The Promise by Jamie Zimmermann

Author:Jamie Zimmermann [Zimmermann, Jamie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia
Published: 2015-09-24T04:00:00+00:00

SEVENTEEN

During my rehab in 2007 I found out that Brett had won the Medal for Gallantry. He had earned it while on a joint operations with the US Army special forces in the Chora Valley, about five weeks after I’d left. Typical for Brett, he hadn’t said anything about it at the time. I knew he’d come home a little earlier than planned in July 2006 because of a foot injury. But he didn’t make a big deal about it – he shrugged it off. He actually told Elvi that an ammo box had dropped on his foot.

It was only months later that I received an invitation to the MG ceremony at Holsworthy, and put all the pieces together. The MG is the third-highest honour in our military system and is awarded for doing something courageous that changes the course of the battle. Brett, then a corporal, had been leading a team in an assault on a series of hostile, heavily fortified compounds when the Taliban let loose several RPGs. Three of his six Commandos were wounded by the blast of grenades and had to be evacuated. Brett took a load of metal through the foot and knee but didn’t put up his hand.

Unaware of his injuries the commanders asked him to lead an assault on several of the hostile compounds to allow the US force to continue their main assault. This would also take pressure off the teams with injuries and allow a medical evacuation. Brett led the assault as Taliban fighters, moving through tunnels that connected the compounds, appeared out of nowhere and attacked his team. His actions allowed the wounded soldiers to be evacuated by helicopter and Brett’s team took out a group of Taliban in the process. Next, he led a marksman team into the Taliban-held territory and they killed several Taliban in the ensuing fight. Most of this hell was conducted at night.

Brett’s strength wasn’t just as the warrior – he was one of the rare people who could coordinate and lead and do what was required when there was chaos all around. People have since referred to Brett as ‘brave’, but he fought alongside many brave people. Brett wasn’t just ‘brave’; he was capable of clear thought and decisive action, in a situation that would render most people only able to react. His ability to assess the turmoil and provide clear leadership meant he could change the fortunes of war. People like Brett are very valuable to armies.

Brett broke down physically only after the fight was done and the compounds defeated and he was immediately evacuated for medical treatment.

His partner Elvi used to say that Brett didn’t say things that didn’t need saying. The whole business with the MG was a classic case. I went to the ceremony and I asked him why he hadn’t said anything, and he shrugged. There was nothing to say, so he didn’t say it. He was awarded the MG simply as ‘Corporal B’ at the time, because the operation was classified.

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