NELSON, KENNETH J

ACTUAL RECORDS

Memorial caretaker faces Stolen Valor charges

Three years ago, Katie Valentino visited the California Vietnam Veterans Memorial, a granite and bronze monument in Sacramento dedicated to the 5,822 service members from the Golden State who died or disappeared during the war.

After shooting some photographs, she was stopped by Kenneth Nelson, who introduced himself as a retired gunnery sergeant and Vietnam veteran. He spent the next 45 minutes telling her stories about the war, she said, including how his own commanding officer died in his hands.

“You never forget seeing death,” she called him telling her.

Valentino, a mental health professional from Bloomingdale, Ill., is one of the many visitors with whom Nelson, 60, shared such stories during his 19-year run caring for the memorial. He polished it regularly, telling journalists who flocked to do stories about him that the volunteer work helped him cope with memories of the war’s bloodiest battles.

U.S. authorities now say none of his claims are true. He will be arraigned Oct. 2 in Sacramento on charges he allegedly wore three unauthorized Purple Hearts and a Silver Star, and that he lied to FBI agents investigating his claims, according to an affidavit filed Sept. 10.

In reality, Nelson never served in combat with the “Walking Dead” of 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, despite his claims of surviving a head wound and a napalm burn during service that included battles at Khe Sanh, Con Thien and Quang Tri, the indictment said. He enlisted in 1977 but lasted less than two months before being discharged as a private at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Marine officials said. He did not graduate from boot camp.

Other claims?

Although the indictment focuses on a single incident in which Nelson allegedly wore unauthorized medals, authorities believe “there were claims to other various medals,” said U.S. Attorney Camil Skipper, who is prosecuting the case. Nelson is listed as a recipient of valorous medals on Web sites such as americasveterans.org, which says he earned the Navy Cross — the nation’s second highest award for valor — the Silver Star, the Bronze Star with V and three Purple Hearts.

In a telephone interview, Nelson said he will face his charges “like a man,” but he denied ever wearing unauthorized medals. He declined to say whether he served in Vietnam, citing the open case.

“I don’t think I did anything wrong. I had too much respect for those guys on the wall,” he said, referring to names memorialized on the monument.

Pressed for details on his service, Nelson accused the media of distorting his service record in previously published reports, and he suggested the nonprofit organization Vietnam Veterans of America was out to get him.

“My main function was to protect that memorial and to protect a piece of history,” he said. “I’m just the little guy.”

Dick Southern, director of VVA’s California region, dismissed Nelson’s accusations.

“The fact that he watched over a memorial or helped maintain a memorial doesn’t give him the right to say he’s something that he’s not,” Southern said. “If all the things [he is accused of] are true, then he deserves the punishment he is going to get.”

United States Attorney Lawrence G. Brown

Eastern District of California

______________________________________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                     CONTACT: LAUREN HORWOOD

Tuesday, September 15, 2009                                       PHONE: (916) 554-2706

www.usdoj.gov/usao/cae                                                                                   usacae.edcapress@usdoj.gov

Docket #: 2:09-cr-0232-GEB; 2:09-cr-395-LKK

STOLEN VALOR: ONE MAN PLEADS GUILTY, ANOTHER CHARGED, FOR BOGUS CLAIMS CONCERNING SILVER STAR MILITARY MEDALS

SACRAMENTO , Calif.— Uniited States Attorney Lawrence G. Brown announced today that ERIC GENE PIOTROWSKI, 41, of Elk Grove, pleaded guilty this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Gregory G. Hollows to falsely claiming that he was awarded a Silver Star military decoration during Operation Desert Storm. On Thursday, September 10, 2009, a second man, KENNETH JEROME NELSON, 60, of Sacramento, was charged in a two-count indictment with unauthorized exhibition of military decorations and medals, including a Silver Star, and making a false statement to the FBI concerning his supposed service in Vietnam and his receipt of various medals.

Under the Stolen Valor Act, which was enacted in late 2006, it is a misdemeanor offense to wear military medals that were not in fact awarded, or to falsely claim to have been awarded such medals. The Silver Star is the third highest decoration awarded by the U.S. Military. The PIOTROWSKI case was investigated by the FBI and the California Department of Veterans Affairs. The NELSON case was investigated by the FBI.

U.S. Attorney Brown said, "False claims about military heroism demean the record of the real heroes who have valiantly served this nation in the armed services. Those who seek public attention and admiration by misappropriating the mantle of veterans who have served with distinction deserve prosecution."  

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Rodriguez, who is prosecuting the PIOTROWSKI case, PIOTROWSKI claimed that he was awarded a Silver Star for "gallantry in action during combat operations against hostile forces" in Operation Desert Storm. Specifically, PIOTROWSKI falsely claimed that in 1991 during an Iraqi counterattack, he "exposed himself to direct enemy fire while providing suppressive fires to cover an antitank team, which was maneuvering to destroy an Iraqi T-62 tank." In fact, as he admitted in his plea of guilty, PIOTROWSKI did not see military action in Operation Desert Storm; he purchased the Silver Star Citation and medal via the Internet. Under false pretenses, PIOTROWSKI was formally recognized for the Silver Star by the Undersecretary for the California Department of Veterans Affairs in a ceremony in December 2007. Sentencing in the case is scheduled for November 30, 2009 before Judge Hollows.

According to Assistant United States Attorney Camil A. Skipper, who is prosecuting the NELSON case, the indictment alleges that NELSON wore a Silver Star that had not been awarded to him. The indictment also alleges that NELSON, during an investigation by the FBI, falsely claimed to have earned three Purple Hearts in Vietnam. According to the indictment, NELSON falsely stated that he had earned his third Purple Heart after he stepped on a spike and received an ankle wound while carrying an injured fellow soldier on his back for 26 miles. The indictment alleges that NELSON did not serve in any combat role with the U.S. Military in Vietnam or elsewhere and that he did not receive any decorations or medals. NELSON, who is known by many as an unofficial caretaker of the California Vietnam Veterans Memorial, has been featured in local television and newspaper stories in which he was described as a former Marine who served in Vietnam for three years and received medals for valor. The charges against NELSON are only allegations and he is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

In another case prosecuted under the Stolen Valor Act, MICHAEL ALLAN FRASER, 63, of Oroville, pleaded guilty in May 2008 to violating the Stolen Valor Act, and was sentenced to serve 100 hours of community service and a fine of $500. FRASER had given an interview to the Oroville Mercury Register in which he falsely claimed to have been awarded two Purple Hearts and two Bronze Stars for heroism in Vietnam. He had traveled to Vietnam with real Vietnam veterans, who believed he was helping them to "bury the ghosts" of the past. In fact, FRASER never served in Vietnam or received such medals.

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AT IT AGAIN AUGUST 2008    

http://www.news10.net/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=46678&catid=33

John

http://www.norcaltrav.com/june_2004.htm

UPDATE ON THE VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL

 MOST RECENT DEVELOPMENTS.....News from CDVA, as we understand the paperwork is now being readied to solicit for bids for the repair of the Memorial.  Of course with the "Reading", the public had plenty of opportunity to see the damage done and express their concern for the lack of repair.  Our Memorial Guard, Ken Nelson, was interviewed by one of the local TV stations, and was able to express his opinion regarding both the vandalism performed to the Memorial, which he has attempted to protect for all of these years and frustration over the slow process of getting the repairs scheduled and completed.

Monday, September 10, 2007

John

MARINE FINALLY GETS A HEADSTONE

One of the benefits of being a Veteran is to have a headstone provided by the VA.  However, for the family of Marine Sgt. Hans A. Johnsen, this almost proved to be an impossibility.  Hans enlisted in the U.S. Marines in 1882, was promoted to Sergeant in 1883.  He passed away in 1929.  About 10 years ago, Johnsen's grandson David began his quest for information and a headstone for his grandfather.  He almost gave up when by chance he happened to meet Gus Kanelos, Veteran Advocate from the Unaffiliated Veteran's Advocate Coalition.  With help from Gus and the Folsom W. H. Nichols Marine Corps League, the headstone was finally obtained.  On November 12, a ceremony was held for Sgt. Johnsen.  Marine Corps League and VVA members (above) Ken Nelson and Sanford Ross participated in the ceremony.  The old Marine has finally received his due.