According to his family, a U.S. Army veteran from Idaho who had flown to Ukraine died as a result of wounds he received while battling Russian soldiers in the Donbas.
On October 3, a tank attack in Severodonetsk, in the Luhansk region, injured Dane Partridge, 34, of Rexburg, Idaho, his sister Jenny Partridge Corry said on Facebook.
Father-of-five Partridge was brought to a military hospital in Kiev and given life support. Corry claims that a medical professional at the hospital informed Partridge’s family that his neck and brain stem had been seriously injured. Tuesday saw his death.
“We have just been informed that Dane aka Bird has passed away while still being on life support,” Corry wrote on Facebook. “I know his soul has found peace.”
The State Department confirmed to Yahoo News that a U.S. citizen died in the Donbas region, but did not say who.
“We are in touch with the family and are providing all appropriate assistance,” a spokesperson said.
There is no verified public data on the number of American volunteers fighting in Ukraine. About 4,000 Americans “have indicated interest,” according to a March Washington Post article, in joining the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine.
Partridge is the fifth known American citizen to perish in the fighting, according to the Post.
After accumulating money for a one-way ticket to Poland, Partridge, who served in Baghdad from 2007 to 2009 during the Iraq War, joined the battle in Ukraine in April.
“I’ve felt a need to go to Ukraine,” he wrote in a Facebook post on April 2. “This has been discussed with several people and I am confident in my decision to go. I am reaching out to see if I can get some support in getting over there. I’m trying to come up with a couple of grand to get a plane ticket. I have equipment and uniforms, I just need airfare.”
On April 25, Partridge left Idaho. He last updated Facebook on April 27.
“Made it to the embassy, getting on a bus for the border,” he wrote. “From this point on I will not likely be giving locations or actions for opsec reasons. I will let you all know I’m alive.”
In her Facebook post announcing his death, Corry said her brother had messaged her from Ukraine to “let me know he missed his children and wife something fierce.”
“He was a fine soldier who fought with valor and bravery on the battlefield,” Corry wrote. “We have been told that he was known to be at the front of his team leading his men as he would never ask his men to do anything that he wasn’t willing to do.
“Our lives have forever been changed by this stalwart man,” she added. “We love you and will miss you so much brother!”
