Heroism. Bravery. Selflessness. These words are looked down on as old-fashioned. They are derided as anachronistic, no longer relevant, from a different time. Every now and then though, a person does something that is so heroic, brave and selfless that it must be acknowledged. It must be celebrated.

Alexander Prokhorenko died on March 16, 2016 in Syria while helping to liberate the ancient city of Palmyra from ISIS or Daesh (Daesh is the insult name). Alexander Prokhorenko called in an airstrike on his own coordinates after sending one final message to his family.

Yes. Alexander Prokhorenko called in an airstrike on his own coordinates after sending one final message to his family!

According to Sputnik News, Alexander Prokhorenko was a special forces officer who was providing intelligence and coordinates for fellow Russian officers. This is generally a JTAC function in United States military terms. In Russian military terms, Officer Prokhorenko was Spetsnaz which basically means “Special Operator”.

Officer Prokhorenko was behind enemy lines in Syria because Palmyra is an ancient and historic city. Civilians are still there. Additionally, there are still a great many items of historic and monetary value that had not yet been destroyed by Daesh. Directing the targeted airstrikes from the ground, as Mr. Prokhorenko was doing, saves civilians and historic treasures.

Read the transcript below from Molon Labe Media.

Officer: They have spotted me, there are shooting everywhere, i am pinned, request evacuation immediately

Command: evacuation request acknowledged

Officer: please hurry I am low on ammo, they seem to everywhere, I can’t hold them for too long please hurry

Command: Confirmed, hold them off, continue return of fire, go to safe position, air support is monitoring, state coordinates

Officer: gives coordinates which are blurred in the translation

Command: command repeats coordinates which are blurred. Confirm

Officer: confirmed, please hurry I am low on ammo, they are surroundig me, bastards

Command: 12 minutes until evacuation, return to safe line, I repeat return to safe line

Officer: They are close, I am surrounded, this may be the end, tell my family I love them dearly

Command: return to green line, continue return of fire, help is on the way, followed by air support

Officer: negative, I am surrounded, they are so many of these bastards

Command: 10 minutes, return to green line

Officer: I can’t they have surrounded me and are closing in, please hurry

Command: move to green line, repeat move to green line

Officer: They are outside, conduct the airstrike now please hurry, this is the end, tell my family I love them and i died fighting for my motherland.

Command: Negative return to green line

Officer: I cant command, I am surrounded, they are outside, I don’t want them to take me and parade me, conduct the airstrike, they will make a mockery of me and this uniform. I want to die with dignity and take all these bastards with me. please my last wish, conduct the airstrike, they will kill me either way.

Command: please confirm your request

Officer: They out outside, this is the end commander, thank you, tell my family and my country I love them. Tell them I was brave and I fought until I could no longer. Please take care of my family, avenge my death, good bye commander, tell my family I love them

Command: No response, orders the airstrike

I cannot even imagine. Can you? Can you place yourself in Sasha’s (Alexander’s) position and call an airstrike to kill yourself? No crying. He loves his country and will not have himself or his uniform disgraced.

This 25 year old was married and a father to be. He came from a military family.

Watch this video. It is from a Russian newscast and has awful production values. I cannot understand a word, but the video scenes of Sasha and his bride tell everything of youth, hope and love.

Youth, hope and love are the same in any language, as are hero, brave and selfless. God bless Alexander Prokhorenko and his family and child to be. Rest well, soldier.