Veterans and families of the fallen demand apology over Trump's frontline remark
Veterans and family members of soldiers who were killed in Afghanistan have called on US President Donald Trump to apologise after he suggested it was only the US that fought on the frontline of the conflict.
Lance Corporal Jamie Webb was fatally injured in an insurgent attack on his patrol base just a few days before the end of his second tour in 2013 at the age of 24.
A truck bomb was driven into the perimeter wall at Patrol Base Folad in the Nad Ali district and insurgents attacked the base. Soldiers from C Company, The Mercian Regiment stood firm and returned the fight to the enemy.
They stood firm and fought
LCpl Webb's mother Susan told BFBS Forces News the US president should apologise for what he said about the fallen – especially as he wasn't even there himself.
His brother Luke explained: "Jamie was killed after a half-tonne of explosives were driven through the camp wall.
"All them soldiers on that base. And there was American contract workers who were on that base as well, who British troops protected.
"And they all stood firm and they fought. They were on the frontline, them soldiers."
Meet the families, meet us
Luke also explained the strong bond that existed between the British troops and their US allies.
In addition to protecting the US contractors, LCpl Webb and his colleagues also served alongside US Marines in Afghanistan, and he ultimately died in an American field hospital in Kandahar after being wounded in the firefight.
"Them soldiers gave Jamie mutual respect. They put a US Marine on guard beside Jamie", said Luke.
"Jamie was on that American base. It was the Americans that gave Jamie the last rites before he passed away.
"When they turned off the life-support machine we didn't get to know right away. We didn't get to say goodbye."
As for Mr Trump, Luke said: "My direct message to Trump isn't political: meet the families, meet us.
"They'd agree that the British put up a good fight over there and stopped terrorism on our streets – stopped terrorism on American streets."
That was the frontline
Luke added: "A lot of the soldiers who were in Afghanistan have a lot of wounds as well, not only physically, but mentally from that war.
"A lot of my brothers' friends, as well, who sadly lost their life due to mental health issues. I think about them as well, think about all the soldiers that were injured.
"If Trump was on that base and that was the day it was attacked, I think he'd be turning around saying, you know, that definitely was the frontline."
LCpl Webb's mother Susan said of Mr Trump's comments: "Someone disgracing him like that – I think it's disgusting. I'm sure the Danish families would think the same as well."
Luke added: "If Trump walks into our living room right now, the first thing he'd see is Jamie in a picture in front of a US Marine helicopter ready to go out on an operation with the US Marines.
"That was the frontline."
It's not the American people - it's just Trump
Some 457 Armed Forces personnel lost their lives in the conflict – many injured or fallen were evacuated by medical emergency response teams, which Chinook crew member Liz McConaghy was part of.
The former RAF Flight Sergeant served 10 tours in Afghanistan and, like the Webb family, is also angered by Donald Trump's remarks.
"A very public apology is needed," she said, pointing out how her remarks about Mr Trump on Twitter had drawn numerous comments of support – including from her American followers.
"I think he's [Donald Trump] starting to lose a bit of a grip over in America – and he's going to need to rectify that pretty quickly if he's going to have a leg to stand on."
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