ALBERT "BUD" PORTER

Porter was recently was elected as the CEO of DAV Post # 9 out of Clallam County, Olympic Peninsula operating out of Port Angeles, Washington.

         Veteran claims service that  others dispute

         By Ed Offley
         P-I Military Reporter

         PORT TOWNSEND - For years, community leaders here lauded Albert "Bud" Porter as the unofficial leader of the close-knit community of military veterans who live on the northern Olympic Peninsula.

Porter, a burly, energetic man of 64, has long been a common sight at Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies, wearing a dark beret with the Trident badge of the Navy SEAL commandos, his chest festooned with five rows of ribbons, including the Navy Cross, two Silver Star medals, a pair of Bronze Stars and other decorations.

The problem, other veterans say, is that Porter didn't earn the SEAL badge or any of those decorations.

Porter resigned as commander of American Legion Post 26 in Port Townsend last month after several veterans accused him of embellishing his military service record. But that hasn't ended the controversy swirling around Porter, who declined to be interviewed.

Officials of the veterans group say the Port Townsend situation has become a major embarrassment for veterans and their fraternal organizations, particularly because Porter continues to be involved as a member in a number of local veterans organizations.  Porter remains a member of American Legion Post 26 and is listed as the senior vice commander of VFW Post 11481 in Neah Bay, a new chapter Porter helped organize in late 1993.

The accusations against Porter originated with Vietnam veterans Ed Orr of Seattle and Tom Parker of Issaquah, who began their own probe after hearing complaints from other veterans in Jefferson County about Porter.

They say they have worked hundreds of hours since late last year compiling documentation that Porter's background wasn't what he claimed.

Also, since Porter resigned, Jefferson County officials told the Port Townsend Leader newspaper that they have tightened up accounting rules for the Soldiers and Sailors Relief Fund, a county program that since 1987 has provided more than $100,000 in emergency cash grants to indigent  veterans.

Porter in 1992 either commanded or served as a caseworker at three separate Port Townsend veterans organizations that brokered requests for such aid.

Porter was a commander in Port Townsend posts of both the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, and was the service officer  responsible for processing aid requests for veterans at

AMVETS Post 30.

The state headquarters of all three organizations say they are reviewing allegations that Porter falsely claimed Membership the Navy SEAL Commandos and has worn the, Navy Cross, Silver Star, and Bronze Star combat medals despite no official citation in his service records for eligibility.

Misrepresentation of a  military service record is not illegal, although veterans group officials say it is
extremely damaging to    the credibility of the individual and the organization.

Officials of the organizations have directed Porter to furnish them with copies of his discharge         certificate, known as a DD-214 form.  A copy of Porter's DD-214 certificate obtained by the Post
Intelligencer shows no certification of Porter as a SEAL commando nor as a recipient of the Navy Cross, Silver Star or Bronze Star.

The Navy released portions of Porter's personnel file that show no record of him attending SEAL training and the section listing medals and military decorations shows no entries for the Navy   Cross or Silver Star.  Porter served in Korea and later in Vietnam with a riverine warfare group before retiring in 1970.

"Having researched our records, there is no record of an Albert Wayne Porter ever having attended the BUD/S (basic underwater demolition/SEAL) field training in Coronado (Calif.)," said Cdr..  Glen King, spokesman for the Naval Special Warfare Command.

State veterans officials earlier forced Porter to step down from leadership positions in American Legion Post 26 and VFW Post 7014 in Port Townsend after questions were raised about his stewardship.  At VFW Post 1148 in Neah Bay, Porter and several other officers were suspended by state VFW officials in late 1993 after not filing proper reports and dues to headquarters, but they were reinstated when the   situation was cleared up, said VFW adjutant Don Bracken.

"We're out there in kind of a no-man's land," said Dallas Vaughan, state adjutant for the American Legion.  "We do not have the authority to discipline that individual."

"It's a frustrating situation we're in, no doubt about it," said another state veterans group official. Bob Clark, the state commander of the AMVETS organization, said allegations of misrepresenting one's military background is "a serious charge." Clark said he had directed Porter to submit proof of his
service record by mid-April under an AMVETS rule that gives a member 30 days to respond to such a directive.  "We don't meddle with the posts unless there is a problem," Clark said.

State officials of the American    Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars say their internal regulations and bylaws make it extremely difficult to oust Porter from membership.

The corporate structure and bylaws of their organizations leave internal discipline largely to the discretion Of local chapters and posts, although the state departments have the authority under certain conditions to shut down a chapter entirely, officials said.

In a letter sent to Porter just before he resigned, American Legion state department commander Richard Smith said, "Bud, you can assist yourself and (the state) department if You would provide us all of your records on a voluntary basis." Smith noted that a local American Legion post charter may be suspended "if in fact the claims against you are true and neither you nor the post rectify this situation."

In a recent interview, several members of American Legion Post 26 defended Porter as an energetic, caring person who has given much of his time on behalf of fellow veterans.  Philip Zerr, who briefly assumed command of the post until the election of member Craig Talley as commander last week, said that Porter's resignation had made the controversy over his military record "a moot issue."

Other veterans disagree.

Don Swanson, the VFW District Commander for the northern Olympic Peninsula, said of Porter and his allies, "They have worn out their welcome in Jefferson County." Swanson who is responsible for monitoring VFW posts in the area, said he has been unable to get Porter to respond to the charges by Parker and Orr.

The VFW dismissed Porter as commander of the port Townsend chapter in 1992, about the time
the American Legion state headquarters briefly shut down Post 26 in Port Townsend after a flurry of accusations that Porter and his allies had mismanaged the building.

The State American Legion later retreated on that decision and paid nearly $20,000 to settle a lawsuit by Porter and his allies over the closure, several sources said.

Veterans Day ceremonies honor "silence of the guns"

1994

Combat Action Ribbon
Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal w/2 bronze stars
United Nations Service Medal
Navy Occupation Service Medal w.European Clasp
Vietnam Service Medal
Purple Heart Medal
Vietnam, Campaign Medal
Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon
Presidential Unit Citation
Small Craft Insignia
Meritorious Unit Commendation
Vietnamese Armed Force Honor Medal

RANK BMC

Served 12/22/50 to retirement 2/1/79

SIX YEARS LATER.....

September 15, 2000
Port Townsend, WA
Korean War Veterans Medal Ceremony