THIS IS A GUEST COLUMN CONTRIBUTED BY THE P.O.W. NETWORK ***

What, Why and Who Cares? Heroes or Villains?

The emails come from the wives, lovers, sons, daughters, the pregnant “fiancée” [she needed to know whether it was Agent Orange eating him alive or AIDS as she suspected], employers, employees and friends.

For the last 10 years we have seen hundred upon hundreds of frauds, phony veterans and wannabees attempting to change the history of the Vietnam (and other) wars and conflicts. 2009 will beat every statistic for numbers reported, and turned in to authorities for investigation and prosecution. We are just a small part of a much larger team of veterans exposing these “fairy tales” across the U.S.
The media sees a sob story and they run with it. The photos of the hero are plastered all over the front page, or the book cover, or the TV story. The tears and story are showstoppers at first glance.
The phone starts to ring and the calls begin, “This story ran.” “Will you check him out?” “Get his records.” “Something’s not right.”
And then the excuses flow. “But he is our best volunteer.” “He does so much.” “But he says he goes to the VA.” “But he gave us his DD214.”

The Agony of E-Bay – how easy can it get?

A few years back, we got a CD. Cheap. Several copies as a matter of fact. It was sold by an ex-cop from Iowa on eBay.
It literally let you build your own military file, complete with DD214 and military ID card.

There was no need for white out, no more mixed fonts, no more “catch me if you can.” There were pristine, official, blank forms – more than 600 of them – and multiple versions of the DD214 issued since Korea available on that CD.

Military officials said it was not a crime. The FBI said the same. Add the “we’ll replace it for you” lost valor award certificate sites, and voila! A hero is born.

There are no government printing houses anymore. No more warehouses of stacks of documents. All official military docs are “print on demand.” It’s not hard to find them if you know where to look. Keep looking, and you’ll find the instruction manuals, and any phony has it made if he can read directions.

If you need official wording for a Silver Star citation, no problem, it’s available. Need a DD214? Just fill in the blanks. Flight logs, injury reports – you can find it all. We have seen examples of each of these make it through the system!

Just a word of warning – before you ask a historian to add the valor award to an online listing – spell it right. A “Sliver Star” is not going to make it past inspection, no matter how many times you throw a temper tantrum.

Check it out.

The only way to verify a DD214 or some orders any more for legitimacy is to send for military records. The DD214 is now the most falsified military document there is.

A request for records, under the Freedom of Information Act takes 4-6 weeks. In the past, 4-6 MONTHS was considered quick! That process has actually discovered a new, frightening problem.
Records received from NPRC are more and more often coming back with historically inaccurate information contained within – and therefore entered on the DD214!

Individuals who served past Vietnam, with Reserve, or extended service time, have had opportunities for “hands on” records checks. That has resulted in “I cleaned it up for the clerk” remarks – and full page substitutions.

Many think a hand written entry on a Form 20 of assignments and geographical locations is a bogus record. The bogus record may actually be the perfect page, with the same perfect computer font for assignments from 1967 to 1997!

A NPRC technician once told us that if we called him to testify on a case, (about a military record that showed POW captivity when none could be found in other historical sources) he would have to state, “I can state under oath that the DD214 accurately reflects what is in the record. I cannot testify that what IS in the record reflects a true military history for the individual.”

That statement has proven true over and over. We have case files and military records for soldiers showing POW status. We have records showing Medal of Honor in the file received from NPRC. We have OMPF files with totally bogus, unsubstantiated orders for awards of valor.
Once under review, those “orders” have proven to be forgeries or lies. In depth investigations resulting in the original submission to authorities have found that the documents were inserted when “records were lost” and the veteran “re-submitted” his evidence, or actual orders are located and they do not match the name, text or award now present in the 201 file.

It takes a major records review anymore, not simply promotion prospects or discharge, before awards listed are checked with orders, or graduation certificates for Ranger, Seal or Special Forces training are checked with school rosters. Till then, they can and do show up – unearned – in OMPF files.

In some instances, the vets ask for a formal medals review to replace their decorations. They get a sparsely noted awards page, add a few more, buy the medals, copy the page, and send it to their Congressman (as if official) for presentation! It’s worked.
These blatant lies are turned over to CID, the VA Inspector General, or the FBI for further investigation.

Victimless Crime?

These imposters steal our tax dollars, VA benefits, our POW families’ hearts and souls, our veteran’s well being, and more. Those that allow the lies to continue are co-dependent, enabling and blind.
It is not our position to comfort, coddle and sweet talk those that lie. The damaged souls they leave in their wake are our concern.
How many times do kids at the WALL get lied to by “heroes”, before they trust no one. How many mothers can hear of escapes and rescues before they go insane waiting for news on their son? How many lovers have to wonder if it’s indeed Agent Orange or their death warrant with Aids. How many real POW hands can we shake, or hugs can we give – ignoring the disfiguration or badly set bones from torture before we have the nightmares brought about by the false tales of glory we hear daily??

It is not those that tell their tales in bars and Legion Halls that we pursue. But we DO pursue those that lie to children, lie to POW family members, lie to the VA and lie to media.

Solutions.

The best possible remedy for a quick fix solution starts with the effort to establish a National Database of Valor Awards.

This would allow State DMVs access to immediate verification of any person’s authorization to a Legion of Valor, Silver Star, PH, POW or other distinctive plate immediately… not from a DD-214 which could be bogus but from a National Database.

Veterans Organizations would have immediate verification on the status of all applicants that make claims of heroism or awards of valor for membership.

The Veterans Administration would immediately be able to verify combat status and combat awards, including combat wounds, from a National Database.

Sadly, early this summer, when required to have a response to the Congressional suggestion of a Valor database, DoD stated, “All Service members who separate from the military are given a Defense Department Form 214 (DD214), Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, that lists all military decorations that the member was awarded during the period he/she served in the military. Whenever a state organization or a federal organization believes that an individual is not a bona fide valor award recipient, they merely have to ask to see a copy of the individual’s DD Form 214. State organizations should require military members of veterans attempting to obtain valor license plates to present a copy of their DD Form 214 prior to issuing valor license plates. Additionally, employers should request to see a copy of an individual’s DD Form 214 if they claim to be a valor award recipient on a job application.”

In the last two years nearly $5 million in VA fraud based upon just bogus DD-214s has been uncovered, and this is the tip of the ice berg.

An AP story headline summed it all up in April. “More POW claimants than actual POWs- Some of the recipients of POW benefits apparently don’t deserve them” highlighted only the problem with POW claims.

We can tell you it doesn’t stop there.

Why Pursue? Who Cares?

The constant recording of these lies by the media, the Veterans History Project, the veterans membership organizations that do NOT take the time to validate a war story, or verify a military record are adding to the problem. The lies are changing history!

In another 50 years, researches may think than every Medal of Honor recipient was a POW, killed and ate raw rats to stay alive while being held in a cage half under water, before escaping in his skivvies and running 7 days and 7 nights to freedom, where he found a radio, got back to his men and returned to combat weighing a mere 74 pounds!
The impersonation of a veteran, impersonating an officer, wearing a uniform or unauthorized medals IS a Crime. It is a violation of U.S. Code, Title 18 and the Stolen Valor Act. It is our hope that perpetrator’s will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. To be honest, that is rarely the case. Pre-trial diversions, and community service are much more the norm. That has led to repeat offenders – and more charges and more court time and more lies.

Stolen Valor deserves much more publicity than we can give it. By the way, exposing the truth is NOT slander, especially when a crime is being committed. This is an epidemic. Unless you read the emails we receive, you cannot fathom the depth of the lies, and the all day every day effort these phonies put forth to keep their stories intact. We receive hundreds and hundreds of reports.

Many times, even when they have been confronted – the lies continue to their grave.

The FBI prosecuted less than 50 cases last year. They also acknowledge receiving fifty cases a week for investigation of Stolen Valor. They are overworked and understaffed. How do they deal with this epidemic? Congress gave us laws – but no way in this day and age to enforce them.

No matter the case, there is always someone that says the fraud deserves our respect – that he did serve and we should leave him alone. And we add “he did lie.” In addition, he may have committed a federal crime.

If we don’t stand up for the truth, for accurate history, for honors and recognition of our heroes – we will have none.
The silent group seen most often in the obituary pages tagged with tiny flags – will forever be lost to the front page heroes with racks of ribbons and stories to rival Rambo and a mouth that roars.
Someone has to take a stand.

1 - The Public has access to certain military service information without the veteran’s authorization (or that of the next-of-kin of deceased veterans). Examples of information which may be available from Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF) without an unwarranted invasion of privacy include: Name, service number, Dates of Service, Branch, Rank/date of Rank, Assignments and Geographical Locations, Source of Commission, Military Education, Awards and Decorations, duty Status, Photo, Transcript of Court-Martial Trial, Place of entrance and separation. NPRC

CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING IMAGES TO ENLARGE

Amster’s falsified DD214 and Medal of Honor issued license plates resulted in his indictment May 26, 2009 by federal authorities in Arizona (above).

Falsified in the OMPF before retirement, the above, resulted in the DD214 being issued with a false POW status shown. The CSM entered into a pre-trial diversion, and as of yet, records STILL show POW status, more than 2 yrs later (below).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR(S):

For 20 years, the P.O.W. Network has maintained a library of information on the POW/MIA issue. The Network is NOT a veterans membership organization, but rather a not for profit educational organization. Ten years ago, the Network was forced to begin investigation false claims of POW captivity, in order to maintain a historically accurate data base of information on the issue.

That effort has ballooned into an entirely new direction of investigation in addition to the POW/MIA work for the Network.

Reports are now received DAILY at the P.O.W. NETWORK on military frauds. Media sources from around the world have covered this epidemic. Thousands more go unreported, draining our tax dollars with false claims of “hero” status. While they may steal the “honor and glory”, they leave our heroes with the pain and nightmares of combat or captivity.

Unfortunately, many see this as a “victimless crime.”

The truth is that every Soldier, Sailor, Airman and Marine that has ever worn a uniform, or earned the title with sweat, blood or their life, is a victim. In addition, taxpayers forced to cover the cost of the phony’s property tax breaks, free license plates, veterans care or disability payments – are also victims. When the phony gets a job based on a false resume, or leads the parade – a legit vet pays the price. It has to stop.

The P.O.W. Network is a 501 3c organization based in Missouri. The website for both the POW/MIA issue and the “Hero or Villain” dilemma is www.pownetwork.org. Donations to help support their efforts in these endeavors or the help sponsor the Annual Veterans GALA in Branson can be made through their website at http://www.pownetwork.org/donations.htm. All donations are tax deductible.

Agree? Disagree? Have Something To Add? Please Show Your Appreciation To Our Friends At The P.O.W. Network For Taking The Time To Author This Guest Column In The Comments Section Below

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