I am calling on Senator Marise Payne - Minister for Defence - to rescind the  Military Medal awarded to Sergeant Bob Buick following the battle of Long Tan in August 1966.

The awarding of a MM to a man who admits to deserting his position during the battle, who admits to leaving wounded members of his platoon behind when he ran, and who admits to murdering a wounded, unarmed Viet Cong soldier in cold blood the day after the battle is an embarrassment to all veterans of the Vietnam War, and particularly to all infantrymen of all conflicts who have served with honour.

It seriously undermines the integrity of the Australian Defence Force, and makes a mockery of the gallantry award system.

Worse- it compromises the integrity of the Anzac tradition, and the integrity of the Australian Defence Force.

 

Strangely, no officer witnessed any gallantry by Buick. When questioned about this, his Company Commander - Major Harry Smith - who put Buick forward for the award says that although he never witnessed the bravery, he discerned it from listening to radio transmissions. But in his autobiography All Guts and No Glory, Buick states that communications were 'shit', that the radio had its aerial shot off. 

A number off men from Buick's platoon (including Cpl Barry Magnussen SG) have stated publicly that Buick ran for his life yelling, 'Every man for himself!' and that Buick had not made every man in his platoon aware of his decision to run. Buick himself admits that the 'withdrawal' was a mad scramble, contrary to Anzac tradition, in which his men crashed into each other and sent each other sprawling in their haste to flee.

Privates Jim Richmond and Barry Mellor were two of the men left behind, and retrieved the next day. Even 50 years later, Jim Richmond will not speak Buick's name. 

The citation for Buick's award states that he 'fought his way back to the Company position'- another demonstrable lie. Even Buick states this is false. It was included in the citation by a senior officer for no other reason that to 'bulk' it up.

The day after the battle, the Company returned to the battlefield. At 0920 hours, they chanced upon a wounded, unarmed enemy soldier. At 0941 hours, Buick murdered that soldier with two bullets through the heart to 'put him out of his misery'- even though an Australian medivac chopper was en route to pick up the wounded Australians. 

Challenged about his inaction with regard to this murder, Major Harry Smith simply pointed out that other VC soldiers were also executed that day- a stain on the battalion's reputation.

Commenting on this, barrister James Fergusson Thomson (a former Australian Army legal officer who was in Vietnam at that time) wrote in a letter to the Weekend Australian in August 2000 that if he had known of Buick's admission at the time, he would have had him court-martialled for murder. 

It is a telling indictment of Bob Buick that not only was he bashed by fellow platoon members after the battle for his cowardice in the field under fire, but was bashed again the last time he turned up at a 6th Battalion reunion by fellow veterans from the battalion, still appalled.

Buick did not endear himself to fellow Warrant Officers after Vietnam either. He was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (for which he was not entitled) but unashamedly wore it anyway for some 20 years before being forced to hand it back. 

He is a medal cheat, as well as being a coward of the highest order- and the Minister for Defence needs to show some spine and act on this matter. That gallantry medal awarded to Buick was at the expense of others in the Company who demonstrated true gallantry but went unrewarded.

The final consideration regards Buick's character. Most gallantry award-winners live a life of dignity, assisting fellow veterans, involving themselves in the community etc etc.

Not Buick. Like most frauds, he did nothing of the sort. Instead, he inhabited a netherworld from which he could degrade the service of others, and vilify fellow veterans from the coward's bunker- anonymity.

This award to Buick was based on falsehoods, and not merit, and is a national disgrace.