Jordan Matson
Jordan Matson is a former U.S. Army infantryman[1] and one of the first foreign volunteers to fight within the People's Protection Units also known as the YPG (Kurdish: Yekîneyên Parastina Gel) in Rojava, north Syria. Originally from Sturtevant, Wisconsin; Jordan left for Rojava/north Syria to fight ISIS in October 2014.[2] His reasons for doing so include dissatisfaction in his marriage[3] but mainly as a result of his frustration at the inaction by the U.S. government and the wider world. Matson told Fox6Now that he had grown up wanting to join the military, and that "I was just done with it. Just done with watching these people die. And nothing being done about it". After being refused enlistment in the U.S. military, he decided that he still wanted to contribute militarily to serving his country.[4]
Jordan Matson | |
---|---|
Born | Jordan Matson |
Nationality | American |
Occupation | U.S. Army infantryman,[1] foreign volunteer in the People's Protection Units (YPG) |
Known for | Fighting ISIS in Rojava, northern Syria. |
Matson fought in Shingal, Iraq[5] and Tell Tamer, in northeastern Syria.[6]
Matson currently lives in Sweden with his wife and son, Verdi Matson and Kosta Leonidas Matson, who was named after Kostandinos Erik Scurfield.[7]
References
- Guardian of Valor (2014-10-07). "The Truth Behind Jordan Matson's Military Career, The American Fighting ISIS With YPG". Guardian of Valor. Archived from the original on 2014-10-10. Retrieved 2017-04-09.
We reached out to our contacts to find out his true service record, the Marine Corps had no record of him ever serving, but he did serve a short stint in the U.S. Army. Here is his service record...
- "US veteran fights against ISIS, weds Kurdish woman". DailySabah. Retrieved 2017-03-22.
- "Back from the battlefield: Sturtevant man returns home from fighting ISIS in Syria". FOX6Now.com. 2016-02-17. Retrieved 2017-03-22.
- "Back from the battlefield: Sturtevant man returns home from fighting ISIS in Syria". FOX6Now.com. 2016-02-17. Retrieved 2017-08-16.
- "AMA Jordan Matson, American YPG • r/syriancivilwar". reddit. Retrieved 2017-03-22.
- "Magnum Photos". pro.magnumphotos.com. Retrieved 2017-03-22.
- "Konstandinos Erik Scurfield: Mother proud of son who fought IS". BBC News. 2015-03-17. Retrieved 2017-03-22.