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Transcript/ScriptUkraine US Fighter – Bakalets
HEADLINE: US Veteran Heads to Ukraine to Fight, Plans to Stay to Rebuild Country
TEASER:
PUBLISHED AT: 7/13/2022 at 12:55pm
BYLINE: Lesia Bakalets
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Washington
VIDEOGRAPHER: Lesia Bakalets
VIDEO EDITOR: Artyom Kokhan
SCRIPT EDITORS: KE, MPage
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, see courtesies
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB TV X only RADIO __
TRT: 2:57
VID APPROVED BY: KE
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES:
((INTRO))
[[U.S. veteran James Vasquez made the decision to fight for Ukraine on the first day of the war. He packed his gear, got his passport in order and headed to Ukraine. He also started a Twitter account where he tells his followers about his experience. Lesia Bakalets has the story, narrated by Anna Rice.]]
((NARRATION))
James Vasquez is in a suit now but says he’s a lot more comfortable in uniform.
The suit is for an official fundraiser for Ukraine.
The fatigues come out when he gets back to Ukraine in August.
((James Vasquez, US Veteran))
“I'm just so used to being over there and hearing air raid sirens and, you know, being shot at and shelled every day. It's almost weird being back.”
((NARRATION))
James made the decision to head to Ukraine to fight
((Mandatory courtesy: James Vasquez + Twitter Logo))
on the very first day of the war.
((NATS))
“I will be fighting with our soldiers, your soldiers…”
((End courtesy))
((James Vasquez, US Veteran))
“The only reason why I wasn't there on the 25th is because I didn't have an active passport. I had to get an emergency passport that’s why I showed up on March 14.”
((Mandatory courtesy: James Vasquez + Twitter Logo)) ((NATS)) (( https://twitter.com/jmvasquez1974/status/1503499030445309953 ))
“All packed up and ready to go. Leaving tonight.”
((End courtesy))
((NARRATION))
Vasquez says the decision to head to Ukraine was an easy one. His grandmother, born in Latvia, told him a lot of stories about Russian soldiers.
((James Vasquez, US Veteran))
“My whole family on my grandmother's side got slaughtered by Russians, every single one. //
((11:24-)) She was made to work in a sweatshop, you know sewing, sewing Russian uniforms.
((NATS))
((Mandatory courtesy: James Vasquez + Twitter Logo))
((James Vasquez, US Veteran))
“I don’t know if you guys know what this is, but that’s a Russian tank!”
((End courtesy))
((NARRATION))
((Mandatory courtesy: James Vasquez + Twitter Logo))
Just days after Vasquez arrived in Ukraine, he was on the front lines in the Kyiv region.
His unit liberated villages where the Russian military had left deadly traps for civilians.
((End courtesy))
((James Vasquez, US Veteran)) ((25:37-))
“That is meant to kill people, it’s not for us. That is meant for civilians. And that's the crazy part of it.
((Mandatory courtesy: James Vasquez + Twitter Logo))
You know, there's a string tied to that glass. When you open a cabinet, the glass
((End courtesy))
breaks, the pins are already pulled from the grenade. So, the grenade will just go off.”
((NARRATION))
((Mandatory courtesy: James Vasquez + Twitter Logo))
James serves mainly with Ukrainians. He is calling his comrades brothers and says there’s no language barrier at all.
((End courtesy))
((James Vasquez, US Veteran))
“A lot of them speak broken English as well. So, you know, there is some degree of, you know, an ability to communicate with each other.”
((NARRATION))
((Mandatory courtesy: James Vasquez + Twitter Logo))
From the Kyiv region, his unit was moved to Donbas.
While in Ukraine, Vasquez began raising money for Ukrainian fighters.
((End courtesy))
Now he’s working with the American charity foundation Ripley's Heroes.
((James Vasquez, US Veteran))
“We're not buying ammunition. We're not buying guns. It's more protective, you know, body armor, Kevlar. And drones, you know, things that we need in theater... vehicles are a big deal.”
((NARRATION))
Vasquez is back in the U.S. to sell everything he owns here
((Mandatory courtesy: James Vasquez + Twitter Logo))
and then return to Ukraine. He says Ukraine has become his second home and he would like to stay and rebuild it after the victory.
((For Lesia Bakalets in Washington, Anna Rice,
VOA News))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline) Washington D.C.
Embargo DateJuly 12, 2022 22:37 EDT
Byline((For Lesia Bakalets in Washington, Anna Rice,
VOA News))
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
