June 10, 1999
Rochestertoday.com NewsSource 13
POW CONTROVERSY
According to the POW Network, a national not-for-profit
organization, there is a growing trend across the country of individuals misrepresenting
their military history. NewsSource 13 Investigative
Reporter Christine Rogers uncovered one suspected case of "stolen valor" here in
Rochester.
For 30 years, Lon McAlister has presented himself as a former
Vietnam Prisoner of War. He has attended POW memorial services, participated in Memorial
Day marathons and told his POW story many times. However, the POW Network, an organization
dedicated to preserving the history of
Vietnam prisoners of war, has no records to support his claim.
"We were absolutely convinced that the man had never been
captured in any way, shape or form
for even a few minutes anytime during the Vietnam war," explained Mary Schantag from
the POW Network.
On its Internet site, the POW Network lists McAlister on what is
called the "Hall of Shame." The people listed there allegedly call themselves
POWs, but according to Pentagon records, never spent one day in captivity.
When McAlister (photo left) was asked about the discrepancy, he
stated that he has lapses in memory and that he just recently began to question his POW
status himself. "You see, I don't remember much about it at all, which is what I've
said from the beginning," explained McAlister. "I don't recall much about it.
There's a period of time that's gone and it's all very hazy."
The military records office in St. Louis said McAlister was
discharged from the Army in 1974. McAlister says he's been searching for documents to
prove his POW status, for nine years. The records office insists it answers most requests
for information within 90 days.
Local POW's are shocked by those who would allegedly fake POW
status. If McAlister has been misrepresenting himself, they feel he owes a public apology
to all POW's.
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