Australia’s defence department forced into embarrassing backdown over decision to strip veteran of his medals

Australia’s Department of Defense has backtracked on a call to strip a veteran’s medals, labeling the move an “incorrect decision”.

Tod Sheaves was one of the crew members awarded the Australian Active Service Medal (AASM) in 2013 for providing humanitarian assistance and weapons transpiration in East Timor in the year 2000 aboard HMAS Maroona.

The navy ship was part of a 2000 deployment of Australian troops who toured the country, now known as East Timor, to provide military support after violence and civil unrest broke out.

Mr. Sheaves was among the veterans who served in the mission and wore the medals with pride for more than a decade.

However, the Defense Honors and Awards Appeals Tribunal recently decided to strip the crew members of the award.

The medals were ordered returned because they were technically “not assigned by the original task force or operation” because they had been brought in at “short notice.”

The crew members whose medals were taken away were told in a letter that they were ‘not allowed to wear the medal’. the associated ribbon and the return-from-service badge” until Mr. Marles ruled on the matter.

Veterans and members of the defense community rejected the “reprehensible” decision, on the cusp of Anzac Day commemorations, and called on Defense Secretary Richard Marles for an immediate response.

Now, in a stunning backward move, the Defense Department has revoked the tribunal’s decision.

“The Minister for Defense Personnel is aware of the Tribunal’s recommendation and has not agreed to it,” a Defense spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.

‘A letter has been sent by Defense to an affected veteran with incorrect information.’

Mr. Sheaves told Ben Fordham 2GB On Thursday, he was grateful the decision was reversed.

He said the move to strip medals from troops who served in the deployment was disrespectful to veterans.

“It’s a bit of a slap in the face for veterans who did receive the medal,” he said.

More than 200 troops who served on HMAS Manoora are still waiting for their AASM.

Phillip Thompson, the shadow assistant defense secretary, told the program it took too long for the government to resolve the issue after he brought it to their attention.

“There’s no need for me to kick them in parliament to do the right thing, that’s shameful,” he said.

Mr Sheaves (pictured) praised the decision to withdraw the initial move to get the award back, after the Government said the ‘incorrect decision’ had been made previously.

The tribunal’s decision to deny the other crew members was to ‘protect the integrity of the defense system for awards and decorations’.

The decision comes as family and friends of diggers who have committed suicide tell their heartbreaking stories to the Royal Commission into Defense and Veteran Suicide.

The Commission, which started on July 8, 2021, has been considering comments and hearings on the matter, and the final submission will be made on September 9, 2024.

An interim report released in August 2022 made 13 recommendations.

“The prevalence of suicide and suicidality among serving and ex-serving members of the Australian Defense Force is something that should concern us all,” the interim report reads.

“Every death by suicide, every life lost has profound consequences for family, friends, colleagues and the wider community.”

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Marles’ office for comment.