kurpasi did not make it back to his fellow troops.
The Weatherman Foundation dedicated nine months to locating and safely transporting Kurpasi’s remains to the United States. The network of funded operators and investigators in Ukraine worked tirelessly to search for Kurpasi’s burial plot, eventually locating it with the assistance of a drone.
After retiring from the Marine Corps, Kurpasi felt compelled to assist Ukrainians in defending their country against the Russian invasion. Kurpasi, a recipient of the Purple Heart, was known for his leadership by example and his unwavering devotion. Initially, intending to train soldiers and assist with evacuations, he eventually joined the Ukrainian Foreign Legion, as stated by the Weatherman Foundation.
Kurpasi, who was adopted from Korea, was raised in New York City before enlisting in the Marines. After the 9/11 attacks, Kurpasi joined the Marine Corps as a 29-year-old, based on a Weatherman news release. He served as a scout sniper and was deployed three times to Iraq. Through an enlisted-to-officer commissioning program, he attended UCLA and received a Pat Tillman Foundation scholarship, becoming an infantry officer. According to the GoFundMe set up for his family, Kurpasi is survived by his wife and 14-year-old daughter.
The State Department has issued warnings against Americans traveling to fight in Ukraine, specifically due to the targeting of Americans in Ukraine by Russia’s security officials. However, despite the risks, foreigners, including Americans, continue to join the fight in supporting Ukrainian troops. Among the American soldiers and citizens who joined the struggle against Russia in a combat or humanitarian capacity was Marine Giovanni Roman, a veteran who later came home after being injured.
At least 12 Americans have been killed in Ukraine since the conflict began, as reported by Task and Purpose. The actual number of Americans killed in Ukraine has not been confirmed by the State Department.
Author: Rikki Almanza
Rikki is a Web Content Coordinator for the American Legion, Department of California. With a deep-rooted connection to the military, a spouse who is a Navy veteran, a father who served in the Air Force for 25 years, and a grandfather who proudly served, Rikki is committed to using her skills and knowledge to provide valuable assistance and resources to servicemembers and veterans.