Jamie Cooper to be discharged from Army
Soldier Jamie Cooper will be discharged from the Army in February because he is not medically fit for the front line.
The 20-year-old was the youngest soldier to be injured in Iraq, when he suffered serious injuries in a mortar attack in Basra.
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Surgeons managed to avoid amputating the limb after the incident in November 2006 and he can now walk unaided, but he has been told he will not be able to fight alongside his fellow soldiers.
Jamie, from Kingswood, who served with the Royal Green Jackets, was initially offered a non-combat role working in the stores – but that offer was retracted after his full medical situation became clear.
His father Phil said his son would not have taken a job which meant he was not fighting on the front line, so will be looking for alternative work.
He said: "Jamie is resigned to the fact that he's coming out and knows he has not got a choice.
"He would have liked to have stayed, but if he had stayed and the other boys were moved to Iraq or Afghanistan he would have wanted to go with them.
"But that was not possible.
"They did offer him a position in the stores, which he was not too pleased about.
"But they are now saying there is no place for him to go anyway, and he is not medically fit."
Mr Cooper said that other soldiers who have lost limbs and been fitted with prosthetic limbs have been able to return to the front line because they can move more easily.
"Guys with prosthetic legs can carry on, but Jamie hasn't needed one so he can't go out with them, so he needs to find some sort of other work.
"He's like any other young man and wants to get on with life and do all he can to enjoy life."
Jamie was testing radio equipment prior to the regiment going out on a routine patrol camp when they came under attack.
Jamie was hit by two mortar bombs which ripped a hole through his stomach and damaged the nerves in his leg.
After emergency treatment in Iraq he was flown back to England where he was twice thought to have suffered from the superbug MRSA.
He campaigned against an initial compensation payout of £57,000.
Last week it was announced he would receive £112,508 when the Government doubled its payouts to some of its most seriously wounded soldiers.
2 Comments
by Deborah Wheeler, Bristol
Saturday, December 27 2008, 2:03AM
“I will not be popular with my opinion but thats life ! Jamie just get on with the army will not step up to the plate your being discharged find a job or live off your pension you are alive so many have not been so lucky you signed on the dotted line and knew the risks ! why do I have such a callous opinion ? my brother was in the army and on a training excercise not even active service which he says would be easier to come to terms with ! he and two other guardsmen hit an unexploded device and all three lost all their legs and other injuries my brother lost a large part of his liver the lads were 20 and 21 that was 20 years ago they recieved £105000 as a goodwill payment not compensation and it was caused by someones mistake they were assured the army would look after them ! until they were discharged medically unfit and left to get on with !
Having your legs blown off is not a better option Jamie, not everyone is left with good stumps there are I'm sure only a tiny percentage can remain in the army never mind return to active service. So whilst I wish you well you are alive get on with it !”
by Richard, Bristol
Sunday, December 21 2008, 11:28PM
“You've served your country Jamie, you're a hero our friend. Now it's for the people of Bristol and South Gloucestershire to make sure you continue your career here and have a chance to prosper once again.”