{"id":72967,"date":"2022-09-25T14:50:34","date_gmt":"2022-09-25T14:50:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2022\/09\/25\/veterans-captured-fighting-in-ukraine-return-home-to-alabama\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T14:32:55","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T14:32:55","slug":"veterans-captured-fighting-in-ukraine-return-home-to-alabama","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/veterans\/2022\/09\/25\/veterans-captured-fighting-in-ukraine-return-home-to-alabama\/","title":{"rendered":"Veterans captured fighting in Ukraine return home to Alabama"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. \u2014 Two U.S. military veterans who disappeared three months ago while fighting with Ukrainian forces against Russia arrived home to Alabama<\/a> on Saturday, greeted by hugs, cheers and tears of joy at the state\u2019s main airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Drueke, 40, and Andy Huynh, 27,<\/a> had disappeared June 9 in the Kharkiv region of northeastern Ukraine<\/a> near the Russian border. The Alabama residents were released as part of a prisoner exchange.<\/a> The pair had traveled to Ukraine on their own and bonded over their shared home state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Andy
Andy Huynh, left, and Alex Drueke, right, are seen arriving at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport in Birmingham, Ala., Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022. (Kim Chandler\/AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s them!\u201d a family member shouted as the pair appeared at the top of an escalator at the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport in Birmingham, one of Alabama\u2019s largest cities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smiling but looking tired, the two were pulled into long emotional hugs by family members after their connecting flight home. Then they were whisked to a waiting car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSurreal. I still have chill bumps. I always imagined this day. I always held not just hope but belief in this day. But I thought it was going to be two or three years from now at best,\u201d said Drueke\u2019s aunt, Dianna Shaw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere are prisoners of war who have been held for months and years. There are people who have been detained wrongfully for years and for this to come about in three months is, just, unimaginable to me,\u201d she added. \u201cEven though I\u2019m living it, it feels unimaginable, and I don\u2019t want people to forget all the Ukrainians who are still being held.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Andy
Andy Huynh, far left, and Alex Drueke, right, are seen leaving Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport in Birmingham, Ala., Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022. (Kim Chandler\/AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The families of the two men announced their release on Wednesday. The men were among 10 prisoners released by Russian-backed separatists as part of a prisoner exchange mediated by Saudi Arabia. The Saudi embassy said five British nationals and others from Morocco, Sweden and Croatia also were freed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Darla Black, whose daughter is engaged to Huynh, said she thought, \u201cthere he is. There he is\u201d as Huynh came into view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI had to get my hands on him to actually believe it. I\u2019m just overwhelmed with gratitude. We got our miracle,\u201d Black said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The men had arrived Friday at New York\u2019s John F. Kennedy<\/a> International Airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re looking forward to spending time with family and we\u2019ll be in touch with the media soon,\u201d Drueke said shortly after arriving in New York with Huynh. \u201cHappy to be home.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Alex Drueke and Andy Huynh arrived home to Alabama on Saturday, greeted by hugs, cheers and tears of joy at the state\u2019s main 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