Brigadier John and Sue Palmer defended the army's role.
You rarely hear stories like this. It's time we heard more of them.
Regards, Ivan
Posted on 04/18/2006 3:46:37 AM PDT by MadIvan
Key quote "Life was very difficult for his squadron, for his troop, but he still believed in what they were doing - they were doing it very professionally - and that they were, little by little, making a difference for the majority of the population." - Brigadier John Palmer
THE parents of a British soldier killed in a roadside bomb attack in Iraq have issued a staunch defence of the army's role in rebuilding the country.
Speaking just 48 hours after the death of their son, Lieutenant Richard Palmer, Brigadier John Palmer and his wife, Sue, who bravely smiled for the cameras, said that the Scots Dragoon Guard had been "making a difference" while serving in Basra.
Speaking at their Hertfordshire home, Brigadier Palmer said: "Life was very difficult for his squadron, for his troop, but he still believed in what they were doing - they were doing it very professionally - and that they were, little by little, making a difference for the majority of the population."
Lt Richard Palmer, 27, is the 104th member of the British armed forces to lose his life since the conflict began in 2003, after a roadside bomb struck his vehicle patrol 25 miles north of Basra on Saturday.
He was leading a joint patrol with the Iraqi army when the bomb exploded.
Brigadier Palmer said despite the couple's fears for the situation in Iraq, they supported Britain's armed presence in the country.
He said: "We have a very, very professional army there and some fantastic young men and I often wonder, really, if the British public understand what they are going through. I think we should be very, very proud of what is happening and what the British Army is doing."
Lt Palmer had returned home on leave three weeks ago and showed his parents photographs of "his boys".
Brigadier Palmer, 56, who served in the same regiment for 30 years, added: "He talked about what they had been through together and thought a great deal of them."
He said his son had sympathised with the Iraqis' living conditions but added: "It is not a war where the enemy is somewhere over there and you know they are going to try and kill you. A lot of Iraqi people are very friendly."
Lt Palmer went to Sandhurst after Durham University and was commissioned in August 2004.
His commanding officer, Lt-Col Ben Edwards, said he had seemed destined for a "glittering military career".
You rarely hear stories like this. It's time we heard more of them.
Regards, Ivan
Ping!
God bless you MadIvan for sharing this.
God this man and his family. My prayers are with them all.
RIP, Lt Richard Palmer. And God Bless his parents, Brigadier John and Sue Palmer.
I saw this on the BBC news on the local Washington DC PBS station last night. It really surprised me that BBC would carry such a blatant disagreement with its official 'hate the war and the warriors' position.
You're absolutely right. I respect and admire that couple, proud parents of a hero, and may God grant them comfort and healing in their loss.
They're the Anti-Cindy.
We should forward this to Cindy Sheehan, not that she would actually get it.
From this Warrior of Scottish ancestory to that Scottish Warrior, rest in peace my brother. God bless you and your family.
God bless this family and this man's "spock-like" eyebrows.... sorry somebody had to say it... I do appreciate his gift though.
What a blessing and tribute to their son, their country, and every troop serving in Iraq.
bttt
God bless them all.
http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/ItisPeke/VDay.html
ping
God bless this fine family. And thank you for posting.
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