| http://www.culturenotes.com/article1017.html September 9, 2001 List Of Military Imposters Growing Longer by Allan Stein Veterans groups rally to expose fake war heroes Some are so brazen as to walk around in public, dressed in Army fatigues and draped in medals, telling tales of suffering as POWs and daring skirmishes with the enemy in distant jungles. Some even claim to have received awards for bravery, while others boast of their Navy SEAL days and the grueling challenges they endured. Yet not one of them has any proof to support their claims. These bogus veterans are part of a growing number of Americans whose orchestrated lies have earned them undeserved recognition, coveted jobs and titles, and other high honors at the expense of an unsuspecting public. In sinq with the trend are nonprofit websites armed with the task of exposing these phony soldiers and demanding public apologies and personal restitution. Among them is the POW Network (www.pownetwork.org), formed in 1989 to honor and recognize America's war veterans. But then organizers began to receive tips about servicemen whose military credentials were suspect at best, said founders Mary and Chuck Schantag. Today, the website lists over 670 known phony POWs and other bogus recipients of military decorations such as the Congressional Medal of Honor. "Eleven years ago this mission had nothing to do with phonies," the Schantags said. "Then, in 1998, someone wrote and said 'I know this POW, but there is no biography on him." The Schantags said an estimated 40 percent of their work involves conducting background checks on suspected phony veterans. "We get at least one report a day on a new name, lately, several a day. In many cases where a social security number or service number is unavailable, we write for the military personnel file, morning reports, afternoon reports, and unit chronologies as needed to prove the lies," the Schantags said. When a false claim has been verified, the name of the offending "serviceman" is posted on the website. There it will remain until the bogus veteran admits he or she lied and issues a statement to that effect. "Once you have held a mom in tears, or shaken the hand of one our returnees (from war), how can you not be offended by fairy tales? How can you look at the scars, or listen when they open their hearts, and not be insulted by lies?" the Schantags said. A recent case involves a Milwaukee man who claimed he was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in combat in a private White House ceremony. He also claimed a purple heart and a Silver Star to his credit, and even passed himself off as a Navy SEAL. Adding further insult to injury, he had a Wisconsin "Medal Of Honor 10" license plate, the Schantags said. "His lies were reported to the MOH Society, the FBI, his company management, Wisconsin Motor Vehicles, and he was listed as a phony. As of July 2001, he still had the license plates, his job, and a grin on his face," the Schantags said. Aside from receiving unfair recognition for phony tales of heroism, military imposters often find themselves the center of public attention and first in line for jobs and other perks and personal benefits. "They possess little to no conscience and have practiced and honed their lies to the point of acquiring jobs, promotions, and the attention of unsuspecting and trusting people of the world," according to Authentiseals.org, a website dedicated to exposing fake Navy SEALS. The Schantags said much of their operational funding is out of pocket, but the time and energy needed to expose military imposters is well worth the effort. "If they are going to steal the honor of our heroes, then they damn well better be stealing their pain and their nightmares too. They can sit with the next mom and explain how 'they' got out - but mom is still waiting for her son. They can wipe her tears and hold her shaking shoulders. They can all go to hell," the Schantags said. |
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