INTRODUCTION

CLAIMING VIETNAM PRISONER OF WAR:

V V A - Claims by members of  Vietnam Veterans of America

==================================
More Reported Claims:
Medal of Honor, Other than Vietnam POWs, Son Tay Raiders, DSC, DFC, Purple Heart, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Navy Cross, SEALS, Rangers, Pilots, Special Forces, Green Berets, Combat, Vietnam Helicopter Pilots, Flying Tigers, DOUBT EVERYTHING, Don't Encourage 

APOLOGIES AND CLARIFICATIONS

Heroes or Villains?

Individuals reported as of  03/2008
CLAIMING VIETNAM POW STATUS  or as noted
#  =  on list over 11 years

All claims highlighted in lavender are eligible for prosecution under the  STOLEN VALOR ACT signed into law Dec 20, 2006.

Note: These individuals are IN ADDITION TO those investigated and named in the book STOLEN VALOR.

Those with a "LINK" have records, news articles, pictures or tales posted
Comments in GREEN are from information contained in military records (or lack of military records) obtained through FOIA when requested THROUGH the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis.

THOSE CLAIMING MEDAL OF HONOR
NOTE: In 1996 HLI Lordship Industries (at the time, the OFFICIAL USG contractor for the Medal of Honor) admitted selling THREE HUNDRED unauthorized medals for $75.00 each from 1991-1994. They were fined $80,000. NOT ALL of those medals have been recovered. Offenders in possession of an unauthorized medal can be arrested, fined (up to $10,000) and jailed (up to a year). It is the only military medal that CANNOT be bought, sold, bartered, traded, collected, auctioned, exchanged.... EVERY Medal of Honor is awarded by act of Congress. Less than 150 REAL Medal of Honor recipients are alive today.

 

The names listed in the next pages have made VARIOUS or multiple claims that cannot be substantiated or have been proven FALSE. 

S [1]

Name                                      Date Reported Hometown Claims Findings
Sacco, Steve . Sedona Claims Air Force Pilot. Has STOLEN logs of actual pilot, falsified DD214 and more. Claims shot down, compound fracture in leg, back seater died in his arms, rescued as VC arrived....  ACTUAL:  3 weeks of Air Force basic training before discharged for being unable to pass physical. Fully capable of new identity and continued lies. Made "quick escape" from Sedona 08/01 when expose pending. NOT old enough to have served in Nam.
Sacharnoski, Rodney 12/2004 Irving, TX Claims multiple bogus martial arts rankings and titles as well as falsely claiming to being a "former U.S. Deputy Marshal." Claims  former "Green Beret" while serving in the U.S. Army.


The photo and text shown  was published in the August 1992 issue of Juko-Kai Warrior, his Texas-based martial arts association


Recently seen on the DISCOVERY CHANNEL.

Sacharnoski's military records show that he served as a file clerk in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1957 to 1961 and in the military police in the U.S. Army from 1963 to 1965. (See below). Other than police school, he received no other specialized training. He did not attend either SFAS or SFQC. According to the records, USMC airborne qualifications were approved on March 20, 1957, seven months before he actually enlisted. He was not promoted to any NCO rank or higher than Lance Corporal or Private First Class (E3).

According to military records obtained from the National Personnel Records Center under the Freedom of Information Act  on Sept. 22, 2003, Rodney Sacharnoski enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on Nov. 21, 1957, and was discharged at the rank of Lance Corporal (E-3) on Dec. 21, 1961, after serving slightly more than four years. He then joined the U.S. Army on Oct. 29, 1963, and was discharged at the rank of Private First Class (E-3) on Jan. 12, 1965, after serving more than two years. With more than six years combined active duty service during an eight-year period in two separate branches of the armed forces, Rod Sacharnoski was never promoted above one of the lowest enlisted ranks. His USMC record also indicates he received a court martial and was confined in a Navy brig in New Jersey.

Apparently the U.S. Army approved his airborne status based on training documentation from his prior service in the U.S. Marines. There are two interesting aspects. First, there is no record of Rod ever receiving any training other than recruit and AIT, much less airborne training, in any of his Marine service records. The second is that the U.S. Army's document includes a report of his airborne qualifications signed by a Marine captain and dated a full seven months before his enlistment in the Marines. If true, he would have been 16 years old.
Don't forget --   he had been a file clerk with the Marines.

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

Accused of telephone harassment and identity theft (forgery). Case goes to court AGAIN in late spring 2005.

Sams, Walter Malcolm NC 04/2004 Claims Command Sgt Major, CLAIMING SILVER STAR service from 1950-1954.  MORE  
Sandel, George Mark 

Still at it in 01/2005

Lake Dallas, TX Bogus DD214 - EXPOSED

QUESTION EVERYTHING !!! click on home town link!

quote
11/2006 - .... One strange thing was that I found a guy on your site that I went to basic training, AIT, and started jump school with.  He quit soon after training began.  His name is George Sandel.  It seems the guy just never quit bragging or coming up with lies.  His claim to fame during basic and infantry training was that his dad was the 5th SFG(A) commander.  He was even introduced at our AIT graduation but never stood up to receive his recognition.  Go Figure!!
 
George quit jump school in his 1st or 2nd week and never got to jump week.  .....
 
Well thanks again for the great site and keep up the good work.

end quote

Sanders, Gregory D 06/2007
03/2008
used to live in New Mexico but now lives in Mississippi and works in Memphis TN Claims sniper for the SEALS and killed 35 people in Columbia.

Went to Columbia to rescue a lady and her daughter because she was a drug lord girlfriend turned informant. This rescue ended up in a 14 hour gun battle with gorilla's because they couldn't get out quick enough.   He had to stop being a SEAL because of hip problems.

June 6, 2007
Got him, and I read him the riot act.  He hung up on me.  He told me the usual lies and never admitted he wasn't a SEAL.  I'll be calling him back .....
 
Capt Larry Bailey USN (Ret)
SEAL

ACTUAL RECORDS

Sanders, Richard J. 
. Calhoun County, TX Claiming SEALS and/or Frogman... SEAL
EXPOSED, The Victoria Advocate, 03/03/2000
Sanipass, David Louis  06/2005 originally from Presque Isle Maine, then Portland Maine,  now  believed  in Buxton Maine.... The flute maker claimed to be in the Army Special Forces; claimed  he disarmed nuclear bombs, claimed he fought drug lords in Columbia and  was in Cambodia and Beirut and Afghanistan. He reportedly bought fake dog tags to back his story that he continues to tell. Claims  Army Special Forces out of North Carolina

 

St. Louis could locate NO MILITARY RECORDS when provided with full name, date of birth and service number.
Saringer, Jason W.
aka  Jason Wayne Springer
11/2007 NY Claims he sniper qualified via his tour in Iraq not the actual school, he wears a SF patch on his combat side (not qualified), and he tells junior soldiers that he is a Ranger and ranger qualified but he chooses not to wear the tab. ACTUAL RECORDS

Sato, Soke Yo.

aka 
D'Antonio, David Joseph
aka 
Sato, Soke Yo
aka 
Marvin Leggett
aka 
Jason Dale Hamilton

11/2005 WA Claims to be former US Navy SEAL Team 6 member and "other Special Operations groups." Claims to have been captured and held POW in Kosovo where he claims to have been tortured by having been buried alive, shot twice, stabbed and finally electrocuted prior to be rescued by his fellow "Ninja Brother." He then claims that he died twice upon the operating table and had to have a steel plate put into his head as a result  of his injuries sustained while in Kosovo. He also claims numerous Purple Heart and Silver Star Medals. There are more but witnesses could not keep track of all of his claims. The rest of the story
Sawyer, Raymond 05/2007 CO THE  FAIRY  TALE  AND  ENDING .
Schiltz, Harry C. 12/2007 OK
 He appeared at the Marine Corps Ball wearing the Dress Blue uniform  with the following: GySgt chevrons, 5 Service Stripes, SCUBA bubble, Jump  Wings (Gold), Navy Cross w/"V", Silver Star w/"V", Bronze Star w/"V", Purple  Heart w/ 5 "campaign Stars", a total of 8 rows of ribbons, expert rifle and  pistol badges, etc.  
Has a page on military.com as a GySgt (retired) living in Oklahoma.   This individual runs a  concession in the PX at Tinker AFB and  the VA Hospital called "Grannies Goodies" selling unit hats and T-Shirts.
 
Schmid, Matthew Lloyd 08/2007 Kansas City Claims Army Ranger IS a Nurse.

Actual Records

Schneider, Alexander George Jr . Kingman, AZ Claims USMC Special Forces. Made the statement in news articles while running for Cerbat Justice of the Peace, in 2002.

QUESTION EVERYTHING !!!

ACTUAL - USMC 08/13/1980 to 9/12/1980 discharged as a PVT, after 30 DAYS in the service.
Schnur, David Eugene . jail Claiming SEALS and/or Frogman...  .
Schuster, Michael 04/2005 West Bend, WI http//www.kron4.com/Global/story.asp?S=3052983&nav=BwNh5D7l

Man facing federal charges for allegedly impersonating Marine

WEST BEND, Wis. A man accused of impersonating a Marine Corps officer is facing federal charges.
Michael Schuster is well known in veterans circles in West Bend, Wisconsin.
He's played taps at dozens of veterans' burials, wearing a Marine uniform with military decorations and medals. And he was the featured speaker at last year's Memorial Day observance.
The 52-year-old claimed to have served in Vietnam, achieving the rank of major.
But at least one veteran who served as a Marine Corps master gunnery sergeant in Vietnam was suspicious. Jim Krudwig noticed Schuster wore his medals and ribbons out of place. And he says Schuster saluted like he was in the Air Force.
Federal authorities investigated Schuster's claims and he was charged with wearing military decorations without authorization. The charge carries a maximum 100-thousand-dollar fine and a year in federal prison.

Schwartz,  Rudy

Rudy Schwartz Mejia is now going only by the name Rudy Schwartz

2002
2003
2005
CA Claims Somalia Ranger, POW, works at VA in Los Angeles. Medals  claims include scuba bubble, combat jump wings, air assault, pathfinder and Ranger Tab, with E5 rank. Claims jumped into Panama.  Rangers say NO WAY. Actually, they said "this guy should he hung by his toes....." pictured in American Legion Magazine as former POW. 08/02. When confronted by Rangers in 01/2003, jumped from 2nd story window into BBQ pit. Injured, not seriously. 02-2003 - Claiming Medal of Honor - soliciting donations   

REAL RECORDS

Scott, Oliver J. 01/2007 CA

www.military.com

Oliver J Scott

Marine Corps , Active Duty GS12 Resides in California

Bio: Classified

Conflicts & Operations

  • Invasion of Panama
  • Lebanon Peacekeeping
  • Operation Golden Pheasant
  • Operation Praying Mantis
  • Vietnam War

Proud member of

CLAIMS (on military.com)                     

MEDAL OF HONOR; DEPT OF DEFENSE DSM  RIBBON; SILVER STAR; DEFENSE SUPERIOR SERVICE RIBBON; SOLDIERS MEDAL RIBBON; BRONZE STAR RIBBON; DEFENSE MERITORIOUS RIBBON; 
MERITORIOUS SVC RIBBON; AIR MEDAL RIBBON; JOINT SVC COMMENDATION RIBBON; ARMY COMMENDATION RIBBON; JOINT SVC ACHV RIBBON; ARMY ACHIEVEMENT RIBBON; ARMY GOOD CONDUCT RIBBON; MARINE GOOD CONDUCT RIBBON; AMERICAN DEFENSE RIBBON; USMC EXPED. MEDAL RIBBON; AMERICAN CAMPAIGN RIBBON; AMERICAN DEFENSE RIBBON; EUROPE-AFRICA-MIDDLE EAST RIBBON; MEDAL FOR HUMANE ACTION RIBBON; ASIATIC-PACIFIC RIBBON; NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE RIBBON; ARMED FORCES EXPED. MEDAL RIBBON; VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL RIBBON; SOUTHWEST ASIA SERVICE RIBBON; VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL RIBBON
HUMANITARIAN SERVICE MEDAL RIBBON; ARMY SERVICE RIBBON; ARMY OVERSEAS SERVICE RIBBON; VIETNAM GALLANTRY CROSS RIBBON WITH PALM DEVICE; VIETNAM GALLANTRY CROSS RIBBON WITH GOLD STAR; VIETNAM GALLANTRY CROSS RIBBON  WITH SILVER STAR DEVICE; VIETNAM GALLANTRY CROSS RIBBON WITH BRONZE STAR DEVICE; PHILIPPINE DEFENSE RIBBON; PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE RIBBON; UNITED NATIONS MEDAL RIBBON; NATO RIBBON; INTER AMERICAN DEFENSE BOARD RIBBON; VIETNAM CAMPAIGN RIBBON; ARMY PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION RIBBON; USN/USMC PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION; JOINT MERITORIOUS UNIT AWARD RIBBON; REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION; REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION

20 Unit Affiliations

1st Aviation Brigade 1055 members Active Duty 1980 - 2006
Fleet Anti-terrorist Security Team (FAST) 599 members Active Duty 1976 - 2006
Marine Barracks - Washington 339 members Active Duty 1966 - 2007
3rd Medical Battalion (USMC) 218 members Active Duty 1965 - 2000
3d Military Intelligence Battalion 119 members Active Duty 1988 - 2006
7th Psychological Operations Group 94 members Active Duty 1965 - 2007
2d Psychological Operations Group 51 members Active Duty 1965 - 2006
FAST Company 1987 - 1991 46 members Active Duty 1987 - 1990
1st Psychological Operations Group 34 members Active Duty 1965 - 2007
5th Psychological Operations Group 18 members Active Duty 1965 - 2006
Command & General Staff College (Staff & Faculty) 14 members Active Duty 1965 - 2007
The Presidents Own 8 members Active Duty 1965 - 2007
Air Command and Staff College 8 members Active Duty 1969 - 2007
DMBV USA/CA Washington D.C. & HQ AAFCE Security Police, Ramstein Airbase 5 members Active Duty 1975 - 1977
Command and General Staff College 4 members Active Duty 1965 - 2007
Command & General Staff College 3 members Active Duty 1965 - 2007
Command and General Staff College (Faculty & Staff) 3 members Active Duty 1969 - 2007
"HONOR GUARD TO THE PRESIDENT" 3 members Active Duty 1965 - 2007
Command and General Staff College (Year Group 1966) 3 members Active Duty 1966 - 2007
THE PRESIDENTS MEN OUT OF SITE 2 members Active Duty 1965 - 2006
NOT a member of SFA.
NOT a Medal of Honor recipient.
NOT A West Point Alum

ST. LOUIS was  unable to identify any military service record.

 

Scott, Roy J. 

 

08/2007 WA

Phoney Vets Prosecuted - a must watch video!

Sentenced                        Investigation exposes phony vets

.
Scroggs, Ronnie C 11/2004 Rutherford County, NC

CLAIMING POW "RESCUE" PARTICIPANT

...  The men claimed Scroggs rescued Messer from a Cambodian prison camp in 1970 after Messer was captured while on a Marine reconnaissance mission.

...  Scroggs, a North Carolina resident, claimed to be an Air Force medic who rescued 18 POWs in the 10 months he was in Vietnam....

-------------------------
EXPOSED

http://www.fayettevillenc.com/ap-state.php?story=59925

http://www.thedigitalcourier.com/articles/2004/
11/13/news/news01.txt
 
...Scroggs, who stood by his story after being contacted again, said the reason there is no record of the capture of Messer and his successful rescue is because it was highly classified and there were no records of what transpired between he and Messer. Scroggs had said that he was a medic in Vietnam in 1970 at the time he participated in the rescue of Messer. Military records obtained by The Courier on Friday under a Freedom of Information request dispute that.

Military records dispute hero status

By Lynne Powell | Cherokee County Bureau
lynne.powell

   GAFFNEY -- A Gaffney man who told reporters he was a Marine heroically rescued from a Cambodian POW camp in 1970 in fact served only 10 months in the Navy and was court-martialed, according to military records obtained by the Herald-Journal.
   The copies of military records for 57-year-old Warren Brent Messer show that he enlisted in the Navy in October 1967 and received a special court martial for an unauthorized absence in August 1968. He was discharged ?under honorable conditions? -- which is different from an honorable discharge -- into the Naval Reserve later that month.
   Messer said in an interview with the Daily Courier of Forest City, N.C., and two television stations that he was prisoner of war in Cambodia, barely hanging on to life at 80 pounds with broken feet and fingers before Ronnie Scroggs rescued him.
   Scroggs, a North Carolina resident, claimed to be an Air Force medic who rescued 18 POWs in the 10 months he was in Vietnam....

Seefedlt, Tom "Gator" 09/2005 .

http://www.moberlymonitor.com/

News from Central Missouri    Wednesday, September 7, 2005

Brother of Cairo native rescues many victims of Hurricane Katrina
By Amy Compney/City Editor

Sue Davis of Cairo is asking anyone and everyone to pray for the people that Hurricane Katrina has left stranded, hungry, thirsty and homeless. Her brother is one of them but he is alive and working as hard as he can to keep others alive as well.

Tom "Gator" Seefeldt, Davis' brother, lives in Biloxi, Mississippi. He is a 25 year veteran of the Navy, where he served as a SEAL, he is a veteran of Vietnam, has served in Somalia and Africa and has even spent time hunting alligators (hence the nickname) for the government. And although he's seen active combat and the terrible side of the human condition through his many years of work as a SEAL, when he got a call out to his sister two days ago, he said the devastation to his area was the worst he has ever seen.

"My brother is in Biloxi, right where it hit the hardest. My brother has been in service since straight out of high school; He's a Navy Seal and he's trained for survival. I know he's going to bring them all home, I know he is," she said.....

09/07/2005

He’s NOT in the BUD/S database at all! Nothing close

Steve

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

The ONLY close name match in prelim investigation:

 We show an E? SEEFELDT THOMAS entered the Army in July 1968 and got out 10 August 1971 during which time he served in Vietnam with an MOS of 68G2O which was Aircraft Structural Repairer.  Born in 1949 ...

Seguin, Richard Frank . .

CLAIMING COMBAT STATUS
 read all about it

.
Seibert, David B 05/2007 TX
Claims Navy SEAL, Navy Cross, Trident and Purple Heart. Claims he was an intelligence officer for the navy and was never assigned a specific team. that is why he is not listed.
 

 

NO overseas assignments noted.

No active duty other than for training.

Served Navy Reserves Jan 86 to Jan 94

rank at discharge SN

only award National Defense Service Medal.

Military Education: "NONE"

Semon, Richard Alan 08/2005 Cape Corral, FL Claims: 

* Army- Warrant Officer/ Helicopter Pilot.
* Served in Vietnam 1966 or 1967 for two or three years.
* Flew off Air Craft Carriers
* Picked up wounded
* Stated he obtained two injuries one on leg and one on back as a result of being shot down 
* Trained military K-9's
* Fought on Battle's on Hamburger Hill and Pork Chop Hill

NOT Vietnam era trained helicopter pilot.

Time of Military Service he was a resident of North Olmsted ( A Suburb of Cleveland) Ohio.

Reportedly scars were from: leg, childhood accident involving a bicycle chair and falling down, and scar on back from chicken pox.

Reported to have altered flight log books to reflect PIC (Pilot in Command) time to obtain a job with Continental Airlines as a commercial pilot.

Took flying lessons in 1973 in Ft. Lauderdale FL, @ Burnside Ott flying school, in single engine 150 and 172 air planes and later helicopter lessons.

Semon, Richard C . . Claims Medal of Honor,  NAVY SEAL [last known to be in Saudi Arabia working for  ARAMCO]
Claiming SEALS and/or Frogman... 
.
SERRANO,  JUAN J 04/2008 NV
Basic Training

Posted Tue 29 April 2008 01:47 AM Hide Post
I got a problem. my job is asking me for a copy off my Dishonoraly discharge how do i go about getting one copy. when i have been down to the Base and they keep on giving me the same freaking answer that they can't find my records at all!
 
Posts: 1 | Registered: Mon 05 February 2007
.
Employer KLM ELEC.
Location Las Vegas, NV
Job Function Engineering
Job Title Electrician
Education High School Diploma
SEXWORTH 
(ON THE DCU)
O5/2008  Northwest Flight 587, 22 Dec 07, Minneapolis- Anchorage.  He was dressed in a set of dirty DCU's, which appeared to have a standard set of army insignia -  didn't take note of the unit patches as there was nothing there that jumped out at me, i.e. airborne, SF group patches, tabs, etc. , and no jump wings or other specialty badges.   Then noticed that  he had on a pair of civilian shoes, a civilian baseball cap, and appeared to be experimenting with a goatee.

I initially thought that he just had really bad fashion judgment or was trying to make some kind of political statement, but then he started talking loudly to anyone around him who would listen about how he had just gotten back from "the shit" in Iraq.  Before we had even pushed back from the gate everyone within about 3 or 4 rows, as well as the flight attendants, were fairly familiar with this guy's service record, which apparently included quite a few highly classified "black ops" in which he took part as an airborne qualified special forces soldier, sniper and all-around badass.   He managed to finagle quite a few beers out of the flight attendants, and the stories got better as the flight progressed.


- All stories vague, no verifiable locations, lots of killing, mostly by him After we land, he is of course still shitfaced, -  but he says he's in Delta and then adds "Special ops tears you up, man, hell this ain't even my real fuckin' name."   At which point he proceeds to the baggage claim, meets his party and heads out.
There IS a real SSG Sexworth  - but he  would have still been deployed at the time of the flight.
SHADOW WOLF 08/2008 WAYNE, WV http://www.shadowwolf.org/

Claims:

  • NOT a vet
  • USAF brat
  • Bland, VA  --  he publicly announced on a P.A. to be former NAvy and yet wears a sah with Marine NCO stripes.

Claims to have a 501 3c organization   http://www.shadowwolf.org/memorialtable.html. Has set up with veterans of Rolling Thunder, uses the Maupin name, "accepts" donations for the Memorial Table service.

A few years back he did a 'Fund Raiser' for a Marine KIA in Iraq who left a baby at home. Shadow Wolf started a fundraiser for this Marine's orphaned baby by "selling" copies of his unit patch. Found out through the Marine's widow that she nor her baby EVER received a penny from Shadow Wolf and his Memorial. 

NOT A VETERAN.

NOT A NATIVE AMERICAN.

BORN 1955

MORE INFO:
http://www.powwows.com/gathering/865356-post12.html

QUOTE:
.... Shadow is "as phony as a $3.00 bill". Also confirmed (and this is his actual quote): "He's never been in the service, and you can take that to the bank."
END QUOTE

THINK CAREFULLY BEFORE DONATING ANY ITEM OR CASH.

THINK CAREFULLY BEFORE HAVING THIS MEMORIAL TRIBUTE TO OUR POW/MIAS AND KIAS HANDLED BY A FRAUD AT YOUR EVENT.

Sharpe, George Jr. 04/2007 WA

George Sharpe Jr.
Obituary

January 26, 2006

     We regret to announce that George Sharpe Jr. passed away on Jan 23, 2006 in Tacoma, WA.  He was a longtime resident of the Eatonville area and a member of The American Legion Post 148George served in Korea and was a prisoner of war twice.  He was captured by the North Koreans, escaped, and several days later while attempting to escape and evade to the American lines was recaptured by the Chinese.
     A celebration of George's life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 28, 2006 in the Mountain View Valley Chapel, with graveside services at 1:30 p.m. at Alder Cemetery, with military honors.

.
Shatto, Lowell . . Claims Korean War POW Navy .
Shaw, Thomas Leroy . Las Cruces, NM Claims Korean War POW, USAF. Has POW license plates - but did not join service until Oct 1954 (born in 1937). .
Shepard, Joel J. . . Claiming SPECIAL FORCES and "GREEN BERET"...
Claims Army 88-96, SF training 1990 
served July 26, 1996 - Jan 17, 1997 -  PV1.
Sherrill, Frank 09/2007 . The site is laced with false testimonies and fake claims and has been going on for 18 months.

The latest one is Bully Xtreme  http://bullyxtreme.net    <http://bullyxtreme.net/>  
No "Sherrill" has earned the title Army Ranger according to numerous actual Rangers! They await his proof of status and graduation date.
Shuster, Dana 10/2006 .

"Hello David...My name is Dusty..."

These words have touched the hearts of many veterans over the years. In particular, they have brought consolation and peace to many women veterans, especially all the "Dustys" who took care of the countless "Davids" during the Vietnam conflict. The poem was so moving, in fact, that it was read by then Vice-President Al Gore at the dedication of the Vietnam Women s Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., November 11, 1993.

Recently, I learned the painful truth that the author who has called herself Dana Shuster is neither a nurse, nor a Vietnam Veteran, as she has publicly claimed for so many years. I share in the sense of betrayal and hurt of the many women veterans who have called her sister.

That said, on behalf of the Vietnam Women's Memorial Foundation Board, I encourage a compassionate response. I hope for the author's own personal healing, as perhaps deep down, she had somehow hoped for ours. Read Laura Palmer's letter.

The Foundation has no further information and will not respond to queries or comments.


Diane Carlson Evans, RN
Vietnam, 1968-69
Army Nurse Corps, 1966-72


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

September 20, 2006

To:  Diane Evans, President of the Vietnam Women's Memorial Foundation:

Several months ago I was asked a question I couldn't answer. Did I know for a fact that Dana Shuster, the nurse portrayed in my book, Shrapnel in the Heart, as "Dusty," had ever, in fact, served in Vietnam?

The question was a shocking one to me. "Dusty" is a woman I'd known for twenty years and considered as a friend. I never doubted that she was a nurse in Vietnam. But could I prove it?  I could not.

The seriousness of the question deserved an answer. I wrote to Dana Shuster, the woman known as "Dusty," and asked her if she could corroborate her service for me in specific ways. She could not.  I learned that she was never in the military and never a nurse. 

She was subsequently hospitalized for psychiatric care and continues to undergo therapeutic treatment and support.

It is with profound sadness that I convey this information but it is important that the truth be known.

Laura Palmer

Statements from Diane and Laura are on the VWMF website at:  http://www.vietnamwomensmemorial.org/pages/index2.html

Interview on NPR with Laura Palmer:  http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6173681

Another Day, Another Fake Writer:  http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/authors/another_day_another_fake_writer_44229.asp

SIMON, EARL 03/2008 . Claims he was a SEAL from '60-'61.  He claimed that he was a secret SEAL and that he conducted missions into Northern Vietnamese prison camps, dressed as a Russian officer, and extricated US Soldiers.  Also, to his list of outlandish claims are, the Navy Cross, Silver Stars, Bronze Stars, and a Purple Heart. He is not some fly-by-night poser, trying to make himself look good, but has been telling these stories for at least 15 years...

.....If the name you provided is spelled correctly, I do NOT find a listing in the SEAL database of successful graduates for anyone named EARL SIMON. I have also examined possible alternate spellings, and names with similar pronunciations. Please be aware that I do not have access to any records (official or unofficial) listing the names of individuals who reported for SEAL training, but who subsequently failed to complete the training program.

Unless he has undertaken the unlikely action of a legal name change (an action for which there would be court documentation) since his claimed attendance at BUD/S training, and based upon the information you have provided, I can state conclusively that EARL SIMON has NEVER COMPLETED SEAL training, and he is not now, nor was he ever a Navy SEAL. ....

Steve Robinson

------

Has NO Navy Cross.

Sims, Carroll Andrew  04/2007
05/2007
Cleburne, TX  
Claims  to have been in the Marines, Air Force, & Coast Guard;  To have enlisted in one of the above in 1951;  To have received and honorable discharge after kicking his father-in-law through a window (or glass door). He says that his real father insured that he got that honorable;  To have fought in The Korean War;  Claims to have killed numerous Koreans. Also claims Purple Heart recipient, Bronze Star, Korean Occupation medal, Medal of Foreign Wars, and a special medal from the South Korean Government, Valor of Honor Medal, for recovery of a Major Intelligence Officer of the South Korean Army.

Wrote a journal which he has distributed that told a story of his war experiences and that he was seriously wounded while rescuing POW’s held by North Korea.  He gave himself the rank of Sgt. and what was so ironic that he was a “Prisoner Chaser”, picking up AWOL Marine and Navy personnel.

READ IT HERE

He enlisted in the Marine Corp but was given a bad conduct discharge within a year after enlistment.  He went AWOL two times and was involved in car theft.  The car theft charges evidently were dropped later but he was mustered out with a bad conduct.  He never left Camp Pendleton and certainly was never in Korea .  

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

Subject: Re: Fwd: RE: phony Korean War Medal recipient
Date: Thu, 10 May 2007 16:15:41 -0500

It is so full of BS i wanted to laugh. He has no idea where the Chosen Res. is and some of the medals he mentions , I never heard of.


Keep up the good work.
 
Pate

==================================
Served in the Air Force Nov 10 1951 till Jan 10 1952
Served in the USMC Aug 1952 until Feb 1955.

Discharged a Private.

NO military education is noted.

ONLY Award is National Defense.

Only assignment is Lackland Air Force Base.

No orders for the Purple Heart or Bronze Star were found. No foreign service was found. No combat was found. No special schools or raining found.

Sims, Jefferson J 12/2003
01/2004
Louisiana Claims E-5, U.S.M.C. from  65’- 69’. Claims Nam Vet 66-69 (and/or 66-67 - served with 3/7 – Da Nang  - Kilo Company.) Reportedly without question a firearms expert -  has a personal arsenal. Claims to have lost part of his left hip from enemy mortar — walks with a noticeable limp on left side. Claims 2 Purple Hearts. 

QUESTION EVERYTHING !!!

NO NAM -- No PURPLE HEART

LESS THAN 3 MONTHS service - discharged PRIOR to completing recruit training - and AWOL in the middle.

Singleton, John 3/06/97
01/2000
10/2000
11/2005
03/2006
DC area.
Claims SEAL  He wears a Trident around his neck with lots of SEAL items in his office. He is African-American in his late 60s and says he was UDT during the Korean War and grandfathered into the SEALs.  He tells quite a story about his "swim buddy."  Naturally, he never gave the name, but said he died in his arms in Korea. He said he accompanied the body back to Louisiana to a well-to-do white family. He said he was the first black to enter through the front door.

Formerly listed on AUTHENTISEALS.org AND
seal-pml.org/fakes/phony.htm  - The WALL OF SHAME:  Phony SEALs and Wannabees

Claims he provides voluntary psychological counseling at the VA and Walter Reed.

Current staff psychologist for the Library of Congress. Has "retired."

He has given his story to the Veterans History Project and been a noted speaker. 

Sisk, Wayne E 07/2007 Cypress, Seal Brach CA .... Uninvited, he offered this story: says he was in UDT in WWII He had his fruit salad on the side of the cap (the cap looked like he had changed motor oil with it); showed me ribbons for SS, PH, occupation ribbons, and says he has Navy Cross, and that he was a LCDR at "the age of 19". He showed one one ribbon with 3 stars (battle stars, 
maybe?); says it was for "15 suicide missions." I recall he said he was also a VFW Post Commander.

 

..... I do NOT find a listing in the UDT/SEAL database for anyone named WAYNE SISK. Be aware that I have also examined possible alternate spellings, and names with similar pronunciations. I also filed a formal request for information with the NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE ARCHIVES and have been informed that no one with the last name SISK served with the US Navy Underwater Demolition Teams (UDT) during WWII. ...

Very respectfully,

Steve Robinson
USN 1970-1978
SEAL Team ONE
Inshore Undersea Warfare Group ONE
UDT-SEAL Association
Special Operations Association
POW Network Advisory Board
Naval Special Warfare Archives - SOF Analyst/Contributing Journalist 
Disabled American Veterans - Life Member
FORMER Special Investigator - SEAL Authentication Team
Author of the book NO GUTS, NO GLORY - Unmasking Navy SEAL Imposters
 

NPRC found NO MILITARY RECORDS

SKILLERN, MICHAEL WAYNE 08/2008 Dallas, TX "DON'T FUCK WITH ME, I WAS A GREEN BERET!!!!"  ACTUAL RECORDS
Slawinski, Steve 04/2007 Lemont area
IL

Another Firefighter Accused Of Faking Military Leave

Slawinski Allegedly Met Masa At Westmont Fire Department

POSTED: 10:41 pm CST January 5, 2007
UPDATED: 11:11 pm CST January 5, 2007
A second suburban Chicago firefighter was accused Friday of collecting his salary while out on a bogus military leave.

Firefighter Steve Slawinski, 35, is charged with forgery and theft, the Lemont Fire Protection District said in a news release Friday. The charges stem from allegations that Slawinski accepted compensation while he was on a "purported military leave."

NBC5's Amy Jacobson reported that Slawinski's colleagues kept him in their thoughts and prayers, believing that he was working with the Navy on an intelligence mission.

"We're devastated," Lemont Fire Chief Carl Churulo. "The whole fire district is devastated, the men and women of this district, our board and myself as chief."

Officials are trying to determine the extent of their losses.

"We will make every effort to see that the Fire District is made whole for any cost attributable to the alleged misrepresentation," the fire protection district's statement said.

Slawinski has been placed on inactive status pending an investigation. Slawinski was expected in bond court on Saturday.

Jacobson reported that authorities said Slawinski filled out service papers and submitted fraudulent government forms. Slawinski's salary and benefits cost Lemont approximately $10,000.

There was no phone listing available for a Steve Slawinski in Lemont, and a telephone number in nearby Romeoville was unlisted.

Jacobson reported that Slawinski has been a Lemont firefighter and a part-time Lemont police officer for four years, and he was given a commendation for saving a man's life.

"I'm surprised, because he seemed like a very straight-up guy," said one man.

Earlier this week, a firefighter from nearby Orland Park was charged with collecting more than $190,000 in salary and benefits from that community's fire department during leaves of absence he falsely claimed were for military duty.

Lawrence Masa was charged with felony theft and official misconduct. He's accused of falsifying documents showing that he was being deployed for active service in the U.S. Army in order to take five leaves of absence.

Slawinski was allegedly working for private firms in the Middle East with Masa, Jacoboson reported. The two allegedly met while working at the Westmont Fire Department.

"There were just a lot of red flags that went up over the last week or so since he's been home," Churulo said. "We met with the Orland police yesterday, and this is what has come out of it."

One firefighter told Jacobson that Slawinski was excited about his deployment with the Navy last April. Slawinski's colleagues said they were so concerned that they put up a military flag in front of the Lemont Fire Department in his honor, but that has since been taken down.

Google his name and you can find a ton more about these two.  Steve claimed to be a Recon Marine while training with FIAT with Larry Masa.
SLOAN, Charles Edward  2003 
03/2007
OHIO   VFW POST COMMANDER 2007 WEARS PURPLE HEART RIBBON W/ THE BRONZE STAR IN THE MIDDLE....A COMBAT ACTION RIBBON.....VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL W/ 3...YES....3 BRONZE STARS ATOP

Past VFW District POW Chairman. Ran for State ChaplainCLAIMING PURPLE HEART(S)
Claims 100% disability, legs, back. VA has provided braces, reportedly only worn to VA appointments. Also has hearing aids rarely worn . Can be seen on dance floor every Saturday night at the VFW. Claims 2 tours in Nam, 64 and 68. Claims COMBAT wounded, TWO Purple hearts.

New home is NOT ramped, but has numerous stairs - he expects the VA to add a 'lift".....    New car, new computer too. His comments?? "I already get my benefits, and they can't take them back!!!!!!" Married 7 times and jokes he isn't sure he is legally divorced from them all.... 
(reminder - ran for  CHAPLAIN ?!?!?!?!?!?!

Military records  indicate ONLY awards are National Defense, Vietnam Service, Rep of Vietnam Citation Medal, Marksman Badge and Rifle 7.62 and M14. Discharged as a Lance Corporal. Active duty - April 30, 1964 to May 1, 1967 and March 75-Jan 75. NOTE: 4 Jan 65 - 6 Jan 65 records state "UA - AOL" (unauthorized absence).  

 

MARINE CORP LEAGUE CHAPLAIN???????


 

Smallridge, Thomas L Jr 2007 Ohio Claims USMC combat in Vietnam 1968 - 1972. Uses multiple dates of birth, actual is 1955. Has falsified info on DEERS ID. HAS FALSIFIED CERTIFICATES AND MILITARY DOCS. Under VA care - reported to VA IG.  

Smerdon, Mike   05/2006 FL
Please add a listing for Mike Smerdon to your list of fake US Navy SEALs/combat veterans of SE Asia. Mr. Smerdon claims to be a combat veteran/US Navy SEAL. I checked this information with the real US Navy SEAL members of the useful resource; www.VeriSEAL.org. The VeriSEAL.org response is listed in the email. Smedron WAS NOT a US Navy SEAL or UDT(US Navy BUD/S records). The Orlando Sentinel corrections editor printed an
official correction in the 05/27/2006 issue. Note: a photo of Mike Smerdon(at the FL area event for combat veterans) is in the newspaper with the story. 
.

next page


Other individuals can be found on various web-sites
Their statements have yet to be substantiated or have been proven false.

Those that have admitted lies/apologized....

 

Home POW/MIA Name Index Bracelet History Remains Returned Yugoslavia Bios GALA
NETWORK History LOVELETTERS Index Return a Bracelet Statistics Gulf War, Michael Speicher Branson, MO
NETWORK Info Sources PHONIES Index What you can do  Russian Memoirs Pilots in Pajamas Links
Donations & Sponsorship Live Sighting Index Shopping Guide China & POWs N Vietnamese Interrogators Contacts
email us More than a Band of Metal.... POW  Remembrance Coin...  Order NOW

Hanoi Jane Fonda