Military veterans have slammed defense chiefs after they were bizarrely stripped of their medals over a “technicality” just weeks before Anzac Day.
Some crew members of HMAS Manoora were awarded an Australian Active Service Medal (AASM) in 2014 for their work providing humanitarian assistance and sweating arms in East Timor throughout 2000.
Despite a decade spent proudly wearing and displaying the AASM, The Defense Honors and Awards Appeal Tribunal suddenly withdrew the award from the crew members.
The move came after four members of HMAS Manoora subsequently applied for the same medal after carrying out the same missions, but were rejected by the court.
The decision was described as “reprehensible” by other veterans who called on Defense Minister Richard Marles to respond immediately.
A group of servicemen were stripped of the Australian Active Service Medal (AASM) just weeks before Anzac Day due to a shocking ‘technicality’ (stock image)
The crew was stripped of their medals because they were technically “not assigned to the original task force or operation” because they were recruited on “short notice,” 2GB reports.
A letter addressed to crew members whose AASM was removed advised them “not to wear the medal, associated ribbon and return of service badge” until Mr Marles ruled on the matter .
“One of the crew members told me that there is no doubt that the ship was in the war zone for the prescribed time and was participating in war operations at that time” , Ben Fordham told listeners.
“This could be corrected in retrospect by giving the remaining crew an AASM, but instead they want to get back the medals they have already approved.”
A fourth-generation digger, whose family’s service dates back to the Gallipoli campaign during the First World War, said it was “hard to believe” he had been asked to hand over his medal.
“How do I explain this to the members of my RSL sub-branch when a medal suddenly disappears? Veterans notice these things,” he said.
“How do I explain this to my children who are also very proud of their military history?”
The court’s decisions to deny the remaining crew members were intended to “protect the integrity of the defense honors and awards system.”
It was recommended that the then Defense Minister, Peter Dutton, review “the eligibility of any member of the crew of HMAS Manoora who had been awarded the AASM… for service between the 17th and April 18.”
“If it is determined that such an individual is not eligible to receive this award, take all reasonable steps to remove this award and demand the return of the affected medal and/or clasp.
The diggers were awarded the AASM after providing humanitarian aid and transporting munitions to East Timor as members of the crew of HMAS Manoora (pictured) in 2000.
A Defense spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that “the Minister for Defense Personnel is aware of the Tribunal’s recommendation and has not accepted it.”
“A letter was sent by Defense to an affected veteran providing incorrect information.”
After some crew members received the East Timor AASM (pictured), others were subsequently turned away because the ship was technically not assigned to the operation, in the short term.
Shadow assistant defense minister and former service member injured in Afghanistan, Phillip Thompson, said the decision was “shameful”.
“There will be veterans listening to this all over the world,” he told 2GB.
“This is a government that says ‘thank you for your service, now give us back your medal’.
“What the honors and awards should have done was give the same reward to every person on board that ship.”
“We are approaching Anzac Day and it is a very stressful and difficult time for many of our veterans, including myself.
“You think about your service, you think about the friends you lost.
“And we’re going to have veterans (asking) ‘Should I wear this?’ Do I deserve the medals I worked for and won?
The decision to strip the entire crew of HMAS Manoora of medals in the weeks leading up to Anzac Day (pictured, 2021) has been described as “reprehensible” by other veterans.
The fury comes as family and friends of diggers who killed themselves tell their harrowing stories before a royal commission.
The Commission on Veteran Advocacy and Suicide has been reviewing submissions and hearings on the case since July 8, 2021, and is expected to release its findings by September 9.
An interim report published in August last year found that initial investigations had revealed a number of factors leading to suicide deaths among defense personnel.
“The prevalence of suicide and suicidal tendencies among serving and former members of the Australian Defense Force is something that should concern us all,” the interim report said.
“Every death by suicide, every life lost has profound impacts on family, friends, colleagues and the broader community.”