DALLAS — At his funeral Nov. 4, Capt. Paul Lee Kim was remembered for “having a heart of gold,” according to his brother, Jonathan Kim.
“He would have done anything for anybody here, and I know my brother is in Heaven right now because that’s where he belongs,” he said.
Born in Houston, Paul “always wanted to be a soldier,” added his brother. “He always wanted to fight for those who could not stand for themselves.”
Paul served in the U.S. Army for 12 years, becoming an infantry officer and an 82nd airborne paratrooper in Iraq. He died Oct. 5, 2022, while fighting in the war in Ukraine, two days before his 35th birthday.
In February, immediately after the Russian invasion, Ukraine called on volunteers from all over the world to join the fight.
Paul told family and friends he felt called to join the International Legion of Territorial Defense, which includes representatives of dozens of nationalities.
He acquired full serviceman status in August at the start of Ukraine’s counter-attack against Russian forces.
According to Col. Serhii Vashchuk, with the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Jonathan Kim said, “Unless we stop them here, we’ll end up fighting them in the West.”
Vashchuk traveled to Texas for the first time to honor Paul’s service in his country. He shared the circumstances surrounding his death with Spectrum News 1 in a statement.
The statement said during a long battle, Kim’s military unit captured 12 servicemen of the 150th MSD of the Russian Armed Forces. His team continued fighting Russian troops who used artillery and armored combat vehicles, including T-90M tanks. Russian troops fired their tanks where Paul and his unit were located.
Because of the firing, Paul and another Ukrainian serviceman died on location. According to the results of the analysis of the battle, it was established that combat circumstances that could not be predicted caused Kim’s death.
“Kim is remembered for his selfless spirit. He intended to donate his monthly pay to a Ukrainian family in need,” the statement reads.
Paul was a devout Catholic, and searched for a Catholic church in a mostly Orthodox country until he found St. Joseph’s, where his teammates went to commemorate him after his death. As a paratrooper, his patron saint was the Archangel Michael. Kim felt a special connection with the Archangel, as St. Michael is also the patron saint of Kyiv.
Present for Paul’s memorial service was Ukraine’s Consulate General VitaIii Tarasiuk, stationed in Houston.
“People like Paul, people of God, people who know that freedom is not free are willing to come and help Ukraine defend our freedom,” said Tarasiuk. “Paul gave the ultimate sacrifice with his life to defend this freedom.”
Vashchuk shared a story about when Paul was addressed as captain, he insisted on being called by his first name or the nickname “Kilo,” which is a call sign taken from the U.S. Army radio code for the first letter of his last name.
“He would say, ‘Don’t call me Captain,’” said Vashchuk.
“It was captain Kim’s seventh mission, and he was an experienced soldier,” added Vashchuk. “He did not take unnecessary risks. But the course of fighting is unpredictable sometimes, and Paul died heroically with his weapon in his hands, engaging the enemy. He didn’t give his life just for nothing. He did a great job.”
According to his obituary, Kim was “passionate in traveling, learning and teaching about history and culture, and was a foodie [...] He was selfless and always put others before himself. He loved Oklahoma football, dad jokes, puns, and his friends and family.”
“Paul filled everyone’s life around him with pure love and joy. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.”
Kim’s funeral was held at Fort Worth’s Greenwood Chapel where he was remembered for his passion to help where help was needed. His interment was held on the same day at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, where he received full military honors.
Before serving in Ukraine, Kim taught military science to ROTC students at the University of Texas Arlington, some of whom attended his services.
In Kim’s honor, the International Legion is keeping he’s memory alive by renaming his unit “Team Kilo.”