John Pullinger (Parachute Regiment)

John Robert William Pullinger is a retired officer in the Parachute Regiment.
Pullinger attended Mons Officer Cadet School before receiving a short service commission in the Parachute Regiment on 31 October 1970. His army number was 490374.London Gazette Issue 45236, page 12860, 20 November 1970.
Pullinger received a mention-in-despatches, announced in the London Gazette of 15 February 1972 in recognition of distinguished service in Northern Ireland during the period 1 August 1971 to 31 October 1971.issue 45598, page 1896, 15 February 1972. He received a regular commission on 20th June 1972.London Gazette issue 4585, page 13427, 13 November 1972. 
He was promoted to Lieutenant on 31 October 1973,London Gazette issue 46115, page 12871, 29 October 1973., to captain on 31 October 1976,London Gazette, issue 47056, page 14759, 1 November 1976. to Major on 30 September 1982.London Gazette, issue 49142, page 13573, 18 October 1982. 
Colin Dunne recounts the following story about Pullinger and his wife, the journalist Philippa Kennedy from this period:
:: was attempting to write a book, a thriller that involved a certain amount of guns-and-violence. I knew nothing about either, which is pretty amazing when you think that I was working for Kelvin MacKenzie at the time.
::Philippa – Mirror, Express, editor of Press Gazette – volunteered her husband, who was then a major in the Paras, to give me an intensive education in both. And, helpful chap that he is, he did. He took me out double-tapping with a Browning 9mm (see how well I speak the language now?) on the army ranges and hurled me around the shrubbery to the great delight of their two little daughters.Colin Dunn, Brought to book, Gentlemen Ranters, 3 July 2009.
Pullinger was promoted to Lt. Colonel on 31 December 1993.London Gazette issue 53527,page 20680, 31 December 1993. He received an appointment at the Ministry of Defence in November 1993.Service appointments, The Independent, 20 November 1993.
Pullinger was awarded the OBE in the New Years Honours List published in December 1999.London Gazette issue 55710, page 6, 31 December 1999. He retired and was appointed to the Reserve of Officers on 28 April 2000.London Gazette issue 55835, page 4830, 2 May 2000.
Author Julia Llewellyn Smith recounts a meeting with Pullinger in her book, Travels without my aunt.Julia Llewellyn Smith, Travels without my aunt: in the footsteps of Graham Greene, Penguin, 2001, p.88.
==Post-Army Career==
According to the Gulf Daily News Pullinger "was stationed in the Green Zone from 2003-2004 with British international development company Crown Agents, who were supporting the work of US government agency USAID."UK paratrooper building houses for the future... , Gulf Daily News, 28 June 2007.
::Lt Col John Pullinger was working in difficult conditions in Baghdad's Green Zone when former members of Britain's SAS, then working with a private security company, introduced him to a furniture salesman who was to have a big influence on his life.
::That salesman was Chris Exline, president of Home Essentials, the world's largest furniture leasing company outside the US.
::Mr Pullinger, who went on to become managing director of infrastructure at the company's Dubai office, recalled the circumstances which brought them together in a talk to members of the British Business Group for Dubai and the Northern Emirates yesterday.UK paratrooper building houses for the future... , Gulf Daily News, 28 June 2007.
==Notes==
Pullinger, JohnPullinger, JohnPullinger, John