He has resigned as Merimbula's Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol divisional commander.

Mr Walters has admitted that the information on his military service, published in a News Weekly report, headlined "Chuck the new RVCP commander" on April 13, was false.

In the interview the article was based on, Mr Walters said that he had spent more than 33 years in the US military before retiring as a full Colonel in 1995.

He claimed to have spent two years on submarines, made two tours of Vietnam, been involved in Grenada in 1983, Panama in 1989 and in later operations in Somalia.

He also said he had served time with the Australian Department of Defence and the American Embassy.

Mr Walters, 59, provided a letter to the News Weekly on Monday, which read:

"I wish to make a full and unequivocal retraction of any and all my comments related to the article about myself which appeared in the Merimbula News Weekly on April 13.

"The information I provided was false.

"I humbly apologise to any and all persons I may have offended by comments and actions."

It is signed Russell Walters, Tura Beach.

Mr Walters' apology came hours before he was exposed on the CPMH website, www.cpmh.net, as a bogus veteran.

He is listed on the site under "cases".

But while he has apologised to the News Weekly and the public, CPMH investigator, Max Greevey, said it was going to take further action from Mr Walters before his case was removed from the site.

"Chuck will need to write letters of apology to the Vietnam Veterans of Australia, The RSL, the US Marine Corps, the US Embassy for starters," Mr Greevey said.

"Once we have these letters we contact the parties involved and ascertain whether his apologies are accepted.

"Should they all deign his contrition is deep enough - he will be removed from CPMH - with a staunch warning that should he tread the same path again he will remain on the site for life," he said.

CPMH is an association of Vietnam veterans from all services and ranks that exposes and brings federal charges against those who falsely seek military honour.

Most members have more than 20 years of military service.

The CPMH investigated Mr Walters' history after the News Weekly article sparked outrage from Victorian RSL members, who said they knew Mr Walters for more than 10 years from the late 1960s, a time when Mr Walters had said he was working for the US military.

Continued from page1

The CPMH investigations showed that he had joined the Ringwood RSL, in Victoria, on June 20, 1968, where he was a member until 1990, was secretary of the Ringwood RSL sub-branch in 1975-76, and transferred to East Malvern RSL in 1990, where he was a member until 1993.

These revelations uncovered inconsistencies in Mr Walters' claims, particularly his 33 years of military service.

The CPMH contacted the News Weekly with this information and the newspaper conducted its own inquiries into Mr Walters' history.

On June 22, Mr Walters spoke to the News Weekly and stood by his words, stating that all the information in the April 13 article was correct.

He showed the News Weekly paperwork on his service with the US Navy and Marine Corps from 1962 to 1967.

He could not, however, provide proof or confirmation of his operations from 1968 to 1995, saying he was not allowed to talk about it.

Mr Walters said his movements with the US Military over this time were confidential and must stay secret.

He would not let the News Weekly keep any copies of his military service papers and would not allow the interview to be taped.

Mr Walters said he regretted his original comments to the News Weekly.

"I shouldn't have expanded so much on my military career.

"But I was proud of my appointment and, in the moment, I said too much.

"In hindsight, I wish I hadn't said anything," he said.

Mr Walters then handed a signed letter of apology to the News Weekly on Monday.

A statement released by the Merimbula Coastal Patrol the same day said Mr Walters had taken the view that his position would have become untenable as a result of today's article.

"Chuck's brief tenure as commander was characterised by his dedication and administrative skills and the unfortunate circumstances surrounding his resignation are regretted by all.

"The patrol, however, is a valuable Merimbula asset and must be protected for the important part it plays in our community.

"Its members will continue to work in the best interests of that community and with the highest standards of integrity and professionalism," the statement said.

Jim Hinde is now the Merimbula Coastal Patrol's acting commander.

Far South Coast Coastal Patrol captain Jim Greenshield, who oversees coastal patrol operations from Batemans Bay to the border, was one of the officials who interviewed Mr Walters for the position of divisional commander.

He had given Mr Walters his full support and said, "In my point of view, he [was] performing well as divisional commander."

Mr Greenshield said Mr Walters' military history had played no part in landing the position with the patrol.

"The main criterion for the position is management skills," he said. "And from what we gathered in the interview, we believed Chuck had the necessary training and skills for the job."

Under the Defence Act, it is a federal offence to wrongly claim to be a returned soldier, sailor or airman, and a proven offence can result in up to six months imprisonment and a fine of up to $3300.

It is an offence to wear a service decoration to which a person is not entitled. This may attract additional penalties.

The CPMH website says: "Worst still is the insult to genuine veterans of any conflict, who find their courage, honour and valour stolen by imposters both from within and outside their ranks.

"Each time a military imposter is left 'unexposed', it cheapens the value of every true hero, and cheapens the sacrifice that every genuine service-person and veteran makes.