Fake Sevice ClaimsIf these people could accomplish what they did, could it mean that some contracts, slated for U.S. Veteran Businesses, could be taken from us illegally???Name: Wes Cooley, former U.S. representative from Oregon Claim: Served with "Army Special Forces" in Korea during the war. Truth: Cooley served stateside in the U.S. Army from 1952-54. Status: Sentenced to two years probation, fined $7,110 and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service after being convicted in 1997 of lying on official documents. Name: Edward L. Daily, a source for Pulitzer Prize-winning story Claim: Witnessed the killing of large numbers of cililivans as a member of H Co., 2nd Bn., 7th Cavalry, 1st Cav Div, on July 26, 1950, at the Korean village of No Gun Ri. Truth: Military records show that Daily did not begin serving with H Co., unitl March 16, 1951, eight months after the incident. Status: Daily admitted in 2000 that he was not there, saying "I have been sick for years, I have been in therapy in the VA. It was my nightmares from Korea that cost me my Job. I take three strong pills for mental illness." Name: Patrick Couwenberg, former Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Claim: Served in the Vietnam War as an Army corporal, received a Purple Heart after being wounded in the groin and worked as a CIA operative in Laos in the 1960s. Truth: Served stateside in the U.S. Naval Reserve from 1965 to 1969 Status: Removed from the bench by the California Commission on Judicial Performance on Aug. 15, 2001, for willful misconduct in office, conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice and imporper action under the state constitution. Name: Michael O'Brien, former Kane County, Ill., Judge Claim: Received MOH as a sailor for action off Lebanon in 1958 Truth: Navy personnel did not engage in combat and no MOHs were awarded during the 1958 Lebanon campaign. Status: Exposed when he applied for MOH License plates in 1992 and resigned from the bench on Dec. 4, 1995 Name: Brian Dennehy, actor Claim: Told the New York Times in 1989 that he suffered a concussion and shrapnel wounds in combat, and Playboy in 1993 that he served a five-year tour in Vietnam. Truth: Served on active duty in the Marines from Sept. 15, 1959, to June 4, 1963, with only overseas tour on Okinawa. Status: Apologized for lying in 1999 after winning the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in Death of a Salesman. Name: Donald Nicholson, chief of Amelia (Ohio) Police Department from 1982-86. Claim: Served four tours of duty in Vietnam with the Army and on Feb. 1, 1970, while serving with the 5th Special Forces, was captured and held for 15 days as a POW, earning him the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC). Truth: Served in the Navy from 1964-68 but never in Vietnam Status: Admitted in 1999 that he has purchased the DSC and forged documents for $2,000 in order to gain increased VA benefits; sentenced to three years probation and fined $300 on Aug. 10, 2000, for unlawful use of a false military discharge certificate and unauthorized wearing of military medals and decorations. Taken from the VFW Magazine, November 2001. For more information about fakes see the following web sites: PHONIES EXPOSED or related Articles Phony Veterans |