A solemn farewell ceremony was held at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia for First Sergeant Corey John Nawrocki—an American U.S. Marine Corps veteran who volunteered to fight in Ukraine and died while saving his fellow soldiers.
The Embassy of Ukraine in the United States reported the news.
"First Sergeant Nawrocki’s devotion to freedom and democracy did not stop at America’s borders—he continued to defend liberty abroad," was emphasized during the memorial speech.
Nawrocki, a native of Lansdale, Pennsylvania, served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2001 to 2021, taking part in combat missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, and California. During his service, he was awarded the Bronze Star for valor and two Purple Hearts for wounds sustained in combat. After retiring, he earned a Master of Business Administration degree, but following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he returned to the battlefield. In spring 2024, he voluntarily traveled to Ukraine to defend its land and freedom.
Corey was killed on October 27, 2024, in the Bryansk region during a combat reconnaissance mission with the International Legion of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence. He died while rescuing a wounded comrade. He was 41 years old. Three other international volunteers were also killed in the same mission.
More than 150 people came to bid farewell to Corey, including Ukrainian and American veterans, representatives of the Ukrainian government—among them Ukraine’s Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova, Defense Attaché Major General Borys Kremenetskyi—as well as family members and fellow soldiers. American and Ukrainian servicemen were present at the funeral, including wounded Ukrainian soldier Oleksandr Vykhruk, who is currently undergoing treatment at Walter Reed.
In recognition of her son’s sacrifice, Corey’s mother, Sandy Rosenski Nawrocki, received the "Ukraine Above All!" medal from Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence at a ceremony held at Ukraine House on the eve of Memorial Day.
Photo: Marko Datz, Irena Chalupa,Oksana Markarova
Author: Inna Mikhno