Ethan Hunter Hertweck

Ethan was born on a beautiful sunny, Summer day in Los Angeles, CA on July 17, 2002….the first born of John and Leslie!

Ethan was strong and stubborn from the beginning… not turning head down for birth forcing the decision for a C-section a few days after he was due. The day he was born, he lifted his head off of his Moms shoulder, in which Leslie questioned her Mom, “Are newborn babies, just a few hours old, supposed to be able to lift their heads up and look around?” Her Mom answered, “No, not usually.”

This was Ethan from the time he was born…strong, stubborn, tenacious, curious… No matter what he faced, whether a challenge, a problem, a mountain to ride his dirt bike up and would not stop until he could make it all the way up, a cliff to jump into a body of water, a wall to flip off of, a cars electrical system to redo, sports, parkour, the U.S. Marine Corps, learning something new, or going to Ukraine to get his Combat medics license, train Ukrainians twice his age and then fight tyranny…He faced them ALL HEAD ON and 100%! Ethan did NOT back down from any challenge he faced! Many people called Ethan an old soul…he loved sitting and talking with his Youth Pastors at Church Youth Group about the Bible. He carried himself and came across much older than he was, even at 15 years old! If Ethan was your friend, he had your back!! He was faithful to his friends. Ethan was REAL…he didn’t sugarcoat things. He was honest but spoke thoughtfully.

Ethan was always such a serious kid, always thinking, and learning. When he said things he meant it. When he was in 6th grade his teacher asked the students to write things they would do if they were President. His teacher was so impressed by what Ethan wrote (AND he agreed with Ethan on all of his stances), that he chose Ethan to represent his class as the President. He told Ethan he was a great public speaker and would be a great leader one day….

5 1/2 years later, at 17 years old, Ethan stepped on the yellow footprints at MCRD San Diego to take on 13 weeks of boot camp to earn the title of U.S. Marine and follow in his maternal Great Grandpas and Grandpas footsteps. He was asked to be the Squad Leader of his platoon, BUT, Ethan didn’t like attention, he just wanted to fly under the radar and get things done, so, he didn’t accept that position. He completed USMC Boot Camp through obstacles that arose they never knew about, finding out he had a rare blood disorder, YET, STILL graduating with the 3rd highest scores in all of Lima Company, almost 400 Marine recruits.

Ethan always said he felt he should have been born during his great-grandpas generation, because he had such a strong desire to fight for those who couldn’t fight for themselves and to stand up to tyranny. The blood disorder caused him to be honorably discharged before his Marine Corps career could even start and his dream of becoming a Scout Sniper and Marine Raider ended.

Ethan came back to Springfield unhappy and his ultimate desires and dreams unfulfilled. He got a good job at Crossbreed Holsters in Springfield, that kept him busy. He loved to go shooting during his off time, because, as he often said, you can never practice enough. He talked about possibly trying to get back into the military, but, the COVID vaccine requirement stopped him.

Then, February 2022…Putin invaded Ukraine. At 19 years old, and a USMC Veteran Ethan planned his first trip to Ukraine to see how he could help and, ultimately, fight. He went shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine and spent a few weeks with a team rescuing women and children from human traffickers at the border of Poland & Ukraine. He returned to the states after a few weeks. He spent the year talking about going back & making a difference there. He just knew it was where he needed to be……

When he went back, he spent the first few months getting his Combat Medical License in Poland because he wanted to save lives, not just fight. He accomplished this at 20 years old, then he trained Ukrainians in life saving skills and combat skills at The Trident Defense Initiative and due to how much he cared for these citizens who are mostly farmers, office workers, hardworking citizens…he just couldn’t bear the fact and thought that he was sending them out to fight and he was not with them on the battlefield. After a few months training people at TDI he signed a contract with the Ukrainian Armed Forces and joined the 131st Special Reconnaissance Battalion, Vidmak. He did quite a few missions, one that included crossing the Dnipro River, then decided to transfer to a new unit, The Chosen Company of the 59th Brigade, a group of foreign fighters, including many Americans (former Marines and Soldiers). He was the Team Medic for both units. On Dec.4th, on what was to be his last mission before coming home on Dec.19th, he and 2 of his teammates (1 was his bunkmate and soldier that left Vidmak with him) were covering 2 bunkers of their unit when the enemy started to overrun the area in Pervomaiske (the Donetsk region) 2 of them left their position, while Ethan provided fire cover and handled the radio, as he knew some Ukrainian. Ethan’s brother/friend was hit and as Ethan ran out to provide aid to save him and pull him to cover, he was hit by enemy fire, but still made it to the bunker with his brother, and continued to render aid. Ethan succumbed about an hour later and his teammate a little later passed, as well…. Their actions that day saved a bunch of their team. He gave his life for a country and people he had fallen in love with!

SLAVA UKRAINI, HEROYAM SLAVA!!!

Ethan said this often…
“All that’s necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing"
AND FREEDOM ISN’T FREE!

Ethan may have been fighting for Ukraine, but as an American, he fought for one of the greatest causes of all…FREEDOM!
He cared about SOOO MANY, SOOOO MUCH!!!! He was a WARRIOR, A HERO, AND A LIFESAVER!!!!

Ethan is survived by his Mom and Dad, John and Leslie Hertweck, brother, Gabe Hertweck, sister, Hannah Hertweck in Springfield, MO, Grandpa Stan Taylor and his wife, Grace Taylor and her son Sebastian of St.George, Utah, Grandpa Galen Hertweck and his wife Dickie Hertweck of Baguio, Philippines, Aunt Lisa Cranshaw and Uncle Mike Cranshaw (Leslie’s twin sister) and cousins Kyle and Sophia of Newhall, CA, and Aunt Jill Taylor and Uncle Ryan Taylor (John’s sister) and cousins Kaden, Ellie and Ian of Redmond, WA…and many great aunts and uncles and second and third cousins in CA and beyond. He is proceeded in Heaven by his Grandma Bronte Hertweck (John’s Mom), Grandma Daisy Taylor (Leslie’s Mom), and his Great Grandparents on both sides.

We are confident we will be united with Ethan in Heaven one day!

"There's nothing more powerful than a humble person with a warrior spirit who is driven by a bigger purpose." -Jon Gordon."

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Ethan's memory to Honoring Our Fallen - https://honoringourfallen.org/donate/