This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

The father of the first American believed to have been killed fighting the Islamic State group said his son’s path “wasn’t very straight”, but God straightened it and guided him to Syria.

US citizen killed in Syria while fighting against Isis as part of Kurdish group Read more

Keith Broomfield, a Massachusetts man who had no military training, died fighting alongside Kurdish forces earlier this month. Friends and family gathered on Wednesday at a Baptist church in Hudson, a town outside Boston, for his funeral before a private burial.

Friends described Broomfield, 36, as a car and motorcycle enthusiast who embraced his passions headlong. He loved his family and his dog.

But his parents said he also had gotten into trouble with the law.

“There was a lot of things that Keith tried that we won’t even mention, but it breaks your heart to see your children do that,” Tom Broomfield said.

Childhood friend Ben Roberts said Broomfield had “lost years pursuing things that left him empty and alone, and that left those who loved him wounded”.

After a motorcycle accident left Broomfield with chronic pain, he rediscovered his faith and the pain went away, his father said. Later, he told his father he was called to fight in Syria.

“Keith got his heart straight and it was after that he said, ’Dad I’m gonna go do this. I’ve seen what’s going on and it doesn’t make a lot of sense, but I have to go do this,’” his father said.

Funeral organizers expected more than 500 people to attend the service for Broomfield.

A group of American Kurds also came to show their support.

“He passed away in our land for us,” said Abdul Tammo, one of the attendees. “He supported us, so we’re here to support him.”