CS1983
08-11-2016, 08:56
http://www.9news.com/news/local/castle-rock-man-dies-fighting-isis/293610285
CASTLE ROCK - The parents of a 22-year-old man who died fighting alongside Kurdish forces battling ISIS are grieving the loss of their son.
Robert MacTaggart of Castle Rock told 9NEWS in a lengthy conversation that his son, Jordan, may have passed away while attempting to rescue another member of the People's Protection Units --or YPG--in Manbij, Syria.
Robert said the details are unclear, but he believes Jordan and four other men were attempting to take over a building when ISIS fighters engaged a remote-controlled IED, splitting up the group.
At last word, Robert said, it appeared Jordan and another man tried to return to the bomb site and retrieve their comrade when a sniper shot and killed Jordan.
"He had the biggest heart," Jordan's mother Melissa MacTaggart said.
"This is what his heart wanted to do," she said, adding that she believes Jordan intended to come home.
"We don't believe he went over there with the intention to die," she said.
Melissa and Robert told 9NEWS Jordan was a caring person and was deeply troubled by the violence caused by ISIS. They said he had no prior military experience.
In a late night conversation more than a year ago, Jordan told his parents he intended to travel overseas.
Robert said he tried to convince Jordan to pursue another path, but Jordan resisted.
"He had an answer for all of our objections," Melissa said.
Jordan's first trip to Syria ended in October 2015. He was shot in the leg during this tour, Robert says. His comrades thought he went to the hospital, but he was really hiding under a pile of rocks to protect himself, and crawled back in the morning.
He returned for a second trip in January of this year.
Robert said that Jordan went overseas to be a "humanitarian" -- to be a part of something bigger than himself.
Robert added that he doesn't regret his son fighting alongside Kurdish forces, adding that Jordan believed "freedom doesn't come free."
Robert said Jordan made an impact in the region, helping save two women just days before his own death.
"He had such a big heart," Melissa said.
CASTLE ROCK - The parents of a 22-year-old man who died fighting alongside Kurdish forces battling ISIS are grieving the loss of their son.
Robert MacTaggart of Castle Rock told 9NEWS in a lengthy conversation that his son, Jordan, may have passed away while attempting to rescue another member of the People's Protection Units --or YPG--in Manbij, Syria.
Robert said the details are unclear, but he believes Jordan and four other men were attempting to take over a building when ISIS fighters engaged a remote-controlled IED, splitting up the group.
At last word, Robert said, it appeared Jordan and another man tried to return to the bomb site and retrieve their comrade when a sniper shot and killed Jordan.
"He had the biggest heart," Jordan's mother Melissa MacTaggart said.
"This is what his heart wanted to do," she said, adding that she believes Jordan intended to come home.
"We don't believe he went over there with the intention to die," she said.
Melissa and Robert told 9NEWS Jordan was a caring person and was deeply troubled by the violence caused by ISIS. They said he had no prior military experience.
In a late night conversation more than a year ago, Jordan told his parents he intended to travel overseas.
Robert said he tried to convince Jordan to pursue another path, but Jordan resisted.
"He had an answer for all of our objections," Melissa said.
Jordan's first trip to Syria ended in October 2015. He was shot in the leg during this tour, Robert says. His comrades thought he went to the hospital, but he was really hiding under a pile of rocks to protect himself, and crawled back in the morning.
He returned for a second trip in January of this year.
Robert said that Jordan went overseas to be a "humanitarian" -- to be a part of something bigger than himself.
Robert added that he doesn't regret his son fighting alongside Kurdish forces, adding that Jordan believed "freedom doesn't come free."
Robert said Jordan made an impact in the region, helping save two women just days before his own death.
"He had such a big heart," Melissa said.