Posted on 10/3/2009, 12:54:51 AM by naturalman1975
THE Federal Government has referred a case of alleged fraud involving a man who claimed to be one of Australia's youngest prisoners of war to the Australian Federal Police for investigation. South Australian Arthur Rex Crane, 83, has been on the highest level of service pension since 1988 and is the Federal President of the Prisoners of War Association of Australia, Fairfax Media reported.
He has alleged he was captured by the Japanese in 1942, became a prisoner of war at 15 and was imprisoned in Singapore's Outram Road jail.
But the Sydney Morning Herald reported that throughout the war the 83-year-old lived in Adelaide and had never served in the military.
The newspaper said that when confronted about his past, Mr Crane said: "It is me living a lie, isn't it?"
Federal Veterans Affairs Minister Alan Griffin released a statement describing the case as disgusting.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
Absolutely disgusting.
Arthur Rex Crane owes YOU some money PING!
If a guy who was fifteen in 1942 is 83, pardon my math, but our world war two guys are just about gone aren’t they.
Its hard for me to grasp this. I guess its obvious when our Viet Nam vets are gray-haired old men, that their fathers would be passing from the scene.
1942-15 = 1927+83 = 2010
So his story wasn’t outside the realm of possibility, but I can’t see how nobody verified the details.
I had an uncle who was big for his age, volunteered at fifteen and arrived in Europe just after VE day, was there during the early days of the occupation. (He was in some trouble and a sympathetic recruiter looked the other way)
Yes, I think it happened fairly often back then. Some even were able to volunteer while underage with their parents’ permission I think.
“....green Beret or a ranger and they never been in the service at all.”
I have total contempt for those poseurs who have never been in the service at all......but for those who WERE in the service and disgustingly pose as Hero’s and otherwise embellish their service I have MORE than contempt for......because THEY know perfectly well the exemplary accomplishments and Honor of those who they pretend to be........john kerry is a perfect example.....the most notable thing he really did was run his boat down the river as fast as he could when the shit hit the fan, and came back once it appeared safe...and THEN rose the dustoff chopper with the wounded to safety....a genuine coward, who schemed and lied to have multiple medals falsely awarded to himself.......I cannot imagine how he has the temerity to show his contemptible face in public.
Did you read the post on John K. and the secret compartment in his attache case? It has a Boonie hat in it that was given to him from a CIA guy in Cambodia. In my opinion it was just a prop for the warrior/citizen portrayal during the campaign.
yes.....in fact, I lurked here until the kerry medal flap got whipped up pretty good thanks only to the Swift Vets.....and that affair is why I chose this screen name, which at the time I wanted to contrast with the wannabe/liar kerry....otherwise, I’d have chosen rambling_dog or buttlint or something....God I hate kerry for what he did and what he is!
Have you ever read that book called Stolen Valor : How the Vietnam Generation Was Robbed of Its Heroes and Its History by B. G. Burkett and Glenna Whitley? excellent read.
I can’t say that I HATE kerry. A good HATE takes a LOT of effort and he’s not worth it. I do loathe and despise the scumsucking SOB, though, with a passion!
He may be an old man, but he should be tried and jailed. He is one disgusting POS!
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