| Group Outs Fake SEAL at Wal-Mart
2/19/01 Wal-Mart Stores Inc. thought it had a former U.S. Navy SEAL helping manage security for its top executives and members of the world's wealthiest family. Instead, it had a shark. George Hardy, an assistant director of the company's executive security detail (Wal-Mart's equivalent of the Secret Service), was recently exposed as a phony SEAL after a tip from a co-worker prompted an inquiry by an independent group called Phony Seal Busters. The group is composed of retired Navy personnel, mostly Vietnam War veterans, interested in protecting the honor of fallen comrades. Hardy, who doesn't have a concealed handgun permit on file with the state of Arkansas, was reached twice by phone but had no comment. His duties included planning and executing protection measures for company officers and members of the Walton family. So how could a fake penetrate the Waltons' trusted inner circle? ..... |