DENVER -- The bodies of two Colorado men who were shot and killed battling the war on terror overseas this summer have returned to the state. Jordan MacTaggart of Castle Rock and Levi Shirley of Arvada were killed in action fighting ISIS in Syria alongside Kurdish forces. Their bodies were flown from Jordan to Chicago and on Friday morning they arrived at Union State on an Amtrak train. In 2015, Shirley, 24, volunteered to fight with the People's Protection Units, Kurdish forces that fight ISIS ... Read more

DENVER (AP) — U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter presented flags Friday to the families of two men who never joined the U.S. military — but died fighting the Islamic State group in Syria — after their bodies returned to Colorado on Friday. The caskets of Levi Shirley, 24, Jordan MacTaggart, 22, along with that of William Savage, 27, arrived Wednesday at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport after a complicated journey back to the U.S. without ceremony. From there, Shirley and MacTaggart arrived by train i... Read more

DENVER (CBS4)– The bodies of two Colorado men returned home on Friday, several weeks after they were killed while fighting ISIS in Syria. The return of their remains has given their families some closure. The families of both Levi Shirley and Jordan MacTaggart told CBS4 they are proud of the sacrifices they made as the caskets were removed from Amtrak at Union Station early Friday morning. “He did more than I ever did. I got sent to ‘Nam, he went to Syria and that’s the difference. And we waited... Read more

The bodies of two Coloradans killed fighting ISIS have been returned to the U.S., and are expected to arrive in Denver at Union Station on Friday. Levi Shirley of Arvada died in July and Jordan MacTaggart of Castle Rock was killed in August. They were two of dozens of American citizens who have joined militias in order to fight ISIS outside the purview of the U.S. military, and their deaths were a quandary for the U.S. government. "You can imagine the complications on that sort of thing," nation... Read more

The bodies of three Americans who died fighting Islamic State as volunteers for a Syrian Kurdish militia have begun a return home after a weekslong struggle by their families and the U.S. government to repatriate their remains. The remains of Levi Jonathan Shirley, William Savage and Jordan MacTaggart had been held for weeks in Syrian Kurdistan after they died fighting against Islamic State forces. Later, they were driven across the region—in ambulances displaying their so-called martyr photos—b... Read more

DENVER -- After weeks of agonizing and waiting by their families, the bodies of two Colorado men killed fighting ISIS in Syria are finally back in the United States. Levi "Jack" Shirley, from Arvada, was killed on July 14. Less than a month later another Coloradan died fighting. Jordan MacTaggart, from Castle Rock, was killed August 3. "More than anything he had a huge heart," said Melissa MacTaggart, Jordan's mom. Both men fought alongside Kurdish forces called the People's Protection Unit (YPG... Read more

The remains of three Americans who died in Syria after joining a U.S.-backed Kurdish militia to fight the Islamic State are expected to be repatriated Wednesday, members of their families and a congressional source said. The bodies of Levi Shirley, William Savage and Jordan MacTaggart will arrive on a flight to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, before traveling to their respective home states, said Shirley’s mother, Susan, and Savage’s sister, Brenna. Kurdish groups transported the remains... Read more

ARVADA -- Family and friends gathered to celebrated the life of Levi "Jack" Shirley on what should've been his 25th birthday. They shared memories, lit candles, and sang happy birthday. Shirley, known by his Kurdish nickname 'Agir' was killed in Syria on July 14. He joined Kurdish forces called the People's Protection Units or YPG in order to fight ISIS. He was killed during combat operations in the Syrian city of Manbij. "This is pretty bittersweet. My boy really loved birthdays. There’s no way... Read more

Editor’s Note: Dr. Oscar Reiss received his World War II medals at a ceremony arranged by Congressman Ed Perlmutter on Aug. 3. Perlmutter has held several medal ceremonies for local veterans who were never awarded or presented with the medals and honors they earned during their service. Reiss received the Silver Star, Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct, European-African-Middle Easter Campaign, World War II Victory and Army of Occupation of Germany medals. About me Born in Rhineland, Germany, I move... Read more

PHILADELPHIA — The resurrection of Glass-Steagall has proven surprisingly popular among the rank and file of both political parties, but the lawmakers who would theoretically implement the Depression-era law's reinstatement appear wary of the idea. Much like their Republican colleagues last week, Democratic lawmakers at the convention here were skeptical of embracing such a plan, unsure of what it would look like. "The old Glass-Steagall wasn't an effective law," said Rep. Brad Sherman D-Calif.,... Read more