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(Video Credit: Fox News)
A nonprofit organization called “Save Our Allies” was instrumental in the rescue of Fox News correspondent Benjamin Hall from behind enemy lines in Ukraine after he was severely injured and two of his colleagues were killed in an attack by Russians.
Sarah Verardo, who is the co-founder of the group, appeared on “America’s Newsroom” Monday to provide more details about the mission to save Hall’s life and return him to safety.
“Save Our Allies” has a longstanding relationship with Fox News. Verardo also serves as the CEO of the Independence Fund, which assists severely wounded veterans.
“We have people on our team that are willing to go into harm’s way to protect those from evil,” Verardo told co-host Dana Perino. “And especially when we got that call for help from Fox, we could not move quickly enough to mobilize a multinational effort to secure Ben’s extraction from a very dangerous combat zone.”
“Save Our Allies” was formed by Verardo and others in August to rescue those who are most vulnerable that are caught behind enemy lines. The group was also founded by special operations veterans Chad Robichaux, Nick Palmisciano, and Tim Kennedy, the mixed martial arts fighter and TV host. Verardo noted the group is focusing on assistance in Ukraine, including efforts to get people out and to provide mobile medical services.
in Ukraine and stabilized him for transport to neighboring countries and follow on emergency medical care. Save Our Allies will continue to rescue and free those trapped by tyranny.#TaskForce59 #FortressAgainstEvil @sarah_verardo @ChadRobo @TimKennedyMMA @Ranger_Up
— Save Our Allies (@SaveOurAllies) March 21, 2022
The group participated in a joint mission with the Pentagon and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, as well as the Ukrainian and Polish militaries. Verardo stated that the rescue effort was led by a “special operations and intelligence veteran.” Hall was stabilized and overseen by military medical personnel during his transport to safety.
“It was because we knew that rescuing and protecting and preserving human life, even if our own government would not do it,” Verardo remarked taking a swipe at President Joe Biden’s catastrophic withdrawal in Afghanistan. “We felt this moral obligation to our wartime allies and that happened not only in Afghanistan and continues to, but now we’re doing the work with ‘Save Our Allies’ in Ukraine.”
“This is an operation that typically would take months to plan, as well as coordination from multiple government agencies and countries,” Verardo explained. “And our team, led by a gentleman that we will call ‘Seaspray’ is a special operations and intelligence veteran that is very experienced in precision extraction in hostile environments.”
Hall was gravely wounded outside of Kyiv a week ago. Fox News cameraman Pierre Zakrzewski and journalist Oleksandra “Sasha” Kuvshynova were killed. Hall was rescued by “Save Our Allies” and transported to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany.
The Fox News team’s vehicle was hit with incoming fire while reporting “in the field,” Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott stated in a memo to Fox News staffers.
Kuvshynova was only 24 years old. She was serving as a consultant for Fox News, helping them get around Kyiv and the surrounding area. She also helped gather information and spoke with local sources.
Zakrzewski was beloved at Fox News. He was a legend in the industry and had covered almost every international story during his time at the network. He was only 55 years old and came from a loving and large Irish family.
He was one of the brave souls who played a part in getting Afghan freelance associates and their families out of the country after the US withdrew from Afghanistan. In December, Zakrzewski was awarded the “Unsung Hero” award.
Heroic work by @sarah_verardo and her team at @SaveOurAllies in Ukraine. They are also one of the leading Afghan rescue orgs and continue to evacuate abandoned citizens and allies from Afghanistan. Just incredible. Donate to them. https://t.co/JrvU8wuja6. https://t.co/ZamLC7UcC9
— John Ondrasik (@johnondrasik) March 21, 2022
“Fox & Friends” also had Department of Defense Press Secretary John Kirby on Tuesday morning and thanked him for the Pentagon’s help in rescuing Hall.
Co-host Steve Doocey ended the segment by telling Kirby, “Thank you as well for your — the Department of Defense and the Pentagon — assisting getting our man Benjamin Hall out of Ukraine.”
Co-host Ainsley Earhardt also added, “Thank you. God bless you for that.”
“Well, our thoughts and prayers go to Mr. Hall and all the people at Fox and of course Mr. Hall’s family,” Kirby responded. “We were very glad to be able to help get him the care that he needs, and we look forward to seeing him come home to his family where he belongs. Again it was the right thing to do, and we were pleased to be able to help.”
Co-host Brian Kilmeade told Kirby, “But Admiral, you didn’t help a little, you helped a lot.”
Watch: “God bless you for that” — Fox News’ @ainsleyearhardt and @SteveDoocy thank @PentagonPresSec for helping in the safe evacuation of Fox News correspondent @BenjaminHallFNC from Ukraine pic.twitter.com/G00GtcDOPI
— TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) March 22, 2022
“Thanks, Brian. Again, we, unfortunately, as I think you all know, we are all too familiar with these kinds you have injuries. And we built up an expertise on how to treat the kinds of injuries that Mr. Hall had,” Kirby continued. “So, again, it was our honor to be able to help and, again, we just want to see him get home safe and sound and get back to his family, and we applaud the work that he, other Fox journalists as well as all journalists are doing even today on the ground in Ukraine,” he responded.
“It’s really important that you are there to tell these stories and to make sure the American people understand how bravely the Ukrainians are fighting for their country and what we are doing to help them. It’s a dangerous place, but that’s usually where you find the best journalists,” Kirby asserted.
“No American troops to protect them,” Kilmeade remarked. “So it’s tough. Admiral, thank you so much.”
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