Don Tate, Has Written an Email to Minister Griffin Extolling His Achievements

Don Tate, has written an email to Minister Griffin extolling his achievements.

In this letter he just couldn’t resist a bit more about his conspiracy theories. This is what he said (the full email is shown below)

“Then, I had the temerity to write a book-The War Within - and on top of everything else, this really got the veteran world upset. Apparently, only officers have that right- so the attacks have been relentless. The strange thing is- my book is not all about Vietnam. It’s about a bloke who comes from a poor background and does the best he can to rise above it. Veterans across the country have loved it- men and women, but that simply provoked even more jealousy.

There are officers who believe that writing is their domain, and there are some ordinary veterans who think that I seek to rise above them in doing so. Neither is true. It’s just my story, as best as I could write it.

All I can suggest- is that there are some very powerful folk out there with much to be afraid of. I can tell you this- during our investigations, we uncovered many anomalies with respect to our military history, and information that could savage the careers of many important men- but chose not to make it public because it served no common good.

However, it is all firmly recorded, and locked away.”

Well Don, it’s time.

If you have evidence that “could savage the careers of many important men” bring it on. It is a criminal offence for you to not report indictable offences. If you have knowledge or evidence about such offences you can be charged under the Crimes Act if it becomes evident at any time that you failed to report your knowledge or evidence to a relevant authority.

You and your mates have accused and abused for long enough; you are even of the opinion that Fergus is part of a massive conspiracy to protect the people you accuse.

Let me enlighten you – Fergus Fairfax is about truth and honesty and challenges you to make public all of the "many anomalies with respect to our military history, and information that could savage the careers of many important men" you claim to have uncovered.

Those people who you claim to “have the goods on” would applaud your disclosure so your stupidity in interpreting information can be made public. Claiming to have information “firmly recorded and locked away” is outrageous as well as criminal and although there is nothing to hide it gives the impression of blackmail on your part.

The truth of the matter is that you can't disclose what you haven't got and by claiming to "choose not to make it public for the common good" is the act of a devious, twisted personality who well knows that those who support your conspiracy theories will feed off this misinformation.

Put up or shut up

It's time to put up your evidence or shut up.

Show the veteran community your evidence of conspiracy and corruption in the Army during the Vietnam war and at the Australian War Memorial. Give us the names of those whose careers you claim will be savaged by your actions. If there is any truth in what you have to say I will gladly help you investigate their offences.

Your statements made on ABC radio and on Video tapeand many times in writing about conspiracy and corruption is the reason many honest veterans detest you.You state in your email "There are officers who believe that writing is their domain, and there are some ordinary veterans who think that I seek to rise above them in doing so." Such a stupid statement; the reason for the aggression against you is what you have said in the book about corruption,not the book itself. Many of those who hate you are former Other Ranks and Warrant Officersand I’m sure that many Officers also hate you for your stupid misinterpretation of whatever “evidence” you may have.

You were an extremely junior and inexperienced Soldier and don’t have a clue what you are looking at. Your research mate Ted Colmer is so disturbed he also would not know what he is looking at and he obviously believes that the Army, as an institution, was as corrupt as the Sydney based Federal Police Drug squad he served with.

Put up or Shut up

Aye

Fergus

"----- Original Message -----

From: Donald Tate

To: Alan.Griffin.MP@aph.gov.au ; J.Fitzgibbon.MP@aph.gov.au ; Mike.Kelly.MP@aph.gov.au ; Warren.Snowdon.MP@aph.gov.au ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;

Cc: ; ; ; ; ; ; bob.co@optusnet.com.au ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;

Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 10:55 PM

Pardon me for contacting you. I know some of you, but not most. I took this email from one of 'Fergus Fairfax' emails- and I won't be contacting you again unless you ARE on my personal list.

I should like to respond to the attacks by that faceless entity calling himself

Fergus Fairfax- undoubtedly just another mutation of similar types whose only preoccupation is to damage small targets within the veteran community. I’ve even seen an email from some fool to the effect that I didn’t pay my canteen bill whilst a teacher 16 years ago. I didn’t respond to that email. (I meet with 10-15 of those teachers 3-4 times a year, still, while the bloke who wrote the letter is unknown to any of them.)

There seems to have been a concerted effort to attack my character, and on each occasion, I answer the critics as best I can.

It's very difficult to do, because those who are

So, I’d like to go on the front foot here, and provide you with a little more information- to show that while I can’t prevent the attacks, you can better determine the relative sense or strength of them.

As Fergus quite rightly points out, I was disabled to some extent in Vietnam, and I won’t detail the circumstances or the consequences again. However, despite them.

I received the Australian Sports Medal in 2000 for services to sport- that was 30 years of coaching cricket, softball, and Australian Rules to boys, girls, men, and women. I was the first Illawarra recipient of the Medal- an Australian Honour. Let me say that again- 30 years of coaching, and administering sporting clubs and teams! Why it’s important for you to know that, is to advise you that those of dubious character, or who are contentious characters in society are NOT recipients of such awards.

Yes, I often attacked the local Councils because they were incompetent. And the fact that both the Wollongong and Shell harbour Councils are both under administration NOW, is proof that my comments were quite correct

I turned an average cricket ground into one of the loveliest country fields, and planted more than 200 trees around its perimeter as part of a Vietnam Veterans Commemorative Walk. This too, became quite controversial when the General Manager refused to allow a plaque acknowledging that Vietnam veterans had completed the project. I fought that Council for 10 years (and with the support of two genuine officers David Thomson and Alby Morrison, and a fellow veteran, Anthony Pahl) was successful in that battle, as well.

When the plaque was laid at the ground, it was to acknowledge the leadership of James B. Riddle who led the 2nd D&E Platoon- and another plank in the battle to have THAT platoon recognized

along with four or five others, I fought for many years to have the 2nd D&E Platoon accepted into the histories of the war- and that battle was finally won in 2008

In later years, I have spent available time building gardens for local churches, and widows- until arm and wrist injuries prevented me from doing so.

Then, I had the temerity to write a book-The War Within - and on top of everything else, this really got the veteran world upset. Apparently, only officers have that right- so the attacks have been relentless. The strange thing is- my book is not all about Vietnam. It’s about a bloke who comes from a poor background and does the best he can to rise above it. Veterans across the country have loved it- men and women, but that simply provoked even more jealousy.

However, it is all firmly recorded, and locked away.

Other than that, I have a beautiful wife and five fine children- 3 teachers; a police officer; and an IT officer. None has a stain on their character.

Surely I must have done something right.

Regards to all

Don Tate"