Behold the new COMISAF until Gen. Petraeus comes online; Lt. Gen. Sir Nicholas Parker, KCB, CBE, British Army.
Now that we have had fun - here is a serious fact. He knows this war as a leader and as a father; almost a year ago;
The son of one of Britain's most senior army officers has been severely injured in a roadside bomb blast in Afghanistan, it was reported today.All is well.
Captain Harry Parker, 26, is reported to have lost a leg in the blast and surgeons believe he may lose the other one. He has been flown back to Britain where he is being treated at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham and is understood to be very seriously ill.
His father, Sir Nick Parker, the Army's third most senior officer, returned from holiday after learning of his son's injuries.
A military source said: “General Sir Nick, his wife and the whole family are understandably devastated by what has happened to Harry. The general understands the risk more than most but it is still an appalling thing for any parent to go through.”
Gen Parker will become the most senior British officer in Afghanistan in September when he takes over as deputy commander of Nato forces.
His son was leading a foot patrol of the 4th Battalion The Rifles when he is believed to have trodden on a pressure pad which set off an improvised explosive device on Saturday morning in the Nad Ali area of Helmand in southern Afghanistan.
Hat tip Daniel Foster NRO.
12 comments:
He's a KCB (Knight Commander of the Honourable Order of the Bath), not a KBE. He's only a CBE (Commander of the Most Excellant Order of the British Empire).
BGT McSoulpatch is having medal lust over this outfit.
A good staff are more than capable of carrying on in the absence of their commander.
Keeping the Bit theme, as a lot of the US generals have been covered in the media lately - Lt Gen Sir Graeme Lamb is another key individual who is useful to know. Bonus points are: a close working relationship with Petraeus in Iraq; strong counter-insurgency credentials; former head of UK SF; also (I'm sure from a marine's perspective) a much better haircut!
Wiki Bio
McFixie. As a staunch r(r)epublican - I always have trouble with titles.
...and the haircut...
Yes, yes. But can he fight?
Andrew, that second paragraph sent me off into fits of giggles. Comment of the day! :)
God grant Captain Parker the fullest recovery possible. His father might look a little silly in that picture, but he raised his son right.
Just took a closer look at the picture...if he's a lt. gen., where are his stars?
British Army rank insignia is different than ours:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Army_officer_rank_insignia
Most Commonwealth countries and former British colonies use some variation of those.
Having worked with him, he is about as sharp and engaging as they come...the place is in excellent hands with him at the helm.
Until about 10 years ago a KBE was automatic for a three star (although it looks like he's a Major General in the photo). Not the case any more.
Most UK officers would have medal lust over his decorations.
BTW, I note he's been awarded the foreign version ("Officer") of our Legion of Merit.
Thanks, GOH!
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