6
6
0
900-words detailing the hardest lesson I learned in the military - my courage failed me in Camp Bastion and two men died.
I hope that by highlighting my shortcomings I may inspire someone else to go that extra mile in whatever circumstances they find themselves in.
Rest-in-Peace Marines
I hope that by highlighting my shortcomings I may inspire someone else to go that extra mile in whatever circumstances they find themselves in.
Rest-in-Peace Marines
TQM | Moral Courage
Posted from thequietmancunian.comPosted in these groups: 
Afghanistan
Camp Bastion
Camp Leatherneck3rd MAW
Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR)
Afghanistan Camp Bastion Camp Leatherneck3rd MAW Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR)
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3
4
4
0
It took a lot of courage to say that to everyone who reads it.
If you'll indulge me a moment PVT Anthony Heaford , let me talk to you about healing.
You have survivor's remorse. The guilt of thinking that better men than you lie dead and you remain alive to continue on.
You think that you could have done something different and had a different outcome. I know the feeling, because I live with it every day myself.
So there are two things that you need to understand:
1. The enemy gets a vote. Undoubtedly those aircraft were a high value target that the Taliban wanted to destroy if they could. They observed the defenses and devised a way to penetrate them in an effort to accomplish that aim. A determined enemy will find a way. It might have changed their plans, it might have put off their attack for a while, but they would have made the attempt anyway. Maybe their new plan would've been better than the one they used. We will never know.
2. This one you seem to have digested already, but learn from what you could have done better, and make sure others don't make the same mistake. We all make mistakes - most of us are fortunate for them to not make a life-altering consequence - but in our business it happens.
My friend, I love you as a brother-in arms, so I want you to learn this from a man who has struggled with this for nearly 14 years now. The most healing thing I did was look a widow in the eyes and tell her what I did and what I regretted not doing well enough to bring her husband home. It was hard... very hard. And it also left an indelible mark on me that both she and I walked away a little more whole after that visit.
Since that incident, I spent the years after boring into the skulls of my Soldiers that every last one of them is critical, not one idea is a bad one, and if you think of a way to make our mission go better or be more secure I want to hear it.
I was not in charge on 13 OCT 2004 on a road northeast of Mosul, but I have been in charge many times since. I guarantee that what didn't go well then would NEVER HAPPEN on my watch. Sure enough, when we were tested again, that test was passed.
Pass the test next time.
That is your charge.
If you'll indulge me a moment PVT Anthony Heaford , let me talk to you about healing.
You have survivor's remorse. The guilt of thinking that better men than you lie dead and you remain alive to continue on.
You think that you could have done something different and had a different outcome. I know the feeling, because I live with it every day myself.
So there are two things that you need to understand:
1. The enemy gets a vote. Undoubtedly those aircraft were a high value target that the Taliban wanted to destroy if they could. They observed the defenses and devised a way to penetrate them in an effort to accomplish that aim. A determined enemy will find a way. It might have changed their plans, it might have put off their attack for a while, but they would have made the attempt anyway. Maybe their new plan would've been better than the one they used. We will never know.
2. This one you seem to have digested already, but learn from what you could have done better, and make sure others don't make the same mistake. We all make mistakes - most of us are fortunate for them to not make a life-altering consequence - but in our business it happens.
My friend, I love you as a brother-in arms, so I want you to learn this from a man who has struggled with this for nearly 14 years now. The most healing thing I did was look a widow in the eyes and tell her what I did and what I regretted not doing well enough to bring her husband home. It was hard... very hard. And it also left an indelible mark on me that both she and I walked away a little more whole after that visit.
Since that incident, I spent the years after boring into the skulls of my Soldiers that every last one of them is critical, not one idea is a bad one, and if you think of a way to make our mission go better or be more secure I want to hear it.
I was not in charge on 13 OCT 2004 on a road northeast of Mosul, but I have been in charge many times since. I guarantee that what didn't go well then would NEVER HAPPEN on my watch. Sure enough, when we were tested again, that test was passed.
Pass the test next time.
That is your charge.
(4)
(0)
PVT Anthony Heaford
On reflection, that answer sounds very much like the "Don't worry so much" reply I received from the guard commander 7-days before the airfield was overrun by Taliban.
Please do read my reports on the raid, airfield security & opium harvesting - I do know this subject intimately.
Please do read my reports on the raid, airfield security & opium harvesting - I do know this subject intimately.
(2)
(0)
PVT Anthony Heaford
Your reply some what vindicates my decision not to approach the US military with my prediction and warnings - I now see that I was as likely to run it to a half-witted arrogant and incompetent command-chain on the US side as I was on the British.
A sorry state of affairs, reflected in the result in Helmand (we got an ass-kicking)
A sorry state of affairs, reflected in the result in Helmand (we got an ass-kicking)
(0)
(0)
PVT Anthony Heaford
I'm very grateful for your taking the time to look.
My principle aim here is to get my experiences passed back up the chain-of-command. There couldn't of been a higher price paid to teach me about moral courage, so please use my experience in anyway you can to illustrate the point. Thank-you.
My principle aim here is to get my experiences passed back up the chain-of-command. There couldn't of been a higher price paid to teach me about moral courage, so please use my experience in anyway you can to illustrate the point. Thank-you.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
As the 1SG indicates, some things are beyond our control. Put it behind you, except for the lessons learned and carry on. That said it’s difficult to loose one of your own; if only I had been seconds faster, if only I had been more forceful in my warnings, and why did I survive?
Your reactions seem entirely normal,
Your reactions seem entirely normal,
(0)
(0)
PVT Anthony Heaford
At the end of the day the guilt and the angst are a personal indulgence, something it is healthy to go through but not dwell on I think.
What troubles me still 6-years later is the British military's refusal to even admit its failures - there's been a government minister level coverup - I know because I exposed it. I needed to know the truth was told - I've done that now, with this post I'm content that those in the US military who are interested and care enough to listen to such feedback have listened to me. I am very grateful for your reply and interest in my experiences.
It's a longer read (6,400-words) but my report on the events prior to the attack does show criminal failures and dereliction of duty by the most senior British commanders & government ministers, but as ever they have proved to be above the law and unaccountable. The attack was 100% preventable.
http://thequietmancunian.com/reports/bastion-airfield-raid.html
What troubles me still 6-years later is the British military's refusal to even admit its failures - there's been a government minister level coverup - I know because I exposed it. I needed to know the truth was told - I've done that now, with this post I'm content that those in the US military who are interested and care enough to listen to such feedback have listened to me. I am very grateful for your reply and interest in my experiences.
It's a longer read (6,400-words) but my report on the events prior to the attack does show criminal failures and dereliction of duty by the most senior British commanders & government ministers, but as ever they have proved to be above the law and unaccountable. The attack was 100% preventable.
http://thequietmancunian.com/reports/bastion-airfield-raid.html
TQM | British Guilt in the Deaths of Two US Marines, KIA 14th September 2012, Afghanistan
British Guilt in the Deaths of Two US Marines afghanistan | british army | helmand | camp bastion | opium harvest | the quiet mancunian | anthony c Heaford
(0)
(0)
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
-
Ask questionGet expert advice and
tips for your questions. -
Post updatePost pictures, personal updates, plans, or anything you like!
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google 
