US Army Ranger Vet Missing for Months in Ukraine Found Dead—What Drove Him to Fight a Foreign War?

Earlier this week, under a solemn Texas sky, a hero finally came home. Cedric “Charlie” Hamm, a 26-year-old former US Army Ranger, returned to his family in a flag-draped coffin after a seven-month journey from the front lines of Ukraine to a morgue in Kyiv, and ultimately to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

Hamm’s story, reported by The Dallas Morning News, is one of courage, selflessness, and a determination to fight for the ideals of freedom and democracy—even when it meant risking everything.

Born and raised in South Texas, Hamm was the eldest of four siblings and the grandson of a US Marine. From an early age, he exhibited a deep sense of duty and a protector’s spirit.

He served with distinction in the US Army, including a deployment to Afghanistan. Yet, even after his military service ended, Hamm’s call to protect and serve didn’t waver.

Answering the Call in Ukraine

In January 2024, haunted by the devastation caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Hamm said goodbye to his family, packed his belongings, and flew to the war-torn country.

At first, he intended only to train Ukrainian soldiers, using the expertise he gained as a staff sergeant in the Army Rangers. But when he saw the dire need for fighters on the front lines, Hamm couldn’t stand on the sidelines.

He joined a brigade of foreign volunteers and was soon deployed to Sumy Oblast, a region along Ukraine’s northeastern border with Russia.

The Heartbreaking Wait and Miracle Discovery

In March, during an intense firefight, Hamm went missing. For months, his family clung to hope but feared the worst. His case was taken up by the R.T. Weatherman Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to repatriating the remains of fallen foreign fighters.

The foundation worked tirelessly, interviewing survivors and following leads, but the trail grew cold.

Defeated, Hamm’s family held a celebration of life in June, recounting his bravery and compassion, such as the time he nursed a stray dog named Rusty back to health and made him part of the family.

“Guillaume called Raquel Hamm in October. “We found him,” she told the fallen soldier’s mother.

“It’s a miracle,” Raquel Hamm later said. “It’s almost unbelievable. We had given up hope.”@RTW_Foundation https://t.co/TH4WclOWfg

— Meaghan Mobbs (@mobbs_mentality) December 18, 2024

Despite the family’s acceptance that he might never be found, the Weatherman Foundation pressed on. Their determination paid off when a tip led investigators to a morgue in Kyiv.

Hamm’s body was identified through DNA testing and his American flag tattoos.

In October, the foundation made the call his mother, Raquel Hamm, had both dreaded and prayed for: her son had been found.

“It’s a miracle,” she said. “We had given up hope.”

The Journey Home

The process of bringing Hamm home was an odyssey in itself. His remains traveled from Ukraine to Moldova, Istanbul, and finally to Dallas.

At DFW International Airport, Hamm’s family gathered near the hearse that would carry him to a funeral home in Grapevine. As his coffin emerged, draped in the flag he so deeply honored, his mother stepped forward, tears streaming down her face. Her son, who had given everything to help a faraway people fight for their freedom, was home.

A Legacy of Sacrifice

Hamm’s story is one of many that highlight the global impact of the war in Ukraine. Since Russia’s invasion in 2022, thousands of foreign nationals, including Americans, have joined Ukrainian forces. They are drawn by a shared belief in freedom and democracy, willing to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukrainians in their fight for survival.

Organizations like the R.T. Weatherman Foundation serve as a lifeline for the families of those who pay the ultimate price. The foundation not only works to recover and repatriate fallen soldiers but also supports grieving families by piecing together their loved ones’ final moments and helping navigate complex international processes. It has repatriated the remains of nine soldiers so far, seven of whom were Americans.

In 2022, William Cancel gave his life defending Ukraine. 🇺🇸🇺🇦
A Marine, a husband, and a father to a little boy, he made the ultimate sacrifice for a country that wasn’t his by birth but became his by choice.

This November, in the heart of Kyiv, we gathered to honor him.… pic.twitter.com/FHfQrPbIXJ

— R. T. Weatherman Foundation (@RTW_Foundation) December 16, 2024

For Raquel Hamm, the pain of loss is tempered by the knowledge that her son died fighting for his beliefs. She now treasures the few belongings returned with his body—his winter coat, socks, and sleeping bag.

In the coming years, she plans to turn some of those items into keepsakes, such as teddy bears for her future grandchildren, so they will always carry a piece of their uncle’s legacy.

As Americans prepare to celebrate the holidays, Hamm’s story reminds us of the incredible sacrifices made by those who believe in something greater than themselves.

Cedric “Charlie” Hamm lived as a protector, not only for his family and community but for people thousands of miles away. His return home is a bittersweet end to a chapter of service and sacrifice, but his memory will endure as an inspiration to all who value freedom and democracy.

This essay is based on a report from The Dallas Morning News