To save an Australian family

2023

acrylic on canvas

61 x 121.5 cm

Down in southern Iraq, our troop being quick response force receives a task. Our Alpha patrol is to go to the aid of an Australian family that has taken refuge at Al Muthanna. The family fear for their lives. We mount up and leave Camp Terendak, travelling past the last checkpoint manned by Ugandan soldiers, out into the endless desert and covered in a dust cloud.

We reach our destination: Al Muthanna Compound. Inside we halt our three armoured vehicles. I crack the hatch and breathe in fresh air. Sergeant O’Reagan enters a building and shortly returns with a family in tow. Seeing the expression on the father's face was priceless. It was one of relief and joy and amazement; seeing fellow Australians armed to the teeth. With situation awareness, the family are placed inside Echo, our armoured personnel carrier.

Up goes the ramp and we depart the compound and venture back out into the endless forever flat dusty Iraq desert. We all arrive safely back in Camp Terendak, the family are taken to our command post and we never see them again.