A United States Marine who spent two tours of duty in Iraq during the Global War on Terrorism was killed by a Russian drone attack while fighting for the Ukrainian Foreign Legion, his father told NewsCenter 5.Johnathan Pebley was born in Wiesbaden, Germany, in 1985 while his father was serving in the United States Air Force. At the age of 2, the family returned to the United States, settling in Wakefield, Massachusetts, where Johnathan spent his childhood.A 2004 graduate of Wakefield High School, Johnathan enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 2005. He deployed to Iraq twice with the 1st Marine Division between 2005 and 2009, before receiving an Honorable Discharge from the Marine Corps in 2009.In July 2024, Johnathan decided to enlist in the Ukrainian Foreign Legion to support the people of Ukraine in their fight against Russia.”He said it’s a worthy cause. There are innocent civilians over there getting killed,” Johnathan’s father, Mark Pedley, said. “That young man is my hero.”Johnathan believed strongly that the invasion of Ukraine by Russia was an attack on innocent lives, and he committed himself to their defense. In an interview for the YouTube channel Task and Purpose, Pebley said fighting in Ukraine helped him deal with the guilt he said he felt from fighting in Iraq.Mark Pebley said his son had several close calls while in Ukraine and had even been wounded. In May, as he was returning from a mission behind enemy lines on an ATV, two Russian drones appeared overhead.”Johnathan shot the first drone,” Mark said. “And the second drone came in and smoked the ATV, killed my son. I just want people to know there are kids, young men, dying over there. It’s not our war as Americans, but they’re doing it to stand up for the Ukrainians.”Pebley’s father said his son was cremated in Ukraine and that a portion of his ashes will remain there as part of a memorial. But he wears some of the ashes in a pendant around his neck marked with Ukraine’s coat of arms.A wake for Johnathan is scheduled for Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave. in Wakefield.Donations in Johnathan’s honor can be made to the R.T. Weatherman Foundation or the Wounded Warrior Project.
A United States Marine who spent two tours of duty in Iraq during the Global War on Terrorism was killed by a Russian drone attack while fighting for the Ukrainian Foreign Legion, his father told NewsCenter 5.
Johnathan Pebley was born in Wiesbaden, Germany, in 1985 while his father was serving in the United States Air Force. At the age of 2, the family returned to the United States, settling in Wakefield, Massachusetts, where Johnathan spent his childhood.
A 2004 graduate of Wakefield High School, Johnathan enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 2005. He deployed to Iraq twice with the 1st Marine Division between 2005 and 2009, before receiving an Honorable Discharge from the Marine Corps in 2009.
In July 2024, Johnathan decided to enlist in the Ukrainian Foreign Legion to support the people of Ukraine in their fight against Russia.
“He said it’s a worthy cause. There are innocent civilians over there getting killed,” Johnathan’s father, Mark Pedley, said. “That young man is my hero.”
Johnathan believed strongly that the invasion of Ukraine by Russia was an attack on innocent lives, and he committed himself to their defense. In an interview for the YouTube channel Task and Purpose, Pebley said fighting in Ukraine helped him deal with the guilt he said he felt from fighting in Iraq.
Mark Pebley said his son had several close calls while in Ukraine and had even been wounded. In May, as he was returning from a mission behind enemy lines on an ATV, two Russian drones appeared overhead.
“Johnathan shot the first drone,” Mark said. “And the second drone came in and smoked the ATV, killed my son. I just want people to know there are kids, young men, dying over there. It’s not our war as Americans, but they’re doing it to stand up for the Ukrainians.”
Pebley’s father said his son was cremated in Ukraine and that a portion of his ashes will remain there as part of a memorial. But he wears some of the ashes in a pendant around his neck marked with Ukraine’s coat of arms.
A wake for Johnathan is scheduled for Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave. in Wakefield.
Donations in Johnathan’s honor can be made to the R.T. Weatherman Foundation or the Wounded Warrior Project.