US Marine veteran ships Hollywood military gear to Ukraine

Hollywood technical advisor and former US Marine Jon Barton has been up to a lot since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Barton, who is a skilled technical military advisor for actors Tom Cruise, Kristen Stewart and Chris Hemsworth, has been helping in providing military gear to Ukraine through shipments.

Barton, a veteran of the Iraq War, momentarily considered volunteering for the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine, but changed his mind when Shawn Balentine, his friend and a stuntman, suggested that Barton could spare some extra camouflage uniforms. 

“A light bulb went off,” Barton said, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

“I can do more from here (in the US), with my professional network of fellow veteran entrepreneurs that are scattered all over the country. The Ukrainian government was asking for this stuff, and we can supplement from the private sector,” he added. 

According to Barton, he has managed to hand over about 80% of the inventory from his Ventura County warehouse to the war effort. The inventory includes piles of uniforms, boots, rifle slings, knee pads and load-bearing tactical vests. He relinquishes the inventory through L.A.’s Ukrainian Culture Center, which sends it to Warsaw and then into the war-hit country with the help of logistics firm Meest Group.

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“They guaranteed me it would go to Kyiv,” Barton said, adding that he is confined to ship only defensive material, and not weapon parts. 

Since Barton became the talk of the town, he has received boxes of gear material that consist of emergency blankets, fire-starting kits and other items, from civilians across the nation, and “vets that are desperately wanting to help the Ukrainians in any way they can.” 

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Furthermore, the technical advisor has supplied an array of equipment to 30 American volunteers via FedEx. Radios, flashlights, binoculars and cold weather clothing, Barton appears to have it all. 

“I happened to have it. They don’t expect it from a person in Hollywood,” he said.