THE HON. DR MIKE KELLY MP
Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support
Monday, 9 November 2009
073/2009
DEFENCE HONOURS AND AWARDS TRIBUNAL REPORT – INQUIRY
INTO RECOGNITION FOR SERVICE WITH THE UNITED STATES ARMY
SMALL SHIPS SECTION
The Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support, the Hon. Dr Mike Kelly AM MP,
today announced that the Government has accepted the recommendations of the
independent Defence Honours and Awards Tribunal Inquiry into Recognition for
Service with the United States Army Small Ships Section.
The Report recommended that:
1.
Australian civilian personnel who served in ships operated by the United
States Army Small Ships Section between 1942 and 1945 be recognised as
eligible for Australian or Imperial recognition for that service on the same
basis as members of the Merchant Navy; and
2.
There should be no requirement for those personnel to relinquish any US
awards that they may have received in respect of their service in the United
States Army Small Ships prior to receiving Australian recognition for that
service.
“The release of the findings fulfils a Rudd Labor Government election commitment.
The Government has accepted the Tribunal’s findings, and I have directed Defence
to implement the recommendations,” said Dr Kelly.
Former Australian members of the United States Army Small Ships Section, and the
families of deceased former members, who believe they may now be entitled to
medallic recognition, are invited to make application to the Directorate of Honours
and Awards. Application forms can be obtained from www.defence.gov.au/medals/
or by calling the Directorate of Honours and Awards, toll free, on 1800 111 321.
As official records of service with the United States Army Small Ships Section are not
held by Australian Government agencies, applicants must provide documentary
evidence of theirs, or their relative’s service. In some cases, it will be necessary for
applicants to first source this evidence from authorities in the United States.
Applicants can obtain contact details for this purpose by calling the Directorate of
Honours and Awards toll free telephone number.
Completed applications with supporting documents should be made to the following
address:
Directorate of Honours and Awards
Department of Defence
PO Box 7952
CANBERRA BUSINESS CENTRE ACT 2610
“I would like to thank the Tribunal for the objective and conscientious manner in
which this inquiry was conducted. The release of the Tribunal’s report and the
acceptance of the recommendations clearly demonstrate the Government’s
commitment to the independent review of long-standing Defence honours and
awards issues.”
The Tribunal’s report is available at www.defence-honours-tribunal.gov.au. Further
information on Defence honours and awards is available at:
Media contacts:
Mark Sjolander (Dr Mike Kelly):
02 6277 4840 or 0407 102 220
Defence Media Liaison:
02 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
NEWS 
