Eric Vargas from Maryland, USA, joined the ranks of the International Legion for the Defence of Ukraine during the first weeks of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The editorial of online.ua honors the memory of the Hero by publishing the abstracts of our last interview in the summer of 2023 before his return to the front line after one more injury.
He was a leader, a brave warrior, a writer, a philosopher, and a true friend of Ukraine. And we will forever remain him in our hearts.
Defending Ukraine is a matter of honor
When we asked Eric why he returned to the front line after another injury and rehabilitation, he answered that he returned for the same reason he came.
I believe in fighting for what I believe in. Enjoying freedoms without any responsibility is a terrible way to live.
Eric Vargas
Fighter of the International Legion
Another reason, Eric said, was that it was a matter of honor in the traditional archaic sense.
I joined some undertaking, some cause, and I think it would be dishonorable to leave it. Yes, that's actually the main reason I'm here.
Eric Vargas
Fighter of the International Legion
The fighter of the International Legion said that for him, honor in the traditional military sense is when you have a code of ethics that you follow. In his opinion, this is, unfortunately, what modern society has lost.
Respect to those who tried to fight
Eric told how in March 2022 he was at the training ground in Yavorov, which came under rocket fire, and the fighters who were there had to hide in the forest.
After that, some people suddenly needed to return home. And the reasons they came up with, Eric says, were amazing: one guy said his wife had been in a plane crash in Peru, and two other guys had daughters suddenly diagnosed with cancer on the same day.
At the very beginning of the full-scale war, Eric said, there were a lot of guys who came to Ukraine because they thought it would be exciting. After all, they wanted to write in their resumes: "I was in the war."
When reality slapped them with "Iskander", they decided that it was not for them.
Eric Vargas
Fighter of the International Legion
Eric emphasized that he has great respect for everyone who applies and joins the ranks of the International Legion.
However, when you get into a big battle and a lot of people are dying around you, sometimes someone decides, "F*ck it, this is not for me."
I will respect anyone who can admit that it's not for them. I respect you because you at least had the guts to come out and try.
Eric said that there were guys in the Legion who would come up and say, "No, that's not for me." They also said: "I can't handle it." In response, he told them, "I respect that. Thank you. Thank you for coming. So yeah, there's no shame. Absolutely no shame."
You don't have to pretend to be cool in Legion
Eric said that the stocky and muscular volunteers left, and the short and not at all stocky guys remained, who endured 24/7 for a week under artillery fire.
If someone wants to join the ranks of the International Legion, it is not necessary to be stocky. It is not necessary to be strong.
Eric Vargas
Fighter of the International Legion
The fighter advised new recruits not to pretend: "I have to act like a tough guy."
About himself, Eric added that he, for example, likes to joke, but is still ready to fight. And he does not think that the Ukrainian army is any different.
He earnestly appealed to the recruits that maybe they should think again if anyone thought they "maybe not fit for the Army or the Air Force."
In war, you discover yourself anew every day
Eric says that he learned not only daily revelations about himself, about other people, about his environment, but also about such things that he had never thought about.
You will do things you never thought you could do. You will find something inside yourself. As Socrates said, an unexamined life is not worth living.
Eric Vargas
Fighter of the International Legion
Eric added that in Ukraine he found an inner strength that he had no idea about. If you had asked him 5 years ago if he could sleep in freezing rain at night, he would have said no, but his answer today is "Yes".
Another thing he learned about himself was that, in times of extreme stress, he learned to withdraw from the situation.
Let's say your friend died. And it would be completely selfish and condescending to allow yourself to break down, start crying and say: "My friend, you are dead, now I will never see you again!". Because there are other people who are still alive. You yourself are still alive. You owe it to the people around you to behave rationally and calmly. And you can cry later.
Eric Vargas
Fighter of the International Legion
Leadership in the military is service
Also, in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Eric learned something about leadership: if you want to be obeyed, you must be an authority.
Leadership does not mean that others must obey. Leadership is actually serving, serving the people, your subordinates, who are under your command. That's absolutely what it's all about. Leadership is service.
Success is beyond limitations
Eric says that many of the limitations that people have are not really limitations. These are just behavioral habits.
Once you realize this, you can push yourself beyond your limits. Generally, what you think you can't do, you most likely can. And even very well, on the first try.
Eric Vargas
Fighter of the International Legion
Once you break down those preconceived notions of what you can and can't do with both your body and your mind, Eric says, you'll find success and realize you're capable of so much more than you ever thought.
Brotherhood, care and platonic love
Eric says he mistakenly thought he was more than patient earlier in civilian life.
But there's something about just sitting in a house that the Russians are shelling for hours and knowing that you have to stay in that "shelter" until it's time to leave. This is how you find internal reserves of patience and endurance that you didn't know about before.
What held the people I know in the Legion together was a sense of brotherhood.
Eric Vargas
Fighter of the International Legion
According to Eric, as Legionnaires, they have the option to leave at any time. And some people go.
The reason most of them stay or come back again is the belief in the cause and the fact that they love each other.
It sounds a little strange when you talk about love between men. But, obviously, this is platonic love: true and deep care, selfless care for the people around you.
Eric Vargas, Max Panavo and the 152-mm projectile
Eric shared with us the story of how he received one of his injuries.
A large 152 mm projectile hit two meters from him and his comrades. His eardrum was ruptured, and shrapnel hit his left arm, causing a fracture.
Even after being wounded, he waited for the medevac to bring his wounded comrades to him. Further, Eric did not evacuate with them, because one of the fighters separated from the group during the shelling and did not reach the evacuation point.
One of the legionnaires was almost unconscious from his wounds, but still decided to go with Eric. To the question, if you are injured, why are you returning, he answered that he could not leave the boys. It was Eric's brother from the Legion, Max Panavo.
So they walked almost another kilometer to the east. They had to go back and get the boys.
I looked at Max and said: "Will you come with me?". And he is like: "Come on, friend, go!". This is the love we are talking about. It's friendship, it's brotherhood, that's it.
Eric Vargas
Fighter of the International Legion
Fortunately, these guys found their way and were walking towards them. So everyone was able to get to the shelter together.
Infantry isn't just about shooting
Eric explains that infantry isn't all about shooting weapons. But this is only 5% of everything.
Everything else is the ability to read maps, how to dig trenches, how to fortify trenches, how to properly pack things, how to arrange shelters, how to do a million things that have nothing to do with shooting.
Many people think that infantry is just about shooting, but it's not.
The advice to Ukrainians is to show courage in everything
We asked what advice Eric could give to Ukrainians after our Victory. He noted that it would be presumptuous on his part to give advice to the entire nation.
In his opinion, the best advice is to stick with the discipline you've learned over the past few years and continue to work with it.
Understand what you stand for, what your beliefs are, and stand up for them.
At the end of our conversation, Eric added that everyone wants the same thing. Everyone wants to prosper and want to be respected.
Therefore, Eric wished Ukrainians to show courage in everything, not to deviate from their convictions, to try to be in good relations with people, not giving in to their convictions.
Eric Vargas died on the battlefield on November 15, 2023, fighting as part of the International Legion for the Defence of Ukraine, defending what he believed in.
