Taking On ‘Wannabe’ Web Sites
Editorial by: Jere Beery
July 7, 2006,
There appears to be two distinctly different veteran’s groups in this country that operate under the sacred POW/MIA flag. The most recognizable of these groups or organizations is the POW/MIA League of Families. Groups like this are totally committed to the full accounting of Missing in Action and Prisoner of War from all wars. These great Americans provide a valuable service to our country and deserve the highest level of respect and praise.
The second type of veteran’s group or organization using the POW/MIA logo is the ‘Wannabe’s & Phonies’ network. This group is committed to exposing individuals that fraudulently claim military service or awards they are not entitled to. The original concept for this movement was inspired by the 1998 book ‘Stolen Valor’, by B. G. Burkett and Glenna Whitley, and over the decades many liars and phonies have been exposed. You can buy Burkett’s book at his ‘official’ web site for $31.95 + $4.95 shipping. http://www.stolenvalor.com/ For an additional $3.00, Mr. Burkett will personally autograph your book. The book has been a big seller and Burkett continues to make a great deal of money off ‘Stolen Valor’.
At first, the effort to expose phony veterans seemed like a good idea and focused primarily on individuals posing as former POWs or Special Forces. However, Burkett’s book launched a movement of self-appointed ‘Guardians of Valor’ that operate more like thugs than Proud Americans. I have discovered some groups are using the POW/MIA banner as a cover for more cynical and hate-driven purposes. These spin-off POW/MIA groups operate under a code of; if you dig deep enough, you can find dirt on anyone. Believe nothing, question everything. A simple VFW bar room war story can lead to a full investigation by one of these unauthorized groups. The next thing the veteran knows is, his picture and military records are posted on the Internet without his permission. In some cases his personal information has been compromised, and he is deemed a phony scumbag because someone overheard him say he had three Purple Hearts and he only had two. Unfortunately, this usually occurs when the veteran has had three drinks, instead of two.
These Wannabe groups are not sanctioned or regulated by any law enforcement, or government agency; they have no real authority to do what they do. Publicly they claim to get all their information about an individual they are investigating through the Freedom of Information Act, (FOIA). But, privately, they boast of having connections within the VA and DOD that will provide them any information they request on an individual.
At this point you must be asking yourself, what the hell does that have to do with the POW/MIA movement. Exactly!
Now, it appears these groups have taken their activities to a new level. According to Chuck and Mary Schantag, of the POW Network, they are on the lookout for disabled veterans they suspect do not deserve the benefits they are currently receiving, and turning their names into the VA Inspector General for possible review and/or benefits fraud. The Schantags claim they turned five veterans into the VA IG in May alone. This is quite a stretch form their original mission of accounting for our Missing in Action.
Supporters of these Wannabe web sites claim they are legally doing exactly the same thing as online sex offender registries do, and people deserve to know if someone is a liar. However, unlike a sex offender registry, the vast majority of veterans listed on the Wannabe web sites have not been charged with a crime. They are not convicted felons. They have not had their day in court to prove their case. They have become victims of vigilante justice. They are guilty of being stupid at most. In some cases, veterans with impeccable military service have been heavily scrutinized and questioned for no real reason at all. What federal or state mandate gives these groups the right to be judge, jury, and executioner?
Several months ago I personally became a target when the POW Network started an investigation on me. Apparently, they didn’t like the looks of my DD214 posted on my web site, and they determined I was guilty of the federal offense of altering my discharge papers. Even after receiving, and publicly distributing 18 pages of my personal military records which verified all of the information on my DD214 was correct, the Schantags refuse to comment or publicly set the record straight. Instead, they quietly allow a cloud of doubt to loom over my service to this country. They refuse to admit they found nothing fraudulent with my military records. To be perfectly frank, I totally resent these bottom-feeders putting their dirty hands on my military records, much less publicly releasing them to complete strangers over the Internet. Some will counter with; “if you have nothing to hide, what does it matter?” I owe no one an explanation of my military service. My military records are ‘mine’, as in ‘M-I-N-E’. Writing to the NPRC to get military records released under the FOIA on complete strangers in hopes of digging up dirt is kind of like farting in church. Sure, you have the right to fart in church, but it won’t win you any friends. And there are very serious questions about how these groups really do get their information.
Currently, the Schantags are under investigation by the VA IG for statements they made concerning ‘friends’ sifting through military personnel records, and possible conspiracy to access Social Security numbers and other protected personal information.
A number of veterans have complained to me personally about being unjustly embarrassed and publicly humiliated by the POW Network and similar groups. In at least one case, a veteran claims his SS number was stolen which lead to identity theft and thousands of dollars in false charges. In another case, a defamation suit was dismissed when the veteran died before he could confront Chuck and Mary Schantag in court.
Many of us within the veteran’s community are working very hard to unite this country’s former military personnel.
Infiltrators within our ranks of the national veteran community are needlessly turning veterans into the VA for investigation. This is totally unacceptable, and counterproductive to unity within the Veteran’s Rights Movement. These groups thrive on intimidating and discourage legitimate veterans from participating in the public arena by requiring they prove themselves yet again. I find these arbitrary and capricious shake-downs of veteran’s credentials to be extremely damaging to overall morale and totally uncalled for. At this point in our history, as long as an individual has a Green Card and/or a Voter’s Registration Card, I really don’t care what the hell they did or didn’t do in the service. I am personally urging sponsors of these groups to reconsider their support and voice their objection of this overzealous witch hunt. I can’t help but wonder if Ann Mills Griffith is aware of the activities taking place under the POW/MIA banner.
Some Wannabe web sites have hate messages posted on them, like; ‘Wanted Dead or Alive’, implying death to the individuals listed there.
http://itsjustanamthing.com/wannabessuck.htm
While others are somewhat more subtle with professional looking graphics and audio tracks.
http://members.aol.com/viperash50/wannabe/wannabe.html,
I can tell you this with great certainty. The NPRC has already taken steps to improve data security and has also enacted new guideline for all FOIA requests. I can also assure you that the VA and DoD are very aware of possible security breaches by mom and pop groups claiming to be a veteran’s service organization (VSO). Once the VA IG concludes its investigation of the POW Network, and I have received their findings, they will be posted on the FBN.
In a related story, Veteran’s Rights Advocate, Gene Simes of Rochester, NY recently had 6 pages of his military service records released by the Schantages in exactly the same manner.
The Firebase Network wants to know what you think about this issue. Please send your comments to: jerebeery@aol.com All comments will be posted for public review at:
http://jerebeery.com/reader%20responses.htm