'Your service was not in vain!' James Heappey apologises amid veterans saga 'Be proud!'

Speaking to Good Morning Britain on Monday the Veterans Minister set about a passionate defence of the work British armed forces veterans did in Afghanistan insisting that decisions made since their service and the subsequent collapse of the country is the result of political decision making that were out of the control of veterans. Mr Heappey told viewers of the tragic news that a number of veterans have reportedly taken their own lives in the past weeks as they have witnessed Afghanistan fall to the Taliban after 20-years of western intervention in the country.

Mr Heappey said: “There is right now a very real danger that as a consequence of what people are seeing in Afghanistan.

“Veterans who served there might be questioning whether they should go on living.

“There have been far too many suicides within the veterans’ community over the last ten years from people who were deeply, tragically affected by what they saw in Helmand during their service

“So if this is another opportunity for me to be able to say that your service was not in vain what you did you should be proud of.

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He added: “Everything that has happened ten years later is a set of political decisions… over which you had no control.

“You served on your tour with great honour, great courage, great sacrifice and you must be proud of that.”

He stressed: “And if you need help, reach out for it.”

Mr Heappey went on to tragically reveal how a handful brave servicemen have ended their lives in recent weeks adding he personally “knows how much veterans are hurting”

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The Veterans minister saif: “I know, unfortunately, there have been soldiers who’ve served in Afghanistan, indeed a soldier who served with me on my last tour of Afghanistan, who’ve taken their lives in the last week or so because of the feelings they’ve had over what’s happened in Afghanistan.

“That’s hugely concerning and upsetting for people like me who are now in government and who served there and I know how much the veterans’ community is hurting.”

The former soldier added: “The sad reality is that throughout the last decade, as those who served in Helmand have grappled with the awful things they saw, far too many have taken their lives.

“But yes, in the last couple of days there have been people who have taken their lives, and a person who took their life who did so because of their feelings, as a consequence of withdrawal and that makes me sick to the bottom of my stomach and fearful for friends who I know are still struggling with what they saw on those tours of Afghanistan.”

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But Mr Heappey added: “I’m sorry to have said something that might not be true. The note referred very accurately to my last tour of Afghanistan with 2 RIFLES in 2009 & I’ve spent weekend fearing colleague had taken their life. However, MoD aren’t certain that note is real so wanted to clarify.”

He concluded: “That’s why the government, the nation, needs to put our arm around our veterans and tell them how proud we are of what they did and make sure we separate whatever anger people feel about the political decisions taken this year, both in London and Washington and Paris and Berlin and everywhere else…

“From our deep enduring pride and gratitude for those who served in Afghanistan during those extraordinarily difficult years.”

Anyone experiencing difficulties can contact Samaritans UK on 116 123, or by emailing [email protected]

source: express.co.uk