Queensland Man, 79, Charged with Falsely Claiming to be Vietnam War Veteran

A Queensland man has been charged with falsely claiming to be a returned Australian soldier and wearing medals that were not allocated to him. Police say the 79-year-old falsely claimed to have been deployed to Vietnam during a speech for Vietnam Veterans' Day in 2024. What's next? The man is due to appear in court on September 18. A 79-year-old Queensland man has been charged with falsely claiming to be an Australian war veteran and wearing service decorations that were not allocated to him. Police allege the man claimed at a 2024 Vietnam Veterans' Day event in Gin Gin, Queensland, that he had been deployed to Vietnam between 1964 and 1967. Bundaberg Police Chief Inspector Grant Marcus said the Dalysford resident did not spend any days overseas during his service with the Australian Army. The man allegedly wore multiple medals awarded to members of the Australian Defence Force who had served in Vietnam at the event, including the Vietnamese Campaign Medal and the Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal, which police say he bought online. Chief Inspector Marcus said the charges came about as officers were investigating a separate cold case matter in Gin Gin. "It was good work by one of the officers to recall that this gentleman had given that speech at the Vietnam Veterans' Day two years ago … and as a result of that, that caused them [officers] to undertake further follow-up investigations," he said. "Impersonating an Australian Defence Force member who has served in global conflict is a serious offence and can understandably cause great concern to the veterans in our community." Chief Inspector Marcus said he believed service people and their families would be "disappointed" and "disheartened" to hear the allegations. "I think they would be outraged that a person has impersonated someone or claimed to have served overseas when in fact that they haven't," he said. Chief Inspector Marcus said while medals were available online, people should only purchase them for the right and legitimate reasons. "There will be families out there who will want to obtain replicas … who will want to wear them during services such as Anzac Day and the like," he said. "It's important they wear it for the right reasons." The man is expected to appear in Bundaberg Magistrates Court next month. ABC Wide Bay — local news in your inbox Get our local newsletter, delivered free each Thursday