Kathrine Frich
Ukrainian morgues are full of unnamed soldiers.
Ukrainian morgues are full of unnamed soldiers.
Remembering the fallen: one name at a time
The story of Captain Grady Kurpasi begins with 9/11, when he walked from Queens to Ground Zero searching for his partner.
That day changed his life. He left a tech career to join the Marines, serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
After retiring in 2021, he volunteered to help Ukraine repel Russia’s invasion.
A year later, his fate was unknown.
Kurpasi’s last battle and disappearance
Kurpasi joined the fighting near Kyiv and later took part in missions in Kherson Oblast.
In April 2022, he disappeared under Russian fire.
The last man to see him alive was taken prisoner. For more than a year, his whereabouts were a mystery.
Meaghan Mobbs joins the search
His story reached Meaghan Mobbs, daughter of Trump advisor Keith Kellogg, and a fellow Tillman Scholar.
Leading the R.T. Weatherman Foundation, she made Kurpasi’s case a personal mission.
Her team started searching for evidence and possible remains.
A breakthrough in Mykolaiv
Volunteer Iryna Khoroshaieva found body armour marked with Kurpasi’s call sign in a morgue.
DNA tests confirmed the remains.
Mobbs was with the family in North Carolina when his coffin returned home, giving closure after endless uncertainty.
A broader mission: the MIA/KIA Programme
Kurpasi’s case was not unique.
The Weatherman Foundation expanded efforts, creating a dedicated programme to locate, identify, and repatriate foreign fighters.
More than 100 cases from 27 nations are now being handled, helping families find peace.
Avoiding shame and ensuring dignity
Mobbs stresses that Ukraine’s image is also at stake.
Families of the fallen, especially abroad, need support.
The Foundation helps prevent painful stories from reaching the media that might portray Ukraine as indifferent to its allies’ losses.
A mother’s hope, a son’s legacy
Raquel Hamm lost her son Cedric in Ukraine. Initially doubtful, she agreed to DNA testing.
Months later, his body was found thanks to a distinctive tattoo.
Cedric had given his life defending Ukraine, leaving behind a proud but grieving family.
A foundation built on love, not politics
Mobbs fell in love with Ukraine as a child.
After serving in Afghanistan, she felt betrayed by the U.S. withdrawal.
When Russia invaded Ukraine, she committed to standing by the country.
Her team now handles logistics, diplomacy, and repatriation.
Giving the fallen their names back
Ukrainian morgues are full of unnamed soldiers.
The Foundation funds forensic teams who apply methods like fingerprinting to speed up identification.
This allows families to mourn properly and ensures no sacrifice is forgotten.
This article is made and published by Kathrine Frich, which may have used AI in the preparation
