http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2009/11/09/99411_ntnews.html

War vet ordered to lose vest at airport

REBEKAH CAVANAGH

November 9th, 2009

A WAR veteran says he was ordered to remove his leather vest that bears his service medals when going to farewell a friend at Darwin International Airport.

John "Skully" Scally was outraged and offended when told by officers it was for "security reasons".

But Mr Scally, 62, who served in Vietnam with the Army, is a member of the friendly NT Chapter Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle Club and also has a club patch on his vest, and believes he was targeted because of all the recent "hysteria" about bikie gangs across the nation.

"I am a Digger - I'm a grunt," he said. "I'm not an outlaw. I'm not a bloody crook.

"I was harassed and humiliated all for no reason - it is a disgrace."

Mr Scally, from Wanguri, in Darwin's northern suburbs, said he refused to take his vest off at the airport.

He said he was held by security, who used "standover tactics", for 25 minutes in full view of the public.

"I wear this for the 60,000 servicemen and their families who have done it tough over the years," he said. "It's like your wedding ring. When you put it on you are making a commitment.

"We done our time and we earned our stripes. I don't deserve this."

Airport chief executive Ian Kew said it was not the vest that security had a problem with.

He said there were "prohibited items" attached to the vest and that once Mr Scally removed them he was allowed to move around the airport.

The prohibited items were some old, inert bullets that had been made into decorative keyrings and were hanging from the side of the jacket.

"There were other things on the vest that were ignored that would be more of a weapon than they were," Mr Scally said.

Mr Scally said it is not the first time he has been refused entry to a place because of the stereotype that comes with his vest.

He said he has been kicked out of pubs and clubs in Darwin and interstate.

AUSTRALIA BEWARE

We must protect our airports and borders from this bikie menace that put his life on the line to protect our country and our freedom.
This sort of behavior is Un-Australian and will not be tolerated.

Yours in confusion,

The Establishment.

Man Im fkn proud of our viet vets............He shoulds been given a lunch and beers not a kick in the arse............

It's the new bullshit attitude if they don't like the way you look watch out.  And the laws will be there to justify it. 

Well done Skully for your service to Australia, especially for having served in Vietnam. Even more so if you were a nascho. The security guys though have a thankless job and, with the greatest respect, since they didn't make the rules it does no harm to make it easier for them.  If you can't carry a nail file through security you'd have no chance carrying bullets, inert or otherwise. When they wouldn't let me carry an umbrella on board I tried (unsuccessfully) to picture the pilot being poked by a brolly until he agreed to fly to Cuba. AND in Bangkok they confiscated my scotch which had about a 2 tablespoons left in the bottle. I have this image of my bottle in a field somewhere with the bomb-disposal robot blowing it up.  Best advice for avoiding angst that I ever got: "Wisdom is knowing what to ignore". Good on you for honouring the diggers. Nothing can detract from the contribution you and they made - even if you do have to take off the vest occasionally to keep the Gestapo happy. 

Our Vietnam Vets had a pretty thankless job too mate, in fact many were openly vilified for following orders and doing their job. It does no harm to give a bit of respect where it's due. Not having been there at the time, I will reserve any final statements on which side was being belligerent and making life difficult for the other, but having worked with and in the Security Industry I'm more than happy to hazard a guess.
At the end of the day it doesn't take half an hour of public embarrassment to say "Lose the Bullet Keyring", but hey, maybe Skully was being an arse about it...

dont know him , but lets be sensible . whilst it may have been ok 20yrs ago to have a decorative bullet , things have changed unfortunately

I have all the time in the world for any ex seviceman who survives to live another day.... VV got the short end of the straw both in the field as well as when they got back home. I am appauled at this treatment after all these years. Pencil pushing dickheads make up the rules these days with no regard or respect for the fallen.

Not relevant, but I was once advised by a security guard to remove an item of clothing when I went to the Gold Coast for christmas the year before last. I was wearing a black 'Champion' hooded jumper and as I was leaving the airport a guard at the door said, "you should probably lose the jumper mate." "Why's that?" was my response. He looked at me for a second and said "because it's bloody hot out there."

I didn't listen to him. I should have listened to him. I stepped out through the door and nearly fuggin melted, it was bloody hot out there. I learned one thing that day, if a security guard asks, tells, or advises you to do something, it probably is a good idea to listen.

Buuuut anyway, back to the subject at hand. I have a rifle round with a chain through it I usually wear around me neck, and got stopped by a security guard about it, at fuckin Safeway! pricks them safeway night guards.

Sensationalist media at its best!

It seems to have had nothing to do with him being a VV (nothing but respect for servicemen) little to do with him being in  a vest and a lot to do with him trying to carry a prohibited item into a secure area.

"Bank teller ordered to hand over nail scissors at airport!!" wouldnt sell papers or get the same reaction here.

cheers
Surly

Farkem all Those pricks should get down on their knees and lick the boots of folks like John Scully and any other serving or ex serving armed forces members. they are the ones that fight and have fought for the freedom of everybody in this bloody country. And too think I might be going to Darwin in a few weeks for my NAGM ?? Hmmm will have too wear my vest for sure and call into the airport.

A huge thank you too all the members and families of the VVMC and too all the other service men and women for what you have done and continue too do for this country.

I hope this is ok . this is the contents of an email I have received today If I should not have posted it Mods feel freee to remove it
Cheers Slider


IMPORTANT: This email remains the property of the Australian Defence Organisation and is subject to the jurisdiction of section 70 of the Crimes Act 1914. If you have received this email in error, you are requested to contact the sender and delete the email.




PASS THIS ON, AS OF THIS WEEKEND, 12 AUSTRALIAN SOLDIERS HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES IN AFGANISTAN
AND ABOUT 90 HAVE BEEN WOUNDED
Let's not forget that FREEDOM is not free….




Please forward to at least one person!



Thinking of all the Australian
Soldiers





A Prayer chain for our
Military... Don't break it!

Send this on after a short prayer for our soldiers
Please Don't break it!

GOD BLESS YOU
FOR PASSING IT ON!




THE FINAL INSPECTION

The soldier stood and faced God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
Just as brightly as his brass.

'Step forward now, you soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek ?
To My Church have you been true?'

The soldier squared his shoulders and said,
'No, Lord, I guess I ain't.
Because those of us who carry guns,
Can't always be a saint.

I've had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was tough.
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.

But, I never took a penny,
That wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime,
When the bills got just too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God, forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place,
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around,
Except to calm their fears.

If you've a place for me here, Lord,
It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand.

There was a silence all around the throne,
Where the saints had often trod.
As the soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.

'Step forward now, you soldier,
You've borne your burdens well..
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell.'

Author Unknown~

It's the Military, not the reporter who has given us the freedom of the
Press.. It's the Military, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of
Speech.. It's the Military, not the politicians that ensures our right to
Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. It's the Military who salutes The flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by The flag.

If you care to offer the smallest token of recognition and appreciation for
The Military, please pass this on and pray for our men and women who have
Served and are currently serving our country and pray for those who
Have given the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.


















IMPORTANT: This email remains the property of the Australian Defence Organisation and is subject to the jurisdiction of section 70 of the Crimes Act 1914. If you have received this email in error, you are requested to contact the sender and delete the email.

Dig it Slider...........

Thanks for posting that slider.....made me stop and think a bit.

Better off hassling those fucking knobs who go around with their belts and pants under their ass cheeks and their jocks showing - purposely.

I mean its a free country and they should have a ride to be such dickheads, but everyone should be hassled accordingly otherwise.

Have to say this is so bad,I went on a trip to NSW last mth and flew up from Melbourne airport.
Wore my VVMC vest,with everything on it, and not a problem walked around the airport all the time with it on
straight through check in and onto the plane with it on.
Dont think I even saw any guys walking around doing the bullshit job like they did in the top end.
SHAME ON THE PRICKS!!!!!!!!!

Now while I'm here, I'm looking for some VVMC poker run t/shirts, if anyone has any they want to sell
please let me know via PM cheer's Alan

The Patch

When I came home my neighbours shout
Your service and your wounds don't count
Your presence here we do not need
Your type this country should not breed

With pain I ask what is wrong
That I did fight the Viet cong
So many mates did give their lives
So our yellow neighbour could survive

We were so young and innocent
When to Vietnam we were sent
Our lives and bodies torn apart
Our greatest efforts not worth a fart

My daddy said to me, my son
Be proud of the job that you have done
You served your nations hour of need
There is no shame in such a deed

With one hundred thousand of our mates
You marched up to the firey gates
In answer to your country's call
You were prepared to give your all

Five and twenty years have come and gone
With very little to right the wrong
But now I ride with mates of old
A bunch of blokes with hearts of gold

Down this nations roads we roll
We wear a patch that says it all
A skull and hat on a field of black
We show it proudly on our back

The slouch hat says to one and all
A digger here stands proud and tall
The skull for mates no longer here
Who's eternal memory we hold dear

The field of black a token sad
Of all you neighbours who did us bad
The writing gold stands out so bold
This tells of mateship, solid gold

A team rides down life’s highway
To hell with you and all you say
I've been to hell because of you
To save your homes we lost a few


Twelve times as many you did kill
As died when stationed on that hill
At Nui. Dat we did our job
Yet you, You scum our pride did rob

For politics you sold us out
You marched and screamed you bloody lout
You called for peace you hypocrite
So that in parliament you could sit

You cannot ride with us today
You haven't got the guts to pay
The price we paid was bloody high
But none of you will tell us why

We'll ride our bikes and find our mates
We'll open up the bloody gates
When you see us think of your shame
You cannot take from us our name

Vietnam Veterans one and all
We stand and ride so bloody tall
HONOUR, COURAGE and our PRIDE
That's what we take when out we ride.

-- Bandit September 1991 RAE --