FRANK REYES

Obviously, though Don was suspicious (Reyes would be one of the most decorated Green Berets of the Vietnam War, holding every award but the Medal of Honor), Don was seeking confirmation from the SF community in case someone out there knew him.

AND NOW…As they say, for the rest of the story.

 In fact, someone on Don’s email cc: list did know Frank Reyes, but it was not a member of the SF community. As a combat engineer, I served with Frank Reyes at LZ Nancy, not as SF but as members of Company C, 14^th Combat Engineer Battalion.

Several years ago Frank began searching for men he had served with at LZ Nancy, and had eventually located several who began sharing emails and  communicating from time to time. About six years ago Frank located me, and I was welcomed into the group, which included nearly a dozen of us from that unit during the same time frame. It was an exciting thing for me, to at last come in contact with former comrades. Frank even sent me a CD/ROM with a number of pictures from those days—a welcomed gift I greatly appreciated as I had lost almost all my own photos from the period.

As the emails went back and forth among us, Frank told repeated stories of serving with the Army Rangers and Special Forces after leaving LZ Nancy, stories I found quite suspect but preferred not to look into—after all, Frank was a friend with whom I had served in Vietnam. About a year ago Frank sent out a picture of the same medals frame shown above, but it was simply a picture of the frame. I was bothered somewhat, as it seemed obvious Frank was trying to give everyone the impression they were HIS medals, when I knew he did not at least earn a DSC. But since he hadn’t flagrantly come out and said they were his, or hadn’t WORN the medals, again I preferred to “see no evil”. Inside I felt like a hypocrite for NOT confronting Frank, but those feelings were conflicting with my personal loyalty to a man with whom I had served in Vietnam.

Last spring the media printed several stories of medals fraud I was involved in exposing around the country, stories about our efforts to pass the Stolen Valor Act, and even appearances on ABC’s “Good Morning America” and a couple on FOX news. One of the guys in our group emailed me to congratulate me, and closed by saying, “You know, we have one of those (frauds) in our group.”

At that time I realized just how negligent I had been. As a result, on June 9 I sent Frank the following email:

Frank,

The subject of your units and awards has come under question. Would you be so kind as to forward to me a copy of your DD-214 so I can answer any questions regarding what units you served with and what medals you were awarded. I do recall an email last year in which you sent a picture of a display including the DSC, Silver Star, and others. I trust you are not claiming that this represents your awards.

Thanks, Doug

Almost immediately Frank responded as follows:

Dear Mr. Sterner, (Previously he had always addressed me as Doug or my RVN nickname “Gopher”)

        In questioning my honesty, truth be told, You do not have that right. I do not recall asking you to look into my passed. It is just that, MY pass not yours. What and Who I served with is in all honesty again, NONE of your business. I do not recall sending you anything regarding permission or information dealing with my Military pass. I do understand that you wish to make a  name for yourself in Politics, But going about using and abusing friends is not the way. As far as me sending you personal information such as my DD-214, That is not going to happen in my life time. Do as I do, delete me from your e-mail list please. I do not wish to associate myself with people such as your self who question ones honesty and integrity. I never asked you of your passed because of one good reason Sir, It was then as it is now, None of my business. I would suggest that you do the same Sir. In all honesty don't use me to gain political clout for your own personal use. We our No longer friends,  delete my name from your e-mail list.

Respectfully

Frank Reyes

 In fact, all but one of my comrades became immediately incensed that I would confront Frank, one of whom was a former platoon sergeant I knew well who emailed me to say:

Why are you sending this to me Dont bother Frank with this at this time as hes having a hard time right now in plan english mind your own bis. I am removing you from my email list I dont want to ever hear from you again you messing with Frank is worst then messing with my Family ive seen the orders for what frank is showing hes earned every thing there

shirley

The fallout from my comrades was generally of the same tone, only one emailed to tell me he was behind me. Some made very heated phone calls to give me vivid pieces of their mind. I explained to all of them that if they REALLY cared about Frank, they would confront him about this fraud. I pointed out that while what Frank had been doing was VERY WRONG, that I had no evidence that he had ever WORN these medals, and thus had not violated any laws. I advised that if Frank wasn’t confronted, and forced to deal with this, sooner or later he would probably cross that line—that what I was doing wasn’t vengeful despite the fact it looked like I was turning on a comrade—I was actually trying to protect him from himself.

In response to Shirley’s email, in which he stated he had seen the orders for all of Frank’s awards, I learned that Mary Schantag of the POW NETWORK had already FOIAd Frank based upon a report, and emailed to Shirley the same documents attached. Shirley called me in a huff, advised that anyone who served in Vietnam had medals that weren’t on their orders, and that I should NEVER contact him by email or phone again.

Subsequent to all of the above, all of which transpired over a two day period in June, all contact from my former comrades (with the exception of one) was stopped. It hurt, but I knew I had done the right thing and as I’ve always done, moved on with my life. I did entertain hopes that Frank would be shaken enough by my confrontation to end the charade before it could take him any deeper into trouble. As the email from Don Bendell today demonstrates, this was not the case.

I leave it to you to decide if you want to pursue this. After receiving Don’s email I forwarded the photo and fact that the SF guys were about to go after Frank to Frank himself and the members of our group with which I corresponded regularly until last June. I say this so you will  know that Frank knows he has been exposed—AGAIN. I know you would like to interview someone BEFORE they know they’ve been outed, but I just couldn’t do that to a former comrade. It would be like blind-siding him. But I will not cover for him—he is among the worst Stolen Valor cases I’ve dealt with. Frankly, he didn’t stop when I confronted him in June, and I doubt he will change his practice even after I emailed to confront him again today. Perhaps he has told these lies so long, he now honestly believes them. At any rate, I have passed this on to you to decide if you want to follow up.

Sincerely,

Doug