INTRODUCTION

CLAIMING VIETNAM PRISONER OF WAR:

V V A - Claims by members of  Vietnam Veterans of America

==================================
More Reported Claims:
Medal of Honor, Other than Vietnam POWs, Son Tay Raiders, DSC, DFC, Purple Heart, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Navy Cross, SEALS, Rangers, Pilots, Special Forces, Green Berets, Combat, Vietnam Helicopter Pilots, Flying Tigers, DOUBT EVERYTHING, Don't Encourage 

APOLOGIES AND CLARIFICATIONS

Heroes or Villains?

Individuals reported as of  03/2008
CLAIMING VIETNAM POW STATUS  or as noted
#  =  on list over 11 years

Note: These individuals are IN ADDITION TO those investigated and named in the book STOLEN VALOR.

Those with a "LINK" have records, news articles, pictures or tales posted
Comments in GREEN are from information contained in military records (or lack of military records) obtained through FOIA when requested THROUGH the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis.

Name                               

Actual Records Indicate/Notes

.

yet name engraved on plaque hanging in VFW noting his POW status and a PHOTO OF HIS TIGER CAGE!! Always buys the beer....... 

Claims Navy Cross. Claims list of POWs at pownetwork.org is "inconclusive".

NO DD214  - he claims his "records burned in the fire." Turned into CA DMV for POW 3173 license plates 12/03/01.

Bolinger RESIGNED FROM VFW POST 12/07/01after VFW Post 2111 initiated investigation into claims... In AUGUST 2002 VFW NATIONAL REINSTATED his membership stating not only was he "eligible" but there are NO PROVISIONS for a life-member to resign.

Records indicate Service from Dec 29, 1950 to Nov 29 1976. Rank E7. NO Purple Heart; NO Navy Cross; NO POW captivity; NO E9. Chief Boiler Tech.... USS Ticonderoga

POW, needed surgery to reconstruct face after torture and being kicked with boots.
Claims VA POW BENEFITS  -- THE VA FRAUD UNIT DENIES
Makes his claims in PTSD group. Claims his proof is in a VA MD's statement.
Past  Adjutant  Connors states it "MEANS NOTHING" that Borjas in not on the PMSEA.
Previously met with past STATE ADJUTANT PAUL CONNER AND PAST STATE COMMANDER BOB NEWELL. Both backed Borjas.
Conners stated he has "read the after action report"
Connors and Newell claimed none of it (claims made) was illegal and there was no mandate for removal from office.

VFW former State Cmdr                       
HAVE RECORDS
2002 ran for VVA State Commander

We hold the command chronologies for all Marine  units from the Vietnam period here at the Historical Center....up to 1966.  The records branch at Quantico, which is part of Manpower,  holds all the Vietnam era Unit Diaries and rosters up to the present....

I took a look at the command chronology for 1/9 for June 1968 and  although it is pretty detailed, even down to the company level, I saw  nothing that matched the story of the POW and others from his squad. 1/9 did sustain 18 KIAs and 87 WIAs, for the entire battalion for the  month of June.... I saw no reference to any Marines being taken  prisoner during the month.

VR
Dan  Crawford

=================================

From: "Mike McGrath" 
To: movfwaql@mail.ultraweb.net

 Dear Sir:  If I have the correct address, I should be reaching the  National Headquarters of the VFW in Kansas City.

 I am Capt Mike McGrath, USN (retired), a five year nine month  POW in  Vietnam and currently the President of NAM-POWs, Inc., a social and  fraternal organization of the POWs of the Vietnam War.

It has come to our attention that a man named Tony Borjas will be  hosting the coming VFW convention August 14-20, 1999.  I don't know  Mr. Borjas personally, but several VFW members have reported that for  some time Mr. Borjas has been representing himself as a POW of the  Vietnam War.  He seems to have miraculously been captured without our  government, his unit, or anyone else knowing about it.  Then, he  seems to have made a miraculous escape without anyone in the world  knowing about it.  The truth is that he was never reported MIA/POW  for even a day.  He was never with any of the 661 surviving POWs.  He  was never carried on the DOD rolls of MIA/POWs.  You can verify this  information by calling the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel  Office (DPMO) at the Pentagon.  Talk to Mr. Larry Greer, PAO, at  1-703-699-1100 ext 1169

 Mr. Borjas has been reported to Honorable Togo West, Jr., head of the  VA as receiving VA benefits from the Jefferson Barracks Memorial  Hospital for POW induced PTSD.  Their office is investigating.  If  true, this could constitute fraud.

 He has been reported to the VFW Magazine editor, Pat Brown, and to  author Al Hemmingway (Al wrote last month's article on wannabes).  Hopefully they will publish a follow up article on the false claims  of Mr. Borjas.

 I have been notified that some members of the VFW (I am not a  member) will take this story to the local media including TV, Press,  talk radio, etc. if Mr. Borjas is allowed to host the convention  under the guise of having been a POW. 

Just thought you should know what your VFW members are thinking. 

 Please let me know of your plans to either let Mr. Borjas continue as host or to find a suitable replacement.

 Sincerely,
 Mike McGrath
 POW 30 June 67 to 4 March 73

04/2005

Has had (or has) affiliation with American Legion Post 23, Detroit.

Many of us who had contact with Bouzounis always doubted his claims. Many of us have seen him in his US Army Major uniform. I am glad you have exposed him!

Department of Defense Public Record

Name :  TED STAVROS BOUZOUNIS Service :  ARMY Service Component :  REGULAR Pay Grade :  E-1 Military Specialty :  05C0O Home of Record :  Unknown

Served less than 3 months.

====================
313-287-2118
American Legion Post 23  DETROIT, MI (1994)
 SYSOP Ted Bouzounis

NAME: POW/MIA MESSAGE CENTER NUMBER: 64 DESCRIPTION: This conference is dedicated to all POW/MIA's from all of the wars. The purpose is to provide information to anyone who is interested in efforts to put pressure on the Local, State and Federal Governments to help bring them home. Messages are limited to 10 lines, including quoting. Courtesy-only messages are encouraged and general discussion is discouraged. Maybe this will help prevent this from happening again! Please pray for their safe return. 
HOSTS: Ted Bouzounis Node ID ->OLYMPIC 
Joni Bouzounis Node ID ->OLYMPIC
ACTIVITY: * NEW * 11/9/91

Left the state of Maine and is now living and working in New Hampshire at an auto parts store.

01/2008

Served Aug 18, 1967 to March 23, 1969 - Sgt/E5

Medals: Vietnam Campaign; Vietnam Service Medal w/1 bronze service star; CIB; Army Commendation; Purple Heart w/2 Oakleaf Clusters; National Defense; Expert Badge/Machine Gun; Marksman/Auto rifle/rifle bar.

Nam: CoD1stBn6thInf198InfBde // 23rd Admin Co

05/2005

STILL claims the same story  PLUS he also claimed to have the Silver Star and Bronze Star. .... Bradley admits that the USMC does not recognize that he was a POW. Bradley's card identifies him as the Commandant of the "Gen Raymond Davis Detachment" of the Marine Corps League of Gaston, Lincoln Counties, North Carolina.

"If you are so smart, you must know that there were forces there not recognized because of covert actions. not all things were reported to the public. Areas you cannot crack."

"What about all the records that were lost in the great fire. A-D listings were destroyed."

"There is quite a lot of classified info you have no access to, nor do a lot of people. Lying about being in Nam is one thing. Being there as an advisor is another."

"If you saw what he looked like when he came home, you would would not question it at all. documented 350 saves as a combat medic. paper work from weisbaden, germany for training. pictures with pres. johnson-silver starx2. 4 purple hearts. all of vietnam medals..."

"he's not on your sites. know  you have the wrong guy. would love to have a legal battle with you. maybe you will stop maligning the real heros."
=============================

2007- - Claims to be a Vietnam vet but is not...he has gone to the wall in DC and cried for his "lost friends" and has told many stories (has obtained metals from flea markets) he has vet tags also...

THE RECORDS CENTER FIRE 

There were no recorded SF elements in RVN between 1957 (when Harry Cramer was killed) and 1960.
Steve Sherman sends

Website http//www.greenberet.net/books/
or Mirror Website http//www.SpecialForcesBooks.com
Website http//www.ButtonDePress.com/BostonManifesto/
Website http//www.ButtonDePress.com
Website http//www.Viet-Myths.net
"The time has come to set the record straight" -- Swiftvets.com

=========

With full name, date of birth, NO MILITARY RECORDS could be located.

No Lawrence Gray as Special Forces either.

Still claiming POW escapee even after being confronted. Then he was "NSA, top secret". 
Claims Navy Fighter pilot, 1963.

He has additionally claimed to be a pilot in the Navy who was recruited by the N.A.S. to fly courrier flight services.  Claims to have flown off of Carriers. Claims to have been shot down and held prisoner by the VC for 2 1/2 years.  All the while being tortured by tooth extraction, eardrums punctured by bamboo, etc

May be employed as truck driver.

Might have another story here.  Is this man getting preference in contracts or construction work by claiming to be a Prisoner of War?

Brown, a former member of the U.S. Army Special Forces during the Vietnam War and holder of a black belt in tae kwon do, was captured and endured 12 days as a prisoner of war. During his captivity, he was tortured, beaten senseless and sexually assaulted.
And I understand the loss of control. And once they get past the fact that I'm male, they will not find an advocate that's stronger o
"Although I was never penetrated, I was sexually assaulted," he said. "And I do know what that means. r more positive."

A different kind of soldier

Brown, now 54, stands 6 feet, 6 inches tall and weighs what he jokingly calls "a petite" 230 pounds. He grew up in the San Fernando Valley where, after graduating high school, he earned a degree in photography from Los Angeles Trade Tech. He enlisted, served in Special Forces and worked on a U.N. peacekeeping team. He was captured in 1969 while he and a buddy were on a reconnaissance mission, he said.

"There was an explosion right next to us," he said. "When I came to, I was in a bamboo tiger cage. And my partner was in one also."

Both men were tortured and terrorized, suffering grievous injuries. When they weren't being tormented, their cages were placed in a nearby river in 24 inches of water. His partner managed to free both of them, but died before they made it to safety.

Brown said his wounds healed quickly upon his return. He received a Purple Heart and returned to work. "God gives you the internal fortitude," he said. He left the service in 1970 and went on to more than one successful career. He does lots of community work as director of vocational services for the Rotary club of Temecula. And with the completion of his advocate training, he has enlisted as a soldier in another kind of war."...

After leaving the service, Brown earned both a bachelor's and a masters degree in still and cinema photography. For years he worked in movie special effects on classic movies like "Blade Runner," "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark." In 1996, he earned a Ph.D. in business administration from Columbia University.

Brown moved to Temecula 10 years ago. From 1995 to 2000, he was the school photographer for most of the local elementary schools from Murrieta to Oceanside and Carlsbad, photographing 40,000 kids per year, he said.

These days, he works in financial services as a business banking officer for US Bank, handling small business loans of up to a million dollars. Stylish clothing covers the many scars on his body, and he speaks lightly of the calcified shrapnel in his lung. Two years of counseling helped him to "process" his very personal trauma....

Later, story changed to held in CHINA, as a Civilian. Also claims past president of Rotary in Big Bear, Ca
--------------------------------------

Works as Bank Officer. Member of Rotary. Counsels male RAPE victims in new crisis center in Murietta.

2002 - Voted Citizen of the Year AND Rotarian of the Year.

Feb 2004:  " Greg Brown named Vice President at Southwest Community Bank..."

Advocate for the Riverside Rape Crisis Center -  counseling RAPE VICTIMS. 
Former POWs state he is NOT one of them.  Pentagon says no evidence exists to back up his POW tales.
He is not recognized as a Special Forces team member.  At this time we are still attempting to find out if he EVER even served. And NO - he was not covert, on black ops, on secret missions, or "sanitized."

Sept 2004 - Formerly worked as a Bank Officer.  STILL no correction/retraction of news articles regarding POW claims in 2002

William H. “Wild Bill” Brown, 62, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005, at the Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell.

He was fiercely proud of his military service as a Marine and his tours in Vietnam were he was a POW for 15 months.

.....
The Daily Inter Lake
727 East Idaho Street / Kalispell, Montana 59901 / 406-755-7000

ACTUAL RECORDS

08/2005

03/2003

05/2004: Seen in local Lowes with leg brace on OUTSIDE of leg, Legion emblem on jacket, POW/MIA cap.!

01/2005
Seems he was in a local bar (Newark, OH) and putting on his POW routine. Well he made the mistake of doing it in front of an informed Vet who informed the Veteran bar owner. Things got ugly and Bryson left in a big hurry.

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http://www.newarkadvocate.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051211/OBITUARIES/512110317/1023

NGUS and USAR,  served from Jan 18 63 to Jan 14 64. Discharged as a PVT. ONLY award Marksman Badge w/Rifle Bar.

Claims member of VFW, American Legion, and the Special Forces Assoc.

========================================================

FRED J. BYRD is looking for Vietnam veterans or former prisoners of war who can verify his experience, briefly outlined below.  If you are aware of this situation, please contact me:  Fred Byrd, 1105 Vaughn Street, Las Vegas, NV 89101 – Telephone: 702-642-8717.....

In re: POW status: 
Prisoner of War category: Vietnam
Theater participated in:  Southeast Asia
Approximate date of capture: April 1969
Captured in a group – flight crew of six people
Time in captivity:  Approximately 6-weeks, 2-days

We had just made landing in C-123K (cargo plane) at US operated army base “Tam La Chan” near Anke Vietnam, close to Benja AB Saigon, Vietnam.  We were hauling ammunition and food items.  Engines on A/C still running. Flight crew was in progress of pushing ammo out of cargo door on wooden pallets when A/C was hit while still on the runway, by Viet Cong launching mortar rounds disabling A/C.

 Captors (Viet Cong) were rapidly approaching A/C as the whole aircrew was attempting to tear up all A/C technical manuals and mission orders and maps.  Viet Cong tied us up using ropes, blindfolded all of us and marched us up into a large wagon pulled by horses.  We were taken to a wooded area on a long bumpy dirt road, placed in wooden cages with wooden bars.  Blindfolds were removed, food and water then thrown to the floor where slept on straw/hay on the ground in closed cages.  I was interrogated every day almost all day, worked in rice fields and then in tent as an interpreter (language).  Escaped from Viet Cong prison camp with aid of “Mama Sans”, their husbands and children cutting barbed wire.  We floated and swam on backs, breathing through bamboo poles in muddy water ditch, then crawled and walked through wooded area and swamps to friendly U.S. outpost camp.  Three fellow air crewmen were shot by Viet Cong in the muddy water while trying to escape.  Upon arriving to U.S. forces, was taken to hospital.

INTRODUCTION

CLAIMING VIETNAM PRISONER OF WAR:

V V A - Claims by members of  Vietnam Veterans of America

==================================
More Reported Claims:
Medal of Honor, Other than Vietnam POWs, Son Tay Raiders, DSC, DFC, Purple Heart, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Navy Cross, SEALS, Rangers, Pilots, Special Forces, Green Berets, Combat, Vietnam Helicopter Pilots, Flying Tigers, DOUBT EVERYTHING, Don't Encourage 

APOLOGIES AND CLARIFICATIONS