Army alerts feds of possible Stolen Valor case

I just posted about a fake hero, but in this case, I think the problem is with the records and not the veteran. You have to remember that during Vietnam, and wars before, records were typed and all kinds of errors happened. This could be a case of wrong social security numbers putting records into someone else's file and a broken paperwork chain. If the veteran does not have the orders in their own files, it's harder to prove but it does not mean it is a false claim.

Veterans were suspected of putting in false claims until they could show there was a mistake on their records. It happened to my husband but once the paperwork was corrected, his claim was approved. Before that, it was one nightmare after another.

Army alerts feds of possible Stolen Valor case Army alerts feds of possible Stolen Valor case


By Brendan McGarry - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Dec 15, 2008 10:08:19 EST

Discrepancies in the service record of a Vietnam veteran seeking a Medal of Honor have prompted the Army to alert the FBI of a potential violation of the Stolen Valor Act, sources close to the investigation said.

The case involves Terry Richard Calandra, 59, of Forks Township, Pa., who is commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 700 in Glen Gardner, N.J.

“After review of Mr. Calandra’s records, a number of potential discrepancies were noted and the matter was referred to civilian law enforcement for investigation of the potential violation of the Stolen Valor Act,” said Lt. Col. Richard McNorton, a spokesman for Human Resources Command.

The legislation, signed into law in 2006, makes falsely claiming a military decoration or medal a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and/or a fine.

An investigator for the FBI declined to comment on the case.

Calandra said he was “baffled” by the Army’s action.

“All I know is I had eyewitness accounts on this,” he said. “I’m going to stand on my military record. … If the Army wants to change their mind, that’s their business. I’ll send my medals back. I don’t need them.”

Calandra’s discharge paperwork states he received the Distinguished Service Cross, the military’s second-highest award given for “extraordinary heroism in action against an enemy,” as well as the Silver Star, Bronze Star with “V” device for valor (second oak leaf cluster), Purple Heart (fourth oak leaf cluster), the Army Commendation Medal with “V” Device for valor (first oak leaf cluster) and other decorations from a six-month tour in Vietnam in 1969, according to portions of his service record provided by the National Personnel Records Center in response to a Freedom of Information request from Army Times.
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