This is Heston's story, filled with lessons that will be hard to forget.
Forging The Will To Fight is more than a memoir—it's a raw and unfiltered journey through the life of Heston Russell, an Australian Special Forces Officer who faced the extremes of combat and the complexities of personal identity, living separate lives, each carrying its own secrets. From the frontlines of Afghanistan to the battles within, Heston shares his story with unwavering honesty—laying bare the triumphs, traumas, and turning points that shaped his purpose, with details never before revealed to the public.
This book takes you inside the gruelling selection and training of Special Forces warriors, deep into operations across Afghanistan and Iraq, and behind the scenes of Heston’s most personal fight—defeating the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in a landmark legal battle after they defamed his platoon, while the government he once served stood silent.
This is a story of leadership, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of authenticity. It challenges societal labels and calls readers to confront their own limitations, lead with courage, and live with purpose. Whether you're a veteran, a leader, or someone striving to realise your greatest potential—Forging The Will To Fight will challenge and inspire you.
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"Heston's story is a powerful and honest account of his life and service for our beautiful country. All Australians should read his story to gain greater understanding of the dedication to country and life that our veterans have devotedly given for us all. Without the shocking truth of these stories, we risk living in a world that lacks understanding of the true cost for our comfortable lives."
Katrina Paterson
Mother of Corporal Scott James Smith,
who was killed in action in Afghanistan on the 21st of October, 2012
October 21st is a date that I will never forget.
On October 21st, 2012, I was 26 years old and leading my Commando Platoon on combat operations in Afghanistan. This was my third deployment within the special forces, but it was my first time as the November Platoon Commander within the Special Operations Task Group (SOTG). It was exactly what I had dreamed of doing since I was a teenager, and by this point in our deployment, we had achieved incredible success. Over the past few months, we had completed more than 50 missions as a platoon, each one a testament to our cohesion and combat effectiveness. We had been tested in the most difficult environments, performing to the highest standards, and I felt an undeniable sense of confidence in out ability to handle whatever came our way.
But the mission that day would be different. This was one of the biggest operations we had ever undertaken: a three-day clearance of the Kajaki Fan, in Helmand Province. This area was a renowned insurgent stronghold that had claimed the lives of two highly-experienced commando warriors, SGT Brett Wood and SGT Todd Langley, both killed in action just the year before.
Buy Heston's Audiobook here
Buy Heston's Hardcopy & E-book Here
prologue
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