John Miller, 74, and his wife Marilyn, 66, were furious at the remarks made by Donald Trump about the British military ‘staying back from the frontline’ after losing their son. John, 74, said Trump’s words were like ‘being struck with a knife that twisted again’.
One son served on two tours of Afghanistan; the other died a hero alongside five comrades in Iraq. So former soldier John Miller, 74, and his wife Marilyn, 66, were furious at the remarks made by Donald Trump about the British military ‘staying back from the frontline’ in the Afghan conflict. John, 74, who served in the Gulf and Germany with the army, said Trump’s words were like ‘being struck with a knife that twisted again’. Sgt Simon Hamilton-Jewell, 41, Cpl Russell Aston, 30, Cpl Paul Long, 24, L/Cpl Tom Keys, 20, and L/Cpl Ben Hyde, 23, all died at Simon’s side
The President issued a statement praising UK forces after his claim that they had ‘stayed a little back from the frontline’ in Afghanistan. He wrote: “The great and very brave soldiers of the United Kingdom will always be with the United States of America. In Afghanistan, 457 died, many were badly injured, and they were among the greatest of all warriors.”
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But John said the fact there was ‘no apology’ was a further insult to him and the families of the 636 UK service personnel who died in Afghanistan and Iraq.
He told the Mirror: “He is clearly reacting to the worldwide condemnation of what he had said in that second statement.
“He praises our troops but there is no apology, and there should have been. “My son Jon went to Afghanistan twice, and I lost my son Simon in Iraq. We were only there fighting because of America. But Trump’s comments were as if our service personnel did not exist. The UK lost so many lives.”
Simon, 21, was one of six Royal Military Policemen killed when a 600-strong mob descended on a police station in Iraq in June 2003. His elder brother, Jon, 46, still serves with the military police after more than two decades of service.
His proud dad John added: “We are very lucky that Jon came back
“The remarks by Trump hurt me and my wife. Especially when you go back to Iraq, we are still seeking justice for Si even now.
“We went to Iraq for America, we were dragged there for America so to say that was wrong. “Trump struck us with a knife and twisted it again; there were six coffins that came off that Hercules, including Simon. That is a sight that I will never forget. It will be 23 years this June since he died, and we are still seeking the murderers who did it. “So Trump was misinformed, he got it all wrong.” One man went on trial and was found guilty of Simon’s murder ‘in absentia’ last year. His assets have been frozen, but he remains at large. John added: “He was sentenced to life imprisonment for Simon’s death. “I have been up and down the country, I was at the MoD in June last year, I have been putting pressure on them for years. “But we are still waiting for justice.” John, of Washington, Tyne and Wear, paid tribute to Jon, who has two sons, Simon, 15, named after his late brother, and Ollie, 11.
“He had joined the military police when Simon died,” he said.
“It was such a difficult time for him. But he has signed up for another 10 years after serving 22 years to become a warrant officer and regimental sergeant major.
‘We are so proud of him.” In October 2001 the US invaded Afghanistan to oust the Taliban, whom they said were harbouring Osama Bin Laden and other al-Qaeda figures linked to the 9/11 attacks the previous month. Nato nations contributed troops and military equipment to the US-led war. More than 3,500 coalition soldiers died, about two-thirds of them Americans, as of 2021 when the US withdrew from the country.
The UK suffered the second-highest number of military deaths in the conflict behind the US, which suffered 2,461 fatalities.
