IAN SEYMOURIan Seymour, who died on 21 March, 2003, aged 28, had fought through a painful knee injury to earn his Green Beret.Operator MechanicIan Seymour, who was a member of 3 Commando Brigade based in Plymouth, was aboard a US Sea Knight helicopter when it crashed south of the Kuwaiti border. Seven other British military personnel and four US servicemen died in the accident.Operator Mechanic Seymourhad always wanted to be a Marine and had doggedly followed his dream despite his longstanding injury.His father-in-law, Geoffrey Granville, said: "It took two or three attempts for Ian to get his Green Beret, as he had a knee problem. He was very proud when he got it and so was everyone else."Operator MechanicSeymour was from Poole in Dorset where he lived with his wife, Lainne and five-year-old son, Beck, to whom he was a devoted father. Mr Granville said: "His son was the be all and end all."At Stonehouse Barracks in Plymouth where Operator MechanicSeymour was stationed, Lainne and Beck left a note saying: "Daddy I love you loads, so does Mummy. We will miss you always. Lots of love from your baby bear and Tinkler Bell."Operator Mechanic Seymour and his colleagues were the first British fatalities of the war in Iraq. Their bodies were flown home to RAF Brize Norton where their families and senior military officials had gathered for a moving repatriation ceremony. Operator Mechanic Seymour's coffin, draped in the Union flag, was the first to be carried from the plane.Mr Granville said: "He was a fine lad. All we know is that we have lost a son-in- law. He was just great. We miss him already. He was a guy who was full of life. He was a brilliant son-in-law."The accident in which Operator Mechanic Seymour died sparked a heated political debate when the UK authorities criticised the US for failing to release evidence about the incident. At an inquest in 2007, coroner Andrew Walker recorded in a narrative verdict that the accident had been caused by "mechanical failure."Operator Mechanic Seymour was an exemplary individual who personified all that the Marines stand for – professional, brave and resourceful.By all accounts, Operator Mechanic Seymour was a peerless mechanic and perfectionist who took an immense amount of pride in each job he undertook. He was deeply proud to be a Marine.His father-in-law said: "He did not say a lot about his work. He knew he had a job to do. He was very quiet. He was a great guy. I am proud of him."Operator Mechanic Seymour's funeral took place on 9 April, 2003, at St Michael's Church, Hamworthy, Poole, and was conducted with full military honours.Mr Granville said: "The worst thing about it is that he wasn't killed in the heat of battle. I can't say how he would feel about that."His mother-in law said: "He idolised Beck and obviously Beck idolised him, he was daddy's boy. Ian was a quiet person but he loved playing with kids, he was a brilliant dad."
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