SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS

Phonies and wannabees have become more than dishonorable frauds and liars. While they previously stole the honor and respect of our honorable veterans community – they now steal our time and POW issue efforts.

The work of VOLUNTEER investigation has become overwhelming in the NUMBER of cases being reported DAILY. That leads to numerous public, private and military records searches and requests to find the truth. Some of the data bases we now use are PAY PER QUERY data bases. An entire team of investigators and specialists has become a keystroke away. Requests for a record is an almost automated process of forms, files, and daily faxes.  After that, copies, MORE faxes. followups, and reports to those with a "need to know."

Therefore, while we are quite willing to validate any POW claims, sources requesting proof of service, military records requests or formal replies are being asked to please make a donation (Checks or credit cards are welcome), and/or order a book or a POW commemorative coin. 

No one will be turned away. We just ask that if YOU want help, please help US do what needs to be done. Support our efforts.

You can also invest in the book FAKE WARRIORS (by Henry Mark Holzer) and pursue the investigation yourself. The step by step process is well laid out.

We regret the “price tag.” Perhaps if law enforcement and the courts would prosecute, or  the VA and veterans organizations would clean house, there would be no need for our efforts to uncover the truth. We could then restore the honor of those who identities have been stolen.

P.O.W. NETWORK
Box 68
Skidmore, MO 64487-0068

IRS 5013c # 42-1360-341 -- ALL DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE

To report a suspected phony:

This is an epidemic PANDEMIC. We get numerous reports DAILY!! Please be patient with the process of investigation. The NETWORK's MISSION is education on the P.O.W. issue and maintaining the history of our Vietnam POWs and MIAs. Exposing phonies is an unexpected and sad result of attempting to complete the Vietnam POW/MIA bio project.

The LIST of POW/MIA names is complete. In our 16+ years - we have NEVER FOUND a name to have been left off the list after investigation. The list has not been proven wrong in THIRTY+ years. We repeat - the LIST is complete.

  • Please list SUSPECTED phony's name in the subject line of your email.
  • We CANNOT request records without [minimally] FULL NAME, date of birth, branch of service claimed, and social security or service number.
  • We can verify if they were ever a POW without a number and DoB.
  • When claims are "POW" we request confirmation of OUR findings from several former POW organizations, the Pentagon and more. Our data is NOT "sole sourced" - and we use MANY data bases to confirm or deny suspicions.
  • When claims go beyond [or do not include] "he was a POW" we request help from members of our team  - experts in SEALS; Special Forces; Rangers; pilots, unit historians, medals experts, etc. 
  • Our experts KNOW the value of confidentiality and do not share the "source" or individual turning in the "phony" outside the team's "need to know" circle.
  • The more information on the tales you can provide, the faster the investigation will move.
  • IF there are news articles, videos, photos, obits, DD214's, etc that provide PHYSICAL evidence of the claims... PLEASE get them to us by .jpg or FAX [660-928-3303]  or snail mail [P.O.W. NETWORK, Box 68, Skidmore, MO 64487]
  • Additional information that will help:
    • pertinent license plate numbers( MOH, Navy Cross, POW)
    • Is there a Veterans Administration ID card?/ Does it say P.O.W?? Does is say "service connected?" Is there a PHOTO on it?
    • Organization member?? VFW, American Legion, VVA etc
    • Wear a uniform?? with medals?? DO YOU HAVE A PHOTO?
    • Public speaker?? Schools, Churches?? Is there a news article, video recording?
  • WHO ELSE HAS SEEN or HEARD the claims??

Please realize we have already heard from wives, lovers, employers, employees, sons, daughters, ex-wives, friends, organizations, newspapers, authors, and phonies themselves. Most tales have a pattern and many can be found in the vast references on war if you know where to look. Most phonies are either VERY well read or too vague to pin down. LOSS OF MEMORY or "too painful to remember" are bogus excuses.

When we find evidence a crime has been committed, we DO turn the suspected individual over to appropriate authorities. This includes:

  • Fraudulently obtained license plates (State Motor Vehicle Department)
  • Fraudulently obtained VA POW ID cards (Veterans Administration)
  • VA theft of services (Veterans Administration)
  • Possession OR CLAIMS of Medal of Honor (FBI)
  • Lies under oath/criminal proceedings (Judge or court)
  • Impersonating an officer (local jurisdiction - prosecuting attorney or state Attorney's General.)
  • Alteration of Military records in the permanent file (Inspector General, Branch of Service as needed and Inspector General, Department of Defense)
NOTE: The use of, wearing of, display of  - a POW Flag, patch, logo, "vanity plate" - does NOT imply Prisoner of War. The black and white logo is used extensively in a public awareness campaign to bring attention to the POW/MIA issue. ANYONE can display this.

Most, if not all states, DO issue "former POW" license plates or tags. EVIDENCE of captivity is used to procure this type.


PUBLIC DOMAIN - DOES NOT IMPLY FORMER P.O.W.

Before excuses are made:

  • No matter WHAT their position or title - YES, they may be lying. 
  • The epidemic has no boundaries for race, creed, color, income, home town, war or job.
  • The LIST of POW/MIA names is complete.
  • We don't care how much "GOOD" the suspected individual has done. ALL is negated by the lies.
  • Phonies and wannabees HAVE NO HONOR. Please don't insult us by telling us how wonderful the individual is.
  • If you don't want the truth - don't ask the question.
Now, if you'd still like to report a phony - please email us.

If you won't provide a NAME we can't help.

If you won't put it in writing or in an email and insist on a phone call - find someone else to help. We wonder about YOUR motives in that case.