(NewsNation) — A U.S. veteran, husband and father is assisting Ukrainian forces in Lyiv, saying despite the heartbreak of a fellow veteran dying in Ukraine it is his “calling” to go help.
Cody Heard was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in 2018 but made the decision last month to head to Ukraine. Heard said the children suffering in Ukraine made him want to go and that it was his “calling.”
“I’m going to keep coming back to help these people. They’re amazing people. My heroes are these small children. They’re carrying backpacks and bags and a lot of weight I would carry as a soldier,” Heard said. “And so little kids are my heroes that are taking care of their mothers and getting them out.”
Heard spoke with NewsNaton amid reports a former U.S. Marine was killed fighting alongside Ukrainian forces.
Cabrera said her son was working as a corrections officer in Tennessee and had signed up to work with the private military contractor shortly before the fighting began in Ukraine in late February. She told CNN he agreed to go to Ukraine. Heard said he was heartbroken over Cancel’s death.
“It’s heartbreaking as a fellow veteran. But it definitely did not change my situation. I am coming home in May, at some point to take care of some things. And then I’m coming back to Ukraine,” Heard said.
Heard was asked to sign a contract with the Ukrainian Foreign Legion for the length of the war. He instead joined the territorial defense working with the Ukrainian military. Heard said he has become numb to some of the fighting in Ukraine.
“When I was in Kyiv there was consistent missile fire when we were there, it was very hectic. But there’s a time when you just kind of become numb to everything,” Heard said.
This comes amid a renewed attack by the Kremlin. Russia pounded targets all over Ukraine on Thursday, hitting a residential high-rise and another building in Kyiv. Heard said his plan is to go back to the United States next month but then return to Ukraine.
“There’s always the fear of not coming back home, but, you know, I’m confident myself, I’m confident in the training I received from the military,” Heard said to NewsNation in March.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, right, and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, attend a news conference after their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, April 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Firefighters put out a fire after a Russian rocket attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, April 28, 2022. Russia mounted attacks across a wide area of Ukraine on Thursday, bombarding Kyiv during a visit by the head of the United Nations. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Firefighters put out a fire after a Russian rocket attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, April 28, 2022. Russia mounted attacks across a wide area of Ukraine on Thursday, bombarding Kyiv during a visit by the head of the United Nations. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
A fire after a Russian rocket attack is seen in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, April 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
In this image provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, right, and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, pose for a photo during their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, April 28, 2022. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)
People take shelter in the basement of a residential building in Kyiv, Ukraine on Thursday, April 28, 2022. Russia struck the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv shortly after a meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday evening. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Three women embrace in a street in Kyiv, Ukraine on Thursday, April 28, 2022. Russia struck the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv shortly after a meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday evening. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
A security member runs following an explosion in Kyiv, Ukraine on Thursday, April 28, 2022. Russia struck the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv shortly after a meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday evening. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Emergency services arrive in the area following an explosion in Kyiv, Ukraine on Thursday, April 28, 2022. Russia struck the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv shortly after a meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday evening. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
A woman walks through the site of an explosion in Kyiv, Ukraine on Friday, April 29, 2022. Russia struck the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv shortly after a meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday evening. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
A liquor store owner looks at the damage to his shop caused by an explosion in Kyiv, Ukraine on Friday, April 29, 2022. Russia struck the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv shortly after a meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday evening. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Clean-up crews prepare to work at the site of an explosion in Kyiv, Ukraine on Friday, April 29, 2022. Russia struck the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv shortly after a meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday evening. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Clean-up crews work at the explosion site in Kyiv, Ukraine on Friday, April 29, 2022. Russia struck the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv shortly after a meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday evening. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
A man looks at the damage from an explosion in Kyiv, Ukraine on Friday, April 29, 2022. Russia struck the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv shortly after a meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday evening. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
A police officer inspects a destroyed area following a Russian missiles attack on Thursday in Fastov, south of Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, April 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Police officers inspect fragments of a Russian missile after Thursday shelling in Fastov, south of Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, April 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
