Surfer Goes After ISIS

Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you:

No adverts like this in the forums anymore.
Times and dates in your local timezone.
Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance.
Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely.
Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net.

If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

**Ahtman**

Source

Spoiler:

Dean Parker, a native of West Palm Beach, Florida, was enjoying a peaceful life as a surfing instructor in Costa Rica when he decided to trade his surfboard for an AK-47 and join the fight against ISIS.

Parker, 49, was teaching surfing in Zancudo, Costa Rica, when he saw a report about the plight of the Yazidi people trapped on Mount Sinjar by Islamic State fighters, according to MailOnline.

Parker told MailOnline that he “heard God’s call” to take up arms against the jihadists, despite having no military experience.

“When ISIS was attacking the Yazidis and they had fled to the mountain, an Iraqi helicopter with a western journalist went to drop water,” Parker told MailOnline. “Women and children rushed in and started piling into the chopper.

“The cameraman filmed this one mother holding her 10 or 11-year-old son. He was dressed for school it seemed. She was crying, holding him. He was looking at the camera and that look of sheer terror in his eyes overwhelmed me with emotions I have never felt before.

“I actually became physically ill and was crying uncontrollably. This has never happened to me before, and that was it. I knew I had to come, and never in the month before coming here did I have any doubt.”

Spoiler:

Parker traveled to the Kurdistan region of Iraq via Istanbul on October 28 and joined the Lions of Rojava, a squad of foreign fighters within the Kurdish People’s Protection Unit (YPG), and began training with Kurdish fighters.

It wasn’t until November 2 that he informed those close to him about what he was doing, making a statement on Facebook. He told MailOnline he first wanted to make sure he had made the right decision.

“Hey Everyone,” Parker wrote on Facebook. “I am in Rojava Kurdistan (Syria). The YPG is training me, until I am ready, then join the fight against Daesh (isis). The only way to try to explain this is that I heard Gods call. The Kurds are the most amazing people. I am so very blessed. Im not much for words except I love you all my friends. I am in very good hands…I will not be messaging for a while or until this is over. I must focus on the task at hand. God Bless You All. Long live Kurdistan. May peace be with you my friends.”

Parker has since posted several Kurdish-related items on Facebook, including five on Tuesday. In one, he wrote, “So many ask me ‘how can I help?’ Well here it is. These guys are the real deal! Let’s all rally around these guys! Please share with all your friends.”

The post links to a gofundme.com post entitled “Operation Limitless Compassion,” which is helping to fund Castle International, a world-wide air ambulance company operated by former special operations veterans from the U.S. and U.K.
Parker said he is learning the Kurdish language, though many Kurds speak English. He also pointed out that the YPG was being careful to train him on the quieter parts of the frontline rather than insert him into the fiercest fighting.

Parker told MailOnline that he intends to remain until ISIS is removed from Kurdish land, an objective he believes will take another two years.

Maybe then he will be able to return to his first love—surfing. He admitted he missed surfing and vowed to surf the Black Sea once ISIS is defeated.

Family and friends, though presumably stunned by Parker’s decision to join the fight against ISIS, have offered support via Facebook.

“You are our HERO,” posted one friend, according to MailOnline. “Stay strong. Stay healthy. Stay humble. Duck when necessary.”

The older thread isn't even on the first page so it seemed like starting a different thread was the best way to go.

**Bromsy**

I just hope we get a Point Break sequel out of this.

**Jihadin**

Patrick Swayze has paid the Ferry Man

**Asherian Command**

I hope That guy completes his mission.

**daedalus**

Surf Fundamentalists Must Die?

**Wyrmalla**

Hmn, I somewhat suspect that if this news story was covered by daytime BBC news it would be perhaps a little less positive. The rhetoric here goes along the lines of blanketing everyone who enters the Middle East as some sort of potential terrorist (...I'm not sure if people even know what that word means anymore or if its just a fuzzy word used as an excuse). I seem to recall saying in the other thread that doctors were warned against going to Syria by the British government for that very reason. ...Ah, with the idea that people opposing Jihadists will suddenly adopt their views for some reason. I guess because there aren't any boots on the ground on behalf of the West governments are fine to slate people they don't have control over acting on their behalves. Given that the Kurds are our allies however I doubt that this non-committal manner's gaining much favor with them (that is unless they're well aware of less public assets that are active alongside them. The Israelis presumably have been doing their thing given their ties to the Kurds and stake in the region).

**Dropbear Victim**

What if he does return radicalised? He might shoot the pier!

**Jihadin**

Dropbear Victim wrote:
What if he does return radicalised? He might shoot the pier!

Pier is safe. If he's on the pier then he's gunning down sharks

**Skinnereal**

So, someone 'heard God's call' and travels to a warzone to fight an unjust enemy?
Isn't that roughly what 'jihadists' tell us they do?
One man's freedom-fighter is another man's terrorist?

Good for him that he's going to fight to help others, and is sticking to that goal. It's the "he intends to remain until ISIS is removed from Kurdish land" part that worries me.
ISIS is going to become another group with the same aims, and the problem isn't going to go away just like that.
He says he's with the aid charities, so it should go well for him.

**Blackhoof**

Good for him!

The Kurds are fighting a war for their very survival, and are a showcase for direct democracy in action. Every little bit helps keep the daesh fascists from wiping them out.

**Easy E**

This man needs to be evaluated by medical professionals.

**Jihadin**

I actually had KM flash in my mind ad remember he is northern Delaware

**Easy E**

And KM has previous military experience.