One retired military veteran and his sons (also combat veterans) have traveled to Iraq to join the fight against ISIS. The last names of this family have been withheld to protect their identities, but they have been more than forthcoming with their military backgrounds and experience.

The family patriarch is Harry M., a 49 year-old retired Marine, police officer, and National Guardsman. During his military service, Harry served multiple combat tours, and even acted as a sniper team leader in 2005 to take out high-profile targets. Harry’s eldest son is Josh, a 29 year-old Marine machine gunner who served two tours in Afghanistan.

The youngest of the trio is 23 year-old James, who served two tours in Afghanistan as an infantryman. It was James who first decided to head to Kurdistan to take the fight right to ISIS’ front door nearly a year ago. In the months of planning and discussion, James convinced his older brother and retired father to come too.

When the family spoke to Fox News, James described how their skill sets will come together in the field.

“Hey, I know how to survive in combat,” James said. “We are going to contribute on our level. My brother is a heavy machine gunner, my dad is a sniper, I was a rifleman … we are going to bring that together and present that to the Kurds and aid them in whatever way possible.”

The U.S. government neither condones nor disapproves of Americans leaving the country to fight ISIS on their own. Harry’s extended family, however, is fraught with worry. Fighting ISIS is a dangerous commitment, and the three veterans repeatedly told interviewers that they know exactly what they are getting into.

Referring to ISIS’ grisly execution videos, Josh said, “I will not be captured. I will not. I’ve seen the videos. Warfare is warfare. When you accept it, it actually becomes very easy. You just go in there and you fight to live. You never go into a gun fight or any type of fight with the expectation you are going to lose.”

Harry explained that they are motivated by a desire to protect the United States and American freedoms.

 

“Try to understand that there are men in this country who are willing to go one step beyond and confront whatever threat is there, whether here at home or overseas,” Harry said. “I love my country, I love the ability to debate, I love the ability to worship as I want, I love the ability to pursue happiness and I’m willing to put my life on the line, not just for this country but for complete strangers.”

The three military veterans were already in Iraq on Tuesday morning. Their current location and movements is unknown.