Stephen Barkett

ACTUAL RECORDS 

Claims POW for 3 yrs....enlisted in USMC, neglected to mention "sole surviving son", visited by  men in suits"  and "pulled out of training to go to work for an agency." Records are classified for 75 yrs.

 

http://www.cowboyspride.net/forum/showthread.php?t=42196 

[INTERVIEW HAS BEEN ARCHIVED]

quote

... So I know you were a POW..how did that come to be?

I was in a chopper flying low with another when we were hit. Chopper went down into the trees with us in it, tried to escape but was then hit with mortar rounds, when I woke up I was their guest of honor. The others didn't make it. Maybe they were the lucky ones.

Where and how many were there with you?

In our small moving camp and tunnel I got to see about 10 others but they kept moving us and I spent the first month or so in a tiger cage bound. I was let out for interrogation then found I was returned to it when I woke up. I lost all the toe nails on my feet (pulled out) some hearing (75%) when they tried to clean my ears with bamboo sticks, and the bottom of my right foot. Their pedicure sucked.

Describe what Tiger Cage is.

A tiger cage is a cage made of bamboo about 4 foot by four foot, that I was kept in. You squat all the time, no room to do much else. Yes they were real humane. Sorry this is a very bad subject with me.
(editors note: Offered to take this part out but TBD agreed to keep it.)

....

What is Hanoi Jane about?

... The one camp I was in they played her message over the sound system then pulled out a new captive, another POW. Said your own people say you're here illegally and blew his brains out. It happened in front of us.

Now she is some kind of hero to the anti-war people. As far as I am concerned I wouldn't piss down her throat if her guts were on fire....

end quote

From: "Stephen Barkett" <sbouvier@woh.rr.com>
To: <info@pownetwork.org>
Subject: Article in the Cowboy Times
Date: Sat, 8 Nov 2008 06:46:00 -0500

Please accept my appoogy for the story I wrote, but it was just a story to prove a point to my son and a few others.
 
Please see attached letter. 
 

Dear Sir,

I am writing this to you concerning the story I wrote for Cowboys Pride.  It was just that, an fictitious story that has caused may problems.  I unfortunately came up with the idea because of the internet and people believing what ever they read.  So I decided that if I ever got the chance I would prove this to my son and a neighbor, who believes what ever they read on the internet.

Cowboys Pride gave me this opportunity when they wanted to interview me.  I first told them I would have to think about it then I came up with the story.  I actually believed that it was so far fetched and unbelievable; that I hoped no one would believe it.  To my shock I started to receive private messages concerning it, I answered some with thanks then totally quit the site.  I guess in hind site I should have wrote a disclaimer about it later, and because I didn’t I claim stupidity.

I told my son about it and then requested the send me a copy of the article to prove to my son how gullible people are, when they read things on the internet.

If I was truly claiming to be a former POW, please give me credit for not wanting it to be scrutinized by placing it on the internet where the entire world can view it. 

I am sorry for the trouble I have caused; I didn’t mean to cause such a problem.  It was also my way of trying to bring attention to the men and women that are in the all volunteer military, yet they are being protested here at home.  The media doesn’t help unfortunately by the biased way the present the news and only half of it.  I guess that is what gave me the idea of doing what I did.  I wanted to show that just because it is written it is not real or true.  But now with hindsight, I see I should have done it differently. 

Again I am truly sorry how this turned out and if I could take it back and show my point another way I sincerely would.

I guess this has caused not only you but others, a big headache.  Please accept my apology.  

Stephen Barkett
1049 Stonyridge Ave
Troy , Ohio 45373

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

 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, November 14, 2008 5:30 PM
Subject: Re: Article in the Cowboy Times

At 05:46 AM 11/8/2008, you wrote:
Please accept my appoogy for the story I wrote, but it was just a story to prove a point to my son and a few others.
 
Please see attached letter. 




Why does the attachment conflict with the story you told the reporter?

 

Delivered-To: info@pownetwork.org
From: "Stephen Barkett" <sbouvier@woh.rr.com>
To: "P.O.W. Network - Chuck and Mary Schantag" <info@pownetwork.org>
Subject: Re: Article in the Cowboy Times
Date: Sat, 15 Nov 2008 03:42:49 -0500

What I told the reporter is the same as in the letter.  I am not sure what the reporter said.  I never heard.  Pray tell what did the reporter say? 
 

POW Network Uncovers Fake War Heroes

Tuesday, November 11, 2008 – updated: 5:49 pm EST 

DAYTON, Ohio -- During the Vietman War, hundreds of Americans serving in the military were taken prisoner. ...

In a telephone interview, Barkett said that record is true, but he went to work for the federal government and was a civilian POW. He said he can’t release anymore because it is classified....
The Department of Defense POW database has no record of Barkett. He is not listed as a civilian or military POW who came home alive.