A San Diego veteran survived three explosions during fighting in Ukraine; Paul Smith, 37, has been on the front lines since March 2022.
SAN DIEGO - A San Diego veteran fighting in Ukraine is back home, after surviving three separate explosions in less than a year.An Army veteran, Smith, 37, fell in love with Ukraine after leaving the Army, living there for several years and helping train militia units.“I adore Ukraine I love living there. I consider it a home to me, and I went back to defend it,” said Smith.
Smith, who enlisted with the Ukrainian army, has spent much of his time on the front lines, as a gunner in a Humvee. Last November, with his helmet-mounted camera rolling, as his unit was assaulting a village in eastern Ukraine, his Humvee ran over an anti-tank mine.A fellow soldier was killed, and Smith suffered several injuries, including a shattered eye socket.
Smith also survived a missile blast on Valentine's Day, and in mid-July, an artillery shell left him with shrapnel in his legs.“I focus on the future of Ukraine … There’s no room for me just to be scared or worried. If I'm going to die, I'm going die,” said Smith. “In the meantime, there is a lot I can do to help my unit.”
He isn't going back to fight, but Smith, who owns a manufacturing company, plans to ship several lathe machines to Ukraine. He’s raising money for his campaign, and once back in Ukraine, he hopes to produce bomber drones for the war effort.Smith hopes to leave for Ukraine before December.
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