Two San Joaquin County veterans are on a mission to provide aid in Ukraine

Marine Corps veterans Michael L. Emerson and Richard Campos have dedicated most of their lives to protecting and helping others. Now they are involved in several charities and organizations around Stockton. And while their years on the battlefield are long over, they are on a new mission: bringing much-needed aid and supplies to people impacted by the conflict in Ukraine. “We have six bags and these bags are huge, they’re completely full,” Emerson said. “I don’t know how he’s going to expect us to carry them.” They are set to board a plane overseas next week and they’ve gathered thousands of items including socks, food packages, first aid kits, battle tourniquets, and even jars of burn creams. “I did go to a hospital burn unit, and there were patients in there, civilians, as well as military…really burned, very badly,” Campos said. This trip marks the fifth time Campos has gone to help civilians in Ukraine, and the first time for Emerson, who says he was inspired to follow in his friend’s example. KCRA 3's Josie Heart reports.