How Australia punishes stolen valor
From Perth Now, the story of how to punish stolen valor violations.
Graeme Arthur “Gosh” O’Shannessy, 63, of Theodore, in central west Queensland, appeared in Biloela Magistrates Court yesterday charged with two Defence Act offences.
[…]
It will be alleged that, on April 22, O’Shannessy addressed a school assembly of more than 100 students, teachers and parents about the seven medals he wore.
It is alleged the medals were the Purple Heart, Defence Joint Service Achievement Medal, US Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Air Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm and Army Distinguished Service Cross.
The Purple Heart is a US medal awarded to those wounded or killed while serving with the US military and the Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest US Army award.
It is believed police investigated after a complaint from military impostors watchdog website, ANZMI, which had been contacted by someone at the assembly.
Police will allege that O’Shannessy was in the Royal Australian Navy from 1971 to 1974 and never saw active service in Vietnam or anywhere else overseas. Several medals were seized when Biloela police raided O’Shannessy’s house on August 2.
Dude, the police raided his house! I guess they’re more serious than American authorities when it comes to stolen valor. The article goes on to explain that O’Shannessy faces a $3300 fine or six months as a sex toy or both under The Defence Act. Apparently, O’Shannessy also had illegal weapons in his home, too.
Category: Phony soldiers
At my own personal web site, “OUR ETERNAL STRUGGLE”, I have the link to their web site listed among the “RECOMMENDED WEB SITES”, located in the column on the left hand side of the page.
For purposes of international clarification, I renamed the link, “AUSTRALASIAN MILITARY IMPOSTERS”.
If you ever go to Australia…go to the local RSL (Return Serviceman’s League). It is their version of the VFW/American Legion. I had a. blast. They are serious when it comes to their military. The Brisbane local newspapers still posts the daily weather in Gallipoli. Don’t try to outdrink them…I tried and failed, but I did try!
The Defense Joint Services Achievement Medal is for service after August 3, 1983. Was this wonder chunder put in cold storage after Viet Nam?
Illegal weapons too? Stolen valor is just a symptom, the disease is stupid.
Well, they say ignorance is bliss…but stupidity is obviously global.
Turd.
Sorry, but this case is the exception rather than the norm. I’ve been a fan of ANZMI for sometime, and the overwhelming majority of the cases they crack never result in arrests-they often petition the government down there to take a dimmer view of stolen valor. However, the ones in which people use their fake resumes to scam people out of money are prosecuted more often than in the US. I get the impression that this guy was probably making money as a lecture speaker, or at minimum making an incredibly high profile ass of himself. No matter how you cut it, Australia still does better than us in this regard though. God bless ANZMI and the work they do.
Good on the lads Down Under!
@2 Beretverde: Sounds like something I tried to do while enjoying Baumholder, Deutchland. Got into a drinking contest with some Falschirmjägeren … yeah, that didn’t work out too peachy. But I did get a one liter glass “Binding Bier” mug as a nice try prize from them … and a screaming hangover. 🙂