Follow Up Interview: American Fighting ISIS and Pokemon

By John Crump

USA -(AmmoLand.com)- A year and a half ago we talked to Louis Park, who is an American fighting ISIS in Iraq.

Since then Louis came back to the US, went to Afghanistan, and then back to Iraq to fight ISIS by the side of the Dwehk Nawsha Christian Militia once again. A picture from Louis’s phone of him playing “Pokémon Go” and challenging ISIS to a Pokemon Battle outside Mosul has gone viral over the last week. It has turned up on major news site from all over the North America and Europe.

I had a chance to get caught up with Louis and he granted me an interview.

John Crump: Hi Louis. How have you been?

Louis Park: I am good. It is easier to explain why I came back to Iraq.

John Crump: OK, go for it.

Louis Park: I just got back from guard. I guess I needed a break. I had pulled 6 months out here and westerner drama wore me out more then being on the front. Back home I relaxed a bit and after a few months I picked up a private security contract in Afghanistan. I started that process in January and deployed mid march, but on May 3rd my old front line here got over ran for a bit. So I decided to return [to Iraq], and I flew from Afghanistan to Dubai. Then back to Iraq from there. I got here on June 2nd.

John Crump: Was it easy getting back to Iraq?

Louis Park: From Afghanistan? Yeah.

John Crump: Did you go back to the same group?

Louis Park: Yes

John Crump: Were the same people still there?

Louis Park: No but a few came back after I did. Most of the locals were the same though.

John Crump: Did their force grow or shrink since you were last there?

Louis Park: About the same honestly.

John Crump: We are being told ISIS is getting weaker. In your opinion is that true?

Louis Park: Yes.

John Crump: Are you involved in direct combat with ISIS?

Louis Park: I have been now on a few occasions. Otherwise it's just mortars and dshka. I got blown up in a recent engagement while moving positions, but I got up somehow unharmed. Besides my ears.

John Crump: What happened?

Louis Park: Daesh [ISIS] tried to keep us suppressed while they snuck in guys close to our position, but we kept them pinned down. Us and the Peshmerga. Then air came in and blew them up.

John Crump: So your group works with the Peshmerga now?

Louis Park: Always did. Dwehk is here alongside The Pesh. They are all local Assyrians from the villages here in the area of operation augmented by us, the volunteers, but as volunteers from the west, we especially want to be on the line each day.

John Crump: How long do you spend out there?

Louis Park: On the line? 8 to 10 hours most days. The rest of the day we just live behind the line. A few hundred meters ready to respond.

John Crump: What did your family think about going back to Iraq?

Louis Park: Nothing really. They are used to it now.

John Crump: How long do you plan on staying?

Louis Park: Until Mosul if possible

John Crump: Do you see an increase in US help?

Louis Park: Yes, and hear of it too. I can’t say from whom though.

John Crump: What would you want to say to the US public?

Louis Park: Well, more support is being sent now. Continue to pay attention and support the fight here. Look into the future sectarian concerns, and realize that as Long as ISIS exists, they will inspire the tragedies we see today.

John Crump: One last question. Did ISIS ever take you up on that Pokémon battle?

Louis Park: Not yet.

John Crump: Thank you, Louis. Be safe out there.

Louis Park: I will

Louis continues to fight ISIS (and Pokémon) on the front lines in the Kurdistan region of Northern Iraq as one of just a handful of western volunteers. He continues to risk his life for something he believes in.

About John Crump

John is a NRA instructor and a constitutional activist. He is the former CEO of Veritas Firearms, LLC and is the co-host of The Patriot News Podcast which can be found at www.blogtalkradio.com/patriotnews. John has written extensively on the patriot movement including 3%’ers, Oath Keepers, and Militias. In addition to the Patriot movement, John has written about firearms, interviewed people of all walks of life, and The Constitution. John lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and sons and is currently working on a book on the history of the patriot movement and can be followed on Twitter at @crumpyss or at www.crumpy.com.