Media Coverage JUNE 2009


Vet Network Roots out Fake Heroes
Military.com - USA
By day's end, 63-year-old Kenneth Eugene Reed was branded a liar on Schantag's Web site, www.pownetwork.org. Then a large, well-connected network of people ...
http://www.kansascity.com/115/story/1289765.html

THE AREA | Swindlers focus on military families

Scammers are using information gleaned from online social networking sites to make targets of relatives of U.S. military personnel, the FBI says.

Relatives, specifically grandparents, of deployed military members have been contacted by imposters purporting to be their deployed relative. The impostor says he is returning home on leave but asks them not to say anything so their families can be surprised.

Soon, the impostor contacts the relatives again, saying the service member’s car broke down and asks the relative to wire money for repairs.

INDICTMENT

 

Man accused of lying about military honor

TBO.com

Published: June 25, 2009

TAMPA - A 62-year-old Palm Bay man pleaded not guilty this afternoon to a charge he falsely claimed to have been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Gary B. Amster faces up to a year in prison and a $100,000 fine if convicted of representing verbally and in writing that he was awarded the nation's highest military award for valor.

Amster's lawyer, public defender Alec Fitzgerald Hall, told U.S. Magistrate Thomas Wilson that he is negotiating a possible guilty plea.

Wilson allowed Amster to remain free on his own recognizance.

According to the charge, Amster began misrepresenting himself at least as far back as September 2007 and continuing through April 2008. Additional details were not immediately available.

INDICTMENT

Accused con man surfaces as 'general'
Worcester Telegram - Worcester,MA,USA
Reached through an e-mail address listed on the phony card, Mr. mcmanus acknowledged in a telephone interview from Florida that he owes a lot of money to ...

not  to be confused with kevin joseph mccmanus, former pow

http://www.pownetwork.org/phonies/phonies506.htm

MULTIPLE ARTICLES/TV Coverage on Jeff Muller in PA

RONALD ALAN BRYANT
URGENT - LOOKING FOR
Published: Thursday, June 18, 2009
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090618/NEWS01/706189914&news01ad=1#Murder.suspect.not.the.military.veteran.he.claims.to.be

Murder suspect not the military veteran he claims to be

By Scott North and Elaine Helm
Herald Writers

He called himself "Gunny" and reportedly told his pals in the Minutemen American Defense border-watch group that he was a decorated Special Forces veteran who'd survived combat in Somalia, Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq.

Instead, there is no record that Jason Eugene Bush served in the military as he claims, spokesmen at the Pentagon said Wednesday.

Court records reveal Bush, 34, to be a sometimes-violent ex-convict who spent much of his teens and early 20s behind bars, and once told the court he had long-standing problems with debilitating mental illness.

Until his arrest last week on multiple murder charges, Bush was "operations director" for the anti-immigration group directed by Shawna Forde, 41, of Everett.

On the now-defunct Web page for the group Forde ran, Bush -- or "Gunny," as former members say he was known -- was introduced as someone who had served six overseas tours and had received the Purple Heart and the Silver Star.

In a January 1998 declaration in Chelan County Superior Court, Bush said he'd been treated for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia since the mid-1980s, when he was 12. At the time, Bush said he worried that mental problems would hinder his ability to assist in his own defense in a stolen property case.

"For most of my life since the age of eleven or twelve, I have had an experience of being outside myself, of watching another person take over my body," Bush said in a 1998 court declaration. "I start going haywire and I don't know what I'm doing or why. It's like being in a daze. I don't know why it happens and it scares me. It's like someone else crawls under my skin. It is very frustrating."

Bush was examined by mental health experts 11 years ago, and found competent to stand trial. He wound up serving nearly five years in prison for a variety of charges, including auto theft and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Bush now finds himself jailed in Arizona along with Forde and another man, all charged with first-degree murder in connection with a May 30 home invasion.

The trio are accused of having passed themselves off as law enforcement officers to force their way into the home of an Arivaca, Ariz., man they suspected of drug trafficking.

The intruders, all dressed in camouflage, and one of them with his face painted black, fatally shot Raul Flores, 29, wounded Flores' wife, and killed the couple's 9-year-old daughter, Brisenia.

Bush also is charged with second-degree murder for a 1997 stabbing death of a Wenatchee man. He allegedly was connected to the killing earlier this year based on genetic tests on evidence collected nearly a dozen years ago.

Wenatchee police say they've found Bush has "long-standing" connections to white supremacists, including people associated with Aryan Nations, according to court papers.

The nickname "Gunny" often is applied to people who have earned the rank of Gunnery Sergeant in the Marine Corps.

There are no service records matching Bush's name and date of birth, Marine Corps spokesman 1st Lt. Brian Block said at the Pentagon on Wednesday.

Army spokesman Richard McNorton also said he found no matches for Bush in Army personnel records.

Chuck Stonex of Alamagordo, N.M., a Minuteman who earlier supported Forde but has since broken ties, said he only met the man who called himself "Gunny" a couple of times.

Once was May 30, Stonex said, when Forde asked him to provide first aid to a minor gunshot wound on Bush's calf. Forde and Bush misled him about how the wound was received, he said.

Stonex said he met Bush not long after at a Tucson, Ariz., restaurant. He said Bush showed him what appeared to be military paperwork documenting Special Forces training as well as medals from combat operations.

"He claimed that he got hit twice; once in Iraq and once in Somalia," Stonex said.

Stonex described himself as a veteran of combat in Vietnam.

Bush's deception about prior military service "makes a mockery of us veterans, I think," Stonex said Monday. "It is really, really poor taste. It is like impersonating a priest."

Court papers show that Bush has been in trouble with the law since 15, when he was prosecuted for felony property crimes in northern Idaho. He was convicted in Kansas in 1994 for burglary as well as assault on a female corrections officer and attempted escape, documents show.

His Washington state criminal history includes juvenile and adult convictions for property crimes and assault, including a March 1998 beating of another inmate at the Chelan County jail. The victim in that case suffered broken bones in the face. The victim believed the attack occurred because of his sexual orientation, but Bush denied that motive, court papers show.

Before he went to prison in the late 1990s, Bush had worked as a welder, according to court papers.

It is unclear when Bush met Forde. Arizona police allege that he participated in a plan orchestrated by Forde to raise money for their group through crime. In addition to the Arizona killings, police in Arizona, California and Washington are investigating the pair for potential connections to robberies and other violent acts.

When he was introduced on Forde's Web page not long ago, Bush promised to have an impact on border-area crime, eschewing "beer, binoculars and lawn chairs" for "boots on the ground, recon, surveillance and ACTION."

He was quoted at the time: "My goal is to bring the full force of our collective abilities down on the bad guys. This will make waves."

Reporter Scott North: 425-339-3431; north@heraldnet.com.
Arizona Daily Star

A former administrator at Tucson’s veterans hospital was sentenced today to 27 months in federal prison for embezzling more than $365,000 from hospital coffers between 2002 and 2006.

Connie Sue Wilkinson, 55, former clinical director of education, training and development for the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System, also was ordered to repay the stolen money, which she largely squandered on shopping sprees.

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

Tucson, Arizona - Connie S. Wilkinson, 54, of Tucson, Ariz., was sentenced here Monday by U.S. District Judge David C. Bury to 27 months in federal prison, and ordered to pay restitution of $365,816 to the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System. Wilkinson pleaded guilty on October 2, 2008 to Theft of Public Money, Wire Fraud and Mail Fraud.

Wilkinson was the Clinical Director of Education and Training at Southern Arizona Veteran's Affairs Heath Care System (VA) in Tucson, Arizona, between 1999 and 2006, and was issued a government credit card to pay for legitimate expenses in connection with her position. Through various schemes, Wilkinson stole $365,816 in government funds from the VA. In her official capacity, Wilkinson requested payments from Southwest Health Professional Services (SHPS) for training services conducted by the VA, and instructed SHPS to make the checks directly payable to her, or in the name of a fictitious business she controlled, ultimately obtaining $61,769.22 in checks which she deposited in her fictitious business account. Wilkinson also collected $11,917.13 in checks payable to the VA from participants in VA training seminars, and endorsed and deposited these checks into the fictitious business checking account she controlled.

Wilkinson also used her government credit card to make internet purchases of $47,750 in Target and Amazon gift cards which she used for personal purchases such as jewelry, clothing, toys, electronics and home goods. Finally, she used her VA credit card to charge the VA for $244,380 in fictitious goods and services, payable to the fictitious business account controlled by defendant. Wilkinson then spent the money on apparel, jewelry, personal housing, home improvements and her children's educational expenses.

Wilkinson resigned from the VA in April 2006. She has paid $40,230 towards restitution, and Judge Bury has ordered her to pay the remaining $325,585 upon her release from prison.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the FBI and the Veterans Administration Office of Inspector General. The prosecution was handled by Cynthia R. Wood, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson.

“She committed the offenses out of greed, not need,” U.S. District Court Judge David C. Bury said of Wilkinson, noting that, at the time of the thefts, she was earning more than $97,000 a year at the VA.

A jump from the truth?

Vet’s account of ’44 air drop over France questioned

By Seth Robbins, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Tuesday, June 16, 2009
 
Howard Manoian, 84, whose accounts of a parachute landing on D-Day in France, have recently been questioned. 

A man whose accounts of landing behind enemy lines as a paratrooper on D-Day earned him ample press attention may have fabricated them, according to a newspaper report and military records......

May 19 - OREGON: Mike Francis wrote a piece for the "Oregonian" titled: "Congrats to USMC Lance Corporal Jesse W. Bruce" noting among other things:

"Got the word this week that Lance Corporal Jesse Bruce, an Oregon City High School graduate who now lives in the Spokane area, has been awarded the Navy Cross with Valor for his actions in the battle of Fallujah in 2004….Here's the text of the citation, relayed via a relative: 'This is to certify that the President of the United States has awarded the Navy Cross with Valor to Lance Corporal Jesse W. Bruce for his actions against the enemy in Al Fallujah, Iraq on June 24th, 2004.'"

After being made aware that Mike Francis is NOT among the 22 Marines who have received the Navy Cross in the Global War on Terrorism, Mr. Francis deleted the story and published an apology.

This is to certify that the President of the United States has awarded the Navy Cross with Valor to Lance Corporal Jesse W. Bruce for his actions against the enemy in Al Fallujah, Iraq on June 24th, 2004.

Lcpl Bruce was involved in one of the first and most fierce firefights of the battle for Fallujah. On the morning of June 24, during a predawn mission, Lcpl Bruce and his squad of combat engineers were tasked with a mission to emplace new bunkers and repair existing ones for the infantry company holding the position at traffic control point 1. After 3 hours of work, tcp1 came under heavy small arms and RPG fire. As the m240g machine gunner, it was Lcpl Bruce's responsibilty to provide accurate supressing fire against the enemy in order to provide the cover needed for his fellow engineers to complete their task.

After half an hour of continuous fighting, Lcpl Bruce was informed by the infantry company first sergeant that he was the only automatic weapon still firing. Lcpl Bruce then picked up his rate of fire in an attempt to keep the enemies heads down, in order for a chance to be given for other weapons systems to be brought to bear. After approx. 20 minutes of no supporting fire, the position came under attack from accurate mortar fire. Lcpl Bruce maintained his position, continuing to fire upon the enemy, while acting with complete disregard for his own personal well being. At one point, a well aimed mortar landed less than 10 feet behind the Humvee that Lcpl Bruce occupied as a gun position. Lcpl Bruce was wounded in the blast, but paid no regard to it. It wasn't until Lcpl Bruce was pulled from his weapon by a Navy Corpsman, who was screaming he needed medical aid for his leg, did Lcpl Bruce realize he was wounded.

After getting his wounds attended to, it took approx 2 hours for Lcpl Bruce to be med-evaced, during which Lcpl Bruce still maintained supporting fire with an m16 assault rifle.

Lcpl Bruce was awarded a Purple Heart for his wounds received at the hands of the enemy, as well as a Navy unit Commendation for his assistance in fortifying the infantry position where he was wounded. Further, Lcpl Bruces actions prevented a numerically superior enemy force from over-running their postion, quite possibly saving the lives of over 100 Marines and Sailors that day.

Lcpl Bruces actions exuded bravery, courage, and dedication to duty. His actions reflect great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps, and the United States Naval Service.

Given under my hand in the city of Washington, this 14th day of May, in the year of our lord, 2009, M.W. Hagee, General, United States Marine Corps, Commandant of the Marine Corps

http://blog.oregonlive.com:80/oregonatwar/2009/05/congrats_to_usmc_lance_corpora.html

http://newsok.com/oklahoma-city-druggist-appeals-records-ruling/article/3376800

Oklahoma City druggist appeals records ruling

BY JAY F. MARKS
Published: June 11, 2009

Pharmacy murder suspect Jerome Jay Ersland will ask a state appeals court to block prosecutors from obtaining copies of his military records, his attorney said Wednesday.

Attorney Irven Box unsuccessfully challenged a subpoena for Ersland’s military records, arguing they were not relevant to the murder charge against his client stemming from the death of a robber in a May 19 robbery attempt.

Oklahoma County District Judge Tammy Bass-LeSure refused to quash the subpoena being sought by prosecutors, but she did agree to allow Box time to appeal her ruling.

The judge echoed some of Box’s concerns about the potentially sensitive information that could be contained in Ersland’s military records, but she said the case law provided by the parties indicated prosecutors have a right to request those records.

Ersland, 57, has described himself as a disabled Gulf War veteran, but The Oklahoman has learned he left the U.S. Army before the war began.

Ersland left active duty with the Army in February 1989, according to military records. That is more than a year before the first Gulf War began.

Ersland admitted last week he had misrepresented his military service. He said he was a liaison officer for the Air Force during the war......

click the link for the rest of the story.

http://greensboro.rhinotimes.com/Articles-i-2009-04-09-193660.112113_Perkins_In_Own_Private_Idaho.html
Mon, Jun 15, 2009 10:30 AM
June 11, 2009 issue
2009-04-09

Perkins In Own Private Idaho

by Scott D. Yost
County Editor

April 09, 2009
Ever since the Nov. 4, 2008 election, residents of Guilford County have wondered what happened to mystery man Kirk Perkins, who ran in and won the five-man race for Guilford County soil and water conservation district supervisor. Though Perkins – whose real name may be Kirk Newell – didn't do any campaigning, return calls to reporters or even give a real name to the Guilford County Board of Elections, the transient with a history of mental issues won the race – apparently because he filed under the name "Kirk Perkins," which is also the name of Commissioner Kirk Perkins, who, at that time, was the chairman of the Board of Commissioners.

Perkins/Newell didn't show up for the swearing in ceremony; his cell phone number suddenly stopped working; and he seemingly fell off the face of the earth. Many people had a lot of questions for him: everyone from former landlords, who say they got shafted on the rent, to election officials – not to mention high-ranking soil and water conservation officials.

Finally, after five months, the mystery is solved: Perkins/Newell is residing at 92 W. Skyline Dr. in Blanchard, Idaho – on a very out-of-the-way ranch in northern Idaho where he rents a bunkhouse. Perkins has no car, no phone and is living on about $700 a month that he gets in government disability payments.

Perkins/Newell became the center of attention soon after winning the race last fall and, two months later, the election officials wanted to question him regarding felony election fraud and other possible charges.

Perkins evidently decided the heat was too high to stay in North Carolina, and he moved to Washington state, where he laid low in the town of Elk. He lived there until about two weeks ago, when he began renting a bunkhouse at Covenant Ranch owned by Bill Oliver and his wife.

Oliver, a pastor, said that, soon after he met the mystery man – who needed a place to stay – he felt Perkins/Newell might have some mental issues, and he also said the stranger's stories didn't add up. Oliver said his wife shared his suspicions.

"We knew there was something wrong with this man," Oliver said.

Oliver said, for instance, that Perkins/Newell – who's still going by the name Kirk Perkins – told the two that he was ex-military.

Oliver said his wife has worked extensively with military personnel and said she invited two military officers to come to the ranch. They met with Newell/Perkins for about four hours, and they didn't buy his story either.

"They said, 'We don't believe this guy has ever been in the military,'" Oliver said.

According to Oliver, when he confronted Perkins/Newell about his claims of military service, Perkins/Newell had a highly questionable explanation.

"He said that he was in covert ops," Oliver said.

According to Oliver, Perkins/Newell said his military service was so covert that records of his activities and time in the military were kept under wraps at the Pentagon......

CLICK THE ABOVE LINK FOR THE REST OF THE STORY....

Scottsdale man accused of impersonating war hero
Associated Press - June 11, 2009 2:54 PM ET

PHOENIX (AP) - Authorities have arrested a Scottsdale man who they say pretended to be a highly decorated Marine, wearing a uniform and ribbons representing the prestigious Navy Cross and Silver Star.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety said Thursday that 31-year-old John William Rodriguez was booked into Maricopa County jail Wednesday and faces 13 charges of felony fraud schemes.

Rodriguez also may face a federal charge of violating the Stolen Valor Act of 2005, which makes it a misdemeanor to lie about getting a military decoration.

A request with the sheriff's office to interview Rodriguez was not immediately answered. It's unclear if he has an attorney.

DPS officials say Rodriguez got discounts and some special treatment as a result of posing as a war hero.
By Nok-Noi Ricker
BDN Staff

BANGOR, Maine — A 58-year-old woman who collected 18 months’ worth of veterans benefits sent to her dead aunt must pay back the government and serve a short prison sentence, according to her sentence imposed Monday in federal court.

U.S. District Judge John Woodcock sentenced Lorraine Rich, who now lives in Bradenton, Fla., but who lived in Waterville when the crime occurred, to four months in prison and three years of supervised release.

She also was ordered to repay $27,675, the amount of veteran spouse benefits she collected illegally.

Her aunt Cora Thompson was given surviving spouse benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs after her husband, Vernon Thompson, a veteran, died, according to court documents. In 1999, Rich became Thompson’s fiduciary federal payee and agreed to notify the VA when her aunt died, which occurred on April 27, 2004.

“Ms. Rich did not notify the VA of the death, and the VA continued to make the monthly beneficiary payments,” the court documents state, adding later that Rich withdrew the funds and spent them.

The VA stopped making payments in September 2006.

Thompson also failed to report the funds to the Waterville Housing Authority, which supplied her with subsidized housing.

Rich pleaded guilty to theft of government property and making a false statement back in September 2008. She faced a sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the theft and an additional five years and another $250,000 fine for lying on her application for housing assistance.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31130493//

Dance With The Devil

A wife is trapped in her husband's mysterious web of deception

By Dennis Murphy
Correspondent
Dateline NBC
updated 7:10 p.m. CT, Sun., June 7, 2009

....  I don’t find anyone with the surname ......................... who got the NX in Korea. He is not listed by Blakeney. Any chance this was a late award and one we’ve missed, or is this Number EIGHT for phony NX recipients this Memorial Day?   ds

http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=63172

Veteran imposter says he did no harm

Drifter lied about Iraq service, PTSD

Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Rick Duncan spoke passionately and knowledgeably about homeless veterans and he knew well the intricacies of the Department of Veterans Affairs. He even helped found the Colorado Veterans Alliance......
 

A Deception, and a Reluctance to Ask Questions

 
By DAN FROSCH and JAMES DAO
Published: June 7, 2009
 
DENVER — The thick-muscled man with close-cropped hair who called himself Rick Duncan seemed right out of central casting as a prop for a Democratic candidate running against Bush administration policies last fall.

A former Marine Corps captain who suffered brain trauma from a roadside bomb in Iraq and was at the Pentagon during the Sept. 11 attacks. An advocate for veterans rights who opposed the war. An Annapolis graduate who was proudly gay. With his gold-plated credentials, he commanded the respect and attention of not just politicians, but also police chiefs, reporters and veterans advocates for the better part of two years......
http://www.gazette.com/articles/strandlof-55969-story-deception.html

Marine impostor's deception began years ago

The troubled past of Rick Strandlof

June 6, 2009 - 7:09 PM
By Kevin Simpson
The Denver Post

A tattoo of an angel illustrates his right leg. A devil decorates his left.

But an elaborate web of deceit has left Richard Glen Strandlof with another indelible mark: fake military hero who misled veterans, politicians and others. All had bought into the story of Rick Duncan, the wounded soldier rallying opposition to the Iraq war and support for struggling vets.......
http://www.denverpost.com/commented/ci_12537680?source=commented-

Many faces of 'fake vet' Rick Strandlof exposed

http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_12537123

Faking military duty is easy; unmasking "why" is more complex
http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=117130&catid=339

Fake vet admits he didn't tell truth, blames mental illness

written by: Jace Larson additional reporting by: Chris Vanderveen

EL PASO COUNTY - The man who successfully duped politicians, veterans and advocate groups into believing he served three tours in Iraq admits he did not always tell the truth.

"I admit that not everything I said was as factual as I wish it had been," said Rick Strandlof in an exclusive interview with 9Wants to Know.

"Some assertions made in public were not true," he said.

Strandlof, who founded Colorado Veterans Alliance in 2007 and also goes by the name Rick Duncan, sits in the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center on a misdemeanor traffic charge.

"I just want to say that I'm sorry I hurt you. I know some people will say that's not enough," Strandlof said.

"People are alleging that some of the information  on the [Colorado Veterans Alliance's] Web site was not true, some of the background info was not true and some assertions made in public were not true," Strandlof said. "I guess it depends on how true you want them to be."

"When I talked with people about my passion about vets' issues, I believed that was the truth," he said.

Strandlof claims he cannot remember many events over the past three years due to schizophrenia and bipolar mental disorders. 9NEWS could not independently confirm the diagnosis but found court documents indicating a 2005 "unlawful taking of a motor vehicle" charge from Nevada was referred to mental health court. The court file is sealed.

Strandlof also would not say whether he served time in the military, though FBI agents investigating reports of criminal wrongdoing confirm he was never a soldier or Marine.

"I don't want to comment on that. I think it would back [my legal team] into a corner if [court] proceedings happen," Strandlof said.

Strandlof, as head of Colorado Veterans Alliance, actively pursued the limelight on many veterans' issues. He campaigned for homeless veterans in Colorado Springs. He made appearances at anti-war rallies. He campaigned in television ads against Bob Schaffer who lost a bid for the U.S. Senate in 2008.

"I think that came about as being caught up in the moment," he said. "I believed that perhaps if I believe, then other people can too."

"The organization provided advice to several congressional campaigns. The information we did provide was based on sound research and sound policy," said Strandlof.

He says he has not received any money from politicians.

"It was mostly self-funded," Strandlof said. He says he sought private donations but couldn't give an amount.

"I don't know," Strandlof said. He guesses the amount was less than $1,000 and claims he put more of his own money into Colorado Veterans Alliance than anyone else.

He said he believed the organization he led helped veterans in a positive way.

"I do believe we did do good. I think we connected people with resources that they didn't know existed. We advocated the inaction of policies that do people a lot of good," Strandlof said.

He says he created his story after reading real and fictional accounts of soldiers' experiences.

"There are many works of fiction that based upon profiles and combinations of characters that are often used in movies and on television and on print," he said.

Strandlof says he's sorry, not for any alleged lies, but because he feels like he hasn't done enough to help veterans.

He says he hopes his arrest doesn't detract from veterans' issues.

"I believe that people who defended a nation's ideals should have ideal treatment from a nation," he said.

Strandlof has not been charged with any crimes related to allegations he lied about military service. The FBI confirmed to 9Wants to Know that an investigation into those allegations is ongoing.

Several politicians are speaking out, including those who once praised Strandlof.

A spokesperson for Rep. Jared Polis' (D-Colorado) office told 9NEWS in May, "[Strandlof] was never a member of my staff or paid by my campaign, but represented the Colorado Veterans Alliance which endorsed several campaigns, including my own. His fraud is a slap in the face to veterans everywhere."

Sen. Mark Udall's (D-Colorado) office had a similar response, even though Udall's campaign wasn't directly responsible for the anti-Schaffer ad in which Strandlof appeared.

The state Republican Party chairman said he was upset with the news.

"Those are shameless lies that were told in those  ads and we now know the lies were as credible as their fake veterans that they trotted out. I think they owe the people of Colorado an apology," Dick Wadhams said.

If you have information or would like to contact 9Wants to Know reporter Jace Larson, e-mail him at jace.larson@9news.com or call 303-871-1432.

http://news.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/2009_06_06_Phony_paratrooper_to_be_feted_by_French:_D-Day_vet_‘misrepresented_his_service_/srvc=home&position=3

Phony paratrooper to be feted by French

D-Day vet ‘misrepresented his service’

By Richard Weir
Saturday, June 6, 2009 - Updated 2h ago

An Army veteran who has masqueraded as a D-Day paratrooper for decades is due to receive France’s highest military award, although records reveal the 84-year-old Lowell native didn’t jump into Normandy on June 6, 1944.

Howard Manoian’s gripping accounts of landing behind enemy lines with the elite 82nd Airborne Division have been widely reported by the Herald, The Boston Globe and other newspapers.

National Archives records provided to the Herald by military researchers show Manoian does in fact deserve recognition as one of the many thousands of young American soldiers who put their lives on the line on D-Day - not as a paratrooper, but as a member of a less glamorous chemical warfare unit that came ashore on Utah Beach and ran a supply dump.

“The military records leave no doubt that he never served in Normandy as a paratrooper,” said researcher Brian Siddall of Ithaca, N.Y., citing numerous reports and payroll records listing Manoian in the 33rd Chemical Decontamination Company throughout 1944.

Siddall, 47, nephew of the 82nd’s Cpl. Quent Siddall, who was killed on D-Day, said, “To give the award to someone who has misrepresented his service for the past 30 years diminishes the value of the award.”

Though queried by the Herald and the researchers regarding discrepancies in Manoian’s past accounts, the French government still plans to award the Legion of Honor to the retired Derry, N.H., cop. Manoian is to be honored today at the Airborne Museum in Ste. Mere-Eglise, said Troy Darr, a spokesman for a U.S. military task force planning today’s 65th anniversary events.

Alexis Berthier of the French Consulate in Boston said the Grand Chancellery of the Legion of Honor is aware of the issue. But he said, “Mr. Manoian will receive the Legion of Honor based on the confirmed and established elements of his service, not on the contested ones. It is established that Mr. Manoian participated in the Normandy campaign and was wounded in action on French soil.”

Reached by phone in his home near Ste.-Mere-Eglise, Manoian acknowledged serving in the chemical unit, but stood by his paratrooper claim: “I was in basic training in the Chemical Warfare Service. After that I went into the paratroopers. The French government did a lot of research on me. They cleared everything.”

D-Day paratrooper David Bullington, 88, of Dyesburg, Tenn., whose name appears in the 82nd’s official records, said he only met Manoian years after the war and Manoian told him three different versions of where he landed.

“You don’t land in three different places in one jump and walk away,” Bullington said. Noting that he lost a lot of friends that day, Bullington added, “I don’t like to see someone claiming to be a paratrooper to grab a little bit of glory for doing what real paratroopers did in Ste. Mere-Eglise. It’s a slap in the face.”

In numerous interviews - even when challenged by the Herald this week - Manoian has said he was shot and hit in both legs by shrapnel June 17, 1944, while searching a house. But records show he was evacuated to England that day after fracturing his middle finger, returning to duty only in November 1944 - precluding his claim of a combat jump in Holland on Sept. 17, 1944.

In Ste. Mere-Eglise bars, Manoian, wearing a scarf purportedly made from his D-Day parachute, is feted as a hero. A plaque marks a spot in the local cemetery where he claims he landed. But Howard Melvin, a 505th regimental sergeant major, before his death in 2002, relayed his suspicions about Manoian’s story to former Herald reporter Tom Farmer, who had interviewed Manoian in 2001. Siddall’s later search uncovered the chemical unit records.

Farmer, who notified French officials, said, “It saddens me that this is a legitimate D-Day veteran who served his country with courage, but for some reason felt compelled to embellish his record to re-create himself as a paratrooper.’