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One day, near the end of my Marine Corps battalion’s deployment to Iraq, our battalion surgeon pulled me into his health briefing for the unit that had just arrived to replace us. “Can you tell us how much water you’ve been drinking each day?” he asked. I picked up a 1.5-liter water bottle from the ground nearby and said we were all drinking at least six of these each day. The soldiers in the audience laughed. They meant no disrespect, but they couldn’t imagine drinking that amount of water each day. They never had to drink half that much water back home in Ukraine.
Ukraine was not then or now a member of NATO, but they were there for us in the Global War on Terror. Sure, a bunch of them found themselves on intravenous fluids before they learned to drink enough water to patrol in 120-degree heat, but they didn’t pack up and go home when the going got tough. Of course, our NATO allies were there as well, and they all suffered their losses, too.
Years later, I sometimes wonder about those Ukrainian soldiers. After the war in Iraq, did they return to their small towns in Donetsk, hoping to raise their families in peace? Only to see that peace shattered when war returned to their doorstep in 2014 and intensified in 2022. I imagine one of them sitting with his young son, explaining why soldiers were once again at their borders—why they had to stay and fight. Maybe he told his son about the days they fought alongside Americans, hoping that bond meant something—that the world wouldn’t abandon Ukraine when the stakes were highest.
And here’s the truth. Ukraine has never turned its back on us. They were there when we needed them, and now, they need us. Their fight is about more than just their country—it’s about the right of nations to determine their own futures, free from the shadow of tyranny. If we walk away now if we let Russia roll over Ukraine, we’re not just betraying an ally; we’re betraying the very principles that have kept the world stable since the end of WWII.
Now, think about what happens if we don’t act. Imagine a world where Russia expands unchecked, where authoritarian regimes like China and North Korea take our hesitation as a green light. We’ve seen what Putin’s Russia does: targeting civilians, flattening cities, erasing entire cultures. If Ukraine falls, the ripple effects will destabilize the global order, disrupt supply chains, drive up energy prices, and send shockwaves through the economy that will hit every American family.
Let’s be real–Trump’s reckless disregard for NATO would fast-track this nightmare. But even now, we can’t ignore that the longer this war drags on, the more it plays into Russia’s hands. Biden has done a lot—rallying our allies, rebuilding relationships—but every day we hold back on giving Ukraine the full tools they need, we give Putin more time to dig in. It’s time to stop hesitating. Ukraine needs the means to win, not just survive.
But Congress? They’re dragging their feet. They have the power to pass long-term aid for Ukraine and shore up our alliances worldwide—from Japan to India to South Korea—yet we get piecemeal deals that leave everyone guessing, our global standing weakened as authoritarian regimes exploit the chaos. This isn’t just about Ukraine—it’s about protecting American security and economic stability. When the world is stable, markets are stable. Prices stay down. Congress needs to step up—when they fail to act, we all pay the price.
That’s why my race for Congress matters so much. As a Marine, a teacher, and a father, I know what’s at stake when we fail to defend our values abroad. And right now, my opponent, Julie Fedorchak, is willing to turn her back on American security and economic stability just to score political points with Trump’s base. She’s aligned herself with the same reckless ideology that would tear down NATO, abandon our allies, and make us all less safe. We cannot afford to let someone like her represent North Dakota in Congress.
The race for the U.S. House is neck and neck, and with the presidential race shaping up to be just as tight, winning back Congress has never been more important. A Trump presidency with a Republican-controlled House would be a disaster for American security, for our allies, and for the future we leave to our kids. I’m in this race to make sure that doesn’t happen—but I need your help.
I’m asking for your support, your vote, and, yes, your donations. We’re up against deep-pocketed interests, but I know that with the right backing, we can win this and protect the future of America. This isn’t just a campaign—it’s a fight for the values that make us strong. For Ukraine. For America. For all of us.
Donate today, and let’s win this together.
With the U.S. House seat open, the race for North Dakota’s sole congressional district has never been more competitive.
Trygve Hammer is a Navy and Marine Corps veteran, a former public school teacher, and a freight rail conductor. He was appointed to the Naval Academy from the fleet and served as a Marine helicopter pilot, forward air controller, and infantry officer.
From bunking down in oilfield camps to engaging uninterested teenagers in the classroom, Trygve’s career has been a tour of duty in the trenches of American life. Trygve’s commitment to public service is unwavering. He lives by the ethos “Officers Eat Last” and is ready to serve as North Dakota’s next Congressman, putting the people's needs first.
Watch Trygve’s campaign launch video here [ [link removed] ].
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