Don Tate Wasn’tPart of the Thua Tich Night Ambush

It’s unfortunate that Tate still tries to maintain a high profile in the veteran community. He is simply not worth it. His one and only motive is to sell a damn book about the life and times of Don Tate which no one would buy if not for a controversial section regarding the usual tasks of some Australians during the Vietnam War.

Don Tate says he doesn’t know whether he was part of the Thua Tich ambush. Well let us tell you Don you were not there.

To sell his book, Tate has sensationalisedasmall part of the book regarding the Thua Tich ambushby the alleged 2ndD&E Platoonbyclaiming conspiracy, dishonesty and corruption in the Australian Army at many levels.

Tate was a very junior, inexperienced Private soldier who went to Vietnam at his own request and was wounded. We know he was wounded because he tells us every damn day. He plays the role of a poor downtrodden “ANZAC Baggy Arse” who has had a raw deal from everybody everywhere.

Tate rabbits on ad infinitum about a routine ambush in Vietnam. His only experience with this ambush sitewas from a distance and then being withdrawn to the actual ambush site the next morning.

He arrived at the ambush location the following morning with other 1ATF personnel and was just in time to be photographed gawking atdead enemy.

We have received critical information which proves what we say about Tate ,the ambush and other matters about him.We holdthis information on file. To protecta well known person we will not bepublicly releasing the files we hold, and will not mention the name of the person who sent us the information.

From:XXXXX

To:

Sent: Monday, March 02, 2009 8:04 PM

Subject: Re: YOUR FEEDBACK

As was explained to me byxxxxx xxxxxxand another who was there at the time Tate was located away from the main ambush and joined the main body the morning after, according toxxxx he says in the book that he does not remember, I have not read it as I got to page 70 and it made me so angry that I returned it xxxxx xxxxxxx.

The whole deal makes me very bloody angry.

XXX

In his book Tate says that Jim Riddle told him he was next to him at the Thua Tich ambush. We know Tate was not at the ambush site that night according to the information we have received.

Jim Riddle was lured out to Australia as a publicity stunt by Tate and it all went wrong when Riddle became very ill and he is currently being repatriated back to his family and home in England. This will be a real "repatriation" and not as Tate used the word when dragging Riddle to Australia.

Tate is the master of his own destiny like all of us; Tate'sproblem is his obnoxious personality that leads him from crisis to crisis. We know Tate lies and is an arch schemer and manipulator.

His latest crisis was on the 1st March 2009 when Tate caused a stink about the AWM refusing to stock his book. He used his usual disparaging remarks when he said this:

From: Jim Wiltshire

To:

Sent: Sunday, March 01, 2009 7:35 PM

Subject: Fw: The AWM-Is this discrimination?

Worthy 'Gents'? (Ask a Sth Australian).JW

Veterans who are discussing the re-appointment of Steve Gower to the role of Director of the Australian War Memorial might be interested to know that I have been advised by my publisher - Murdoch Books - that the AWM bookshop will not stock my memoir- "The War Within".

Now, irrespective of what you think of me, one should ponder this fact carefully.

I am a veteran of the Vietnam War, disabled by my war service, and my book contains a significant section dealing with my time in it as an infantryman. The books written by General Cosgrove, Gary McKay and just about every other officer or soldier who have penned anything are all available at that outlet- but not mine.

Is this an attempt by the Australian War Memorial to censure me for highlighting the ignorance and incompetence of the AWM regarding the 2nd D&E Platoon matter? Is this the reaction of an institution with much to hide, still attempting to do so? Is this the petty-minded action we should expect from a former General of the Army who brought four of us to Canberra and almost fell over when he learned the extent of the evidence we'd uncovered regarding the corruptions of history and couldn't see the back of us quickly enough?

You be the judge.

Don Tate

author, "The War Within"”

Of course Don Tate has put his foot in his mouth again because what he said wasn’t true, so on 2nd March he said:

“From:

To: Allen Petersen

Sent: Monday, 2 March 2009 8:52 AM

Subject: APOLOGY TO AWM- "The War Within"

Recently, I received advice from a fellow veteran who had been unable to purchase a copy of "The War Within" from the AWM bookshop. I took the matter to my publisher who said the AWM had been "resistant" to stocking the book.

I then took the matter to veterans.

I'd like to advise that in fact, the AWM has stocked the book, currently has three in stock, and has always done so.

My apologies to the AWM bookshop for any embarrassment I might have caused them.

Don Tate

author, "The War Within"”

If Tate stood on a soapbox outside the AWM and apologized continually for twelve months it would never atone for the hurt and confusion he has inflicted on the veteran community. He is a menace with a big mouth, a short fuse, a less than adequate intellect, less than adequate military experience and is devoid of social graces.