Dec 18, 2021
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Today, we hear the second part of the fascinating Combat Story
of Firat Batman, a Swedish citizen from Kurdish roots who left his
relatively quiet and safe life in Sweden to join the YPG and Syrian
Democratic Forces (SDF) to fight ISIS.
[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]
We left off in Part 1 when Firat returns to Sweden from Syria
following his first deployment just after experiencing the carnage
of walking through a town that had been recently abandoned by ISIS,
including the blood stains on the walls where groups were executed
and rooms that reeked of dead bodies left to rot.
In Sweden, Firat, like many veterans, has difficulty assimilating
back into regular life and hears of a friend who passed away
fighting in Syria.
This second round is all about Firat’s subsequent journeys back to
the frontlines and the experiences fighting an enemy that would
rather blow themselves up then surrender. I hope you enjoy this
Combat Story as much as I did.
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Show Notes
0:00 - Intro
0:50 - A word from our Sponsor (LoanSteady)
2:19 - Guest introduction (Firat Batman)
3:18 - Interview begins
4:29 - Emotions after coming home from first rotation
10:21 - News of losing his friend expediting his return to the
fight
16:23 - What it was like to go back to the frontlines
19:28 - Difference in mindset coming back vs the first time
32:06 - Combat Story #1 First engagement after coming
back
39:19 - Hearing guys dying or close to it via radio
49:17 - Moving between lines to bring support and treat people
medically
1:00:33 - Combat Story #2 Intense engagement while bringing support
to others
1:15:50 - Funny story about talking to enemy from shelter across
the line
1:18:48 - A direct experience and description of ISIS armies
1:21:25 - The only 2 people captured by ISIS and survived
1:27:40 - Protecting people you love from going into combat
1:3524 - What did you carry into combat?
1:37:01 - Would you do it all again?
1:41:41 - Listener comments and shout outs