KEY POINTS:
It's a soldier's motto: "Leave no man behind".
So retired Navy man Al Cameron, 73, is fighting for his mates from his base at Devonport's RSA.
A volunteer welfare officer at the RSA for the past four years, Mr Cameron has been successful in getting veterans their pensions and allowances, his daughter-in-law Uaine Akari said.
"A lot of the old guys are either reluctant to ask for any assistance, or tried to get a disability pension after the war [World War II], got turned down, and have never tried since.
"He's ready to get out there and put their applications forward, and do a lot of speaking for them.
"Because a lot of them just don't like to make a fuss."
A lot of the veterans had not even told their families of what they had seen during their active service, Mrs Akari said. But they told Mr Cameron.
"Sometimes he's got these people there, weeping about the things they've seen. And because their families don't know."
Mr Cameron, who saw active service in Malaysia and Indonesia during his 23 years in the Navy, said those stories were an honour to hear.
"I have struck it where their families know nothing of their service past.
"They've got so many wonderful stories. And I'm just motivated by being able to help them."
