Vikings in Pursuit of Valhalla Seek to Punish ISIS

An elite fighting force of Norwegian military personnel, known to bear the “Punisher” stigmata, have entered the battle against ISIS with the battle cry “To Valhalla!”

The Norwegians are a relatively quite people in the minds of many individuals. To many, Norway is a cold, northern land known for its ties to the sea and impressive fjords. The people of Norway, as a result, are often viewed as a gentle and docile nation. What might easily be forgotten however is that Norway was once the land of the Viking.

The vikings were a seafaring quasi-nomadic people that wrought terror along the north-western shores of medieval Europe. Known for their tendency for speed and brutality in warfare, the sight of an approaching viking longboat likely produced violent tremors of fear in all who might oppose these ancient Norwegian peoples.

A new breed of warriors has now assumed the Viking mystique. The Telemark Battalion of Norway’s Task Force Viking, has recently been sent in to combat the advance of ISIS in the middle east. The Telemark Battalion is a unit comprised of all enlisted men which stands in contrasts to Norway’s tradition of combat units being comprised of conscripts, according to the U.S. Army.

To add to it’s intimidation factor, this all volunteer fighting force has adopted the comic book anti-hero “Punisher” icon.

The patch scene above harkens to Marvel’s infamous vigilante who is known for the brutal manners in which he punishes those he perceives as evil doers.

The wearing of the “Punisher” patch has been officially banned by the Norwegian military, according to Daily Mail , but many soldiers are known to continue the practice regardless. In addition to wearing the intimidating skull patch, Telemark Battalion is also known for their fearsome battle cry – “To Valhalla!”

Valhalla, in ancient Nordic traditions, was the final reward for warriors who bravely gave their lives on the field of battle. To cry “To Valhalla” as one charges headlong into armed conflict can certainly be interpreted as an expression of the combatant’s willingness – if not eagerness – to give his life in battle. An epically-terrifying concept to be certain.

Daily Mail recently reported that this band of skull-patch wearing modern vikings, have been sent in to train local middle eastern militias. It is the hope of the Norwegian government that the skill of these modern-day vikings will help ebb the tide of ISIS. While the success of this strategy is obviously yet to be seen, one thing is for certain – the presence of skull wearing Nordic warriors screaming “To Valhalla!” will prove a fearsome sight on any future battlefield.