US-Australian relations on the battlefield have certainly taken a serious pounding with the extraordinary claims around the November Platoon and its conduct in Afghanistan during 2012. With the recent fracas now resolved with an open apology from US marine “Josh” to his Australian brothers-in-arms, relations must improve, and I guess it’s only a matter of time before the ABC officially follows suit. (Marine’s apology to commandos over ABC stories, 24/10). After successfully suing the ABC, former Major Heston Russell noted that he had to act alone with no help from the defence bureaucracy nor politicians. The ABC obviously relied on the intransigence of these bureaucrats and their bias of not wanting to rock the boat as it persisted with its unlikely fables. Yet, the personal obligations to his beloved troops and determination to correct injustice in the name of lives lost saw Heston exhibit the same courage in the media and courtroom as he showed in the chill of the Afghan mountains. All Australia salutes a great soldier for the ages. Alan Sexton, North Parramatta 25Oct2023.