Family mourns young QLD man Brock Greenwood, killed in Ukraine war

The mother and sister of a Queenslander killed in the Ukraine war have spoken about their heartbreak and their efforts to bring him home for the “send-off he deserves.”

Family has been told Queenslander Brock Greenwood was killed in the Russia-Ukraine War.

Brock Greenwood had no military experience when he packed a suitcase full of army gear he got from the annual Rockhampton Swap event and Army Disposals store in the same town, and flew to Poland last year.

Born and raised in Hervey Bay, he’d previously worked at Burger Urge, Subway, Sanity, a book store in Rockhampton and as an “offsider” for his mum’s cleaning business, also in Rocky.

Having tried unsuccessfully to get into the Australian Army at age 18, the 23-year-old, who also lived in Gracemere for a period, had been following coverage of the Russia-Ukraine War and “believed he needed to help and do some good with his life.”

He flew from Australia without telling his family where he was going or what he was doing because he knew they would try to stop him.

The first his mum, Cassandra Parker, knew of it was when she saw a photo of Brock at a Poland airport.

He underwent military training and subsequently found himself on the battlefields for the Ukrainian International Foreign Legion as a volunteer fighter.

His mum, who recently moved back to Hervey Bay, eventually learned what he was doing.

Brock Greenwood.

On Saturday she was notified that Brock was dead - killed in the line of duty.

“I was actually driving so I didn’t hear my phone ring,” Cassandra said.

“When I basically stopped, I noticed that I’d missed two calls from the Ukraine so I sort of knew something was wrong.

“I was basically just hoping that Brock had been hurt, not actually killed.

“And then because I had that feeling, I actually went into my (Facebook) messages to basically message Brock, but I noticed that another boy had sent me a request and I could see that he was in the army, and he had sent a message to contact him ASAP.

“So he was actually the one who told me (that Brock had been killed); he’s American.

“His company commander didn’t speak the best English but he told me that (the commander) would be contacting me.

“So then I just waited and he (the commander) rang me through Messenger - it was the only way they could do it - and I was speaking to the company commander and he told me then what happened.”

Brock Greenwood at his 18th birthday with mum Cassandra Parker (left) and sister Kodie Greenwood.

Speaking to this publication, that’s where Brock’s sister, Kodie Greenwood, politely took over from her mother.

“He got hit by a grenade basically,” Kodie said.

Cassandra then continued: “They were making a trench deeper or something and the Russians saw them and they were hit by the grenade.”

Kodie added: “He actually passed away with one of his Brazilian friends - they both got caught in it.”

Cassandra said when she was told of her son’s death on Saturday she “knew it was right but I just didn’t want to believe it.”

“All along we knew this could happen,” she said.

“Like, I wanted him to come home, I told him so many times to come home, but he said to me that there was still more to do, that they weren’t finished yet.

“He wanted to make a difference.”

Brock Greenwood on the battlefield for Ukraine.

Cassandra said despite Brock having no previous military experience or background before arriving in Ukraine, he told her that he was trained “by the best of the best.”

“They trained him pretty well - they just didn’t send him out there (into battle).

“He went from not knowing anything to leading them (fellow troops) and actually being in charge of having to train a new assault group.

“From the people I’ve spoken to over there, they tell me Brock was selfless and brave.

“One of the other boys (American) he was leading actually had a bit of a pact with Brock, if one of them got killed or hurt that the other would leave - he’s now going to go home.

“He’s the boy I was speaking to that’s been helping the company commander speak to us.

“He was just telling me how bad it is over there - he was a mess but he said while Brock was here, they could do it, but he just can’t do it without him so he’s going to go home.”

Kodie said in March, on Ukraine Volunteer Day, Brock was awarded a medal for honour, bravery and dedication in battle.

A photo of the medal awarded to Brock Greenwood by Ukraine.

“My brother had one year of service and he was special operations reconnaissance, sabotage and counter sabotage CLS medic (non-medical soldier trained to provide advanced first aid and lifesaving procedures beyond the level of self-aid or buddy aid) and operation of antitank weaponry.

“And his little medal reads ‘Honour and glory in Ukraine’.”

Cassandra said she would remember her son as a smart man who loved his family and friends.

“You know he didn’t have 100 friends but the ones he had were close, and he always had his good mates.

“He was a bit shy around people but once he got to know them, he came out of his shell.

“He had a kind, kind heart - like he loved dogs and animals.”

Brock was educated at Hervey Bay State High School after completing primary at Yarrilee State School.

Brock Greenwood's graduation at Hervey Bay State High School.

Cassandra and Kodie said they were now trying to bring Brock back to Australia.

“We’re trying to get him home,” Kodie said.

“It’s very hard to talk to people that are so far away - they’re seven hours behind us and some of them don’t talk very good English.

“There’s no embassy there in Ukraine.

“I have called the Australian Embassy - they’ve basically told me that they’re going to rely on information from me to basically confirm my brother’s death.

“We don’t even know how to get a record of his death here in Australia.”

Cassandra said Brock’s team had recovered his body and she had been told where it was.

“They did a special mission to recover him and the other guys that were injured and hurt and killed.”

Kodie said they just wanted to say goodbye to Brock and give him “the send-off he deserves.”

“You know he did go over there trying to do the right thing and what he thought was right.

“There’s a lot of hate from both sides (of the conflict) but at the same time it’s a war - no-one wins in a war, there’s only death.

“They’re sending his personal belongings home - we just want to have a memorial here in Hervey Bay for our loved ones and our family to be able to say goodbye.

“I understand that over there, they’re having one (memorial service) next week for him and they did say that they would be able to video it and send it though for us to see.”

Brock Greenwood.

Brock Greenwood was 24.

“He fought for what he believed in and followed his heart,” his sister Kodie said.

“I was very proud of him because he did take that leadership role and he did fight for something that he believed in.

“He did want to make a difference and I don’t care what anyone else says, or their views on Russia or Ukraine, but Brock’s our family member and he’s Australian.

“We have no ties to Ukraine, Russia, or anything like that - we (our family) are Australian and Aboriginal.

“He’s my hero and he should be recognised and remembered as the brave, strong, kind, intelligent man he was.”

  

Originally published as Family mourns young QLD man Brock Greenwood, killed in Ukraine war