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Ken J Musgrave - Service Number 180707 told many
convincing stories of his experiences while serving in
Vietnam. He wore Vietnam Ribbons on his leather jacket,
with an Infantry Combat Badge and a Returned From Active
Service Badge. He frequently wore a baseball cap with
the Vietnam Veterans' logo and his car carried Vietnam
Veteran stickers.
Musgrave rode with the Vietnam Veterans' Motorcycle
Chapter in Western Australia. He did not wear Club 'Colors',
claiming he only wanted to be a social member. One
ex-member of the Vietnam Veterans' Motorcycle Chapter
who rode with the Chapter at the same time as Musgrave,
described how he had to produce his Discharge
Certificate as proof of his service, even though he
served in Vietnam as an Infantryman with the now Chapter
President. In retrospect, he now surmises that Musgrave
preferred to be a 'social' member because he was unable
to present evidence of his service in Vietnam to gain
full membership of the Chapter.
ANZMI commends the Vietnam Veterans' Motorcycle Chapter
in W.A. for taking strong action to prevent their ranks
from being contaminated by wannabes. An example we wish
all Ex-Service Organisations and groups would follow, to
stamp out parasites like Musgrave. It is only the slack
inaction of some ESO Executives that allows wannabes to
prosper, at the expense of the honour of those
servicemen and women who have paid the ultimate
sacrifice in combat or died since they served. Their
memories deserve to be honoured for all time, not
dragged through the gutter by gutless individuals who
seek glory and influence in their name.
Although Musgrave told many stories of his service in
Vietnam to the members of the Vietnam Veterans'
Motorcycle Chapter, one stands supreme. He almost
reduced his mates to tears when describing his heroism,
relating how he accidentally fell 200 feet from a
chopper while rappelling over the canopy in hostile
country, and then waiting two nights to be rescued. He
told his mates that after being rescued, he was taken to
Singapore for medical treatment and rehabilitation and
then returned to active service in Vietnam to complete
his tour of duty. He displayed his DVA Gold Card as
evidence of the permanent disability caused by this
accident.
Musgrave's mate witnessed many horrific nightmares when,
while shaking profusely he pretended he was being
ambushed, screaming "incoming".......and yelling to his
mates to "keep your heads down".
Musgrave also demonstrated to his mates, acquaintances
and family, serious anger problems and a dysfunctional
way of dealing with life's issues, blaming his behaviour
on PTSD, that he claimed he suffered as a result of his
Vietnam service. Musgrave's persona is that of "the
tough bikie with no morals, who doesn't give a sh.. what
anyone else thinks".
Musgrave's life as a 'war hero' and emotional parasite,
feeding on his friends' compassion and support, started
to unravel on Anzac Day 2007 at Nollamara RSL. Several
members of the VV Motorcycle Chapter questioned his
friends about Musgrave's claimed Vietnam Service. His
name did not appear on the Vietnam Nominal Roll, so his
friends contacted the WA Branch of the Vietnam Veterans'
Association of Australia, believing that they could
clear up the issue of Musgrave's claimed Vietnam
Service, believing that the lack of mention in the
Nominal Roll must be an oversight as he was a mate.
After much soul searching, Musgrave's friend approached
him in September 2007 and asked him to produce evidence
of his Vietnam Service.
Musgrave refused to discuss the matter and threw his
"mates" out of his life. An unpardonable act when the
mates had been so close to him for some years. Even
then, his friends could not believe that an
ex-serviceman who had experienced the camaraderie of
service life and understood the true meaning of
"mateship", as only Diggers can, could be so low as to
live the lie so thoroughly. There must be some other
explanation, perhaps his mental state, his PTSD, his
nightmares of Vietnam, his war caused injuries?
This is where the story takes an unexpected nosedive.
The friends who contacted the VVAA in Western Australia
have recorded the flow of correspondence between
themselves and the WA Branch of the VVAA. The timeline
of that correspondence, and comments by the Vietnam
Veterans who sought help. are as follows:-
14-6-07 Statutory Declarations and photographs
sent to Peter Ramsay VVAA
2-10-07 Reply from VVAA - "looking into it"
15-10-07 Change of leadership of VVAA - Jason
O'Dowd at the helm
20-11-07 Notified that O'Dowd will be looking
into Musgrave
11-1-08 Letter sent to Musgrave by O'Dowd which
stated:-
Mr Musgrave,
It has come to the attention of the Vietnam Veterans
Association of Australia evidence in the form of
three Statutory Declarations and photographic evidence
alleging that you are portraying yourself as a Vietnam
Veteran.
Should the information at hand be incorrect, please
advise.
The Association has forwarded this information to the
relevant authorities.
Signed: Jason O'Dowd
State President
7-2-08 Richard Williams is now VVAA head honcho
- he describes O'Dowd as "slack" and advises that the
Stat Decs and photos that have been forwarded to VVAA by
the Vets have been lost.
9-2-08 Request from VVAA for replacement Stat
Decs and photos
16-5-08 VVAA requests photos, address and more
info about Musgrave - Richard Williams in contact with
Australian Federal Police.
30-6-08 Notified that Stat Decs still missing
3-7-08 Notified that O'Dowd had really stuffed
things up and that the Stat Decs are still missing
16-10-08 O'Dowd has found the missing documents and
Richard Williams is handing them to Australian Federal
Police
18-11-08 Statutory Declarations hand delivered to
Australian Federal Police by Richard Williams
When Richard Williams advised the Vietnam Veterans that
he had hand delivered the Stat Decs to the AFP, he also
offered the following (encouragement ????):-
While it is an important issue to us, in terms of
national security etc, it is a low priority to the AFP.
It doesn't have official status but XXXX is following up
on it, a spare time job when he can combine it with
other inquiries.
His advice is, if we can provide any further upto (sic)
date info ie, photo's, statements etc, showing that the
offenders are still acting as "wannabee's". (sic)
So..........what can we glean from the preceding records
of events.
An emotive and divisive and dishonourable issue
concerning Veterans is a low priority with the
Australian Federal Police. Offences against the
Commonwealth are a low priority and have no
official status!!!!!!!!! John 11:35
If the offenders are no longer committing crimes, there
is no need for further Police action? (All criminals
stand in line and sign the pledge, then you can go
free!!!!!)
A part of the duties of Australian Federal Police is to
guard our Federal Government Offices, "checking
passes and kicking arses" if I correctly recall my
trips off base back in the Dreamtime, and from the
information above, that would seem to be the limit of
their capability.
Politicians can change the priority that the AFP gives
to offences committed by the Musgraves polluting our
society.. Aren't they always telling us how important
it is to respect the memory of Veterans and describing
how much our Nation owes it's Veterans? Not that long
ago the Politicians enacted Legislation to increase the
fines for the same offences committed by Musgrave, to
over $3000.00 and six months gaol. The Politicians told
us they would stamp out wannabes like Musgrave and allow
no dishonour to be visited on the sacred memory of our
fallen comrades. The Veteran Community is
waiting.................
The truth is that for issues that are important to
Veterans and Peacekeepers, Politicians have the same
attitude as Musgrave..............they "don't give a
sh.."
A key lobby group, (so they tell us) the VVAA, who
supposedly advise the Government on Veterans' issues,
needed seventeen months to pass information to
the Australian Federal Police. No wonder the
Politicians don't give a sh.., when it seems a key
lobbyist, the WA Branch of the VVAA, shows that little
interest in helping some Vietnam Vets when they seek
assistance.
Along the way during the purgatory the Vietnam Veterans
were going through while waiting to get information or
action from the various ESO's and Government Departments
they had contacted, they took a chance with ANZMI.
Although there were hiccups along the way as the ANZMI
Investigator stumbled occasionally while dealing with
Government Departments who don't seem to understand that
the second half of their job classification is meant to
describe what the public expects them to perform, the
truth began to emerge.
National Archives of Australia confirmed Musgrave's
military service and Regimental number, but that service
was well after the cessation of hostilities in Vietnam.
Musgrave's service taught him to "talk the talk", but
there were no Warlike actions involving Infantry troops
during his period of service. Therefore the Returned
from Active Service Badge and the Infantry Combat Badge
that he wore on numerous occasions, including Anzac Day
ceremonies, and at Bruce Rock Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Service in 2006, are further slurs he committed on the
Veteran Community.
The real Vietnam Veterans described a great weight being
lifted from them, and they were greatly relieved to
finally know the truth. They were very disappointed
that Musgrave was proved a lying wannabe, but relieved
of the pain they had been experiencing because of
Musgrave deceiving them with his lies and totally
destroying their trust and leaving them unable to cope
with their emotions.
Being an ex-serviceman, Musgrave was accorded the
courtesy of a letter from ANZMI, offering him an
opportunity to defend his honour, or, to make an apology
to those he had betrayed, rather than immediately being
shamed on the ANZMI website without notice.
Musgrave replied to ANZMI, confessing to deceiving the
Vietnam Veterans and their families and offering his
sincere apology.
I Ken Musgrave wish
to apologise to the Vietnam Veterans and their
famlies for deceiving them, in know way did I intend
to dishonour those who fought or died.
The reason for my dishonesty was because I was going
through an extremely difficult time and needing
help. I thought the Vietnam Veterans Ass. where the
only ones able to help and believed you had to be a
Vietnam Veteran to receive help.
Then when I received help, support and understanding
from the Vietnam Veterans and their families, I
found I was in a situation that I could not see away
out of. This dilemma has been eating me away and
hoping there was some way of resolving it.
I have distanced myself from all veteran communities
because of th remorse I feel.
I never intended to hurt or dishonour anyone and are
very sorry for my actions and hope my sincere
apology is accepted by the Vietnam Veterans
community.
I would like to thank the Vietnam Veterans community
for there support and understanding when not many
other could
My sincere apologies
Ken Musgrave
The Veterans affected by his betrayal of friendship
could not accept the apology. They described the
apology as "stomach turning" and further stated that as
they knew Musgrave so well, they believed there was not
a scrap of remorse attached to the apology. They
further informed ANZMI that Musgrave has had many
opportunities to make an apology and added that as
Musgrave has had military service and should know and
understand the values that ex-servicemen and women hold
sacred, his crimes were manifestly greater and he should
be made accountable for his total lack of respect and
feeling toward the Vietnam Veteran Community.
Musgrave has been described as a bloke who "doesn't give
a s...", and the persona he portrays is that of a "tough
bikie being a law unto himself". He deserves no respect
or forgiveness by Veterans.
This tale relates the true situation that wannabes
create in any community. Those who believe that
wannabes' do no harm, should carefully read this case
and many others on the ANZMI website. Then they will
see the anguish of betrayal, the lost friendships and
the hurt caused by these gutless impostors who steal the
honour of true heroes, past and present, of the
Australian and New Zealand Armed Forces.
While ever a single Vietnam Veteran exists, the powerful
feelings that are a legacy of their service will
continue to permeate Australasian society and beyond.
It is therefore imperative that we do what we can in our
time to right the wrongs for those not here and those on
the way out.
This is published in the
public interest, particularly that of the Vietnam
Veteran Community. All information presented here is
fact and the truth. Reports from private citizens are
supported by statements of fact and statutory
declarations. |
MUSGRAVE Ken J
