by Sandra Lee
Victorino Matus, ‘Sucking the Oxygen Out of a Cave during Operation Anaconda, the United States Rolled Out a New Weapon — the Thermobaric Bomb. It’s Worse than a Daisy Cutter, and It May Have Saddam’s Name on It’, The Weekly Standard, 12 March 2002
Rory McCarthy, ‘US Pays Afghan Warriors $384 a Month’, The Guardian & Reuters, published in The Sydney Morning Herald, 6 March 2002
Robert H. McElroy & Patrecia Sleyden Hollis, ‘Afghanistan, Fire Support for Operation Anaconda’, Field Artillery magazine, September – October, 2002
Ian McPhedran, ‘SAS in Hand-to-hand Mountain Combat — War on Terror — Australians in Battle’, The Daily Telegraph, 6 March 2002
Ian McPhedran, ‘36 US Troops Pinned Down: Australia’s SAS is the Only Hope — War on Terror — Australians in Battle’, The Daily Telegraph, 9 March 2002
Ian McPhedran, ‘Calling Down Death is a Very Exact Science — War on Terror — Australians in Battle’, The Daily Telegraph, 9 March 2002
Ian McPhedran, ‘Australia’s Finest Tell of 18-hour War Siege’, The Mercury (Hobart), 17 June 2002
Ian McPhedran, ‘Salute to their Valour’, The Advertiser (Adelaide), 28 November 2002
Ian McPhedran, ‘Story of SAS Heroes who Dared and Won — War on Terror’, The Daily Telegraph, 28 November 2002
Doug Mellgren, ‘Australian Forces Arrive at Desert Base: US Troops More Aggressive in Reconnaissance Patrols’, Associated Press, AP Worldstream, 2 December 2001
Greg Miller, ‘Suspected Friendly Case Disclosed — Afghanistan: The First US Soldier Killed in Operation Anaconda may have been Strafed by Gunship, Pentagon Says’, The Los Angeles Times, 30 March 2002
Sean D. Naylor, ‘The Lessons of Anaconda’, The New York Times, 2 March 2003
Sean D. Naylor, ‘In Shah-e-Kot, Apaches Save the Day — and their Reputation’, Army Times, 25 March 2002
Aaron Patrick, ‘Military Ramps Up Australia’s War Role’, The Australian Financial Review, 9 March 2002
Patrick Quin, ‘Al Qaeda Looking for Safe Haven’, Associated Press, published in The Australian Financial Review, 27 May 2002
Carold Robidoux, ‘Vets Carry on with Loyalty and Respect’, New Hampshire Union Leader, 11 November 2002
Emelie Rutherford, ‘Wounded New Hampshire Soldier Reunites with Family, Recalls al-Qaida Shootout’, Boston University, Washington Journalism Centre, 16 March 2002
‘SAS Helped Kill 300 Enemy in Afghan Fight’, AAP, published in The Sydney Morning Herald, 11 May 2002
‘SAS Put on the Squeeze’, Army: The Soldiers’ Newspaper, 28 March 2002
Craig Skehan, ‘High Praise for Diggers who Helped Save Stricken Americans’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 9 March 2002
Craig Skehan, ‘Special Forces Kill 10 Enemy Fighters’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 16 March 2002
‘Soldiers Wounded in Operation Anaconda Receive Purple Hearts’, CNN Saturday Morning News, CNN.com/transcripts, 16 March 2002
Susanne M. Schafer, ‘US Troops Survive Ring of Fire From al Qaida’, Associated Press, published in The Daily Camera, Boulder, Colorado, 8 March 2002
Rone Tempest, ‘Purple Hearts for 6 Wounded in Afghan War’, The Los Angeles Times, 9 March 2002
Mark Thompson, ‘11 Lives — The Soldier — Sudden Warrior: Randel Perez Didn’t Join the Army to be a Hero. But in Early March, He Suddenly Became One’, Time magazine, 1 September 2002
Ann Scott Tyson, ‘Anaconda, a War Story’, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 August 2002
‘US Chief Upbeat after Rout in Afghanistan, Gardez’, The Sun Herald, 17 March 2002
‘US Claimed it Killed 500, So Where Are the Bodies?’, compiled from Times wire services, St Petersburg Times, 17 March 2002
‘US Uses Bunker-Busting “Thermobaric” Bomb for First Time’, Agence France Presse, 3 March 2002
‘US Warplanes Dodge Missiles: No injuries, Marines Say — Al-Qaida Prisoners Quizzed: Bin Laden Whereabouts Unknown’, Guardian Unlimited, 18 December 2001
Jamie Walker, ‘Diggers in the Thick of Anaconda Battle — September 11 — Six Months On’, The Weekend Australian, 9 March 2002
Marianne Wilkinson, ‘Revealed: How Howard Brushed Aside the Tampa’s Medical Alert’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 10 October 2002
Brian Williams, ‘Is It Time for Guerrilla War in Afghanistan?’, www.dawn.com/2002/03/15/int14.htm, 15 March 2002
Kevin Williams, ‘Shaw Airman Makes History’, The Shaw Spirit, 27 May 2005
Andi Wolos & Bob Necci, ‘Afghan Leaflets Offer Reward for Killing Troops’, www.aiipowmia.com, 7 April 2002
David Wood, ‘Wounded GIs Recount 18-hour Ordeal Under al-Qaida Mortar Barrage’, Newhouse News Service, 2002
David Zucchino, ‘Operation Anaconda Leaves Bitterness in Its Wake’, The Los Angeles Times, 14 April 2002
www.chinook-helicopter.com/index.html
www.defenselink.mil/sites/
www.defense.gov/transcripts/
www.globalsecurity.org
www.pm.gov.au/www.whitehouse.gov/news/
AUSTRALIAN AND UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRESS RELEASES, TRANSCRIPTS AND REPORTS
Australian Department of Defence Annual Report 2001–2002
‘Background Briefing on the Report on the Battle of Takur Ghar’, official transcript released by the United States Department of Defense, 24 May 2002
Kelly Cahalan, ‘Seventeen Receive High Honours for Heroism’, US Air Force Press Releases, 14 November 2002
‘Executive Summary of the Battle of Takur Ghar’, United States Department of Defense, 24 May 2002, www.defenselink.mil/news/May2002/d20020524takurghar.pdf
Rebecca Grant, ‘Operation Anaconda, An Air Power Perspective’, Headquarters, United States Air Force, 7 February 2005
Robert Hill, ‘Australian Special Forces Soldiers Honoured for Afghanistan Operation’ press release from the Minister for Defence, Leader of the Government in the Senate, 27 November 2002
John Howard, Prime Minister of Australia, transcript of press conference at Australian Embassy, Washington, 11 September 2001
John Howard, Prime Minister of Australia, transcript of press conference; subject: deployment of Australian troops in fight against terrorism, 17 October 2001
John Howard, Prime Minister of Australia, transcript of press conference prior to deployment of SAS Troops, Sheraton Hotel, Perth, 22 October 2001
John Howard, transcript of the Prime Minister, the Hon.
John Howard, MP, address to welcome SAS troops back to Australia, Campbell Barracks, Perth, 2 April 2002
‘Interview With US Army Soldiers who Participated in Operation Anaconda’, official transcript from the US Department of Defense, 7 March 2002
Secretary Rumsfeld and General Myers, Department of Defense news briefing, 4 March 2002
‘Special Forces Task Group Commander Honoured’, media release by Australian Department of Defence, 23 July 2002
The 9/11 Commission Report. Final Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States
US CentCom press briefing; ‘Briefing Participants — General Tommy Franks, Commander, Centcom’, 4 March 2002, Marriott-Waterside Hotel, Tampa, Florida
Frank Wiercinski, text of rallying cry 1 March 2002, at Bagram Air Base, as published on The Los Angeles Times website www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-rallyingtroops.story, accessed January 2003
GLOSSARY
1-87
1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, from US Army’s 10th Mountain Division
ADF
Australian Defence Force
AF
Afghan Forces
ALICE
all-purpose lightweight individual carrying equipment (pack)
AO
area of operation
AQ
al Qaeda
ASIO
Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
AWACS
airborne warning-and-control system
BP
bl
ocking point
C2
command and control
CAS
close air support
CCP
casualty collection point
CentCom
US Central Command
CFLCC
Coalition Forces Land Component Command
CIA
Central Intelligence Agency
click
slang for kilometre
CO
commanding officer
CSAR
combat search and rescue
Dishka
Russian-made DShk machine-gun
E&E
escape and evasion plan
FAC
forward air controller
FARP
forward air-refuelling point
FLIR
forward-looking infrared camera
FOB
forward operating base
FUP
form-up point
gatt
gun
helo
helicopter
HLZ
helicopter landing zone
HUA
heard, understood, acknowledged; roughly articulated as hoo-ah
HVT
high-value target
IDS
infrared detection set
intel
intelligence information
JDAM
joint direct attack munition bomb
K2
Karshi-Khanabad air base
KIA
killed in action
locstat
location status
LRPV
long-range patrol vehicle
LZ
landing zone
medevac
medical evacuation
MEU
Marine Expeditionary Unit (US)
MREs
Meals Ready to Eat
NOD
night-observation device
non-com/NCO
non-commissioned officer
NVG
night-vision gear (or goggles)
OP
observation post
OpOrd
operations order
OpsO
operations officer
QRF
quick-reaction force
Rakkasans
troops of the 187th Infantry Regiment, from US Army’s 101st Airborne Division
ROE
rules of engagement
RPG
rocket-propelled grenade
RPK
Russian-made light machine gun
Rupert
senior officer
SAM
surface-to-air missile
SASR
Special Air Service Regiment (Australia)
SAW
squad automatic weapon
SF
Special Forces
sitrep
situation report
SKEDCOs
sled on which ammunition is loaded
SLR
self-loading rifle
Spooky
slang for AC-130 Spectre gunship
SR
surveillance and reconnaissance
SRV
surveillance-and-reconnaisance vehicle
Stinger
see SAM
TOC
Tactical Operations Center
UAV
unmanned aerial vehicle, e.g. Predator drone
UBA
unauthorised boat arrival
USAF
United States Air Force
WO2
Warrant Officer Class Two
Zulu time
Greenwich Mean Time
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This book would not have been written had it not been for my brother, Gavin ‘General’ Lee, a former signaller who served for sixteen years with the Australian Army and who, as a young corporal at 104 Signal Squadron in Sydney, worked with a younger digger by the name of Martin ‘Jock’ Wallace. Fifteen years later, Gavin believed that the story of his mate’s bravery should be told, as it honours all members of the Royal Australian Corps of Signals, present, past and future. Signallers play an integral role in any combat situation involving the Australian Army, yet their heroics are often overlooked, particularly those of the soldiers in 152 Signal Squadron of the SAS Regiment. Thanks for the idea, Gav.
18 Hours is the story of one man’s battle against al Qaeda and Taliban fighters in the mountains of Afghanistan on 2 March 2002. While much has been written about the War on Terror and Operation Anaconda, this is the first authoritative book from an Australian perspective about the Australians’ role in a key battle against al Qaeda. I want to thank Martin Wallace for the privilege of letting me tell his inspiring story of courage, tenacity and adaptability. As a soldier, Martin Wallace is one of the best; as a gentleman, one of the very finest.
On the home front, I want to sincerely thank Margaret Wallace for revealing the boy who became the man, and another former SAS trooper, Travis Standen, Martin’s best mate, who paints a picture of true Aussie loyalty.
The SAS Regiment is proudly secretive and protective of its operational, security and tactical matters and, as such, the Army’s highest command did not want this story told. Fortunately, I had a great advocate in former defence minister Robert Hill, who saw the value of the story and supported my determination to write it. It’s rare that a taxpayer thanks a politician, but gratitude to you, Robert Hill.
Thanks, also, to the head of Special Operations Command, Major General Mike Hindmarsh, who ultimately approved 18 Hours and gave SAS troopers a rare clearance to discuss an operation in which they were critically involved.
Profound thanks go to retired SAS trooper Johnny for telling me how it was in his part of the valley on 2 March, as well as to SAS officer Lieutenant Colonel Rowan Tink, who commanded the Australians in Anaconda and gave generously of his time and knowledge to talk me through battle strategy and tactics.
To the Special Operations Command team of Brigadier Timothy J. McOwan, Captain Jason Logue, Captain Gabby Parker and Corporal Sean Burton, many thanks for all your assistance and photographs.
It is worth noting that all the soldiers in the Shahi Kot Valley fought their own battle and each has a story to tell. To a man, they shy away from being called heroes, but as now General Franklin ‘Buster’ Hagenbeck said during our interview at the Pentagon, there were many heroes in Hell’s Halfpipe that day. Fortunately, some were interviewed for this book.
Special thanks, of course, go to Major General Hagenbeck for sharing his unique insight as commander of Operation Anaconda, and to Lieutenant Colonel Bryan Hilferty, the man who briefed the media each day at Bagram Air Base that March, and who later shepherded me through the Pentagon.
I am especially indebted to Frank Grippe, now a division command sergeant major at the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), otherwise known as the Screaming Eagles, at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. His experiences on — and knowledge of — D-Day was invaluable. Immeasurable gratitude to Sergeant First Class Michael Peterson (retired) for his generous assistance, insight, photographs and good humour; and to Sergeant First Class Robert S. Healy and Private First Class Jason Ashline, for sharing their memories.
For further details about the actions of Sergeant Peterson’s 120mm mortar platoon, I relied on sworn witness statements from US soldiers Captain James Scott Taylor, Sergeant Darren M. Amick, Specialist Eric T. Howell, Private First Class David Brown and Sergeant Thomas Oldham.
In reconstructing the opening eighteen hours of Operation Anaconda, and in researching and writing about the historical and political background of Afghanistan, I relied on personal accounts and recollections from several participants, and drew on the resources listed in the bibliography. As a former foreign correspondent, I am extremely grateful for the work of all journalists who reported from the front line history in the making. Their detailed daily reports helped build a picture
of what it was like for the troops on D-Day. If there are errors, they are inadvertent but they are mine.
For those interested in reading about the entire operation, I recommend Sean Naylor’s excellent book Not A Good Day to Die. Other fine references include Robin Moore’s The Hunt For bin Laden, Linda Robinson’s Masters of Chaos, Steve Coll’s Ghost Wars and Gary C. Schroen’s First In. For books on the SAS, see the bibliography.
Thanks to Catherine Fitzpatrick from then Senator Hill’s office, and a sincere thankyou to photographers Frank Violi and John Berry, as well as the US Department of Defense and the US Army for permission to recreate official maps and use photographs.
A bouquet to my agent and dear friend Selwa Anthony; you make it easy and worthwhile. Thanks to the terrific team at HarperCollins: Shona Martyn, Alison Urquhart and Mary Rennie. I tip my hat to lawyer Gregory Burn, an Army Reservist who stepped into action when needed, and to the editor of The Sunday Telegraph, Jeni O’Dowd, for supporting this project and giving me vital time to write it.
On a personal level, a massive and heartfelt thanks to my great mates and extended family who offered food, drink, laughs, encouragement and accommodation when needed: you know who you are, but David Burgess, Lynne Cossar, Jack Curry and Chris Soller (Washington DC), Miranda Devine, Debbie Hammon, Sharon Krum (NY, NY) and Linda Smith all deserve a special mention.
Eternal thanks as ever to my father, Kevin (Dixie) Lee, retired from the Royal Australian Navy; a man who showed exquisite taste in 1959 when he married a great woman, Valda May, who is forever missed but lives on so strongly in all our hearts and memories. And finally, but ever so importantly, I can’t thank enough my husband, J.P. Clemence. You’re my map-man and my ballast. With you beside me, life just keeps getting better.