He proudly "sports" on his left breast the following medals:

Australian Active Service medal 1945 – 75.

Vietnam Medal

National Service medal

Vietnamese Campaign medal.

 Andrew Thomas Love is neither a National Serviceman nor a Vietnam Veteran.

"Drew" has "conned" the Returned Services League (RSL), and Vietnam Veterans Association NSW Branch Inc., and his "friends" into accepting him as a veteran member.

Full membership to the RSL depends on the following criteria.

Served overseas for not less than six months as a member of an approved peace-keeping force; or

Served for not less than six months in the regular or reserve forces of the ADF, or of any country not an enemy of Australia (shorter service can also qualify if discharge was honourable and for reasons beyond an individual's control); or

Full/Ordinary membership to the VVAA.

Any person who served in South Vietnam between the 23^rd May 1962 and the 29 ^th April 1975 (both dates inclusive) in any of the Armed Forces.

Now how can genuine veterans preserve their honour when our primary veteran organisations do not follow simple rules and check the bona fides of applicants?   Organisations that do not follow the proper protocols for membership are aiding and abetting the proliferation of Wannabes, Military impostors and pension fraudsters

"Drew" claims to have served in Vietnam, in a Cavalry unit, under another name, this was in 1971. He has been seen proudly sporting the Armoured Corps Blazer, Beret and Badge.

We have a copy of  "Drew's" Application to Enlist in the CMF. To the question in paragraph 17 that asks, "Have you served in any armed Force" "Drew" answered   - "No"   

"Drew" was enlisted into the CMF as a Trooper Recruit and discharged four months later as a Trooper Recruit. Would a medal bedecked, jungle trained, Armoured Personnel Carrier Jockey enlist into the CMF as a Trooper Recruit in the year following his operational service. "Drew," says he did. "Drew" was unable to cope with four months of CMF training so don't tell me he ever pulled on a boot with the professionals.

Drew's Record of Service for his time with the CMF shows no entries in the block for "Decorations and Medals", why, because Drew never had any medals in 1972 because he never earned any in South Vietnam in 1971 as he claims.

Drew has paraded himself as a National Serviceman and Vietnam veteran for many years, in the Nowra region, he even ran for election to office in the Bomaderry RSL, advertising his qualifications as "A National Serviceman and Vietnam Veteran" on an Election Flyer.
 

A copy of the Flyer was sent to CARO for verification and on the 26^th July 2000 CARO wrote; inter alia

"The attachment from the Bomaderry R.S.L Club Limited, Qualifications and Experience of Candidates for Election 2000, is of interest as it records that Andrew (Drew) Love was a National Serviceman and a Vietnam veteran.   This office has no record of Andrew Love being either".

 The Federal Police investigated Drew in Jul 2000.   In a letter from a Federal Agent,  of 4 July 2000 it was stated inter alia   

"This matter has been further investigated by our Operations Monitoring Centre (OMC) and it has been established that while Andrew LOVE is recorded as having four (4) months service with the Australian armed forces in 1972, it has been further established that it is highly unlikely that Andrew LOVE is in fact a Vietnam Veteran. It is also understood that Andrew LOVE is not currently receiving any benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs".

Love said in a letter that he wrote in late July 2004. inter alia

"The name Love does not appear on the Nominal Roll of Vietnam, I repeat that it does not appear.   The reasons for this are confidential and will remain so."

He further wrote:

"In October 2000 my record was brought up in discussion at the Bomaderry RSL Sub Branch, coincidently it was raised when I was not in attendance.   I produced the following to the then Secretary and the current President.  They being Dave Hardy and & Alex Stevens and now the President of the VVA Sub Branch Bob O'Grady has viewed these.

Original Medical Files.

Original Driving Test (Army)

In confidence Records of Service inclusive of this (sic) decorations and medals.

RAS Badge with accompanying paper work identifying the number and recipient.

Army correspondence re issue of medals"

Drew has supporters in the Nowra area who believe he is their friend, some have seen the documents he flashes around and believe his stories. Friends of "Drew" I say to you that you must be gullible but remarkable people to accept this human enigma as a friend.

We wrote "Drew" a letter requesting proof that he is an ex National Serviceman and a Vietnam Veteran, he chose to ignore our letter.

All we want Drew, is to see some real evidence to support your claims like:

The number on the rear of the RAS Badge.

The name inscribed on your medals.

The Record of Service that you have flashed around.

 We believe, whilst "Drew" was thundering around Phuoc Tuy Province, Vietnam in his Armoured Personnel Carrier a "Twin Spirit", was working as a Fitter and Machinist Toolmaker in LOVES Carbide Tooling Services, 67 Clapham Rd Sefton, NSW, a family business in Sefton, Sydney. When "Drew" enlisted in the CMF in 1972 he noted this employment from 1968 to 1972 in the Work History section paragraph 13 of his CMF Enlistment Application.  
 

Funny thing, the "Twin Spirit's" name was also Andrew Thomas Love born 16 Oct 1951. He looked the same; he had the same name and was born on the same day – If it looks like a "Drew", quacks like a "Drew" and waddles like a "Drew" then it is a "Drew" and Drew Love has been bowled out for a duck because "Drew" Love was never in Vietnam, in 1971 he was safe, working nine to five in the family business in Sefton, Sydney

"Drew" Love was never a National Serviceman or a Vietnam Veteran; however, he is a conman, a liar, and a thief of veterans' honour.   He has "conned" people who he claimed as his friends, he has lied about his military service, and he has stolen the honour of the veteran whose medals he wears. Incidentally to whom do the medals belong, if they weren't issued to "Drew" they may be plastic or perhaps they are medals that have been donated to the RSL and now listed as missing – anything is possible. Only "Drew" can enlighten us about "his" medals.

Drew your threats of legal action that you have dished out for many years as your first line of defence do not wash with CPMH, because, we have irrefutable proof of your miserable actions.

Andrew Thomas Love you will stay on our web site as a chronic offender and one of the worst that we have had to deal with. You have basked in the lime light of the honour of veterans, now you can wallow in the shame of your exposure.

This story is presented in the Public Interest, in particular, in relation to Ex Service Organisations that do not properly check the credentials of applicants. It is also hoped that it may motivate interested parties into lobbying their politicians in relation to the lack of interest shown by the Directors of Public Prosecutions and the Federal Police in preferring charges against offenders .