The highest-ranking military officer in the United States has apologized to a bereaved military mom after saying the Iraqi city where he died is 'not symbolic in any way'. General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, sent a letter saying he regretted that he 'added to the grief' of Debbie Lee, whose son Marc was killed in Ramadi on August 2, 2006. The 28-year-old, the first Navy SEAL to die in Iraq, was fatally wounded while providing covering fire from a building in the heavily-contested city. He was awarded the Purple Heart and Silver Star for his bravery. Humbled: General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, apologized to a military mother for belittling the sacrifice of her slain son . Fallen hero: Marc Lee, right, was killed in Ramadi in August 2006. His mother Debbie, left, was outraged when Dempsey wrote off the city as 'not symbolic in any way' while discussing operations against ISIS . Dempsey had spoken dismissively of the city last week at a briefing when asked how damaging to U.S. and Iraq's military efforts it would be were the city to fall into the hands of ISIS. Responding to a journalist's question, he said: 'The city itself is not symbolic in any way. It hasn’t been declared the caliphate or central to Iraq. 'The issue isn’t brick and mortar. It is about defeating ISIS. I would much rather that Ramadi not fall, but it will not be the end of a campaign.' The remarks outraged Lee, who said she was shaking and reduced to tears to hear the general trivialize the city for which her son had died. In response Lee, from Surprise, Arizona, posted an angry open letter on the website for America's Mighty Warriors, a charity she set up to help servicemen and honor her son. She said: 'I am shaking and tears are flowing down my cheeks as I watch the news and listen to the insensitive, pain-inflicting comments made by you in regards to the fall of Ramadi.' Ramadi was a center of Al-Qaeda operations in 2006, when Petty officer Lee and his comrades were sent in to recapture the city, an effort which ultimately took months and saw some 80 U.S. casualties. Valor: Lee, who was the first Navy SEAL to die in Iraq, was posthumously awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart . Lee continued: 'My son Marc Lee was the first Navy SEAL who sacrificed his life in Ramadi Iraq Aug 2, 2006. His blood is still in that soil and forever will be. Remember that was when so many of our loved ones were taken from us.' Rounding on Dempsey later in the letter, she wrote: 'You, sir, owe an apology to the families whose loved ones blood was shed in Ramadi. Ramadi matters to us and is very symbolic to us. 'You need to apologize to our troops whose bodies were blown to pieces from IEDs and bullet holes leaving parts and pieces behind, Ramadi matters to them.... You and this administration have minimized that Ramadi could fall, now you are minimizing that it is falling, but you, sir, WILL NOT minimize the sacrifice my son Marc Lee made or any of our brave warriors!' Battle: Lee fell while providing covering fire for his allies in Ramadi. Pictured about are three Iraqi soldiers and a Marine fighting in the city in 2006 . Lee's message was shared widely enough that Dempsey read it, prompting him to send an apology. Dempsey's reply, published Tuesday by Fox News, attempted to justify his remarks by saying he was explaining how the U.S. is engaged with a 'different enemy'. He wrote: 'I've read your letter, and I do apologize if I've added to your grief. 'Marc and so many others died fighting to provide a better future for Iraq. He and those with whom he served did all that their nation asked. 'They won their fight, and nothing will ever diminish their accomplishments nor the honor in which we hold their service. 'We are in a different fight now, with a different enemy, and with a different relationship with the Government of Iraq. 'They must determine the path and pace of this fight. That's what I intended to convey.' Discussing the apology with Fox, Lee termed it 'soft', but said that she does accept it. She was also expecting a phone call from him at some point today. Response: Debbie Lee was sent the above letter from Dempsey after he found her angry open letter to him .
General Martin Dempsey sent apology to Debbie Lee, whose son died in Iraq . Petty Officer Marc Lee, 28, was killed in 2006 in battle over Ramadi . Dempsey had belittled importance of Ramadi at a news conference last week . Lee said hearing Dempsey trivialize son's sacrifice brought her to tears . Castigated general in open letter online, to which he has now responded .