South Australian war heroes reflect on 20-year war in Afghanistan as Taliban regains control of country

As the Taliban sweeps through Afghanistan with ferocious speed, South Australian war heroes are questioning the purpose of the 20-year war.

A close friend of a South Australian soldier killed in Afghanistan has questioned whether his mate sacrificed his life in vain, as the Taliban sweeps through the country and grasps the capital of Kabul.

Luke Adamson, who served nine months in Afghanistan as a combat engineer, says fellow SA war veterans are currently in disbelief, observing from afar the swiftness of the Taliban regaining control.

Afghanistan vet Luke Adamson, who served as a combat engineer, pictured on August 17, 2021 in Mount Barker. Picture: Matt Turner.

“All the hard work over the last 20 years has fallen apart in less than three months after the withdrawal of Australian and coalition troops,” Mr Adamson said.

“There’s a lot of anger and resentment over the 41 (Australian) soldiers who were killed and why we were there in the first place.”

The Mount Barker man served alongside close friend Sapper Jamie Larcombe, of Kangaroo Island, who was killed in action during a conflict with insurgents in the Mirabad Valley region of Uruzgan Province in February 2011.

He also served with Corporal Richard Atkinson, of Hobart, who also died in action in the same month as Sapper Larcombe.

As he contemplated the fall of Kabul this week, Mr Adamson questioned: “Were their lives worth it? Probably not”.

“But at the same time, we were asked to go and do our job that we were trained to do and I know all the guys I served with are proud of their service,” he said.

“It’s just a disappointing end to an unwinnable war.”

Sapper Jamie Larcombe was killed in action in the Mirabad Valley, Uruzgan Province on 19 Feb 2011. This is a composite image, created for the memorial service in Tarin Kot. Flag and hat added for the memorial service.

The front page of The Advertiser on Saturday April 23, 2011.

Retired Australian Army Captain Bronson Horan, who was injured by an IED that killed Australian soldier Lieutenant Michael Fussell on a mission to kill and capture senior Taliban figures in 2008, said he felt “immense sadness” for the 41 troops killed on duty.

“Particularly their families who have lost sons to this conflict,” said Mr Horan, 48, who was medically discharged from the ADF due to head injuries sustained from the explosion.

“I have a sense of empathy for the Vietnam generation that fought a war that wasn’t particularly popular … I’ve always wondered why they were so bitter and now, watching the US embassy be evacuated in real time, I can understand.”

Mr Horan was leading a platoon of more than 100 soldiers from the 4RAR 1 Commando company in Afghanistan’s Mirabad Valley when Lieutenant Fussell triggered the bomb, making him the seventh Australian casualty of the war.

Asked if the Afghan campaign was worth it, Mr Horan said allied troops had succeeded in destabilising international terror groups and preventing attacks on “our home land”.

RSL SA president Cheryl Cates (left) with army veterans Bronson Horan (middle) and Bill Denny (right).

“If we were to go back to why we were there it was to disrupt a base of operations for Islamic terrorism and I think we were successful in that,” the former RSL SA president said.

“I’m happy to wear the cost again because it has kept these very, very evil people away from us.”

Current RSL SA president Cheryl Cates found the situation in Afghanistan “upsetting and frustrating”.

Ms Cates, who has three sons who have served in the Middle East, said the RSL was bracing to offer support to veterans suffering renewed trauma.

“We need to find a good way to support those who are distressed by this,” she said.

“But they don’t need to say it was in vain; the value of their service was just wonderful, because of what they did and what they gave to the Afghan people over there.”

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