Stolen Valour

MARK ANTHONY CARTWRIGHT UPDATE. 2020

Since the exposure of Mark Anthony Cartwright, further evidence of his fraudulent behavior has come to the attention of ANZMI.

Cartwright claimed in his response to an ANZMI request, that he had no idea how a photograph of him wearing Australian Army uniform and Vietnam War Service medals appeared on his Facebook Page. He was going to take the matter up with Facebook. This, in spite of friends posting compliments to his published Facebook photograph.

The strange thing was that in the original message from ANZMI to Cartwright, there was no mention at all that the photograph had been downloaded from his Facebook page. He knew it was there. He acknowledged the compliments.

Before Cartwright deleted all Facebook references of himself wearing Australian Army uniform with Vietnam medals, and other incriminating evidence, ANZMI downloaded another photograph of Cartwright wearing the same medals.

Also,further photographs of him publicly wearing US. Army Vietnam Veteran Infantry Combat cap and jacket patch were downloaded.

Below are further examples of Cartwright’s deceit over many years and his fraudulent claims of Australian Army Vietnam service and U.S. Army Vietnam service. These were Facebook posted. No doubt to deceive his church congregation as a Vietnam veteran, into providing him with cash donations to prop up and pay for additions to his 77 acre Araluen Ranch, Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Photo 1. Three Generations. As stated in his original entry response to the ANZMI request, he claims he is a third generation veteran.

Above - Cartwright again displaying his un-awarded Australian Vietnam medals.

Photo 2. With two genuine U.S. Veterans.

Above - Cartwright dressed in U.S. Army Infantry Combat Vietnam Veteran peaked cap with U.S. Vietnam ribands and camouflage Army pants. He is standing with one other genuine U.S. Vietnam veteran and an elderly genuine U.S. Korean veteran in the wheel chair.

Photo 3. On Holidays

Above - Cartwright photographed at the Old Faithful Geyser, Yellowstone Park, wearing a U.S.Vietnam Veteran Combat Infantry peaked cap, and T shirt with the word “Army” displayed. He also wears the camouflaged Army pants.

Cartwright has claimed his innocence in regards to the initial ANZMI exposure.

This ANZMI update should put the matter beyond all doubt for his church followers, that he is a charlatan and a crook.

Below is an extract from the Last Roundup Cowboy Church website homepage.

ARALUEN RANCH.
From Cartwright.

God has blessed us with 77.7 acres of land to be used to glorify Him. It will have a three fold ministry. Apart from the main house we will be building a guest house with 3 bedrooms and one bathroom as well as kitchen and living area. It will also have a 2 car carport attached as well as stables for 6 horses. This will be stage 1.The main ranch house will be stage 2.

1) It will be a place for combat veterans from all conflicts to come and rest with their families and assist them to re-adjust,
2) a place where children who are caught up in the system can come and get trained in the basics of living which will include cooking, budgeting, responsibility as well as working with both power and hand tools.
3) A place where people can come and learn about how to grow natural medicines etc.
4) And most importantly, a place where people can learn about and meet with Christ
If you wish to support our ministry, you can make checks out to Last Roundup Cowboy Church. we are in the process of getting out 501(c) which will enable donations to be tax deductible.
[/b]

At ANZMI, we would suggest that if you ever go to his Last Roundup Cowboy Church or to his Araluen Ranch, be sure to keep one hand on your wallet.

Cartwright should return every Araluen Ranch cash donation he received by his continual lies and deception.

This should be the end of the road for Cartwright as a Pastor or a Preacher or whatever he wants to call himself. He needs to be sacked immediately and reported to the local Police. He has milked or tried to milk the Last Roundup Cowboy church goers and friends for many years, claiming he has Vietnam War caused PTSD, and on that basis, asking for cash or cheque (U.S. check) donations for his Ranch. Can’t get much lower than that. Genuine U.S Defence Force veterans in the United States will be disgusted with Cartwright, and he should be spurned at every opportunity.

He will no doubt say “sorry” to his faithful following and ask for divine forgiveness. The only reason this shyster is sorry, is that he has been well and truly caught out.

Cartwright has been a Military Imposter for a very long time. He sees it as a means of income. As such, he will remain on the ANZMI site for eternity.

The local Colorado Springs Media have been notified.

****

Original Report - 25 April 2020

Pastor Mark Cartwright, is an Australian born person residing in Colorado Springs, U.S.A. He is 63 years of age and is now an American citizen. Cartwright is the Senior Pastor at the “Last Roundup Cowboy Church” located in that City. On their website, the Church states the following about Cartwright -;

“Pastor Mark Cartwright joined our community after moving to Colorado Springs from Australia. Pastor Mark Cartwright is an Evangelist who preaches the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, and is called to “Missions.” . From Cartwright - "My mission is to present to people the challenge of receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior”.

On U tube he preaches, “Even a lie is on the same category as a sin as what murder is. Even if you have told a white lie, you are still a liar.”
Unfortunately for Senior Pastor Mark Cartwright, in his own words, he is a liar. A prolific liar at that. He is an Australian and American Military Imposter and a Fraud.

The above photograph depicts Mark Cartwright dressed in an Australian Army uniform. He wears the following,

1. Australian Active Service Medal 1945-1975. Not entitled.
2. Vietnam Medal. Not entitled.
3. Australian Defence Medal. Possible entitled. Army Reserve Service.
4. Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. Not entitled.

Above the medal rack, he wears the ribands applicable to his un-entitled worn medals. Above that, appears to be either an Australian Infantry Combat Badge (ICB) or an Australian Army Combat Badge. (ACB) On his left shoulder he wears a Royal Australian Regiment (RAR) lanyard and (RAR) shoulder Corps badge. His left sleeve denotes that he is a Corporal. On the slouch hat he wears what appears to be a RAR Infantry hat badge.

Cartwright claims on his Linked In page that he served 6 years in the Australian Army Reserve. He claims elsewhere that he served in the 1/19 Royal New South Wales Regiment (1/19 RNSWR – Reserve part time Army) and 6 Battalion Royal Australian Regiment. (RAR) – A Regular Australian Army Battalion.

Problem for Cartwright, is that he is not entitled to wear the uniform with medals, ribands, badges, stripes or lanyard. There is no record of him serving in the Australian Regular Army, let alone serving in the former Republic of South Vietnam. His name does not appear on the Australian Department of Veterans Affairs Vietnam Nominal Roll.

If Cartwright was observed wearing the above uniform, medals and paraphernalia in Australia, he could be charged criminally by State and Federal Police for falsely representing himself to being a returned soldier, and also wearing service decorations and medals that have not been awarded to him. Defence Act 1903 Sections 80A and 80B.- $3,300 dollar fine and/or 6 months imprisonment, each offence.

A Cartwright Facebook posting asks fellow students of Mt Druitt High School (Sydney) for 1972 photographs. If his Australian Army Vietnam service (6 Battalion RAR – last Vietnam tour 1969-1970) is to be believed, then he must have left the Army after Vietnam, and returned to Mt Druitt High School again. Cartwright was born on the 26 June, 1957. Far too young to be a Vietnam Veteran.

Cartwright is just an inveterate liar and military imposter, who also consistently claims to be a United States Army Vietnam Veteran. He is a valour thief of the worst kind and a medal cheat.

The below photograph is one of many obtained by ANZMI that depict Cartwright publicly showing off to the world that he is a U.S. Army Combat Infantry Vietnam veteran. More deceit from a proven liar.

No doubt he receives accolades from the American public thanking him for his honourable service wherever he goes. Perhaps he also receives other benefits, like discounted food, and other retail purchases when he is wearing his hat and jacket below.

This photograph depicts Cartwright wearing a U.S. Army Vietnam Veterans peaked cap indicating that he is a U.S. Vietnam Combat Infantry Soldier. He also wears a U.S. Vietnam Veteran patch on his jacket with the three ribands appropriate for U.S personnel who genuinely served in South Vietnam.

He is not entitled to wear any of it. He never served in the U.S Army and he is not a U.S. Army Vietnam Veteran.

He should be ashamed of himself for claiming that he is, and disrespecting all those brave men and women who served and /or died in the former Republic of South Vietnam.

The following is a posting from his current Facebook Page.

POSTED FACEBOOK 29 March, 2019
Mark Cartwright created a fundraiser.
Facebook Fundraisers

ARALUEN RANCH FUNDRAISER.
Fundraiser for Mark Cartwright.

I am a Vietnam Veteran who has PTSD and as such My wife and I are setting up a place where veterans and first responders with PTSD, youth at risk can come for some rest and support.

We need financial assistance to build a bunkhouse, dig some wells etc. The property is already paid for which is a blessing. Anything that will help get this of the ground will be greatly appreciated.

$0 of $1,598 raised. Ended.

In Australia, claiming something that you are not for financial gain is a criminal offence. It is deemed False Pretences. Cartwright could be locked up in Australia for fraudulently claiming that he is a Vietnam Veteran who has PTSD, and gaining a benefit from that false pretence.

Another post on his Face book page invited all his (American) Vietnam Veteran mates to his (USA) Citizenship ceremony which was to occur on the 1 July, 2019. A further post detailed information about his Pop, "who was very quiet, until he found out I was a Viet vet."

Cartwright is a hypocrite, and a fraud. A religious one at that, who preaches to the world on U tube and his Church, not to tell lies or sin. If Cartwright is the best available “Preacher man” to lead the poor unsuspecting Colorado flock, then this “Roundup Cowboy Church” is in for a bumpy ride.

The below photograph is Cartwright preaching to the gathering. Glory Be !

Cartwright was sent an email asking him to provide evidence of his Australian Army Vietnam service, and U.S. Army Vietnam service. Attached was a copy of his Facebook photograph wearing the Australian Army uniform and Vietnam medals.

His response was -;

Thank you for bringing this to my attention.

First of all, I would like to apologise for any hurt that has been caused by this photo. While I admit that that is my face I do not know who (sic) this was done and put on my facebook page. As a result, I will be notifying Facebook regarding this matter. I have also attached a copy of a page of my enlistment papers which clearly states that I enlisted in the Australian Army Reserve in 1974. It also shows that I was born in 1957 it would have made me about 14.5 years old at the time Australia came home. If you go further into my records it will show that I have never been overseas in any way shape or form and the only medal I have received is the ADM which I wear proudly.

I could not have made the regular army as I had perforated eardrums. I am proud that I was a reservist. I am also a 3rd generation serviceman ( if that is what you call reservists) with both my father and grandfather plus my Uncles serving.

I have a lot of respect for those who fought in all conflicts and would not sour their memories by pretending to be something I am not.

Cartwright continues his deceit. He is definitely claiming “something he is not.”

He is in this photograph with a relative. He is dressed in an Australian Army uniform with Vietnam medals suggesting he is a combat veteran. He admits that it is him. The photograph appeared on his personal Face Book page with adulating comments from friends, however, he now does not know how it got there. He is now taking the matter up with Face Book ! Good luck with that one. That should work.

He also conveniently omits to address all the evidence where he is wearing a U.S. Army Combat Infantry Vietnam Veteran cap and jacket with ribands. He also omits the fact that on numerous occasions on his Face Book page, he falsely claims to be a Vietnam Veteran and on one occasion, asks for cash donations due to his “Vietnam veteran” status.

Cartwright prophesises, "My mission is to present to people the challenge of receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior”.
Our mission at ANZMI is “to present to people liars, charlatans, military imposters, honour thieves and medal cheats”. Cartwright is all of them.

Cartwright has no morals and should be given the boot from the Last Roundup Cowboy Church. He should not be preaching to anyone about anything, especially moral behaviour.

He has no doubt convinced everyone in Colorado Springs that he is a Vietnam Veteran.

If our friends in Colorado would like to continue to update us, we will offer Cartwright further spiritual guidance on this site. Salvation - not a chance.

Keough Update – 11 February 2018

ANZMI’s initial exposure of Norbert Keough (aka Maclean III) revealed a story of lies and deceit by this fraud and wannabe.   As part of our evidence to support the claims was a very revealing newspaper story which was printed in 1993.   At the time, ‘Norb’ (as we now know him) was running for election in the United States.

The article, in it’s original format was part of our exposure; however, a number of readers have experienced difficulty reading the story.   To assist the reader, and further strengthen the evidence against Norb, we have transcribed the report in its entirety below.

The article speaks loudly about the character and actions of Norb back then and provides a very revealing insight into the person he really is.

The astute reader will no doubt also note that nowhere in this revealing article is there any mention of service in the Gulf War and the timeframes mentioned in this newspaper report future support the claim that ‘Norb’ is a medal cheat and wannabe for claiming service during the Gulf War.  

As we alluded to in our initial report, any political party considering throwing support behind Norb should be very mindful of his actions in the past.  

The Tasmanian RSL now need to step up to the plate and take appropriate action against Norbert Keough (Maclean III) who was dishonourably discharged from the US Navy and should never been allowed to join either the NSW or Tasmanian RSL.   We hope the new National President of the RSL, who was the former Tasmanian President takes notice of the type of people being allowed membership of the League.    

Ashbury Park Press, Sunday June 6, 1993

Bad Checks followed withdrawn Assembly candidate

By Beth Whitehouse and Steven Chambers (Press Staff Writers)

On New Years Eve 1991, Norbert MacLean III threw a party at the Berkeley-Carteret Hotel in Asbury Park.   He mailed formal invitations.   He rolled a red carpet from the doorway of the presidential suite to the elevator.

He hung a United Nations flag at the doorway.   He posted signs that read, “Reserved for Ambassador MacLean” in the parking area for the white limousine he’d rented.

 For months, Maclean had been claiming to be an ambassador.

“He got very offended if you called him Mr MacLean,” JoAnne Guertin, former front office manager at the Berkeley-Carteret said, “He wanted ‘Ambassador Maclean’”

Maclean, a former Lakehurst resident whose father is that town’s police chief, is far from an ambassador.   He’s a 22 year-old former Navy sailor recently court-martialed after being charged with bouncing 81 checks.

Just two weeks ago, MacLean was seeking legitimacy in a different forum.   He was on the November ballot as an independent candidate for one of the two State Assembly seats in coastal Monmouth County’s 11^th District.

Maclean announced his withdrawal from the race on May 19, the day after an interview with the Asbury Park Press during which he was confronted with the Navy charges and other instances of bounced checks.   An official in Maclean’s campaign said the interview had not prompted the candidate’s decision.

…’The reason for this painful decision is because of unfinished business with the United States Navy in Washington, DC,” Maclean wrote in a letter to Secretary of State Daniel J. Dalton.

People who know Maclean say a penchant for exaggerating his importance and living beyond his means gets him into trouble.   Many of the checks he was charged with bouncing were for such things as cellular phones and black-tie fund-raiser tickets.

In a freewheeling interview last month about his candidacy and his troubles with the US Navy, Maclean painted himself as a concerned citizen with a background in public service.   He said he is a gay man who was persecuted by the Navy he served so well.

Others, particularly those who ended up with his bad checks, said the Long Branch resident is nothing but a con man.

…” If I lived in the district, he wouldn’t be getting my vote,”   Bill Ulrey, executive director of the Assembly Republican Majority, said before Maclean withdrew his name from the ballot.   Ulrey received a $1,200 that bounced as payment for two thickets Maclean used to attend a state fund-raiser in 1991.   “If this guy can’t honor a personal check, imagine what he would do in Tenton with taxpayer’s dollars.”

Maclean declined to discuss specifics of any of the 81 bad checks the Navy claimed he wrote, nor would he discuss other instances of bad checks that did not lead to charges.

…” Believe me…I would love to sit down and be able to discuss things in detail with you, but you have to understand this is in litigation,” Maclean said.   “I am pressing extremely hard to get this worked out before November”

On leave from the Navy pending appeal of his case, Maclean said he was getting in touch with the people of the 11^th District and running a full-time, professional campaign.   If he loses the appeal, his sentence of a dishonourable discharge and jail time served will stand.

A government source said Maclean said Maclean wrote at least 81 bad personal checks from more than 10 banks from Washington, D.C., to Florida for a total of more than $36,280.   There are more alleged bad checks the government isn’t aware of, such as the ones written to the Berkeley-Carteret Hotel.

At least one of the 81 checks was for more than $6000, another for as little as $1.42, according to the government source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.   After a court-martial hearing in August, Maclean was found guilty of passing a dozen bad checks totalling $*,169.30.

On Oct. 31, he was sentenced to be dishonourably discharged from the Navy, to forfeit all pay, and to be imprisoned for 40 months, according to Lt. Kate Mueller, a Navy spokesman.   As per an earlier agreement, the prison sentence was reduced to four months he had already served in the Marine Brig at Quantico, Va, Mueller said.

Writing bad checks is not unusual.   But it is unusual for a young man to know the political system so well that he writes congressmen and other officials for help, the source said.

A claimed conspiracy    

Maclean said the Navy charges are a conspiracy to discredit him because he had a top-secret security clearance and was trained to decipher coded information.   He said he’s being mistreated because he is gay and pointed to the anti-gay climate surrounding the presidential primaries last year.

The government source scoffed at the notion.

“Nobody woke up one morning and said, ‘Let’s get Norbert Maclean,’” the source said.

Perhaps the biggest victim of Maclean was The Children’s Home of Burlington County.   The private, non-profit home for 50 emotionally disturbed boys between ages 10 and 16 is in Mount Holly.   Maclean offered to run a black-tie, fund-raising dinner in Washington, D.C.   Tickets sold for $100 a plate, according to a New Jersey woman who attended the dinner.

The dinner took place on April 13, 1991 at the Belling Air Force Base officers club.   About 70 people attended, the woman said.   Maclean, dressed in a tuxedo, gave a speech.

Afterward, Maclean allegedly wrote a check to the officers club for more than $6000 to pay for the dinner.   It bounced, according to the government source.

Maclean also allegedly wrote a check for nearly $2000 to the children’s home.   It also bounced, the source said.

A representative of the children’s home had no comment.   “We haven’t had any notification of the investigation being completed, so we can’t comment,” said Karen Muldoon, a home spokeswoman.

Where the money from the dinner went, government investigators don’t know.

In an interview last year, Maclean said the Navy made errors depositing his paychecks and also said that some of his checkbooks were missing.

…” Everybody bounces a check here and there,” he said then.   “I’m not going to comment on what exactly occurred.”

Maclean also allegedly duped the political party to which he claimed to be loyal.   When then-President Bush came to the Ramada Renaissance Hotel in East Brunswick Township Sept. 19, 1991, for a fund-raising dinner, Maclean made sure he was there as well.

He called Ulrey, who was then finance director for the Republican State Committee, about a week before the event and ordered two tickets at $600 each.

Maclean sent a check, complete with a little Republican elephant symbol embossed next to his name.   Ulrey said Maclean showed up at the dinner in a limousine.

The check bounced.   Maclean still owes $1200, Ulrey said.

Matt Caracappa, Red Bank, met Maclean around Christmas 1991 and hosted the New Year’s Eve party with him.  He said he’s gotten bad checks from Maclean as well, one for $1200 that was supposed to pay for his share of the New Year’s Eve bash.

For a while, Caracappa believed Maclean’s story that he was an ambassador.   After all, Maclean was constantly in a limousine.   In his own car he had a cellular phone and would use it often.

…” He had stationary printed up,” Caracappa said.   It say’s “His Excellency Norbert B. Maclean III United States Representative to the United Nations Association.”

But Caracappa said he started getting suspicious when Maclean showed up so often in New Jersey.   “He would drive to New Jersey like you drive to 7-Eleven,” Caracappa, a contractor said.   “When did he work?”

Caracappa said he believes Maclean is a con artist.

“He is a pro.   What he has gotten away with so far – it’s like a television movie.”   Caracappa said.   “He’s really very convincing.   It’s just a bogus con job.   A little boy with a big imagination”.

 After graduation from Manchester Township High School in 1989, Maclean enlisted in the Navy and eventually served as administrative assistant to Richard L. Armitage, President Bush’s special negotiator at the State Department, Navy spokeswoman Mueller said.   He received a Joint Service Achievement Medal for his work during negotiations with the Philippines over military bases.

 In an interview last year, Maclean conceded that his early successes may have led him to try to inflate his own importance.

 …” Anybody would let their ego run a little wild,” he said.   “Maybe I might have exaggerated – not exaggerated, I wouldn’t say that.”   Maybe (I) overinflated the significance of what was happening or what was going on, but that wasn’t to the detriment of anybody and it wasn’t intentional.   As for being an ambassador to the United Nations Association of America, all you have to do is pay the association, which is a nationwide, non-profit educational organization.   People who donate $500 are called patriots; people who donate $1000 are called ambassadors.   Maclean never did that though, said John Brenan, membership director.

How it worked

This was the way Maclean operated, according to the government: He would go into a bank and open an account.   The bank would send him checks for the account.   Maclean would return to the bank and close the account.   Afterward, he’d write checks to people, and they would get notices saying the account had been closed.

Maclean allegedly got a stamp made that would show the checks had been cleared.   He would go to the bank with the check, and when the bank said the account had been closed, Maclean denied having closed the accounts.

Jacob Cohen, owner of the Hot Spot Deli in Ashbury Park, learned about the system the hard way.   Cohen catered a party for Maclean on April 30 to announce his candidacy.

The candidate called back a week later to say the $137 check he had written for the party was no good, but he would be sending another, Cohen said.   When Cohen called the Virginia bank, he was told the account was closed more than a month before.

In the interview last month, Maclean denied he ever wrote the check, although Cohen later produced the check.   Cohen said that on the day Maclean withdrew his name from the ballot, he showed up at the deli and made good on what he owed.

Preface

We, ANZMI would like to preface this report with this comment.   No doubt, when this report appears on our Website there will be angst and insults from contemporaries and allies of Norbert Keough, some of those people already have found a place on our Website because of their lies.   No doubt, Mr Keough himself will lead the charge against us.   ANZMI will be accused of being veiled website assassins, homophobic, and much, much more.   We are used to that.   Before reaching for the keyboard to pass judgement on us, think of this.   ANZMI did not seek out Norbert Keough, he put himself out there, he created the story that is now falling in around him, he is the one who threatened genuine veterans who expressed concerns about him, both in Australia and the United States.   Norbert Keough has sought public recognition for his efforts, but with that recognition comes scrutiny.   Mr Keough has actively sought to remove much of the details of his background from the public record.   This is right, but he must also remember that once documents are made public there is a right to question his credentials.   Yes, he may threaten legal action, and yes, he may suggest that it is his sexuality that is behind this report and yes, his political allies may challenge ANZMI, but that still does not excuse his actions, nor does the written record lie.    

And now to the Facts:

With all the illumination of a star burst shell, Norbert KEOGH appeared in the ranks of the NSW RSL and became quiet a mover and shaker, initially through the North Bondi RSL Sub Branch and various veteran’s organisations and projects such as the “Keep 45 Alive”, an RSL project aimed at remembering World War 2 Veterans, he maintained a close relationship with past and present executive members of the RSL.   Norbert seemed destined for a stellar career in the NSW RSL, that is until people started to question him about his service and a bit of a smell started to appear.

When Norbert Keough was treading the boards of the NSW RSL, he managed to create for himself quite a persona.   In his day, a google search would have found a lot of information about Norb, primarily the information he wanted you to know.   He was certainly wanted it to be known he was an important cog in the wheel and managed to link himself with some notable identifies:

The entire article (assuming its author has not removed it) can be found at:

https://www.thefullwiki.org/Returned_and_Services_League_of_Australia

He has also managed to write (or his biographer wrote) quiet a well researched history of Norbert, this can be found at:

http://www.thefullwiki.org/Norbert_Basil_MacLean_III

This is a very demanding read, so make yourself a cup of coffee before delving into the life of Norbert Keough.   If you are able to work your way through the pages of rhetoric, claims of false convictions, failed appeals and the classic ‘everyone has it in for me’ complex.

Whoever wrote the article, and we think we know who it was, has an intimate knowledge of Norbert, and despite the lengthy legalese used throughout is there any evidence whatsoever that Norbert Keough was not discharged from the US Navy after pleading guilty, and being found guilty of fraud at a Court Martial.

Norbert Keough, or ‘Norb’ as he likes to be called presents himself as a distinguished veteran of the US Navy, a Gulf War Veteran, a champion of veteran’s rights, and a non-practising Barrister.   Don’t however, challenge Norb’s credentials as he is very keen to litigate.   We wonder why?

The truth is, Norb is nothing but a fraud.   Yes, he did serve in the US Navy but if you can call being discharged after being Court Martialled ‘distinguished’ you probably believe the rest of his stories.

After threatening a number of senior members of the RSL with legal action for daring to ask legitimate questions about his past, Norb relocated to Tasmania where he reinvented himself in the Tasmanian RSL and picked up work with Jackie Lambie as an advisor on Veterans Affairs.   It also seems Norb is keen to have a tilt at politics.

Norb has created the image of a distinguished US Navy Veteran to enhance his public image, but in doing so, has left a trail of confusing photographs which depict changing medal entitlements, service not consistent with the published record, and lies about his actual service history.

This includes,

1. Wearing the US Presidential Service Badge (Not entitled)
2. Wearing US Medals associated with Service in the Gulf War (1990-1991) namely the Kuwait Liberation Medal – Saudi Arabia and the Kuwait Liberation Medal - Kuwait

Norbert Maclean III (Keough) enlisted in the US Navy on the 1^st November 1989 and was discharged following a Court Martial on 29^th August 1994.   Keough was the subject of a Court Martial for several counts of writing bad cheques which totalled over $US8000 and a charge of AWOL.

Early on in his career with the RSL in NSW, Norb was photographed a number of times at various functions.   In these images (above) he is clearly seen wearing the US Presidential Service Badge.

The criteria for the award of this decoration is:

‘The PSB is awarded after at least one year of satisfactory service "to any member of the Armed Forces assigned to duty in the White House Office or to military units and support facilities under the administration of the Military Assistant to the President by the Secretary of the Army, the Secretary of the Navy, the Secretary of the Air Force, or, when the Coast Guard is not operating as a service in the Navy, the Secretary of Homeland Security, upon recommendation of the Military Assistant to the President". It is accompanied by a certificate and miniature lapel version. The PSB is recorded in the individual's military service records and is authorised for wear as a permanent decoration.

Recipients are, other than the President and uniformed members of the U.S. Secret Service, the only Americans authorized to wear the "Presidential Seal or Coat of Arms" on their uniforms and civilian clothes.’

There is no record of this decoration having been awarded to Norbert Keough/Maclean III, and it appears for reasons only known to himself, he has ceased wearing it as far as we know.  

The dates of service have been confirmed by US Navy Records.   The Court Martial took place in 1992 and following that conviction, he took Leave Without Pay (LWOP) from the date of conviction until discharge while appealing the Court Martial findings.   Information from the US indicates that Keough spent 120 days in a military prison awaiting Court Martial.   Following the finding of GUILTY, a further custodial sentence was commuted for time already served in custody. From enlistment to discharge is a period of about 56 months.   Details on the Court Martial will be provided later in this report.   Suffice to say, that following a number of appeals, Keough was successful in having the AWOL charge overturned, but the finding of the Court Martial that he be dishonourably discharged (bad conduct discharge) was upheld.  Despite numerous appeals by Keough, THERE IS NO EVIDENCE to support claims the Court Martial decision to discharge Keough has ever been overturned.

Navy Times 06-13-94 Issue

GAY SAILOR SUES TO STAY IN

By Nick Adde

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - An avowedly gay sailor discharged for writing bad
checks sued the Navy for $40.1 million, claiming he was drummed out for a
crime he did not commit.

Norbert Basil MacLean III, 23, was convicted by general court-martial in
1992 on three counts of writing bad checks, totaling $8,169. He was
sentenced to confinement for 40 months, forfeiture of all pay and
benefits, reduction in grade to E-1, and a bad conduct discharge.

Because MacLean pleaded guilty, the judge reduced his jail time to 118
days, which he had served. He is on leave without pay from the Navy while
appealing the case.

MacLean said he is the victim of a "conspiracy" by Navy superiors and
criminal investigators. His commanding officer, Cmdr. Robert W. Cosgriff,
asked the Naval Investigative Service to watch him, the sailor said.
"Apparently, they found out I was gay at that time," he said.

But papers filed by prosecutors during MacLean's court martial tell a
different story.

Cosgriff, then commanding officer at the Naval Security Station in
Washington, D.C., received numerous reports from local merchants that
MacLean had bounced checks, according to prosecutors. As a result,
Cosgriff asked the NIS to investigate the sailor, who at the time worked
for Richard Armitage, a senior State Department official in the Bush
administration.

MacLean's sexual orientation became known only when he announced it, Navy
sources said.

MacLean claimed the bounced checks were caused by direct deposit
foul-ups. The Navy would not comment. on MacLean's claims.

The troubles with direct deposit were deliberate, Mac Lean said, part of
a "malicious" attempt to remove him from service. He said he pleaded
guilty because his command was holding him in the brig until he did so.

MacLean's court-martial appeal is pending before the Navy-Marine Corps
Court of Military Review. The government must respond to his civil suit
by July 20.

The part of appeal (regarding the AWOL) was overturned, however no evidence can be found to support his claim that the conviction for fraud and subsequent discharge was ever over turned.   There have been numerous attempts by Keough to murky the waters, and numerous appeals by him.   The simple fact is he is guilty and his conviction recorded in his 1992 Court Martial stands today.   Evidence of some of his appeal can be found at:

http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/454/1334/489740/

Norbert Maclean III came to Australia an about 2008 and reinvented himself as Norbert Keough.

As is clearly identified in Keough’s Service Record, he was awarded four (4) US Awards:

• Joint Service Achievement Medal
• National Defense Service Ribbon
• Navy ‘E’ Ribbon
• Navy Rifle Marksman
• Navy Pistol Marksman  

Early on in his RSL NSW career, Norb was photographed wearing medals, consistent with the record, with a couple of (what are believed to be) US Navy Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) cadet medals (unofficial) which would have been awarded to him when he was a member of his school’s ROTC (School Cadets) unit.

 The above image, despite being in black and white depicts the young Cadet Norb wearing two decorations which look very much like those being worn in his early RSL career.

Not listed on the record is evidence of the award of South-West Asia Service Medal for service in the Philippines.   It is for this service that he was allegedly awarded the Joint Service Achievement Medal, which came with a rather verbose certificate.   The authenticity of this certificate has also been questioned by US veterans, however as no evidence is available to refute the claim, we have given him the benefit of the doubt.   Importantly, the dates recorded on the certificate indicate he was performing these exceptional duties from June 1991 to September 1991.

Now, this is where Norb’s service history gets interesting.   If we accept the US Navy record as fact, he enlisted on 1st November 1989, and completed basic training (10 weeks).   Allowing for Christmas 89-90 he completes this training in mid-January 1990.   He then undertakes specialist training and as can be seen in the next image, graduates on 11 May 1990.    

In this image, Norbert Keough can be seen wearing the rank of Seaman (E3).  

So, the question is, where was Norb from May 1990, until June 1991 when he allegedly appears a Petty Officer Third Class working for the Special Negotiator, US/Philippine Base Negotiations office?   Well, thanks to our friends in the United States we have found out what he was doing on New Year’s Eve 1991.   Norb was pretending to be an Ambassador with the United Nations and after booking into the Presidential Suite of a flash hotel in Ashbury Park, then threw a swank party, even going so far as to have a car park reserved for his official vehicle and demanding that the staff refer to him as Mr Ambassador, and had red carpet from the doorway of his suite to the elevator.

This very enlightening article about Norb, it quiet succinctly sums up the circumstances which lead to his Court Martial.   A very different story than he would have us believe.    

We now know from the evidence available that from New Years’ Eve 1991, Norb was busy partying and writing dodgy cheques as detailed in the article above from the Ashbury Park Press until June 1991.   That leaves us with a six-month period from May 1990 (graduation from training) and December 1990 (known to be in US).  

If his story is to be believed, this is the only period of time he could have served in the Gulf War.   He certainly claims to have done so.

How times change, Norb appears to rid himself of some of the unofficial medals to make was for the Kuwait Liberation Medal – Saudi Arabia and the Kuwait Liberation Medal – Kuwait.  

By his own timeline and the evidence trail left by him, there is no possible way Keough could have served in the Gulf War during the period needed to qualify for the awards he wears.

Knowing what we do about Norb’s story so far, we turn our attention to the ‘wings’ he wears above his medal rack.   Contrary to popular belief, these are not aircrew insignia but rather, a US Navy award known as the Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist Insignia.

There is no doubt this is the award he is wearing.

The qualification requirements for the award of the EAWS badge are quite extensive and rather than recount them here, the reader is invited to follow the link to Wikipedia for a detailed explanation of the award.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enlisted_Aviation_Warfare_Specialist_insignia

Clearly, given the information already at hand, there is no possible way that Norbert Keough completed this qualification, nor does it appear on the extract of his service record provided under the Freedom of Information process.

The award he wears should not be confused with the Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist Badge which typically takes 18 months to achieve, there is simply not enough time in his timeline for him to have achieved all he claims.   It is as simple as that.

ANZMI has been investigating Norbert Keough’s claims following numerous requests from Veterans in NSW and Tasmania, for many months however we have not been alone.   In October 2017, the Sydney Morning Herald published the results of their own investigation, which can be found at:

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/jacqui-lambies-advisor-norbert-oconnorkeoughs-long-and-winding-past-20171001-gys97y.html

Keough’s response to the Sydney Morning Herald was the same as it has been for everyone else who has dared to question his credentials, - he threatens legal action rather than explain the glaring anomalies in his story.

The facts in this case are straight forward once you cut through the maze of falsehoods left by Keough.   He is wearing medals and decorations he is not entitled to wear, and by virtue of the US Navy regulations, a person discharged by Court Martial is not entitled to wear any medals, even those awarded during service.   (Reference: The Navy Uniform Regulations, Chapter 6, paragraph 61002, sub paragraph 7).

Norbert Basil Keough (aka Maclean III) is a fraud, he has been a fraud most of his adult life and he has clearly been caught out wearing medals for service in the Gulf war for which he has not entitlement at all.   So why is he a member of the RSL?   Perhaps the Tasmanian RSL can do the research we have done to uncover the truth as everything about Norbert is in the public domain.

As can be seen from the information above, Norb is quiet the litigate, but as can be clearly seen, all his appeals have been denied.   The Court Martial findings stand.

After his discharge from the Navy, Norb made numerous appearances in US Newspapers, telling his story of how he has been wronged, so it is ironic that these very same newspaper stories bring him down.   Take the following report for example, the article provides evidence of a Court win by Norb, but it’s what is doesn’t say that is interesting.   Norbs service in the Navy is detailed for all to see, but nowhere does it mention service in the Gulf War.   An oversight? we think not

No doubt, ANZMI will be threatened with legal action because of this report, but before shooting the messenger, remember it is Norbert Keough who has sought publicity, it is he and his supporters who have suggested he will stand for election, so as a public figure, is it not right that he answer the genuine concerns of the Veterans community raised in this report?   We at ANZMI think yes.

Much of the rhetoric used by Keough in attacking those who challenge him is to play the homophobic card.   His sexuality has nothing whatsoever to do with this issue.   He has set out from day one to deceive and to portray himself as a veteran that he is not, the time has come for him to answer the obvious questions and explain his lies.

Is Norbert Keough/Maclean III a fit and proper person to be elected to Parliament?   Well, that is clearly a decision for the voters.   Is Norbert Keough/Maclean III a fit and proper person to be a member of the RSL, or to advocate on Veterans issues?   Clearly the answer is NO.

Call us keyboard warriors if you will, but this is what ANZMI does, it exposes those among the Veteran community who are nothing but frauds, those people who ingratiate themselves into Veterans organisations and get their way by shouting down the silent majority of genuine Veterans who would dare to challenge stories that simply don’t ring true but can’t afford or fear the stress of legal action, albeit veracious legal action which is the common response of the wannabe and fraudster.

This is why ANZMI is here.

Case notes:

Medal Cheats and Wannabes are fairly easy to detect. They are easily identifiable by their peers, particularly in the Military because the Wannabe is usually the loud mouth, know it all who wears honours and awards they are not entitled to and attempt to create a persona they have no right to claim. Our website is full of these characters.

While ANZMI tend to only investigate ‘military imposters’, every now and then a case comes along involving someone in the Emergency Services whose stupidity and arrogance is such that we could not refuse to investigate the case.

This the story of Len Carter, AFSM a senior member of the NSW Rural Fire Service who has come to our attention by wearing a plethora of fake ‘tin’ medals and worse, a specialist badge only able to be worn by uniformed members of the United States Armed Forces.

Here are a selection of images of Mr Len Carter, AFSM (as he likes to be called):

The problem that confronted our researcher who was looking into the case was the fact that every photo has him wearing a different medal rack so identifying the ‘tin’ has not been easy, but we were able to pin most of them down.

It is probably easier to start with the medals we believe he is entitled to wear.

Left Breast
Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM)
National Medal

Right Breast
NSW Rural Fire Service Medal (plus clasps for years of service)
NSW Rural Fire Service Commendation for Service
Year of the Volunteer Medal

And now to the rest…On the left breast, Carter displays the following:

Left Breast
QE2 Dimond Jubilee Medal (NO Entitlement) – not accepted for general wear by the Australian Government
QE2 Golden Jubilee Medal (NO Entitlement)
Foreign Service Medal (Tin)
AFSM (Entitled see above)
National Medal (Entitled see above)
National Defence Medal (Tin)
Cadet Forces Medal (Tin)

Right Breast:
NSW Rural Fire Service Medal (plus clasps for years of service)
Unknown (Tin)
Year of the Volunteer Medal
NSW Rural Fire Service Commendation for Service
Unknown (Tin)
Unknown (Tin)

In one of the images, Carter is seen wearing an unknown neck decoration, we have tried to identify it and there are a number of possibilities including the Maltese Cross of Order of St John , a popular choice among Wannabes already on our website.

'Tin' is the generic term we at ANZMI use to describe any unofficial commemorative medal that can be purchased rather than issued by the Federal or State Government, recognised philanthropic organisation or Foreign Government (and approved for wear by the Governor General of Australia). There are a number of organisations that 'create' a commemorative medal specific to the needs of that organisation but they are NOT official medals and should never be mixed with Officially sanctioned and properly issued medals.

Examples of the ‘Tin’ being worn by Carter are seen above. These type of ‘medals’ are becoming harder to find in Australia, but they are still very much in circulation overseas. While the above are predominately designed to align with service in a Defence Force, however further research indicates they could ‘loosely’ be linked to Emergency Services as well.

For example, the ‘award criteria’ for the Foreign Service Medal states:

Note the line The Medal is to commemorate overseas service in both War and Peace, that has not been recognised by any award’. We know that Carter has traveled extensively overseas attending numerous firefighting related events, but we don’t believe that constitutes foreign service in any shape or form. In any event, as a representative of the NSW Rural Fire Service, he has already been awarded the National Medal, NSW RFS Medal and not to mention the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM).

In truth, the only real criteria for the award of these ‘medals’ is to have a valid credit card or PayPal account.

In some of the images, Carter can be seen wearing two of the medals awarded to recognise the Golden and Diamond Jubilees of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. Both are genuine medals but neither medal is approved for wear by Australians, except for a small select number approved by the Governor General. When approved for issued by The Queen, the medals were awarded across the Commonwealth to the Defence Forces, Emergency Service personnel and numerous others. However, Australian governments at the time decided not to accept the awards, other than for a select group of citizens.

The select few who are authorised include winners of the Victoria Cross, George Cross, Cross of Valour (Australia) and State Governors. Mr Len Carter, AFSM does not qualify and should not be wearing these ribbons/medals.

Len Carter, AFSM does not limit his wearing of illegal medals to his RFS duties, he is also a member of the local Light Horse
Re-enactment Group. Not surprisingly, he has a different rack for this role. We wonder how he keeps up with what medals to wear when and why.

Now to the matter of improper use of Military Badges.

On the left breast, above the medal racks, Carter can be seen wearing the prestigious Master Explosive Ordnance Disposal Badge. He has absolutely no entitlement to this award.

There can be no reason or excuse to explain why Carter has decided to wear this badge on his RFS uniform, other than to portray the image of a person highly trained in explosive ordnance disposal (EOD). As may current and former service personnel know, EOD work is one of the most highly dangerous roles that can be undertaken, and EOD operators make up a high percentage of modern day battle casualties.

For Carter, for whatever reason, to wear this badge is offensive to the veteran community. Notwithstanding the fact he has no military service that we can find, the Master EOD Badge he wears can only be awarded to qualified members of the United States Armed Forces only.

Yes, Carter is a wannabe and the fact that he wears medals, badges and bling that is either not authorised or simply tin rubbish is bad enough but the fact that he does so while wearing the uniform of the NSW Rural Fire Service is of serious concern to ANZMI and should concern the Commissioner of the NSW RFS.

The NSW RFS is made up of volunteers who desire to protect their communities from the threats of bush fire and natural disaster. Many volunteers are young and impressionable men and women who would generally expect that a senior officer of the RFS wearing a chest full of medals and badges has the ‘runs on the board’ so to speak to justify the wearing of those awards.

Carter is not that sort of leader. He has chosen to embellish his uniform with tin rubbish and stolen the valour of the United Stated Armed Forces EOD personnel.

Cater was awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM), a prestigious medal of no small significance in 2004. He should be satisfied that by granting him that award, his country is acknowledging his service with the RFS. If he thinks so little of that award that he chooses to mix it in with cheap, fake medals then he should return the AFSM immediately. Better still, perhaps the RFS could move to have the AFSM taken from Cater because of his offensive and illegal behaviour.

It is fortuitous for Carter that he is unlikely to be prosecuted for his actions. The Defence Act 1903 does have provision to prosecute for the improper use of service badges, but as the EOD badge is an American award, it is unlikely that a successful prosecution could be achieved.

Carter will have to be judged in the Court of Public Opinion by his peers and those who read this report. If one of those who read this is the Commissioner of the NSW RFS, perhaps he could take the appropriate action to ensure that the RFS uniform is not belittled by persons wearing unauthorised badges and bling and take action to remove Len Cater, AFSM from positions of responsibility in the Rural Fire Service.

Maris John Walker was born 11 Jun 1970.

The history he tells of his service, somewhat differs from his actual service.

Here is what he has said:

He has shrapnel throughout his body.

He has very severe PTSD

He tells care givers, he is an ex Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) and Commando veteran, to account for his PTSD, but when questioned as to where he served, his response is always that he is unable to speak about it, because he had to sign a secrecy agreement.

He told others that he was a "Frogman" master diver, and had done many parachute drops and whilst on a mission was injured when his parachute did not open.

As a result of the secret nature of his service, he cannot speak of it, because he could be arrested, however he does let some snippets of "horror" out.

His records are sealed for fifty years, after that time, if there is still conflict in the countries he has visited, the records cannot be released.

When the 9/11 attack on New York had been identified as a terrorist attack, his unit was mobilised for immediate action and "shipped" out to a classified destination.

He underwent interrogation training. He was "captured” and tied naked to a chair with a female interrogator trying to get information out of him. He said that he was ‘masturbating, so as to try and mess with females mind, and not be intimidated by her.

He was in charge of an SASR mission when they engaged the enemy. The only hope for survival was to lay down the lives of two of the group, so that the others could escape. He now has devastating nightmares about the incident.

On a classified mission overseas. he saw a man slam a child's head into a car bullbar. In retribution he killed the man.

Came across a village where a man had cut off a woman's breast. Max cut the man's throat and the rest of his men killed all the villagers.

He woke up in a German hospital after being hurt in action. He could not remember how he got there, but soon recovered, and was returned back to operational duties in a foreign country.

He has fought on five different continents.

He was seeing a psychiatrist, who had to have top secret clearance to be able to treat him, because of the disclosures he had to make during the treatment.

He has super high security clearance, the same as the Prime Minister.

We hold Statutory Declarations detailing the lies Walker has told.

Walker has produced a definitive resume where he listed his many skills, that were not commensurate with his Army super special forces missions, here is what he said.

Notice he lists skills as a Hungry Jacks operative. Then lists his Defence service as being a Corporal Storeman, the truth of his service, is much different from the lies he espouses to all and sundry.

Have no doubt. Maris John Walker is an artist of the bovine excreta genre. He is one of the many, we have reported, who falsely claim to be damaged returned veterans, as an excuse for their atrocious behaviour towards their love ones.

Considering that he has been "deployed" to five continents in the quest for world peace, he can now travel aboard the ANZMI website, which is read all around the world. His fame as a "Rambo" is false, but his fame as a lying wannabe is very much the truth.

Welcome aboard Maris (Max) John Walker

UPDATE GORDON BLAIR

Gordon Blair was allotted space on this website some years ago for his antics at a commemorative ceremony at Gallipoli.

Gordon Blair has again fallen from grace, having been sacked from his profession as a Registered Nurse, here are the details:

Please read our original report and then, taking into account the above reports, make a personal judgement on Gordon Blair.

******

Gordon Blair is a member of the Returned and Services League (RSL) at Hornsby in NSW.  Prior to that he was the Secretary at another RSL.   

The above photograph was  taken at ANZAC Cove, Gallipoli.

Blair is wearing:

National Medal for services to the community as a civilian - Entitled

Australian Defence Medal for service in the Australian Defence Force - Entitled

New South WalesStateEmergency Services Long Service Medal - State award not to be worn with Defence Medals. Must be worn on right breast.

Year of the Volunteer Medal - Self purchased Tin medal

Blair exhibits symptoms of the malaise within the RSL.  A recent National RSL strategy is to bestow on any person who has ever served in the Defence Force the title of "Veteran".

For the last One Hundred years a "Veteran" has been a person who has served overseas in a war zone, but now on a whimsical notion of the RSL, Gordon Blair is a "Veteran" and according to his demeanour at Anzac Cove wants everyone to believe that he is one.

Blair is wearing only one medal that relates to Australian Defence service and that is the lowest grade of Australian medals, the Australian Defence Medal (ADM).  It is issued to all Service people who complete four years service.

At ANZAC Cove Gallipoli on Anzac Day 2015  Blair was strutting his stuff pretending to be a be meddled  Australian "Veteran" when in fact he was a strutting Fedora hatted Popinjay without sufficient nous to understand Australian medals protocols.

We are reliably advised by an RSL Executive that Blair was warned about his disregard for medals protocol and he took no notice.

Genuine Veterans (not ersatz RSL Veterans) and ex service men and women should know medals protocols and should also know that if they disrespect traditions and protocols they stand a very good chance of featuring on this website.

We welcome the very silly Mr Gordon Blair to our web site.