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January 26, 2002 ..... Well, he is in the news again - seems he is now charged with "breach of trust with fraudulent intent over $5,000" when he obtained an American Express Card with the VFW's name on it (without knowledge of the VFW) and proceeded to rack up over $10,000 in personal expenses (gas, cigs, online services, restaurant bills, etc.). He also took out a $30,000 loan from the local bank against the VFW and he caused the VFW to default on a five year lease on the building they once occupied - the post's members never authorized him to do this. Strangely, he remains a life member of the VFW... [Please excuse any minor errors. FAX was very difficult to read.] Former VFW quartermaster chargedBy Kelly M. Burch Conway post reports unauthorized credit purchasesA former quartermaster of the Conway Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7525 was arrested Thursday morning at his home. Curtis Salinger, 49, of 704 Wendy Lane, Conway, was charged with breach of trust with fraudulent intent over $5,000, said Detective George Merritt with the Horry County Police Department. Slainger was released on personal recognizance after a bond hearing Thursday morning. Merritt said this case is still being investigated and other arrests are expected this week. "What I can gather from this is three or four of the members of the Conway VFW Post 7525 obtained an American Express card in the name of the VFW and then proceeded to make charges that were not used for the post," Merritt said. "The other members of the post did not have knowledge of this." Salinger refused to comment Thursday. Post Cmdr. Bill Booker said members voted Jan. 8 to press criminal charges against Salinger for allegedly using VFW money to pay his personal credit card debt. "We found out by accident that the credit card existed," Booker said. "One of the other members opened a bill and found the statement." Booker said the card has been used for purchases totaling more than $10,000. The items bought with the corporate credit card include book-club orders, restaurant bills, gasoline and cigarettes. There were also other charges for AOL online services, the Elysium Spa in Arlington, Texas, and at least one stay at a Motel 6 in Roanoke Rapids, N.C.," Booker said. The card was also used at the Pizza Inn in Conway, Conway Feed & Seed, [xxx] Pharmacy, U-haul, Yankee Candle Co., Eddie Bauer, Barnes and Noble and Columbia House Music. "The VFW does not have and vehicles to buy gas for," Booker said. "We don’t have pets. The VFW never sold cigarettes. Nobody approved these purchases. Nobody even knew about them." Booker said VFW members didn’t know the credit card existed until Salinger resigned his seven-year position as quartermaster last July. Salinger sited health reasons, but post officials were questioning his claims of being a prisoner of war in Vietnam. Salinger said he’d been imprisoned six months in Vietnam. Salinger is not on the official government list of people missing in action or taken captive during the war, according to Larry Greer, spokesman for the Defense Department’s POW/Missing Personnel Office in Washington. Salinger’s name is also posted on a "wannabe" Internet list posted by the POW NETWORK. "The Conway VFW post was started in 1994 and is considered one of the top posts in the state because of new members," Booker said. Assistant Quartermaster Ed Carter said he transferred to the Conway post in May. He said he was a member of the VFW in Murrell’s Inlet. "I should have stayed where I was at. It makes me angry," he said. "It’s a shame," Booker added. "The VFW is a good organization and it helps the veteran. I wish I hadn’t taken the position of commander. I’m transferring back to Maryland. Booker said there is also an outstanding loan from Conway National Bank, taken without permission of post members for $30,000 that cannot be repaid. A five-year lesson a building formerly occupied by the VFW is also in default. He said post members have voted not to repay the lease or the loan, since it was taken out without their permission. Salinger remains a life member of the Conway VFW. Kelly Burch is the Neighbors assignments editor. kburch@thesunnews.com |
Saturday, September 8, 2001
Conway VFW official steps down from post
By Kelly M. Burch The quartermaster of the Conway Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7525
has left his seven-year position, citing health problems. Cmdr. Cliff Wescott and Senior Vice Cmdr. William Dickover were looking into Salinger's claims of being a POW when he stepped down as quartermaster and adjutant last month. Salinger said he left his office because he is sick from exposure to Agent Orange and is also being treated for post-traumatic stress disorder. "I'm in very poor health and I needed to get away," Salinger said. In biographical information he distributed last year when he spoke at a Veterans Day event at Aynor High School, Salinger said he'd been imprisoned six months in Vietnam. But he is not on the official government list of people missing in action or taken captive during the war, said Larry Greer, spokesman for the defense POW/Missing Personnel Office in Washington. "There is nobody by that name on the government ... listing of former POWs," Greer said. "This list [Persons Missing in Southeast Asia] contains the names of servicemen who worked for the CIA, who worked for top secret operations, who worked behind enemy lines, and even those who were held POW for just a few days." Dickover said Salinger's name is on a "wannabe" Internet list posted by the POW Network. The site, run by a former POW, is considered by veterans to be a comprehensive list of people making false claims of being POWs. [NETWORK NOTE: No member of the NETWORK is a former POW. We DO verify all POW claims with former POW Capt Mike McGrath USN (Ret), President of NAM POWs, Inc. At one time, NAM POWS DID post an internet list of phonies.] Salinger said he did not know his name was on the so-called "wannabe" Internet site. He said his records are being kept secret by the U.S. government. "I was taken captive," he said. "I want to live a quiet life. I'm not talking to anyone anymore." Greer said the list of POWs was formed during the war and has not been proven wrong in 30 years. "The bad thing about it is the embarrassment to all veterans," Dickover said. "He would make speeches to schools and things like that and makes those claims. That makes us look bad when it's proven otherwise. I felt it was shameful to our post, so something had to be done about it." Salinger's discharge papers show he was in Vietnam from Sept. 7, 1971, through June 27, 1972. He received an early release to join the Army Reserve Unit in Fort Riley, Kan. The documents show he received several service medals and an Army commendation medal. Dickover said Salinger will be allowed to remain a member of the VFW, since he did serve overseas.
Distributed through the P.O.W. NETWORK in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107. |