San Diego Veteran Plans to Return to Iraq to Fight Against ISIS

A San Diego veteran says he is heading back to Iraq in a mission to fight the Islamic State. 

Roberto Pena will not be going for religious reasons or because he loves his country. He says, his willingness to fight the militants is about compassion. 

“It's about humanity itself," says Pena. "We cannot let atrocities continue to happen and history keep repeating itself, where we just turn a blind eye."

The Marine veteran says he is part of a growing group called, Veterans Against ISIS, who are planning to return to Iraq to fight. 

“We're not going to wait around until they grow or they are on our soil,” he said. 

Pena joined the Marines in 2001 and was deployed to Iraq in 2003. The 0311 Rifleman fought in the Battle of Fallujah in 2004, one of the toughest battles fought in the Iraq war. He says in house to house combat, “you could see the features of the person in front of you, just literally across the street from you, from window to window from street to street.”

He survived that battle, and says he knows returning to Iraq to fight ISIS is dangerous.

“I understand the risk," he said.

ISIS has placed a high bounty price on Americans. Pena believes it's because they know what U.S. veterans are capable of.

“When we go over there they do fear us," Pena said. "So they want to deter any way they can and that is the way I see it.”

When asked about the risk of being captured, he says he does not expect anyone to rescue or attempt to save him.

“I put myself in that position because I truly believe that we need individuals there to fight against ISIS," he said. "And I’ll do everything in my power to make sure I don’t get caught. But if I do get caught, I just want my family to know, my loved ones to know, my friends, America, humanity to know, it’s not for nothing. We need to take a stand against them.”

Despite the risk, Pena's family and wife support his choice to go.

“She absolutely understands," Pena said. "She was with me since I was in the Marines, so she has the same kind of dedication I do.”

Pena says his group is working with Kurdish fighters who have had victories against ISIS in Syria and Iraq. In final preparation, he is raising money online to pay for gear, travel, and help support his wife while he is away.

He is one of about 36 American veterans, he says, that plan to go to Iraq to fight. There are other American and foreign figthers battling ISIS in Syria and Iraq.

According to a State Department Spokesperson, the U.S. government does not support private U.S. citizens traveling abroad to fight against ISIS. Recently, a Massachusetts resident was killed while fighting ISIS in Syria. Keith Broomfield, 36, who joined a Kurdish militia fighting ISIS on Feb. 24, was laid to rest last week. 

Pena says he's not being paid a dime for his efforts. 

“The only thing we are walking away with is pride, knowing we did something for humanity, “ he said.

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