Parents Of Killed Marine Speak

Tuesday, February 27th 2007, 10:36 am

By: News On 6

The parents of an Oklahoma Marine killed in a car accident talk to the News on 6 about his death. Lance Corporal Geoff Fisher of Muskogee died Saturday when the truck he was in veered off a California highway.
News on 6 reporter Chris Wright sat down with Corporal Fisher's family on Tuesday. He reports the decorated Marine had survived a tour in Iraq, but was killed instantly in Saturday's accident.

Fisherâ€™s parents say he was willing to give his life for his country, but it wasn't supposed to happen like this.

"I would have never imagined he would have went to war and had to do and see the things he done and saw, then come back here and be killed in a car wreck," said Geoffâ€™s mother Rena Abbott.

Geoff Fisher had been enjoying a much-deserved weekend leave with best friend Lance Corporal George Kirk near Camp Pendleton in Southern California. Geoff's mother says they were both still exhausted from training exercises, and George fell asleep at the wheel. His truck went off the interstate and hit a tree, injuring George and killing Geoff.

The 20 year-oldâ€™s mother and stepfather say they breathed a sigh of relief when their son returned unharmed from his first tour in Iraq, and his death in a car crash is difficult to handle.

"Then for something like this to happen, you can't fathom it," said Carl Abbott, Geoffâ€™s stepfather.

Ever since he was five, his parents say Geoff was determined to become a Marine. He enlisted as soon as he turned 18, went to Iraq, and had been training at Camp Pendleton in anticipation of a second tour. While overseas, he would often call his parents, telling them that Iraq was the worst place in the world, but he wouldn't trade the experience for anything.

"But in every picture he sent, just about, he always had a smile, he loved doing what he did," Carl said.

Carl and Rena Abbott say it is tough to accept that Geoff will never come home again, but they are proud of their son, and the yellow ribbons they tied for him will stay there for a while.

"He was my son and I am so proud of him,â€ Rena said. â€œI wish I could hug him one more time."

Carl and Rena Abbott have no ill will towards Lance Corporal George Kirk. They say their son's death was simply a freak accident.

Geoff is also survived by his father Robert Fisher, who lives in Kansas City. His funeral is tentatively set for 11 a.m. Saturday at Shipman Funeral Home in Wagoner.