August 6^th, 2016

Port Hedland, Australia (BBC World Radio)

Kathryn Heeland – War Correspondent

Radio Broadcast Transcript – Proposed Edits

HEELAND NARRATING: 

Here on this small ranch outside of Port Hedland, a woman never rests.  A few cows, some sheep, chickens and several raucous sheep dogs roam a hundred acres of land.  The rising sun has barely given a ray of light to the dawn of this Saturday morning, one where many of us would still be deep in sleep, resting from the work week, working off a night of celebration perhaps.  Instead, I am awoken by the smell of strong coffee, plus a shout from the kitchen that breakfast is served.

As I hurry down the stairs, it is obvious that my hostess, Hanna Anderson, has been up for some time.  A hearty breakfast of fried sausages, potato cakes, and a pile of Weet-Bix are piled onto the small table.  Hot tea, coffee, sugar, and fresh sliced bananas sit in the middle.  Two teenagers tromp in, jostling each other until they see me, mumble pardons under the glare of my hostess, and sit down to nearly inhale more food that I would eat in a week.  Sean and Greg, as different as could be, are not my hostess’s children, at least not biologically.  Taken in by Mrs. Anderson in the last couple of years as fosters, she raises them and they work the small ranch with her, and she admits they fill a hole, but only partially.

The root of that hole hides itself in the shrouded secrets of Australian’s continued support of various conflicts and power projection within Asia and Africa, an interventionist set of programs allied with Britain and the United States, but also serving as needed within the United Nations peacekeeping forces.  While casualties among the larger partners of the alliances are obviously numerically higher, Australia has suffered proportionate casualties in its war effort, and the continued strain of such efforts have led to higher than average combat and non-combat related injuries and fatalities.  No one has suffered such loss more than Hanna, and she finally agreed to speak with me this weekend, on the third anniversary of her husband Steven’s death, who died of a heart attack on this day three years ago.

I traipsed around the ranch all day with the widow Anderson, helping where I could with chores, as she directed her two foster children, working them and me into the ground.  A small break for some sandwiches at lunch, a longer break for some hearty stew and biscuits for dinner, and finally at about 10 that evening, she agreed to sit down with me for a more formal interview, glasses of whiskey at our hands, an ashtray and cigarettes next to her.

For our world listeners, Hanna bore four children, Brett, Bridgett, Bryan, and Bryce.  All four died in the span of nine months in service as members of the Australian Defence Forces.  The news of such loss trickled out of this small community, and even the national news had short stories of the tremendous loss, but no comment from Hanna, even after her husband died a few short months after the death in a matter of weeks of both eldest and youngest children.

Flight Lieutenant Bridgette Anderson, DSC, died when her SAR helicopter crashed-landed during combat operations in Afghanistan in December of 2012.    She and her co-pilot, Warrant Michael Shay successfully returned to the base after pulling several wounded Allied Afghan soldiers out of combat, but took serious ground fire while doing so.  Bridgette suffered significant blood loss from a gunshot wound to the abdomen and later died from that wound and additional injuries from the crash landing.  She saved six Afghan Army special forces soldiers, and Warrant Shay also survived his injuries. She posthumously received the Distinguished Service Cross for her bravery.  The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan awarded Lieutenant Anderson the Shahid “Qalbi Tarijh, or Martyr of the Heart, Decoration in recognition for the lieutenant’s death.  Lieutenant Anderson also received the Ahmad Shah Mahsoud Medal from Afghanistan, unheard of for a female officer.  Her bravery is noted in the multiple awards, although segments of her citation and service record remain classified.

Navy Leading Seaman Bryan Anderson, NSC, a corpsman, serving as part of the Australian mission during the Ebola outbreak, died of the disease in February of 2013.   His service was recognized by the award of Australia’s Nursing Service Cross due to his gallantry in treatment of patients without adequate supplies in the early stages of the health crisis.

Army Recruit Bryce Anderson died due to a malfunction of safety equipment during jump training in his advanced course in March of 2013.

Staff Sergeant Brett Anderson, VC, DSM, was killed in action with Taliban guerillas outside of Kabul.  He had previously been decorated for valor multiple times, including the Victoria Cross for Australia during a tour in Iraq when his actions protected a hospital unit under attack by a surprise insurgent force near Baghdad.  He died on April 4^th, 2013.   Although the staff sergeant’s medals and awards are a matter of his public service record, his service jacket appears as if from pulled Ian Fleming novel, with the majority of the paperwork redacted before being released.

               Heeland:  Thank you for allowing us to visit Mrs. Anderson.  May I ask, for the benefit of our listeners, why now?

               Anderson:  Three years ago me husband died of a broken heart.  For three years and more the military have given me nah answers to me questions on the details of their deaths.  I reckon its time ta ask for more.

               Heeland:   For our listeners, the mantle above the fireplace bears the signs of the military service.  Folded flags of honor, cases of medals, and pictures in dress uniforms of a family of service.  Five flags, four fallen on active duty.  What drove your children to their service?

               Anderson:  Steve was proud of his service in the army.  He didn’t discuss it a lot, and it was before we married and the kids were born.  The kids also saw it as a way ta see the world, maybe bloody go ta college when they were done.  Although Brett paid for Bridge to go to tech college first, the others, well, I don’t reckon most of them planned on doin’ it forever.  Maybe Brett.

               Heeland:  Why do you question the details of their deaths?  Perhaps we could start with your daughter first?

               Anderson:  It’s kinda hard ta explain. Sometimes I have a bad feelin’.  Brett always made fun of me, but I have always been sensitive to, well, the spirits.  And there’s not enough of them.  The coffins don’t feel right.  The graves don’t feel right.  But, specific ta Bridge, we were shocked by her death of course.  I reckon that’s really what killed Steve, even though he didn’t die for another nine months.  It’s not that she wouldn’t have been brave, or saved someone.  But it was right before Christmas, and while in ten years, Brett had missed a lot of holidays, he always at least called.  We didn’t get nothin’ from him, nah visit, nah call.  It’s just not right, he was always closest ta Bridge.  He paid for her fuckin’ college didn’t he?     They say he was on a mission but he never came home after that.  Only emails, or a brief flamin’ call and it just wasn’t right.

               Heeland:  Perhaps he could not face the facts?

               Anderson: Brett never hid from nothin’.  He’d of been here if he could.

               Heeland:  So why allow Bryce to enlist at the age of seventeen if you were concerned?

               Anderson:  Bryce had been talkin’ about it for 5 years, and besides, he already had, although only a few weeks earlier.  He idolized Brett.  Brett got him into ridin’ those dirt bikes.  He got him his first one, helped him with the others.  He wasn’t home much but when he was, they were on those damn things.  Bridge’s death wasn’t going ta change that.  At first, we thought that Brett really was just out of touch due ta some sort of classified mission or something.

               Heeland:  What started to change your mind?

               Anderson:  Well, (she pauses to light a cigarette and take a sip of whiskey, which so far had been untouched), the commandin’ officer of the local naval yard showed up.  Said he was here because Bryan was sick and they were flyin’ him home as soon as they could.  Course he never made it here alive.  The fuckers let Bryce come home for the funeral, with all the honors again, but Brett didn’t show up again.  Same thing – a brief call, couple of emails.

               Heeland:  Let us take a step back.  You mentioned classified mission a few moments ago.  What did you mean?

               Anderson:  Well, it wasn’t like it was a big secret or somethin’.  Brett never said nothin’ about anywhere he’d been.  Nah pictures like everyone else.  I guess it was, what yoos call it, an open secret?   Anyway, his tattoo said it all, he was part of the SASR.  So everything was classified.  We never knew where he was, but that was ok, because he always called, he always came home.

               Heeland:  Of course, you knew it was dangerous, what he did?

               Anderson:  Are yoos fuckin’ daft?    Of course it was dangerous.  It’s how he paid for Bridge’s education.  They don’t hand out those medals for sittin’ behind a fucking desk.

               Heeland:  Pardon me, I had to ask.  So, in another few weeks, you received another visit?

               Anderson:  It was like a fuckin’ parade of military vehicles and chaplains and officers.  They say Bryce died while trainin’ in parachutist school.  The coffin was in the ground less than a fortnight before they brought word of Brett.  It was a mess.

               Heeland:  I am sure it must have been, still is very sad, very tragic.  But why the distrust of the information received from official channels.

               Anderson:  Well, I told you, it doesn’t feel right.  Come with me.

HEELAND NARRATING:  We go outside, the sun is finally setting but the dusk light still allows for sight as we walk a few hundred feet to a small shady area near the Tabba Tabba River.  There’s a small family cemetery, maybe twenty grave stones total.  Five are obviously newer than the others.  It is a very peaceful, natural setting.

Anderson:  Can’t yoos feel it?    It’s empty.  Not Steve’s of course.  But all the others.  Me children aren’t here.  I tinnie feel it, even if nah one else can.

HEELAND NARRATING:  We stood there as the sun set, maybe another twenty minutes before the widowed mother of four, dead brave soldiers led me back inside.

Anderson:  I’m sure you don’t believe me. No one else really does.  But why will none of their friends return my calls?  Why will no one talk to me?  I know all the standard answers.  They have nothing to say, but of course they are sympathetic.  But I think it’s because they can’t stand to lie to me.  Besides, I have this.  (She brings out a letter).

               Heeland:  What is this letter?

               Anderson:  Well, I ain’t never showed this ta anyone, but I got it about a year after Brett’s funeral.  Read it! 

HEELAND NARRATING:  The letter is postmarked from Perth.  It is addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Steve Anderson.  There is no return address.  It’s a sympathy card with a scrawled line that reads, “Have faith.  They aren’t gone.”

               Heeland:  What do you believe this means?

               Anderson:  Well, obviously, some of them are alive.  What do you think it means?

               Heeland:  It could just be what it seems to be.  An expression of faith, of condolences.

               Anderson:  A year after the last fuckin’ funeral?    With nah return address, nah signature? From Perth, outside’s Brett’s home base?  Are yoos fuckin’ nuts?  I suppose yoos reckon I’m.  Well nah matter.  I will find them, with or without anyone’s help.

 

HEELAND NARRATING:  Of course, none of our listeners would be surprised to hear the sadness, bitterness, even anger during our interview with Hanna Anderson.  To lose four children, regardless of cause, would be enough to tear any family apart.  To have lost all four to the service of the nation they grew up in, in such a short span of time, is indeed shocking, a horrible coincidence.  Or is it?  We tried to follow up with military officials regarding the various causes of death, and we reached out to friends and comrades of the deceased Andersons.  Given the staff sergeant’s heavily redacted record, it probably comes as no surprise that none of his SASR comrades were willing to speak to us, in fact, it was difficult to find any names associated with his service, and his former commander provided us with only brief comments similar in nature to the previously provided cause of death, while very emotionally lauding the sergeant’s bravery throughout his service.

Trainees from Bryce’s Anderson’s training company remember an accidental death during a jump, and remain shocked by its occurrence.  Warrant Shay, while not wishing to be interviewed live, did provide glowing testimony of Lieutenant Anderson’s flying skills and actions during the incident in which he received his wounds via an email to our inquiry.  Corpsman Anderson’s medical officer did acknowledge Bryan’s death, providing a very detailed review of the incident and the treatments the young sailor received in Africa after being quarantined.

Nonetheless, no one, other than service public affairs officers were willing to be interviewed live, and all those who responded provided details that were in accordance with public records of all the deaths.

Army Captain Sarah Ridges, speaking on behalf of the SASR regimental commander, “We are of course deeply saddened by the loss of Staff Sergeant Brett Anderson a few years ago.  His service to Australia and his comrades in arms, and frankly the people of the world, should be an inspiration to all of us.  Such tragedies often lead to a denial of events by those closest to those killed in action, and we do not know why the Staff Sergeant preferred to minimize contact with his family after the deaths of his siblings, although it is true that during one of the funerals he was indeed on assignment.  We have deep sympathy for his family, especially his mother, but also his friends.  We wish we could provide a full sense of closure to his mother, and answer all questions, but beyond classified details of his last missions, a full recounting has been made.  As to the death of his siblings and his continued service so close to each other, it is my understanding that a review of policy by a joint commission of the armed services in alignment with members of the Ministry of Defence is being conducted to review operating procedures for future implementation.”

               HEELAND NARRATING:  A sad, sad time for a small community and family in northwestern Australia.  We will provide updates on this story if and when new information can be validated by our BBC Australia team.  For World News Report, this has been Kathryn Heeland.