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BIRMINGHAM, AL – FEBRUARY 1, 2019: Warren “Azad” Stoddard, 24, rests at his girlfriend's apartment one week after returning from Syria, where he was injured fighting ISIS as a volunteer alongside Kurdish YPG forces. CREDIT: Bob Miller for The New York Times

In the war against ISIS, American volunteers have joined the ranks of a Syrian militia, operating independently of the United States. Until recently, the predominantly Kurdish YPG forces had enjoyed air and ground support from the United States, but now that US is officially leaving, the remaining American volunteers face uncertain odds.

Warren Stoddard, 24, comes from a long line of military veterans and active service members. So when a knee injury prevented him from enlisting in the Marines in 2016, he reached out to a YPG liaison on Facebook to declare his interest in volunteering. “I always wanted to serve, to do something worthwhile and to take part in some historical event,” Stoddard said. “And I cared about the Kurdish cause.” Two years later, as the Turkish invasion placed added pressure on the predominantly Kurdish YPG, Stoddard finally received an invitation to join and purchased his own one way ticket. Six months later, while engaging an ISIS stronghold alongside his YPG unit, Stoddard caught bullet fragments in his his upper thigh and foot, where a small fragment is still lodged.
Copyright
© Bob Miller 2019
Image Size
5150x3432 / 8.9MB
Contained in galleries
1430 NYT VOLUNTEERS 30229713A
BIRMINGHAM, AL – FEBRUARY 1, 2019: Warren “Azad” Stoddard, 24, rests at his girlfriend's apartment one week after returning from Syria, where he was injured fighting ISIS as a volunteer alongside Kurdish YPG forces. CREDIT: Bob Miller for The New York Times<br /> <br /> In the war against ISIS, American volunteers have joined the ranks of a Syrian militia, operating independently of the United States. Until recently, the predominantly Kurdish YPG forces had enjoyed air and ground support from the United States, but now that US is officially leaving, the remaining American volunteers face uncertain odds. <br /> <br /> Warren Stoddard, 24, comes from a long line of military veterans and active service members. So when a knee injury prevented him from enlisting in the Marines in 2016, he reached out to a YPG liaison on Facebook to declare his interest in volunteering. “I always wanted to serve, to do something worthwhile and to take part in some historical event,” Stoddard said. “And I cared about the Kurdish cause.” Two years later, as the Turkish invasion placed added pressure on the predominantly Kurdish YPG, Stoddard finally received an invitation to join and purchased his own one way ticket. Six months later, while engaging an ISIS stronghold alongside his YPG unit, Stoddard caught bullet fragments in his his upper thigh and foot, where a small fragment is still lodged.