Facebook Twitter
Thursday, March 23, 2023 | 
U.S. & World World & Nation

Mourners gather for funeral of American killed in Syria

By Associated Press
SHARE Mourners gather for funeral of American killed in Syria
Corinne Maleski comforts her father, Thomas Broomfield, in Bolton, Mass., as he speaks about the recent death of his son, Keith Broomfield, while fighting with Kurdish forces against the Islamic State in Syria, on Thursday, June 11, 2015. David Broomfield

Corinne Maleski comforts her father, Thomas Broomfield, in Bolton, Mass., as he speaks about the recent death of his son, Keith Broomfield, while fighting with Kurdish forces against the Islamic State in Syria, on Thursday, June 11, 2015. David Broomfield, 25, left, and Andrew Broomfield, 38, brothers to Keith Broomfield, are also present.

Worcester Telegram & Gazette via AP) MASSLIVE OUT, Christine Hochkeppel
1 of 5
Mourners stand next to a Hudson, Mass., law enforcement official, second from right, near an entrance to Grace Baptist Church, Tuesday, June 16, 2015, in Hudson, during a wake for Keith Broomfield, who was killed in Syria while fighting the Islamic State

Mourners stand next to a Hudson, Mass., law enforcement official, second from right, near an entrance to Grace Baptist Church, Tuesday, June 16, 2015, in Hudson, during a wake for Keith Broomfield, who was killed in Syria while fighting the Islamic State group. Broomfield, 36, of Westminster, is believed to be the first U.S. citizen to die fighting alongside Kurdish forces against Islamic State.

Steven Senne, Associated Press
2 of 5
Necati Yuzbasioglu, of Manville, R.I., background left, talks with Ben Douthwaite, of Delaware, beside pictures of Keith Broomfield, foreground right, and Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan outside Grace Baptist Church in Hudson, Mass., Wednesday, June 17, 20

Necati Yuzbasioglu, of Manville, R.I., background left, talks with Ben Douthwaite, of Delaware, beside pictures of Keith Broomfield, foreground right, and Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan outside Grace Baptist Church in Hudson, Mass., Wednesday, June 17, 2015, before the funeral service for Broomfield. Broomfield was killed in Syria while fighting the Islamic State group.

Michael Dwyer, Associated Press
3 of 5
David Broomfield, 25, far left, Corinne Maleski and Andrew Broomfield, 38, stand next to their father, Thomas Broomfield, as he speaks about the recent death of his son, Keith Broomfield, who died while fighting with Kurdish forces against the Islamic Sta

David Broomfield, 25, far left, Corinne Maleski and Andrew Broomfield, 38, stand next to their father, Thomas Broomfield, as he speaks about the recent death of his son, Keith Broomfield, who died while fighting with Kurdish forces against the Islamic State in Syria, on Thursday, June 11, 2015 in Bolton, Mass.

Worcester Telegram & Gazette via AP) MASSLIVE OUT, Christine Hochkeppel
4 of 5
Mourners walk past a Hudson, Mass., law enforcement official, front right, as they enter Grace Baptist Church, Tuesday, June 16, 2015, in Hudson, during a wake for Keith Broomfield who was killed in Syria while fighting the Islamic State group. Broomfield

Mourners walk past a Hudson, Mass., law enforcement official, front right, as they enter Grace Baptist Church, Tuesday, June 16, 2015, in Hudson, during a wake for Keith Broomfield who was killed in Syria while fighting the Islamic State group. Broomfield, 36, of Westminster, is believed to be the first U.S. citizen to die fighting alongside Kurdish forces against Islamic State.

Steven Senne, Associated Press
5 of 5
Corinne Maleski comforts her father, Thomas Broomfield, in Bolton, Mass., as he speaks about the recent death of his son, Keith Broomfield, while fighting with Kurdish forces against the Islamic State in Syria, on Thursday, June 11, 2015. David Broomfield
Mourners stand next to a Hudson, Mass., law enforcement official, second from right, near an entrance to Grace Baptist Church, Tuesday, June 16, 2015, in Hudson, during a wake for Keith Broomfield, who was killed in Syria while fighting the Islamic State
Necati Yuzbasioglu, of Manville, R.I., background left, talks with Ben Douthwaite, of Delaware, beside pictures of Keith Broomfield, foreground right, and Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan outside Grace Baptist Church in Hudson, Mass., Wednesday, June 17, 20
David Broomfield, 25, far left, Corinne Maleski and Andrew Broomfield, 38, stand next to their father, Thomas Broomfield, as he speaks about the recent death of his son, Keith Broomfield, who died while fighting with Kurdish forces against the Islamic Sta
Mourners walk past a Hudson, Mass., law enforcement official, front right, as they enter Grace Baptist Church, Tuesday, June 16, 2015, in Hudson, during a wake for Keith Broomfield who was killed in Syria while fighting the Islamic State group. Broomfield

HUDSON, Mass. — Friends and family are gathering for the funeral of the first American believed to have been killed fighting the Islamic State group alongside Kurdish forces.

Keith Broomfield, a U.S. citizen who had no military training, died after traveling to join the fight in Syria.

Among those gathered at Grace Baptist Church in Hudson on Wednesday is a group from the New England Kurdish Association.

Abdul Tammo, of Hartford, Connecticut, says they're supporting Broomfield because he "passed away in our land for us."

Funeral organizers said they expect attendance to surpass 500. A photo distributed to mourners shows Broomfield on a motorcycle that is now parked in the church's foyer.

The 36-year-old Broomfield, who was raised in Bolton and lived in Westminster, will be buried at a private ceremony.

Next Up In U.S. and world
Fed raises interest rates by 0.5%, the highest rise since 2000
Here are the 14 inductees for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Why was President Biden talking about Utah’s 2002 Winter Games at the White House?
CDC reinstates mask recommendation for planes, trains
While U.S. hits new job quitting record, this man set his own record — 84 years at the same company
The U.S. housing market is historically overvalued. Moody’s says these cities may see prices drop up to 10%