MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Falklands and Malvinas veterans meet at Gosport
The Mayor, Derek Kimber and wife Pat extending some Gosport hospitality to their Argentinean visitors The Mayor of Gosport Councillor Derek Kimber recently received three special visitors to the Parlour, three gentlemen who might, a few years ago, have come very close to crossing paths with the Mayor, but in very different circumstances.
A former naval man, Derek served aboard HMS Coventry during the Falklands War. Suddenly, on 25 May 1982, his ship came under fire and was sunk with the loss of 19 lives. "It was a difficult time for us all," said Derek. "We were watching friends and colleagues around us being injured and killed, and for our loved ones thousands of miles away, it was just sheer hell. All they could do was listen out for the next radio or television broadcast to find out what was happening. That was why, for me, on becoming Mayor of Gosport, the Falkland Veterans Foundation had to be one of my chosen charities. I wanted to contribute something toward Project Stanley, the building of a house in the Falkland Islands that will allow servicemen, some who even today still suffer from flashbacks and depression, the chance to travel back to the Island and stay there with their family to lay those ghosts to rest." So for Derek it was interesting to be given the chance to meet and talk with three gentlemen who were also fighting in the Falkland Islands, not for the British Army, Navy or Air Force, but three conscripted men serving in the Argentinean Services. Julio Rodolfo Aro, a former Infantryman; Jose Maria Raschia a former Naval Supply/Hospital Ship sailor and Jose Luis Capurro a former Artillery Soldier based at Port Stanley, are currently touring Britain to speak with specialists in Veteran Care to find out how life after the Falkland War is being dealt with for former servicemen. The three, all holders of the Congreso de la Nacion Argentinamedal, are all involved in veteran care back in Argentina. They are over here touring to find out about Veterans Welfare in the UK in order to take back any new ideas which they can implement to improve the lives of veterans in Argentina. Jose Luis Cappuros, main expertise is coordinating healthcare for veterans, whilst Jose Maria Raschia specialises in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and also sponsors courses for veterans and helps them with jobs within the organisation. Julio Rodolfo Aro, the senior of the three men is on the National Committee for the Programme for Veterans from War. His primary role is the contact and recruitment of veterans and their families and the welfare of veterans. He hopes to see and talk with as many UK veterans, families and organisations as he can whilst here to take back as much information about Veterans Welfare as he can. "Their visit here was brief but none the less very interesting and informative," added Derek. "It is nice to know that much is being done now, both here and overseas, to help rectify the problems, trauma and stress still experienced by veterans of both nationalities. At the end of the day we were all just ordinary men - just husbands, brothers, father and sons, doing the day job we were employed to do. Any help we can give each other in helping people move on from the horror or war has to be a positive thing." Before leaving gifts were exchanged, with the Mayor presenting a Borough crest to the trio and receiving a set of pins depicting the Falkland Islands. By Brenda Brooker. Gosport, Hampshire Picture by Gosport Borough Council
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