| 19 December 2005
More Thom stuff
1: I've posted a correction to the 'Thom's claims chart'. Kev Gillett has informed me that the Vietnam Gallantry Cross was a valor award, rather than a service medal. The chart is now as it was when I originally posted it. My apologies go out to all recipients of this decoration for the error. Thom's claims, however, that the VGC is the equivalent to the Silver Star is still an outright lie.
2: Further digging on USENET has turned up another Thom claim: our photographer claims to have flown B52s, even though he's 'not allowed to'. Um....what?
He also claims to have piloted an AC-1, an RF-4C, a T-33 and a U-3B. He also says he's flown in a "MiG-15bis" and this year got "half an an hour in a Sukhoi (jet)" as a birthday present. Thom claims to have been an "outstanding airman".
3: Thom claims to have been wounded by a mortar in Vietnam. Wouldn't this entitle him to the Purple Heart? No Purple Heart appears on his records.
4: Thom doesn't seem to know how many 'jumps' he made in Vietnam, or how many ribbons he was awarded. He has claimed figures of "8" and "12+" for the jumps. He has claimed 8 and 9 ribbons (which don't show up on his record).
5: Another weird Thom story appears on his website:
Thom claims that on his way to Australia in 1988, he was forced off the plane and detained in a Fiji Airport transit lounge by Colonel Rambuka's goons wielding SMGs and "wearing fez's, funny shirts and dresses". He was eventually released along with a delegation of Australian travel agents who'd been detained at their hotel by the army.
Sounds dubious to me. Thom emigrated in August 1988, the Fiji coup happened in May & September 1987. I kinda doubt the army was detaining visitors en masse a year later.
6: Another claim: "I was also a part of a POW rescue group between 1989 and 1999 called the Tachen Committee operating out of Thailand." Thom must have been a busy guy, given the fact that he claimed to be an officer in the RAAF during this period.
7: Another oddity, in response to someone who opposed the Vietnam draft: "So its OK that my life gets disrupted cause my dad was killed in Korea and my Mom was poor but the hippies and spoiled college types have the right not to be equally disrupted???"
8: Says he was also trained in "Nuclear Disaster Control" while in the USAF.
Again, how much is true, and how much is horseshit? It's always difficult to tell with old Thommy.
An open letter to Thom Lyons
This is a message to Thom from 'Mr Wong', my RAAF contact who debunked Thom's claims of having served in the RAAF.
Mr Lyons has apparently stated the following things in email traffic to 'Tex', the owner of this site. I wish to set Mr Lyons straight on some issues.
QUOTE:
"And finally I see that when I challenged your lies that you got a serving member of the RAAF to check up on my 1988 application for a commission and demanded his name you suddenly changed your story and in your sicko blog state: "I went over to ADFA library today to check Mr Lyons claim of being a RAAF Officer." I? what happened to the member of the ADF. Suddenly its I? Can't you keep your constant flow of lies straight?"
RESPONSE:
Mr Lyons, I have decades of service in my nation's military. I read 'Whacking Day' because I currently live in Canberra, enjoy Asian food, like motorbikes even if I do not ride one, and enjoy very occasional correspondence with Tex concerning the quality of the food in various Asian restaurants here. That is how I came to notice your claims.
As a member of the ADF, false claims of service in the ADF are of concern to me. I checked your claims in my own time, off duty, in civilian clothing, and checked a source any member of the public can see. This was not done at the direction or request of Tex. It was done because you made false claims of service in the RAAF. Had your claims been genuine, I would have informed Tex of this fact.
By your public statements, you appear to be the antithesis of what the ADF is and stands for. I did not believe your claimed association. Now it is proven false, I have no interest in you. You cannot now hope to obtain credibility for your eccentric views by claiming to have been an officer in my service. You cannot leach off our credibility.
QUOTE:
"By the way I'm stillw aiting for the name of the imaginary ADF mewmber that helped you out. I'm sure the head of the ADF would like to hear about him helping you."
RESPONSE:
Mr Lyons, I sent two emails to Tex concerning your claims. He asked if he could use the material they contained, and as a courtesy to me, did not mention either my name or the name of the other RAAF member who also queried your claims. This is a normal courtesy when asking to publish private communications sent in my own time from my own home.
You may note that Air Marshall Angus Houston is the current Australian Chief of Defence Force. Having served in the same service as him, I know his reputation to be one of honesty and integrity. I know that he looks after his subordinates and believes loyalty to be a two-way street. It is my personal opinion that the man does not know how to tell a lie - but he can certainly recognise BS. Personally, I regard him as the finest senior officer I have ever met. I suspect that such a man would be disappointed with you. I do not believe he would be disappointed with me, for using my own time to guard the reputation of our service!
Your own service in Vietnam, however close to or far from the front line it may have been, was honourable. I do not understand why you detract from it with false claims. In view of what seem to be your scurrilous personal attacks on Tex over this matter, I appreciate the courtesy and consideration he showed. I have less than zero interest in corresponding with you. As I have young children who also use what is the family email account, I do not wish them to be exposed to emails containing possible profanities.
As mentioned, My Lyons, I have no interest in you, now that your claims have been proven to be false. Anyone can fact check your claims, given the publicly available data I provided. You will also note that I have been unfailingly polite to you. Even when referred to by a nom de plume, it is important to me to look after the reputation of my service.
"Mr Wong"
Amen brother.
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