CS#54: Fighting ISIS in Syria | Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) & People's Protection Forces (YPG) | Firat Batman [Part 1] COMBAT STORY
Combat Story
Ryan Fugit
4.8 • 1.3K Ratings
🗓️ 11 December 2021
⏱️ 124 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
[Sponsor: This episode is brought to you by Loansteady LLC. A small-by-design lender, Loansteady believes in bringing a much-needed dose of humanity to the mortgage process. They are waiving all lender fees for Veterans in 2021. Visit http://www.loansteady.com/combatstory to request a rate quote or start an application. Loansteady LLC, All rights reserved, NMLS# 1701910, (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/), Equal Housing Lender. For more licensing information, please visit https://www.loansteady.com/licenses-and-legal.]
I found Firat when his friend, another Swede turned freedom fighter named Mike, reached out. Mike’s introductory email sums up Firat perfectly:
“I am writing you for a friend of mine who would never reach out but his story is amazing. He spent years fighting ISIS in Syria with the YPG. He is not a war tourist!! He left Sweden for Syria after ISIS murdered his cousins and uncle in Syria.”
Firat fought alongside coalition forces on the front lines liberating cities from ISIS control. He did this, however, with very few resources, training, ammunition, funding, and support. What he witnessed in terms of ISIS brutality is horrific and has left its scars. He has an amazing story that will inspire anyone who wonders how you can change your life and do something about the evil things in this world.
I hope you enjoy this Combat Story as much as I did.
This is the first in a two part interview with Firat to make sure we spend sufficient time in his multiple deployments.
Find Firat Online: Instagram @tactikurdbruh
Find Ryan online:
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Instagram @combatstory
Facebook @combatstoryofficial
Send us messages at https://m.me/combatstoryofficial
Email [email protected]
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Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle
Show Notes
0:00 - Intro
1:01 - A word from our Sponsor (LoanSteady)
2:27 - Guest introduction (Firat Batman)
4:01 - Interview begins
4:35 - Early family life living in Sweden with Kurdish background
10:03 - Being an immigrant and having family in Syria when ISIS formed
14:34 - The personal experience that draws you into the military
21:53 - A memorable ride to the airport to deploy
29:59 - Writing a letter to your mom in case you don’t come back
33:56 - Arriving in Kurdistan, the land of his people, for the first time
39:05 - Going straight to the Syrian border after just arriving in Iraq
56:34 - Initial training experiences
1:15:13 - The first time he was told to bring his weapon and be ready
1:21:18 – First time in contact and what it was like to see ISIS remains
1:27:18 – Lead up to his first major operation
1:34:14 - First conflict with ISIS
1:46:33 – The carnage ISIS left behind
1:57:39 - What it was like going back home to Sweden for the first time
2:01:40 - Listener comments and shout outs
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | And he started shooting at us and I got down and I was like my first contact and I was like oh, I'm trying to look and he comes to me and he said listen, I'm gonna pull right you need to check the left end and he just goes |
| 0:15.0 | He doesn't even says are you ready? He just leaves and I hear it the other one or shooting we got behind this big ass |
| 0:21.0 | They'll be me and I stood out to get my gun then |
| 0:24.1 | The dude just popped up one time two times and I just ripped to all |
| 0:30.4 | Hope home and like he he kind of fell behind his cover and |
| 0:35.0 | I could see the female soldiers just running out putting two in him in the ground and just said keep going |
| 0:41.8 | Welcome to combat story. I'm Ryan fugit and I serve war zone tours as an army attack helicopter pilot and CIA officer over a 15-year career |
| 0:49.6 | I'm fascinated by the experiences of the elite and combat on this show |
| 0:54.0 | I interview some of the best to understand what combat felt like on their front lines. This is combat story |
| 1:00.7 | As regular listeners know we love stories of commitment sacrifice and perseverance |
| 1:05.3 | I choose guests carefully to find these traits and I take a similar approach to choosing sponsors for the show |
| 1:11.3 | Which is why I'm proud to share that this episode is sponsored by Loan Steady |
| 1:15.6 | Company that fights to get you the best position on your home loan |
| 1:18.8 | I've known Moe and Hayden the two owners of Loan Steady for over 10 years and watch them grow the company from a four person group |
| 1:26.4 | Grim then a small office |
| 1:28.0 | It's a multi-million dollar company doing business in dozens of states through hustle hard work and sacrifice |
| 1:34.1 | I also know they do right by veterans offered some of the best margins on VA loans you can find |
| 1:40.2 | I've personally referred to family members to Loan Steady in the past year and both had great experiences |
| 1:45.7 | And I plan on using Loan Steady and the coming year myself |
| 1:49.8 | If you're in the market for a home loan |
| 1:52.2 | Interested in refinancing or taking cash out for a project or home improvement |
| 1:57.1 | Particularly while rates are at near historic lows check them out for a special offer for our listeners |
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