Klaske

GARY KLASKE - DECEASED 07/31/01

IN LATE AUGUST THE FBI WENT TO KLASKE'S HOME AND REMOVED THE "MOH 10" AND POW LICENSE PLATES FROM THE VEHICLES AND INFORMED HIS WIFE HE WAS NOT ENTITLED TO THEM.

11/2001 Update:

Klaske WAS interviewed by the FBI after initial reports, and the August visit was a second visit.

After Klaske's death, it was discovered it had altered TWO DD214's, the Medal of Honor Citation and lied about his entire military tour.

Real records indicate Klaske served with the USMC from Dec 67 until Dec 71 earning the National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Cross of Gallantry and Good Conduct, dischraged as an E4.

During his tour with the NAVY from Sept 72 until Oct 74 he earned NO additional Medals, discharged as an E3..

The ALTERED records show he claimed:

Gunners Mate 7, Master Gunnery Sergeant (then Sergeant)

Navy Cross, 2 Silver Stars, Dist Service Medal, 3 Bronze Stars, 6 Purple Hearts, Navy Commendation, 2 Good Conduct, POW Medal, Navy Exp, National Defense, Combat Action Ribbon, Vietnam Service, United Nations Service, Rep Vietnam Campaign, Navy Unit Co, Pres Unit Cit, Merit Unit Citation, Navy "E", Rep Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, U & P AND met all requirements for Chief Petty Officer AND had all prescribed training for Naval Special Warfare Group "( S. E. A. L. )" and refer to DD214P and DD 167 for FURTHER documentation of awards, citations and training. Additionally, the Medal of Honor Citation belonging to Richard A. Pittman, had been reproduced with Klaske's name inserted.

Klaske, Gary D. Publication Date: Aug. 01, 2001

July 31, 2001. Age 52 years. Beloved husband of Anita (nee Nagel). Loving father of Connie, John and Corinna. Dearest son of Edna and the late Martin Klaske. Dear brother of Clifford, Wendy, Cyndy, Melodee, Leeca, John and Charles. Further survived by other relatives and friends. FUNERAL SERVICE 7:00 PM THURS., AUG. 2 AT THE FUNERAL HOME. Interment S.E. Wisconsin Veteran's Memorial Cemetery. Visitation Thurs. at the Funeral Home from 5-7 PM. Gary was an employee of Ladish Co. for over 22 years. He served in the Marine Corps and Navy during Vietnam.
SUMINSKI FAMILY FUNERAL HOMES NIEMANN / SUMINSKI 2486 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. 414-744-5156

Klaske, Gary D. Oak Creek WI (as noted in the VVA directory;)

USMC 11/67 - 3/91 and Navy 7/72 - 9/78 -- Unit Affiliation: 3rd Force Recon/Navy SEAL

Dates of Vietnam Service: 11/67-7/70 AND 10/73-11/74

Military Medals:
Navy Cross
Silver Star
Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart
POW Medal

Chapter Affiliation: 0414

NOTES:

The Agent Orange Database shows Gary D. Klaske as a Marine Corps E4, MOS 0311. This file was complied by the VA AFTER Vietnam.

A Master Gunnery Sgt. is an E9 - a rank achieved by others after 15-18 years of active duty.

Reported to U.S. Senate, FBI and Dept. of Motor Vehicles, WI in April 2001

Meet Roger Donlon, Medal of Honor Recipient and Phony Hunter

Subject: Klaske...Phony POW claim
Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2001 23:26:09 -0600
From: "Mike McGrath" <mmcgrath@iex.net>
To:
CC:

xxx...Yes, we've had this clown listed as a Phony POW and a Phony SEAL for awhile. He was, or possibly still is, listed in the VVA (Vietnam Veterans of America) directory. He claims to have been awarded the POW Medal (bullshit). When challenged on this point, he responded "Seeing how I've been called a phony due to the VVA directory. I letting my attorney handle the the situation. As far as details of capture and medal are concern I've been advise by legal council to say nothing." (Note, misspellings and context are exactly as he wrote them. Obviously, he is not very bright). His e-mail address is: klaske@execpc.com

We don't know much about Klaske (also reported as Klasky). Please tell us more about his activities, location, claims, etc. In any case, his story is full of limburger cheese holes (it stinks!). He is listed on the internet as a Phony POW. Address is: http://www.pownetwork.org/phonies/phonies19.htm

Does he also claim to have been a SEAL? I'd like to confirm that point. ......

I'll attach a document which will help you challenge his claim. For a shortcut, call Larry Greer at the Pentagon (Department of Defense).

Mike McGrath
President of NAM-POWs

--------------

continued Apr 27:

...This is too easy. First, the real MOH are listed on the internet.....The 6 NAM-POWs who got the MOH are also listed. Also, you can get the write-up for the real winners. Navy Cross and Air Force Cross recipients are listed and general public knowledge. I just checked my reference documents for the Navy Cross, AF Cross and Distinguished Service Cross, and MOH. He is not on any list.....

Thanks, Mike

On 27 Apr 2001 xxxx.com wrote:

He has a lot of people .... fooled. A .... newsletter was just put out stating that he just won the Medal of Honor..... may be bullshit also. He lives in Oak Creek WI and as far as I know is still driving around with POW and Navy Cross plates on his car...

On 26 Apr 2001, at 12:05, xxxx.com wrote:

I'm checking on a claim ..... that he was a p.o.w in Vietnam. His name is Gary Klaske and is from Wisconsin. I could not find his name in any POW data base and I am hoping that you might be of help. Thanks

Ladish's Gary Klaske Awarded Medal of Honor

On March 25, 2001, Ladish employee Gary Klaske, Third Shift Heat Treat Operator-Senior, received a rare honor - a Congressional Medal of Honor, for his extraordinary actions in combat occurring on June 12, 1968. In addition, he was decorated with the Navy Cross and two Purple Hearts for similarly heroic actions which occurred on September 2, 1973. Those awards were presented to Gary by President Bush at the White House in a private ceremony offended by Department of Defense officials. In the history of the awarding of the Congressional Medal of Honor, somewhat over 3,000 individuals have received the Medal since it came into existence in World War I. In the March 25 ceremony, only three individuals received the award.

Gary began his military career in the Marines, and was a Master Gunnery Sergeant when, on June 12, 1968, he took several actions in disregard of his personal safety in the midst of heavy enemy machine gun fire, summarized as follows in the certificate: "Sergeant Klaske's daring initiative, bold fighting spirit and selfless devotion to duty inflicted many enemy casualties, disrupted the enemy attack and saved the lives of many of his wounded comrades."

After three and one-half years of Vietnam duty as a Marine, Gary transferred to the Navy, where he was part of the elite SEAL unit for six years. As a result of actions occurring on September 2, 1973, he received the Navy Cross and two Purple Hearts.

These Navy awards were a result of an assault behind enemy lines in which the SEAL unit was sent in to free friendly Vietnamese who were held captive an {one word illegible} in which half of the Americans were lost in combat. Gary became a Marine Reserve following the conclusion of his service in Vietnam and remained in the Reserves until 1997.

In honor of the approximately 58,000 individuals who lost their lives in Vietnam. Gary and 22 other decorated veterans have placed their Medals of Honor at the base of the Vietnam Memorial located in Washington, DC. These Medals are taken in each evening by rangers and placed at the Wall each morning. In Gary's view
"Those 58,000 people deserve to receive it as much as we did."

Gary is to be congratulated for this tremendous honor achieved in the service of his country, and we are proud that he is part of our workforce.

THE REAL THING...

PITTMAN, RICHARD A.

Rank and organization: Sergeant (then L/Cpl.), U.S. Marine Corps, Company 1, 3d Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein) FMF.

Place and date: near the Demilitarized Zone, Republic of Vietnam, 24 July 1966.

Entered service at: Stockton, Calif. Born: 26 May 1945, French Camp, San Joaquin, Calif.

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. While Company 1 was conducting an operation along the axis of a narrow jungle trail, the leading company elements suffered numerous casualties when they suddenly came under heavy fire from a well concealed and numerically superior enemy force. Hearing the engaged marines' calls for more firepower, Sgt. Pittman quickly exchanged his rifle for a machinegun and several belts of ammunition, left the relative safety of his platoon, and unhesitatingly rushed forward to aid his comrades. Taken under intense enemy small-arms fire at point blank range during his advance, he returned the fire, silencing the enemy position. As Sgt. Pittman continued to forge forward to aid members of the leading platoon, he again came under heavy fire from 2 automatic weapons which he promptly destroyed. Learning that there were additional wounded marines 50 yards further along the trail, he braved a withering hail of enemy mortar and small-arms fire to continue onward. As he reached the position where the leading marines had fallen, he was suddenly confronted with a bold frontal attack by 30 to 40 enemy. Totally disregarding his safety, he calmly established a position in the middle of the trail and raked the advancing enemy with devastating machinegun fire. His weapon rendered ineffective, he picked up an enemy submachinegun and, together with a pistol seized from a fallen comrade, continued his lethal fire until the enemy force had withdrawn. Having exhausted his ammunition except for a grenade which he hurled at the enemy, he then rejoined his platoon. Sgt. Pittman's daring initiative, bold fighting spirit and selfless devotion to duty inflicted many enemy casualties, disrupted the enemy attack and saved the lives of many of his wounded comrades. His personal valor at grave risk to himself reflects the highest credit upon himself, the Marine Corps, and the U.S. Naval Service.