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DAY, Brian
Raymond. aka Sir Brian Day, aka Dr. Brian Day, aka
Doris Day, aka Dolly Day.
215849.
Born 1942.
For many years now
Veterans have seen articles published in many books
about Brian Day or have been present when he relates
his feats of derring do in Vietnam. To
those who served in the SAS and the AATTV the
stories told could not be corroborated from real
Military history of the time. Some
of the events claimed seem to be very far fetched
and many inquiries over the years have been made to
CPMH and now to ANZMI to find the
truth. Hundreds of documents and books
have been researched in an effort to find the truth
and publish it so that the myths can be put to bed.
If you served with Sir Dr
Brian Raymond Day at any time during your service we
would like to hear from you if you have any doubt in
your mind as to what you have been told. If we
dont already have the answers we will research
further to discover the truth and you will be advised
of the results. Your questions and the answers
will be placed on this page as it may also clear up
any stories others may have also heard.
Your details will not be published, instead your
questions and the answers will appear as per below.
Only your corps will appear in the "who from"
section.
We at ANZMI thank you in advance for your
assistance. The Military history for Vietnam
has been written and cannot be changed. The
entries below are not necessarily in date order as
some of the answers have to be researched.
From: Infantry [SAS] He was always accepted because of the SAS Moths that he wore in uniform and the Badge Replica on Suits, etc. I have since been informed that you may have information that would indicate that he is not entitled to either the Wings or the Beret, any information that you could provide in relation to this matter would be appreciated. Incidentally he has since appeared at an SAS Reunion, at which I was present, and again was widely accepted, but once more no one could quite remember when he served within SAS.
ANZMI reply.
From: Anonymous
Sent: Thursday, 16 February 2006
Sirs,To: information@anzmi.net Subject: Brian Raymond DAY I noticed that, on the photo of DAY and WRIGHT, found at http://www.anzmi.net/day/awards.jpg , there appears to be a U S Army Combat Infantry Badge (CIB) on the table. However...he makes no claims to being in the U S Army, and I am unaware of the CIB being available to foreign nationals. You may view the criteria for the CIB, here: http://www.americal.org/awards/cib.htm I hope you find this info to be useful.
ANZMI
reply.
Thanks for your
interest and information.
There is no
evidence to suggest Brian Day was a member of,
attached to, or posted to, the US Army during a
time of conflict.
Like you,
we are unaware of the CIB being available to
non-US Army personnel.
Brian Day is
entitled to wear the Australian Infantry Combat
Badge for his AATTV service during his second
tour.
His Vietnam
service on his first tour with HQAFV and 1ARU,
1ATF, did not qualify him for the award. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Infantry
Sent: Wednesday, 15 February 2006 10:21 PM To: information@anzmi.net Subject: Brian Day, Cambodia
I have read
and heard of Dr Brian Day's story of losing a battalion or
half battalion of FANK at
Battambang
[sic],
Cambodia.
You appear to
be privy to his records so is there
anything there about his service with AATTV in
Cambodia during the
Vietnam war? I'd
especially like to know about this
Battalion of FANK loss.
I look forward
to your reply.
ANZMI reply.
Thanks for
your question.
FANK = Forces
Armees Nationales Khmeres, the Cambodian
National Army.
There is
nothing in Brian Day's records to suggest he
served with AATTV, or any other unit within
the Australian Army, in Cambodia at any time
during the war.
During his
tour with AATTV, 71-72, he did assist in
training Cambodian soldiers at the Phuoc Tuy
Training Centre.
This
Battalion of FANK at Batdambang
story has
been researched, but not in great depth, and
no information has been found to support it
as fact, Brian Day in attendance or not.
We would
appreciate any further information on this
battle.
ANZMI. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----Original Message----- Subject: RE: Brian Day Dear ANZMI. Some years ago I was sent a copy of a newspaper article about Brian Day, Sydney Herald Friday April 20th 1984. I would like to reproduce some of the article which I will send you if you don't already have a copy. Brian Day's words are in bold font. "Brian Day hasn't stopped thinking about Vietnam since he left in 1972. He remembers one particularly bloody afternoon in early 1972 when the battalion of Cambodian troops he was training came under heavy fire in the Long Hai mountains in southern Vietnam" "We lost 48 men that afternoon, The Cambodians had run out of ammunition and were trying to get helicopter support. The only support we got was a rocket fired by an American gunship and that landed in the middle of us, killing about 14 people. In the end the battle just died out. The Vietcong did their damage and just left" end quotes. I cannot imagine Cambodian troops calling in US helicopter gunship support, surely this would have been done by the English speaking training staff. I have looked for information on this contact but can't find any. What I did discover is that, at that time, AATTV personnel were absolutely prohibited from engaging with the enemy so I have to believe that this contact would have been well documented and investigated. I can't find one mention of this anywhere except in Day's article. There are documents that make reference to ARVN contacts while with US Special Forces training staff around the same time, but in a different part of the Province, I have read excerpts from them. My questions. (1) Did this action in the Long Hai Hills happen as described by Brian Day? (2) Would an AATTV member take a Battalion of Cambodian, or Vietnamese soldiers for that matter, into the hills on a training exercise? Day didn't actually say that he was with the Cambodian troops at the time of the contact but a quick read of his story would suggest he was. Please reply. ps. You must be made aware that Brian Day threatens legal action against anyone who questions his war service and his apparently phoney tales.
ANZMI reply Thanks for the warning, we're quite aware of Brian Day's means of defence when questioned on his war service and decorations. Thanks also for your questions. (1) We have a copy of this newspaper article and have done a little research into the story. We have found nothing to suggest that this contact happened. As you suggest, this contact would have been well documented and investigated. The closest we came to information on something like this was a MATT report on operations conducted by Vietnamese Forces in the Hills and wider Province areas while accompanied by advisors. March-April 1971. (2) We can't answer this question right now, sorry. We could hazard a guess but we shouldn't in this situation.
Perhaps a
former AATTV member could enlighten us on
the size of indigenous and Cambodian units
that were trained in the area in Brian
Day's time, especially around early 1972.
FURTHER INFORMATION.
Source, Bruce Davies' book "The Men
Who Persevered"
The total number of Cambodians KIA
during 1972 was 26, and that was at
all of the UITG training battalion
locations. There were no recorded
contacts between the enemy and
Cambodian units with Australian
trainers in 1972.
From: AATTV
Sent: Thursday, 16 February 2006 7:08 PM To: information@anzmi.net Subject: BR Day ANZMI, I
have read with some interest the report
on Day. I
have had some earlier dealings with your
site on the expose of XXXX.
Brian Day claims to have
served with US Special Forces in Vietnam
this may be the case in a training role, however, he
was NEVER in combat whilst serving with
Special Forces.
The last AATTV adviser who served in a
US Special Forces combat unit, 2 Mobile
Strike Force, 5 th Special Forces Group,
out of Pleiku, was 25415 Capt Peter John
Shilston MC. When
Shilston left the Mike Force at Pleiku
on 26 Aug 1970 the AATTV
commitment to the US
Special Forces ceased completely.
Brian Day's record of Vietnam
service HQ AFV Saigon 28 Jan 67 to 9 Jan
68. AATTV
28 April
71 to 19 April
72.
It is obvious that he
could never have served with US Special
Special Forces on secondment from AATTV
in a combat role.
I am
not conversant with the story of Day
losing half a battalion or so of a FANK
Battalion at BATDAMBANG [CAMBODIA]. I
do know having commanded a Mobile Strike
Company with 2 Mobile Strike Battalion
5th SFG Pleiku on more than one occasion
on the South Vietnamese side of the
Cambodian border that no AATTV advisor
was permitted to enter Laos or Cambodia
under any circumstance whatsoever
regardless of any operational
commitment. If
this had occurred and was reported it
may have caused a severe diplomatic
incident. Regardless
of this how would Sgt Temporary Warrant
Officer Brian Day be in command of a
FANK Battalion? Come on Day put
your hand back in your pocket.
Regards
AATTV
ANZMI reply.
Our
thanks for this information.
This
former Officer is known to us and we'll
publish his personal details if he gives
us the OK. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Infantry
Sent: Thursday, 16 February 2006 6:23 PM To: information@anzmi.net Subject: DAY and his Bronze Star
We know DAY was with AATTV in a
sedentary administrative, but not combat role. His Bronze
Star should be investigated and proof
of his award and citation should be
sought. If this "combat warrior" can
claim to be "elite" and pretend to be
entitled to the SAS Sandy Beret and
SAS Para Wings, which he is not, then
his Bronze Star needs the same
scrutiny.
Perhaps
the AATTV Association can shed more
light on his 'decoration"
ANZMI reply.
Thanks
for your input.
The
US Bronze Star was awarded for
meritorious service and also with a
"V" device for valour. If Brian Day's
medal ribbon does not bear the device
then we must assume it was for
carrying out his duties, whatever they
were, in an orderly and Militarily
correct fashion.
We
can find nothing to validate this
award. "Honours and Awards" were asked
to confirm this but used the Privacy
Act to deny any information.
Strangely, "Honours and Awards" were
able to deny two of Barry Wrights
supposed foreign awards.
Should this be a valid award, Brian
Day would be able to produce the
citation from the US Defense
Department.
The US Bronze Star is listed on his
Certificate of Service so validating
documentation must have been sighted
by CARO. Perhaps they might be able
shed some light on this for you.
ANZMI.
From: Infantry
Sent:
Thursday, 16 February 2006 8:39 PM
To: information@anzmi.net Subject: BRIAN DAY I have read the comments on the updated aspects of Days military service, and by some of the posts to this time, it appears that there is an abundance of evidence coming forward to debunk Day's claims and entitlements.
If Day
has perpetuated his own 'combat
myths' and is wearing decorations
and regalia for which he is not
entitled, he should be totally
exposed for what he is.
He also
seeks glory with the Frontiersmen,
who have bestowed their own forms of
Post Nominals and Decorations...
Lastly and
sadly, his claimed 'academic"
entitlements such as Dr, if gained
from 'non registered universities'
further perpetuate this mans belief
in his own persona. I would
imagine Melbourne University or even
the courts of law would not
give any credibility or
entertain or recognise these
'academic qualifications'.
I also
read that Day has threatened
defamation of anyone who publicly
questions his service etc........."
let the marbles fall where they
may....it will be Day's onus to
PROVE he is entitled, not those who
question his claims"...
Keep up
the good work and having the
fortitude to question this mans
claims.
ANZMI reply.
Thanks for your interest.
With reference to the section of
your email that we have highlighted
in blue font. We would like you to
check on your 'non
registered universities' statement.
We
have a copy of a Brian Day CV that
was promulgated by an ESO in NSW as
fact. It was passed around the
Veteran Community with some
additions that denied the existence
of two institutions of learning
where Brian Day claims to have been
honoured with Doctorates. Perhaps
you could search
the
Internet to find out if they do
exist and would be the kind of
institutions that award Doctorates
of Human Sciences or Doctorates of
Letters to people like Brian Day.
They are the London Academy of
Science and the London Institute of
Applied Science.
Brian Day claims another doctorate
from the Kensington University of
California, this institution's
details, though skimpy, are also
available on the Internet.
Ref
your sentence about Brian Day
"threatening defamation", he has
already challenged one Veteran to
take the claims that appear in our
Cases page story to the Federal
Police but unfortunately Day chose
the wrong person. The man has no
connection to ANZMI.
Thanks for your final comments.
ANZMI. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Infantry
Sent:
Friday, 17 February 2006 8:30 AM To: information@anzmi.net Subject: BRIAN DAY
Hello. Can you help me with any
information about Brian Day's
degrees? I have a photo of his
business card, maybe an old one
that has his name Brian R, Day and
the letters KCSJ, PhD and JP after
it. I know what they stand for but
I didn't think Dr. Day had a PhD.
I thought he was called Dr. for
other degrees.
Does
he have a PhD?
Thanks.
ANZMI
reply.
Thanks
for your interest.
Unfortunately Brian Day's
doctorates claims, real or
imagined, are not really any of
our business. We are only
concerned with claims relating to
his military service.
You
could contact the AATTV
Association and ask for your
question to be passed to Brian Day
or contact all the Universities in
the Sydney area and ask them.
Should you find that he doesn't
have a PhD or any other
doctorates, you could try
contacting the Federal Police.
Sorry
we can't be of more assistance to
you.
ANZMI. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Infantry
Sent:
Saturday, 18 February 2006 9:45 AM
To: information@anzmi.net Subject: BRIAN DAY I met Brian Day during the Macquarie University conference, "The impact of the Vietnam war on Australian society"1987 (?) He had learned that I had been in Cambodia late 1974 early 75 as a backpacker. Brian told me he had lost a Battalion at Battambang in the earlie seventies;"they had been decimated by the Khmer Rouge".I asked him what was he doing in Cambodia at that time and he told me he was with the training team," but it was all hush hush". Brian's name came up in conversation several years later regarding his new title as sir Brian Day.I was told by another Veteran that the title was sought and obtained by Brian through the Catholic church as some type of title within their institution only! ANZMI reply.
Thanks for this. The Cambodia
story again. We can assure
you that no AATTV members
entered Cambodia to train troops
or conduct operations with them.
Perhaps an AATTV historian could
tell us if Team members carried
out any "hush hush" type
operations we don't know about.
----- Original Message -----
From: Infantry
To: information@anzmi.net
Sent: Friday, February 17,
2006 8:19 PM
Subject: re Day
Anonymous.
From
the book "Gallant and Distinguished
Service Vietnam 1962-1973 by
I.L.Barnes ISBN 0 999859 091
I have checked the
"American Gallantry Awards To the
Australian Army" for Vietnam
service.
Under the heading
"Bronze Star for Valour" - Total
Awarded 69. Under the heading
"Bronze Star for Meritorious
Service" - Total awarded 83. There
is no mention of any person named
Day or a similar name.
ANZMI reply.
Thanks for this.
The
Barnes book is no longer recognised
by the Directorate of Honours and
Awards as a source of information.
Ross Sutton's later book does note
the US Bronze Star (for meritorious
service) along with the Vietnamese
Cross of Gallantry with Palm as a
personal award, the same as a unit
citation, and other valid foreign
awards. This book is likewise not
recognised as a source of
information.
Bruce Davies' book, "The Men Who
Persevered" notes Brian Day as
having been awarded both of these
medals. In answer to our queries on
these, Bruce Davies informed us that
the information "comes from the
officially recognised files of the
Dept of Defence, Directorate of
Honours and Awards"
Brian Day's Certificate of Service
dated March 2001 shows these and
other foreign awards as being
officially recognised.
To
allay any further doubts about Brian
Day's authorised foreign awards,
here is the list as shown in order
on his Certificate of Service.
Decorations, Medals and
Commendations (Foreign)
Vietnamese Campaign Medal
Unit Citation of the Vietnamese
Cross of Gallantry with Palm
United States of America Bronze Star
Republic of Vietnam Cross of
Gallantry with Palm (personal award)
Republic of Vietnam Training Service
Medal Second Class
Kingdom of Cambodia National Defence
Medal with Bronze Star
(March 2001)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: AATTV ANZMI, The AATTV Association have no concern for the academic qualifications that Brian Day claims to have achieved, be it 'Sir Brian' or 'Doctor Brian'. Our association recognises his service as an advisor Sgt T/WO2 Corps Infantry with AATTV 1971/72. This service qualifies him together with all others who were on the posted strength of the unit, life membership of the AATTV Association. As either a financial or non financial member providing that he has not resigned his life membership BR Day is governed by the constitution of The AATTV Association. In general terms an article within the constitution states, 'Should a general member by his behaviour demean or bring the good standing of The AATTV Association into ill repute, that he show good cause why he should not be struck off the AATTV nominal Life Membership Roll for the life of the AATTV Association. The following is in the public arena either verbally quoted by Brian Day or in published photograph or print.: He had served with The Special Air Service [SAS Australian Army] with an entitlement to wear the SAS Beret together with the SAS Para Wings. He had served with AATTV with secondment to US Special Forces in 1967. He lost half of his FANK Cambodian Battalion at Batdambang [Cambodia] during his 1971/72 tour of duty with AATTV. Day's Record Of Service states , He was never on the posted strength of the SAS. During his tour of duty Vietnam 67 he was a Corporal Batman Driver with Australian Force Vietnam in Saigon , an instructor Corporal Australian Reinforcement Unit Task Force Nui Dat. During this tour he was not on the posted strength of AATTV and never attached to US Special Forces. In 1971/72 he served with AATTV in a variety of training roles some of these under the command of US Special Forces. He was never in command of a FANK Battalion and was never in Cambodia at any time therefore was not at Batdambang as claimed. Please be advised that within the AATTV Association the alleged improper behaviour of BR Day is being scrutinized under the appropriate articles within the constitution of the AATTV Association. Regards ANZMI reply.
Thanks for this
information. From:
Infantry/Military
Police/Civilian
Police Veteran
Sent: Saturday, 18 February 2006 11:01 PM To: information@anzmi.net Subject: Days Academic Quals After taking
appropriate
investigations and
consultations with
UNSW, I can pass on
general information
that the academic
quals of DR DAY
aren't worth the
money he paid for
them. None
of the institutes
that 'bestowed'
these awards are
accepted or
recognised
as statutory
approved
universities. The
comments made to me
are interalia "none
of these
institutions have a
campus; most have an
office as a campus;
none of the courses
are structured where
'attendance' is
required for
semesters, and the
list of failures of
goes on.
Essentially, these
degrees according to
the individual I
spoke to 'are
bullshit" .......and
anyone who professes
to have a Doctorate
etc, and more so
uses the post
nominals or titles,
is delusional" .
To attain a
Doctorate, one first
must attain and
possess a Degree,
and the same process
goes for a Masters
and Doctorate.....
Dream on Dr
Day.......you are a
'posing
pretender'
........of
military and
academic
status..........shame
shame shame
ANZMI
reply.
Thanks for your
input on Dr. Day's
doctorates. While we
are more concerned
with his war
service claims, your
message will
undoubtedly be of
interest to many
people.
Sir, while we
publish every
message received and
appreciate your
input, we must ask
that you confine any
further comms to
questions or
information on Brian
Day's claims
relating to his two
tours in Vietnam.
The Veteran
Community will judge
him according to the
information you have
already supplied,
which they can
check, so we should
leave it at that.
Thanks again.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From:
Bruce
Sent: Sunday, 19 February 2006 5:10 PM To: information@anzmi.net Subject: Reference Brian Day From Bruce Davies. I have just been
advised on the
flurry of emails
that have been
sent on Brian
Day to your
site. As the
co-author and
principal
researcher for
The Men
who Persevered,
which is a
summarised
history on the
AATTV, let me
assure your
readers that the
information in
the Nominal Roll
section of that
book has been
thoroughly
researched. The
honours and
awards listed
are from the
files of the
Department of
Defence approved
list. I do not
have the
authority, nor
do I wish to
publish personal
information on
the citations to
those awards on
the
internet. Brian
Day has
communicated
with me over
several years
and I have
advised him that
the information
on him contained
in several
publications is
wrong. If he
has been
misquoted, which
he claimed, it
was my advice
that he take the
matter up with
the publishers
and have it
corrected. The
Men who
Persevered provided a
reference to a
study conducted
on FANK contacts
in 1972, it is a
comprehensive
document and
there were no
major contacts
between FANK
battalions with
Australian
instructors and
the enemy during
1972. No
Australians with
AATTV went into
Cambodia in
1972. This
information is
evident from the
signals and
other
correspondence
available in the
Australian War
Memorial
archives. Those
who wish to
communicate with
me on the
information in
the book may do
so through this
email address.
Bruce Davies
Co-author The Men who
Persevered
1 RAR 65-66, and
AATTV 67-68,
69-70
ANZMI
reply.
While Bruce did
provide his
email address,
we will not
publish it here.
Should
anyone wish to
send a private
email to Bruce,
please send a
request for his
address to
information@anzmi.net
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Infantry Sent: Sunday, February 19, 2006 4:50 PM To: information@anzmi.net Subject: Brian Day medals ANZMI. I see
on your
letters page
that Day's
Bronze Star
was
questioned
and it may
be genuine
or may not
be from what
I read.
Confusing.
How about
his
Vietnamese
Cross of
Gallantry
with Palm? I
see in one
photo that
he wears
what appears
to be the
unit
citation for
this and in
another
photo I see
what I'm
sure is the
medal, a
personal award.
I would
believe that
some AATTV
members
received the
medal and
have been
authorised
to wear it
so there
must have
been
paperwork
from the RVN
government
like a
written
citation and
maybe a
covering
letter to
his unit
commander or
HQ AFV
Saigon.
In your file
on Day, do
you have the
citation
written in
Vietnamese
or the
English
translation?
If you do,
does it look
genuine?
I have
copies of
medals
citations
and their
accompanying certificates from
the RVN
written in
Vietnamese,
what else,
that I
translated
to English
for a friend
and could do
the same for
Day's if you
have it.
Any chance
you could
reply
showing a
copy of
whatever you
have?
Do you know
why he's a
life member
of the VVAA
NSW branch?
For his
services to
veterans,
that's why.
What
services?
His well circulated
CV is a load
of crap,
he's done
nothing for
no one
except
himself and
his cronies.
The veteran
grapevine
says things got
too "hot"
for him in
Toowoomba
and he fled
to Victoria.
Did you hear
this one?
It's about
time someone
got into
this fraud,
well done,
thanks.
ANZMI
reply.
Thanks for
your email.
We imagine
that with
all the
current
interest in
Brian Day's
Vietnam
service that
there will
be someone
out there
looking
further into
his medal
entitlements.
Yes, he does
have an
individual
award of the
VN Cross of
Gallantry
with Palm. (see
list in a
previous
reply) If
anyone has a
copy of the
citation in
English or
Vietnamese,
we would
appreciate seeing
it. FURTHER ANZMI INFORMATION. Ref your
mention
of Brian
Day
having "fled
to
Victoria"
You were
correct,
he is
living
there
now. We
don't
know
anything
about
him "fleeing
Toowoomba"
There
could be
many
reasons
for the
move but
we'll
certainly
keep on
checking
your
information.
Toowoomba
RSL
doesn't
answer
the
phone
but
we'll
persist
and see
what
they
have to
say.
From: AATTV I noted in a contact from Infantry on the messages about Day which states “We know DAY was with AATTV in a sedentary administrative, but not combat role.” I do not know if you have details of Day’s service with AATTV but the recent book called, The Men Who Persevered written by Bruce Davies and Gary McKay ISBN 1 74114 8316 has his service with AATTV as follows: AATTV 23 Apr 71 to 19 Apr 72 Apr 71, unallotted Phuoc Tuy. May 71, MATT Phuoc Tuy 14-22 Jun 71, NOT, Pleiku. 23 Jun-Nov 71, NOTT2, Phu Cat, Bin Dinh. Dec 71 AATTV Training Group, Vung Tau Jan-Apr 72,Phuoc Tuy Training Battalion I believe members of AATTV were posted as Administrative Assistants and this title did not really cater for just what a lot of Team members did whilst so posted. Maybe there are some AATTV veterans out there that served with Day in the locations shown that can shed some light on what his actual duties were with AATTV or maybe you have that information already. ANZMI reply. Our apologies for this late reply. Thanks for your input. There appears to be absolutely no doubt that the information on Brian Day's AATTV postings shown in the Bruce Davies/Gary McKay book is correct. Brian Day's records show Asst Admin, Asst Instr - MATTs and NOTTs. We have some first and second-hand information from personnel who served with Brian Day and during the same periods of time with AATTV but unfortunately is unconfirmed. Perhaps someone will see your comment above and advise us accordingly. If you are particularly interested in a Brian Day story to do with his postings to any of the above units, please get back to us. We think the Cambodia and Long Hais FANK stories have been addressed sufficiently. There appears to be absolutely no doubt that the information on Brian Day's AATTV postings shown in the Bruce Davies book is correct. From: AATTV Just what heroic deeds did Day do to earn such a prestigious award as the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm. His service in Pleiku was strictly administrative and his service at Phu Cat was on an administrative basis. His service in Vung Tau would hardly apply. You have already noted that the service with Phuoc Tuy Training Battalion did not involve Australians in any action. That leaves April 71 unallotted Phuoc Tuy, and May 71 MATT Phuoc Tuy. Any heroic deeds in these locations would have been recorded. Maybe Brian Day can explain to the veteran community just how he was awarded the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm. ANZMI reply. Thanks for your question. According to Bruce Davies' book, page 184, your statement on Brian Day's service in Pleiku and at Phu Cat is accurate. We understand that his service was of a purely administrative nature, ie, not an instructor but in an administrative support role. You have already ruled out service in Phuoc Tuy Province as an area where an action would deserve such an award, and we totally agree. There are only Pleiku and Phu cat left where he may have carried out notable deeds but then again we all agree that Brian Day was involved in a logistics role in these two locations. The Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry was devised to be an equivalent of the French Croix de Guerre and would not have been handed out liberally. There would have been a citation typed out by a clerk noting the decree number and date which created this recommendation of the award for the individual. The decision would then briefly describe exactly why the the award was being recommended and if accepted by the Vietnamese military region Commanding General, he would sign it and affix his seal. Distribution of this, along with a covering letter, would have been to: HQ AFV, "for forwarding" Joint General Staff/Adjutant Generals Division "for reporting" Free World Military Assistance Committee, "for information" and a copy for the files. HQ AFV would forward a copy to CARO to be entered in the man's records file along with an English translation. We have copies of Vietnamese citations for awards made to Australians and these came from readily available research facilities, eg the War Museum. We feel that if Bruce Davies searched these same facilities came up a Brian Day Cross of Gallantry citation, he would have mentioned in his book. Rather, he pointed out that in the only two locations where Brian Day may have done something out of the ordinary to gain this medal, Pleiku and Phu Cat, Day's duties were of a relatively mundane nature. We hold copies of two of Brian Day's records, a CARO (now SCMA) Record of Service and an AAB83 page where information on the Cross of Gallantry with Palm entry doesn't quite add up. The person who supplied us with these alleges that the AAB83 entry for the Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Unit Citation for all AATTV personnel, has been altered to reflect a personal award. We saw this AAB83 entry a long time ago, thought it to be a clerical error and dismissed is as such. We are taking advice on this right now. More later. From: AATTV
Sent: Wednesday, February 22, 2006 9:51 PM To: 'information@anzmi.net' Subject: Re: SAS & C of G I note that the AAB 83 records of Day held by you show erroneous entries in relation to his SAS qualifications and his Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm (personal award). Evidence presented also appears to show that Day was hardly, if ever, in a position to earn such a prestigious decoration. I now have to ask this question, just how did this award get to be published in a number of books? Is this because Day produced documentation to make the claim? If so, why does Day not produce this documentation to ANZMI for scrutiny and authentication or at least why can not the authors of the books produce such research documentation that they based their publications on? Indeed, there are still questions to be asked but from what I have viewed so far in the messages column, it appears, that Day has a lot of explaining to do e.g. claimed SAS qualifications, personal awards such as the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm etc. ANZMI reply. Thanks for your questions. Yes, every scrap of evidence points to Brian Day being in an administrative role at Pleiku and Phu Cat and not being involved in the AATTV training aspects of the postings and, as you say, could not have been in a position to engage the enemy in any action that would result in this award. He was an administrative assistant in the true sense of the words, organising mail, rations, accommodation etc. Not an easy job under the circumstances but.............! Your question, "-just how did this award get to be published in a number of books? Is this because Day produced documentation to make the claim? Well, we shouldn't surmise but it would appear that Brian Day told the authors he is entitled to the medal and produced something to support this claim If he produced copies of his AAB83 records to ANZMI as proof of his entitlement, we would dismiss them as worthless. Entries in an AAB83 are not considered by us to be true records. They could have been got at and altered by too many people especially by those who had the foresight and opportunity to alter them before they left the Army. We have found too many inconsistencies in Brian Day's AAB83 to believe anything he produces as proof of his claims. I think we mentioned before that he must have documents raised by the government of the former RVN as evidence of this award. We'd like to see them and have them scrutinised by by people who assist us in these things from time to time. So Dr. Day, you must have these documents that you used to impress others, now let us have them to peruse please. There are Veterans out there who are entitled to know the truth about you FROM ANZMI We think we have adequately shown that Brian Day was not an SAS Trooper at any time and was/is not entitled to wear the SAS beret and badge, or SAS Para Wings. We have also shown that his AAB83 records have been altered to show a completed SAS Cadre Course. This information will be widely distributed. As far as his personal award of the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm is concerned, we strongly doubt that this is genuine and challenge Brian Day to prove us wrong. Should Dr. Day send us the documents he used as confirmation of this personal award, we will have them scrutinised and at the slightest hint of forgery they will be forwarded to the Federal Police, relevant ex-service organi |
