A special memorial dedication for fallen Katherine-born soldier Private Scott Palmer will be conducted at the Cenotaph after the town's march at 9.40am on Thursday. Private Palmer grew up in Katherine and enlisted in the Australian Army as an infantryman in 2001. He served with the 5th/7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment at Darwin's Robertson Barracks before becoming a commando in 2006. During his career, Scott deployed to the Middle East and East Timor and it was on his third tour of Afghanistan that tragedy struck. On June 21, 2010, Scott and nine other Australian soldiers and US personnel were on board a US Black Hawk helicopter on a night mission to to the Shah Wali Kot region of Kandahar Province. The chopper crashed coming in to land and Private Palmer, 27, was tragically killed along with Privates Tim Aplin and Ben Chuck and a US serviceman. Private Palmer was awarded the Australian Active Service Medal with clasps IRAQ, East Timor and International Coalition Against Terrorism (ICAT), the IRAQ Campaign Medal, the Australian Defence Medal, the Australian Service Medal with clasp Timor - Leste, the Australian Defence Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and the NATO ISAF Medal. Private Palmer was also awarded the Returned from Active Service Badge from a previous deployment. During Private Scott Travis Palmer's service in the Australian Army, he deployed on the following Operations; Operation Citadel (East Timor) - Feb - May 2003 Operation Catalyst (Middle East) - May - Nov 2005 Operation Astute (East Timor) - Mar - Jun 2007 Operation Slipper (Afghanistan) - Nov 2007 - Jun 2008, Mar - Jul 2009 and Feb - Jun 2010. This statement was released by Defence from Private Palmer's parents Ray and Pam Palmer at the time of the tragedy. We are on the eve of receiving our son, Scott, home from Afghanistan where he had been on operational duty in the service of the nation when he died. Scott was a proud and devoted soldier who loved serving with his mates of the 2nd Commando Regiment, and previously with 5th/7th Royal Australian Regiment. Serving in the Army and being a Commando had been his long held dream. True to his nature, he lived his dream with distinction. While our grieving has just begun, we lovingly remember the man whom Scott was: a devoted son and brother to his family; a best friend to his father, Ray, and his brother, Adam; always loyal to his mates. His connection to the University Pirates Rugby Club characterised how dearly he valued his mates, maintaining great friends from that club long after he had moved on. To us all Scott was a larrikin who made us laugh, he had mischief in his smile, love in his heart, and was completely generous regardless of circumstance. We have been overwhelmed by the expressions of support from the Katherine community, his mates in the Army, his friends from the Pirates and loyal friends from around the country. As you have kept us in your hearts, you are in ours. Your thoughts and wishes steel us with the knowledge that we do not bear the burden of this grief alone. We would like to thank the Australian Defence Force for their efforts to support us during this traumatic time. Our beloved son is coming home. He can now rest in peace. While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox each Friday at 6am from the Katherine Times. To make sure you're up to date with all the news, sign up here.
