Sgt. Kelvin Blas is a U.S. Army veteran who has been stranded in West Africa for over six years. He was injured one week before his retirement. What followed was two years of captivity by his own unit in Afghanistan — and then he was gone.

For eight years, one Peoria-area advocate has served as his sole lifeline: coordinating legal contacts, filing public records requests, documenting every development, and refusing to let his case disappear.

What we're fighting:

A 2024 U.S. Embassy file allegedly characterized Sgt. Blas as simply "chasing wealth" — a determination that contributed to the denial of assistance. Our investigation traced that characterization to Kelvin's own Commander. When we pushed for answers, the State Department closed nine related FOIA requests in a single day.

A formal Notice of Intent to Sue the U.S. Department of State has now been filed.

Why we need your help:

The advocate leading this effort is currently recovering from major surgery and is unemployed. The mission continues — but it cannot continue without resources.

Every dollar of this campaign is documented and accounted for:

→ $8,000 — Legal and passport recovery fees
→ $3,000 — International flight to Illinois
→ $2,400 — Three months of safe housing and food for Kelvin upon return
→ $2,980 — Three months of rent for the advocate
→ $1,200 — Eight weeks of food
→ $550 — Court fees and certified mail
→ $120 — Truck water pump (parts only — repair performed personally)
→ $150 — Tech and supplies

Total: $18,400

This is not a vague fundraiser. This is a documented extraction plan for a forgotten American soldier.

Sgt. Kelvin Blas served this country. He deserves to come home.

Covenant for Forgotten Warriors is a Peoria-area veteran advocacy organization. True Signal Media serves as the investigative and public records arm supporting this case.

Organized by True Signal Media (TSM) in partnership with Covenant for Forgotten Warriors

covenantforwarriors.org | truesignalmedia.news

Bring Sgt. Kelvin Blas Home

A U.S. Army veteran stranded overseas for six years. Documentation. Advocacy. Extraction.

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