Local resident Brian Kliesen, who donated an ambulance for Ukraine relief efforts, recently told Rotarians about his inspiration and the steps that led him from New Mexico to Ukraine’s war zones. Photo by Linda Hull

By LINDA HULL
Vice President
Rotary Club of Los Alamos 

“Ukraine needs help. Ukraine needs ambulances and fire trucks,” began Brian Kliesen, White Rock resident and retired wildland firefighter, as he spoke to the Rotary Club of Los Alamos March 28, describing the donation of his ambulance to Ukraine.

Upon retirement, Kliesen, who is an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) and former U.S. Army Combat Field Medic, purchased an ambulance with the intention of upgrading it to provide medical services at large events. Upon learning about U.S. Ambulances for Ukraine (USAFU) in the Journal of Emergency Medical Services, he was motivated to change course. “Since the invasion,” Kliesen learned that “Ukrainian emergency medical services have taken great losses in their facilities, equipment, vehicles, and supplies” with Russian forces destroying what they cannot steal and move. USAFU estimates that over 400 ambulances have been destroyed or stolen since the Russian invasion began in March 2022.  

USAFU, an organization based in Chicago, was founded in February 2022 by Christopher Manson, whose seven-year-old daughter wanted to “help the people in Ukraine.” Kliesen reached out to Manson, who replied immediately to Kliesen’s email inquiry. Manson is the vice-president of Government Relations for OSF (Order of St. Francis) Healthcare in Peoria, Illinois. 

Soon Kliesen’s ambulance, with blessings from Father Theopan Mackey, rector of the Saint Job of Pochaiv Orthodox Church of Los Alamos, were on a truck to the port city of Baltimore. From there the ambulance was transported by ship to Hamburg, Germany and then to Poland with nine other ambulances and a 1991 Spartan fire engine, a transit of about two weeks. Kliesen, accompanied by Chris Manson, Virginians Clarence Fox, a volunteer firefighter and EMT, and Kevin Dillard, owner of LifeCare, the largest ambulance company in the state, were able to enter Ukraine with six of the ambulances and the firetruck.

Kliesen paused to thank Rotary members for their support as Rotary International had donated over $100,000 toward the expense of this project.

Kliesen and his colleagues arrived in Warsaw, Poland Jan. 18, and the convoy of vehicles was ready to cross into Ukraine on the 20th, a complicated arrangement because several border crossings were required at different locations. Despite pre-planning and permits, the paperwork at the border took almost a full day.

With a PowerPoint of compelling photographs, Kliesen remarked, “Throughout our drive through Ukraine, eight days and about 2200 miles, you could see the devastation caused by the war, checkpoints along major highways. . ..  At night the cities are dark, and electricity is not always available.”  

During those “very long” days, Kliesen and his colleagues delivered the ambulances, fire engine, and significant supplies to Lviv, Rivne, Kyiv, Odessa, and Mykolaiv. In Kyiv, they met with the Ministry of Health and staff from State Emergency Services; in Odessa, they visited an orphanage and home for displaced families. Mykolaiv received the fire engine, a donation from Chillicothe, OH. The fire chief and head of Emergency Services in Mykolaiv “couldn’t stop staring at it, repeating ‘There is nothing like this in Ukraine.’”

January winter weather in Eastern Europe brought snow, rain, wind, mud, and bone-chilling temperatures. Weather, of course, was not the only challenge to USAFU’s goals, as missiles routinely struck nearby.  The USAFU team missed a deadly strike by just one day.

“Timing is everything,” Kliesen remarked ruefully. “The day after we dropped off our last ambulance, the Russians launched over 90 missiles at Ukraine, four of them striking locations we had visited the day before.”

Finding their way back to Warsaw by car, train, and bus, the USAFU team returned home to the U.S. Jan. 26.

Reflecting on his memorable service in Ukraine, Kliesen remembers the “gratitude and optimism” expressed by the Ukraine people as they “seek to regain their territory and their freedom.”

He also remembers the signatures and comments written on the ambulances in the U.S. so Ukrainians would know they were not alone in their fight. One in particular stands out: “Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken, Ukraine.”

At this writing, Kliesen reports that USAFU has 10 more ambulances and 5 more fire trucks scheduled for transport by ship to Poland on or about April 18th; they will be received in Ukraine around mid-May.  “Many will go to front line military units or municipalities near the front line where so many vehicles and so much equipment have been lost.”

The need for ambulances and fire trucks increases as Russian forces continue their attacks. Kliesen looks forward to more involvement in securing these vehicles, noting that many communities in the U.S. have fleets of ambulances and fire trucks that have been replaced by newer models. If you or anyone you know would like to donate a vehicle or donate toward the purchase of one, contact Brian Kliesen at 210.870.4952, bkliesen@hotmail.com.

Kliesen describes himself as an outdoor professional who has worked in a variety of environments and locales around the world, often dealing with complex issues and logistical problems. He spent the last 20+ years working in helicopter aviation with the U.S. Forest Service and overseas as a contractor for the National Science Foundation in Antarctica. As an EMT and former US Army Combat Field Medic, Kliesen has worked on medical projects, disaster relief, refugee operations, and search and rescue and with a variety of government and non-government organizations, from the United Nations to Operation Smile.

The Rotary Club of Los Alamos, through its 1312 Club Foundation, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and one of over 34,000 clubs worldwide. Rotary, which now has 1.5 million members, was founded in 1905; the local Club was chartered in 1966. Rotary areas of focus include promoting peace; fighting disease, particularly polio; providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene; supporting education; saving and enhancing the lives of mothers and children; growing economies; and protecting the environment.

The Rotary Club of Los Alamos meets in person 12-1 p.m. Tuesdays, in the Community Room, Cottonwood on the Greens, at the golf course. A Zoom option is available by contacting Linda Hull, Rotary Club vice-president, 505.662.7950. Hull is also happy to provide information about the Club and its humanitarian service. The community is invited to attend meetings and become members.