Restoring What War Destroys

Behind every case we carry, there is a status, a person, and the people who love them. Some are still waiting for news. Some already know the truth in their hearts but cannot yet prove it in the eyes of the law. In every one of these cases, the R.T. Weatherman Foundation stands beside the family — through the waiting, through the process, through whatever it takes to bring clarity home. This is one of those stories. The R.T. Weatherman Foundation has led this case from start to finish — filing it on 17 September 2025, securing the court’s affirmative ruling the very next day, and standing by the family through every step of the legal process since. Despite the appellate proceedings, the R.T. Weatherman Foundation’s team has secured the death certificate and sent it to the family. More than two years have passed since we lost Marlyn. He was nineteen years old when he made a decision that most people his age would never make. He came to Ukraine not because he had to. Not because his country sent him. Russia’s war against Ukraine did not begin in 2022. It began in 2014, when Crimea was annexed and the first shots were fired in Donetsk. For ten years, Ukraine bled quietly while the world debated whether to call it a war at all. He chose to stand against it — not with words, but in person, on the ground, at the hardest point of the front. He understood — with a clarity rare even in seasoned observers — that what Russia was waging against Ukraine was not a regional conflict or a political dispute. It was an assault on the right of a people to exist freely. And he chose to stand against it. Three months after arriving, Marlyn was killed in action near Staromaiorske, Donetsk region, during intense fighting.  By that time, our Foundation was already anchoring Marlyn’s family through their darkest days. We assisted in submitting the case to the court, enduring a long legal battle to shift his status from missing to killed in action. It took two years for the official decree to arrive. The loss was announced long after the loss was felt.

21h ago

Our Battlefield Medicine program hits different. You can teach TTPs from a manual, but you can’t replace experience. Combined approach matters. The Ukrainian special operators in our cohorts show up hungry to learn. Speaking the same combat medicine language matters. No time to waste. Photos: Thanks to our 3rd SSO partners for the first two screen grabs from our previous training for them.

2 days ago

In Ukraine, there is no Golden Hour. The wounded can wait hours to days. Whoever is beside them is the only medical backstop they have. So we train the people who are already there. Our Foundation’s Battlefield Medicine Program — combat medics teaching combat medics the skills that keep the wounded alive. PROTECT THE LIVES WHO DEFEND FREEDOM.

3 days ago

Last week, call-sign “Mick” (Mick Jagger), got his first SGB shot with us. He asked, “Do I have to go under?” Answer: No, you do not go under. It’s actually a 30 minute process, including prep and briefing. The anesthesiologist will run a line for good measure.

4 days ago

Meet part of our team! Most people living in Ukraine—foreign born or Ukrainian—will tell you their “before the war” career and their “after the full-scale” career. We are a diverse crew. Each of us found our way to the team with a desire to accomplish the Foundation’s mission: restore what war destroys. What is your before the full-scale story? Photo: Part of our team visiting the Canadian Embassy in Ukraine for a special occasion. Candids are the best, aren’t they? Living in Ukraine right now, you learn to battle days with dark humor and good company. Photo: Part of our team visiting the Canadian Embassy in Ukraine for a special occasion.

5 days ago

The Foundation’s commitment is clear: no unidentified soldier is forgotten. Our approach is grounded in reality. We bring practical tools and training to the experts who need it to identify Ukraine’s fallen force. Among many tools, this mobile X-Ray is a force multiplier for the forensic search of the missing. Through our War Victim Identification program, we are proud to have delivered this game-changing tool to bureaus all over Ukraine. One of our many mottos: fill critical gaps. Share, like, and follow along to learn more about the extraordinary work these experts do for Ukraine’s heroes.

6 days ago

And that’s a wrap! This week we finish another Ukrainian cohort for Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) treatment. If you’ve been following along, these 14 medical professionals have been learning the past couple of weeks in an intensive course to build their clinical skillset. The mission continues. Follow along for more.

1 week ago

“There’s a special kind of bravery (for a foreign volunteer) to leave their home and come thousands of miles away to fight for something bigger than themself — and not because your government sent you, but because it was the right thing to do.” - @mobbs_mentality talking about the foreign defenders coming to defend Ukraine and the nation’s families and children. In the latest Faith Under Siege documentary series: @faithundersiege Watch the series at the link below and get curious about each episode. Meaghan investigates how Russia is stealing tens of thousands of Ukrainian children and how @saveukraineus is working to return each life. Each extraordinary episode explores how we keep faith under extreme circumstances. How do you keep your faith to keep moving forward? For us, our team stays mission driven and motivated by stories and we hear from the people we work to support: defenders, combat medics, parents, siblings, children, forensic experts, investigators, police, doctors, first responders, and so many more. YouTube A Faith Under Siege: ⤵️ https://youtu.be/MIX0MUm9ero?si=gJxj5l40wU1jlxe4 Photos: BTS from A Faith Under Siege filming @faithundersiege

1 week ago

Today marks three years since Jeffrey Judd Jones gave his life for Ukraine. On July 31, 2023, the heart of an American volunteer, a true warrior of light, stopped beating. Jeffrey gave not only his life, but also his heart and soul for the people of Ukraine and for the values of freedom he believed were worth defending. His life was cut short on the battlefield in the Donetsk region. Born in Maine and living in Georgia, USA, Jeffrey could not stand aside while, across the ocean, freedom, human dignity, and independence were being destroyed. His path in defense of Ukraine was one of unwavering resolve from the very beginning. He first traveled to Ukraine as a medic, putting himself in harm’s way to save lives. During his service, an enemy artillery shell struck a building, causing a wall to collapse on him. Despite spending five days in the hospital and subsequently returning to the U.S. to recover, his dedication never wavered. After he healed, he chose to return across the ocean. This time directly in the Armed Forces of Ukraine to take up arms and stop evil. We bow our heads before this act of profound courage and dignity. To cross thousands of kilometers, to leave the comfort of one’s own home, and to stand in defense of Ukrainian families is the highest expression of love for truth, freedom, and humanity. We offer our deepest condolences to the family of our fallen Hero: his son, Kyle Jones of Brunswick, Maine; his father, Howard Jones, and his wife, Sondra Jones; as well as his loved ones and brothers-in-arms. Your loss is immeasurable, but the memory of your Jeffrey will live on forever in the hearts of the Ukrainian people. Three years have passed, yet Jeffrey’s sacrifice remains a lasting reminder that the defense of freedom knows no borders. His courage, compassion, and unwavering commitment continue to inspire all who fight for justice and human dignity. Eternal memory and honor to the Hero who crossed an ocean for Ukraine’s freedom.

2 weeks ago