Vietnam Vets being pushed out of Legion Post

Debate over military credentials in Auburn
VIETNAM VETS SAY THEY'RE BEING PUSHED OUT
By Shaun Sutner TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
ssutner@telegram.com

From left, Fran Bujnowski, Fred A. Carley, Dave L. Peckham and Dean O. Stevens are seen with a Vietnam War-era helicopter at Legion Post 279. (T&G Staff/TOM RETTIG)

AUBURN — Members of a Vietnam veterans group who questioned the military credentials of a former state commander of the American Legion say they are being retaliated against, including being ordered to remove their Vietnam-era helicopter from post property.

The Vietnam veterans say that rather than disciplining the local Legion post official, William R. Barbour Jr., local Legion leaders have made them out to be the villains.

About 50 Vietnam veterans, most of whom also are members of the Auburn Legion post, say they have been told that their Vietnam Veterans of America chapter can no longer meet at the Auburn post, and that they have two months to remove the Cobra attack helicopter, which has been on display at the post since the late 1990s.

“That's just retaliation, pure unadulterated retaliation,” said Lawrence J. Corbin III, a member of the VVA group and service officer and former chairman of the executive committee of the Legion's Chester B. Tuttle Post 279 in Auburn.

“Barbour has been exposed for being a fraud,” Mr. Corbin said. “I told them ‘you can't just ignore this.' ”

Mr. Barbour's alleged embellishment of his military record was reported by the Telegram & Gazette June 26 after several veterans associated with the Auburn post said Mr. Barbour had claimed to be an Air Force lieutenant colonel and had often appeared in public with a badge worn by naval officers.
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Debate over military credentials in Auburn