Carl was born and raised in the greater Seattle area, had a stint in the US Army where he served in Iraq, and in his day job services a large accounting website. In early March of 2022 he felt compelled to travel to Ukraine to physically join the Ukrainian defense of their homeland. Despite having no prior connection to Ukraine, he feels that it’s the world’s obligation to help the Ukrainians defend democracy there and contain the spread of ruthless authoritarianism before it engulfs other peaceful countries.

Highlights

• Washington organization reacts to US aid package for Ukraine. King5, 20 April, 2024.
• Veteran who fought in Ukraine describes ‘brutal’ experience. NewsNation, 21 July, 2023.
• US: Public support drops for funding arms for Ukraine. DW (Deutsche Welle), 19 May, 2023.
• Veteran shares experience fighting in Ukraine. KING 5 News (NBC Seattle), 16 November, 2022.
• Washington vet returns from harrowing Ukraine front-line duty. Seattle Times, 25 October, 2022.

More press mentions

• PERSPECTIVE: Former US soldier Carl ”Grinch” Larson on fighting in the International Legion for the Defense of Ukraine. Update from Kyiv podcast, 9 October, 2023.
• What exactly is happening in Russia right now? KUOW (NPR), 26 June, 2023.
• “””Люди думають, що українські військові їздять на позолочених танках, реальність інша”” – американський ветеран про досвід в Україні. Інтервʼю. Voice of America (Ukrainian), 2 June, 2023.”
• Ukraine’s Foreign Legion: Soldiers Speak Of Historic Fight For Democracy. RFE/RL, 27 June, 2022.
• ‘The Romantics Are Gone’: A Year Later, Many Foreign Fighters Have Left Ukraine. VICE, 23 February, 2023.
• Life In The Legion: Americans Fighting & Dying In Ukraine. Recoil Magazine, 9 January, 2023.
• Snohomish County man feels ‘call to duty,’ makes uneasy entry into Ukraine. Seattle Times, 22 March, 2022.
• Why are foreigners deciding to serve in the Ukrainian military? Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), 20 July, 2023.
• Hundreds rally in Seattle to support Ukraine on anniversary of invasion. Seattle Times, 25 February, 2023.
• Hundreds help injured Ukrainian soldiers. FOX 13 Seattle, 31 March, 2023.
• The Global Watchdog: Ready to die for Latvia? The Daily (University of Washington), 26 September, 2022.
• EXCLUSIV Veteran în Irak, voluntar în Ucraina: Împotriva lui Putin luptă și români. Sunt pe front. Newsweek Romania, 20 July, 2022.
• EXCLUSIV Legiunea Internațională din Ucraina, apel la Elon Musk să sprijine lupta contra lui Putin. Newsweek Romania, 24 June, 2022.
• Washington veteran returns from harrowing Ukraine front-line duty. Stars and Stripes, 25 October, 2022.
• ‘This is America’s fight’: Mountlake Terrace US Army veteran returns home after fighting in Ukraine. KING 5 News (NBC Seattle), 16 November, 2022.

Presentations

Ukraine Defense Support offers on expert guest speakers on Ukraine-related topics such as:

• Drones: The new Form of Warfare.
• Life at the front lines in Ukraine’s trenches.
• What equipment Ukraine’s military really needs, as opposed what they have been receiving.
• The innovative infantry structure and tactics of Wagner Group, how other authoritarian regimes could successfully copy it, and how to counter the threat.
• Predictions for future battlefield tactics, especially by China and other near-peer adversaries.