{"id":4587,"date":"2025-12-17T21:23:43","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T21:23:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=4587"},"modified":"2025-12-17T21:23:43","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T21:23:43","slug":"soldier-killed-in-ukraine-told-family-to-be-proud","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=4587","title":{"rendered":"Soldier killed in Ukraine told family to be proud"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"MinistryMinistry of Defence<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The body of Lance Corporal George Hooley, 28, was repatriated to the UK on Wednesday<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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A British paratrooper killed serving in Ukraine told his family to “be proud” and not “remember him with sadness”, in a letter to be opened in the event of his death.<\/p>\n

The body of Lance Corporal George Hooley was repatriated to RAF Brize Norton on Wednesday after his death last week.<\/p>\n

The 28-year-old was killed while observing Ukrainian forces test “a new defensive capability, away from the front lines”, in what the Ministry of Defence (MoD) described as a “tragic accident”.<\/p>\n

An extract of the letter, shared at the request of L\/Cpl Hooley’s family, said he “went out doing what I trained to do, what I chose to do, and I had all of you in my heart the whole way”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“If you are reading this, it means I didn’t make it home,” he wrote. <\/p>\n

“Please don’t let that be the thing that breaks you. You know I was doing what I believed in as well as loved, with people I respected, and for reasons that matter to me, my country and democracy and freedom in this world.<\/p>\n

“I was proud of what I was doing. Don’t remember me with sadness and loss. Be proud.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"MinistryMinistry of Defence<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Lance Corporal George Hooley was 28 years old when he died serving in Ukraine<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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Earlier on Wednesday, a private ceremony was held at Brize Norton before L\/Cpl Hooley’s body was carried past mourners lining the route to the Carterton Repatriation Memorial Garden.<\/p>\n

He was due to be promoted to Corporal in January and had been given the role’s responsibilities on his deployment to Ukraine, the MoD said.<\/p>\n

L\/Cpl Hooley, who had previously been deployed to Afghanistan, Africa and Eastern Europe, was described in tributes as having a “rare gift” of “deep kindness”.<\/p>\n

His company commander said: “If you met George Hooley, you remembered it. His energy and enthusiasm were simply extraordinary.<\/p>\n

“He provided spark that lifted others, a drive that inspired, and a zest for life that reminded us all how to live with purpose and joy. And we loved him for it. George had a rare gift: a deep kindness and genuine time for everyone.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

#Soldier #killed #Ukraine #told #family #proud<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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