The Regiment Deploying from CFB Gagetown sadly, will not be led by their well respsected Commanding Officer. He was taken in a violent cowardly suicide car attack. He was in Kabul for meetings with various agencies as part of his reconnaisance for his Regiment deploying to Afghanistan.
Sadly he leaves behind two sons and his wife. In a day or so they will meet his flag draped casket in Trenton for the long sad journey down the Highway of heroes.
Col.Parker was in Kabul to interact with international organizations there in an effort to prepare his team for their upcoming mission, Col. Simon Hetherington, deputy commander of Task Force Kandahar, told a news conference.
He was a career infantry officer a proud member of the Royal Canadian Regiment who excelled in virtually every position he held in the Army, Hetherington said.
As a battalion commander, he led his soldiers from the front and with distinction. The post he preparing to fill was important and of such high profile, he was hand picked from across the Army to do so. A rising star, his potential was undeniable.
In a statement that seemed more detailed and personal than those that usually accompany news of Canadian casualties, Hetherington described Parker as a fun-loving and admirable man who was well-loved within the ranks of the Canadian military.
Geoff could be incredibly funny and he had a truly infectious laugh and smile; to some, he was simply known as Parker, because that's what his wife called him, Hetherington said.
We all knew him to be remarkably smart and the consummate professional officer. Equally important, he was always standing by as a friend. He knew when to give you the hard truth to get you going and when to lend a sympathetic ear.
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen condemned the attack and said it would not deter NATO's efforts in Afghanistan.
NATO remains committed to its mission to protect the Afghan people and to strengthen Afghanistan's ability to resist terrorism,
Be that as it may the Battalion soon to be in Afghanistan will carry out their duties like the true professionals that they are. May His brothers in arms, his wife, family and loved ones take his strength and courage knowing that he paid the ultimate sacrifice as a
Soldier of the Queen, and Canada.
Rest in Peace your Duty Done.
Please show support for our troops, and if you are nearby the Highway of Heroes, please pay your respects to this fine soldier and his family.
A big Thank You to the Islander's who cared enough to send a Provincial Flag to be flown along the Highway of Heroes.
A P.E.I. flag is on its way to the Highway of Heroes courtesy Brian Pound, Tommy Llewellyn, Bob Thorne and Paul Batchilder after it was discovered a request to the provincial government to donate a flag three weeks ago was turned down.
This inaction shows the Lack of Respect that the PEI Liberal Government has for our troops
Nil Sine labore
Robby
