James Ferris; Prez of Korean War Vet Assoc. revisited
A few weeks ago, someone who wishes to remain nameless, came across an article in the Syracuse Post-Standard about James Ferris, the President of the Korean War Veterans Association who we wrote about in March. In the days that followed the first post, Ferris said things about me which were unkind and he invited me to go to Liverpool for lunch with him – yeah, that won’t happen. I’m not driving six hours for lunch with someone who may or may not show up. I do like the Syracuse area in Spring, but not that much.
Anyway, I contacted the reporter, Mark Weiner who is on the staff of the Post-Standard, but works in their DC bureau and we began to work together. Mark didn’t like the idea that he’d been had in the first article, the reaction of most of the reporters with whom I’ve worked on these things. Anyway, Mark used his contacts to verify what I told him initially, and then he went “needles down” on Ferris. First Mark called someone he knew in Albany and found that Ferris wasn’t authorized by New York State to wear that New York State Conspicuous Service Cross that he’s wearing on the top row of his rack.
Then Mark went on to verify the rest of my claims against him, compared to the 3rd Marine Division’s history and it turned out that I was correct – the 3rd arrived in Japan in August 1953, a month after the ceasefire in Korea and sat there. There’s nothing wrong, that was completely outside of Ferris’ control and being stationed in Japan during that period certainly qualified him for membership in the Korean War Veterans’ Association without adding all of the go-fast-medals.
Anyway, Mark did what I couldn’t do from here – he sent a reporter to Ferris’ house and ambushed him in his driveway. Ferris finally came clean and admitted that he had never seen combat, and he explained that the ribbons he wore were his brother’s who made him promise from his deathbed to wear his brother’s ribbons. Yeah, ok, we’ve never heard that one before. Then he begged the reporter to keep the story out of the press, because he was 81 years old. Yeah, well, what about all of those years that he wasn’t 81-years-old and healthy that he successfully fooled everyone with his brothers’ medals?
Anyway, Here’ Mark’s teaser to the big story. He had to hurry up and spit out something because Ferris told the reporter that he was tendering his resignation to the Association today. Something he could have done nearly two months ago when we broke the story. The board had a meeting to discuss the situation and then kept the results of the meeting from the membership hoping that it blow over. Well, now instead of blowing over, it’s blown up.
So mucho thanks to Mark, to Sam Naomi (who at first became my worst enemy, then my best friend) and our unnamed fellow up in Clay, New York who helped us roll this particular snowball.
Since the KWVA needs help cleaning out their ranks, I have another one for them to read about here this afternoon when Mark’s second article comes out.
Correction: I mistakenly called the Syracuse Post-Standard the Syracuse Herald in the original. I wasn’t aware that the Herald had been out of publication since I left. The Herald and Post-Standard were interchangeable in those olden days.
Category: Phony soldiers
Reporter should have said:
“You said you are wearing your brother’s WWII ribbons, but you have Korea and Vietnam ribbons on. Where are the WWII ribbons?”
Combat Historian: actually, it appears that people who were there for FREQUENT WIND could get the VSM if they wanted it. However, they had to apply to have their AFEM converted to the VSM. From DoDM 1348.33, Vol 2, Enclosure 3, p. 68:
(b) Service members who earned the AFEM for participation in Operation FREQUENT WIND (April 29-30, 1975) may, upon application, convert their AFEM to the VSM. However, no Service member may be issued both medals for service in Vietnam.
Not sure if that option’s still available after a person left the service or not, but I’d guess it is.
It would be nice to see not just the KWVA but other vet organizations go through and start verifying that current and future members meet the organization’s enrollment criteria instead of conducting “business as usual” and allowing poseurs membership.
http://www.armytimes.com/article/20130501/NEWS/305010018/Head-Korean-vets-association-admits-wearing-brother-s-medals
Let me get this straight. Top Korean War Veteran leader routinely flits around with DOD 60th Anniversary Committee escorts to Korea and around the country. Eats meals, stays in hotels, travels with ground and air transportation, and dines at the White House. Rides on DOD Rose Parade Float. Now the question is who pays for all this, the KWVA or the Department of Defense? My bet is the taxpayers pay the bills. The question arises whether the DOD would do this for a guy who admits he wears medals he didn’t earn? Where were all the senior military aides who should have spotted medals upside down?
@53, If the VFW asked me to see my records I would have no problem with that since I haven’t lied about my service.
Sam–kudos to you for doing what was no doubt a very difficult thing for anyone to do.
Tip ‘o the cap, sir.
Anon: perhaps they decided to cut an old guy a break and didn’t mention it to save him embarrassment.
Sam Naomi: what NHSparky said. IMO you’re a helluva guy.
Got Stars & Stripes to pull the AP story on it. Should be up on Facebook soon.
Very sad case. He (apparently) was fully qualified for membership and (apparently) has some administrative skills which were valuable to the organization. Too bad he had to lie about stuff. Important stuff.
Back in the recesses of my mind is the idea from my own father that the fakers kept him from joining any veterans organizations. There certainly were plenty for which he qualified. (pre WWII service, WWII service, Korea service, etc.)
This is not a new problem. Unfortunately. But the benefits of fakery seem to be much greater now than they were back then.
Oh, and thank you, Sam.
I had heard for years that Ferris was a retired general officer….. saw a picture with a caption mentioning same.
Yeah. it’s posted farther above. I thought it may have been a civilian not understanding the rank structure.
Damn bastard wearing senior jump wings. Nasty effing dirty leg at that! Busted my ass to get senior/master wings (literally).
Key supporters of the KWVA work in Congress.
H.R.318
Latest Title: To authorize a Wall of Remembrance as part of the Korean War Veterans Memorial and to allow certain private contributions to fund that Wall of Remembrance.
Rep Bordallo, Madeleine Z. [GU] – 1/18/2013
Rep Butterfield, G. K. [NC-1] – 1/18/2013
Rep Coble, Howard [NC-6] – 1/18/2013
Rep Cole, Tom [OK-4] – 1/18/2013
Rep Connolly, Gerald E. [VA-11] – 1/18/2013
Rep Conyers, John, Jr. [MI-13] – 1/18/2013
Rep Dingell, John D. [MI-12] – 1/18/2013
Rep Green, Al [TX-9] – 2/27/2013
Rep Griffith, H. Morgan [VA-9] – 4/15/2013
Rep Grimm, Michael G. [NY-11] – 1/18/2013
Rep Guthrie, Brett [KY-2] – 1/18/2013
Rep Hanna, Richard L. [NY-22] – 1/18/2013
Rep Hultgren, Randy [IL-14] – 1/18/2013
Rep Johnson, Sam [TX-3] – 1/18/2013
Rep Keating, William R. [MA-9] – 1/18/2013
Rep King, Peter T. [NY-2] – 1/23/2013
Rep Kline, John [MN-2] – 2/5/2013
Rep Luetkemeyer, Blaine [MO-3] – 3/20/2013
Rep Marino, Tom [PA-10] – 3/14/2013
Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-2] – 1/18/2013
Rep Pearce, Stevan [NM-2] – 1/18/2013
Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-13] – 1/18/2013
Rep Reed, Tom [NY-23] – 3/5/2013
Rep Roe, David P. [TN-1] – 2/27/2013
Rep Royce, Edward R. [CA-39] – 2/14/2013
Rep Rush, Bobby L. [IL-1] – 1/23/2013
Rep Schwartz, Allyson Y. [PA-13] – 1/18/2013
Rep Stivers, Steve [OH-15] – 1/18/2013
Rep Turner, Michael R. [OH-10] – 1/23/2013
Rep Young, C. W. Bill [FL-13] – 1/18/2013
Time to put out a form letter and start sending them out…
It’s not 100% complete, but this page can be used to find e-mail addresses for many US Senators and Representatives:
http://www.conservativeusa.org/links/complete-email-fax-list/?/mega-cong.htm
Looks like the story made the Navy Times, AF Times, Marine Corps Times, and Military Times also:
http://www.navytimes.com/article/20130501/NEWS/305010018/Head-Korean-War-Veterans-Association-admits-wearing-brother-s-medals
http://www.airforcetimes.com/article/20130501/NEWS/305010018/Head-Korean-War-Veterans-Association-admits-wearing-brother-s-medals
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/article/20130501/NEWS/305010018/Head-Korean-War-Veterans-Association-admits-wearing-brother-s-medals
http://www.militarytimes.com/article/20130501/NEWS/305010018/Head-Korean-War-Veterans-Association-admits-wearing-brother-s-medals
I’m thinking maybe the next questions should be:
1. “Does he actually have a deceased brother?”
2. “Did his brother actually serve during a recognized period of hostilities?”
3. “Are all OR ANY of those awards actually his brothers?”
Should be a simple FOIA request.
In case this got lost in the shape-shifting.
February 17, 2013
Open Letter to Leon E. Panetta, Secretary of Defense
1000 Defense – Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301-1000
Dear Secretary Panetta:
As National President of the Korean War Veterans Association, I represent the Korean War Veterans of the United States and its’ Territories. The recent creation of the “Distinguished Warfare Medal” to be awarded to pilots of unmanned aircraft, cyber war experts and others, has created an extremely negative attitude from our members.
We do not disagree that the aforementioned people should not be awarded for their dedication to duty; their ability to save ground troops lives; the stress they are under to guide unmanned drones that destroy our enemies or their installations. However to place the “Distinguished Warfare Medal” above the prominence of the “Purple Heart” and the “Bronze Star” is unacceptable to our members and those of other Veterans Service Organizations that I have spoken to.
The men and women that will receive this award are indeed brave individuals, but not in the category of a combat infantry person, a fighter pilot, or a seaman. When these people fire a weapon in most cases someone fires in return, and in far too many cases, results in the maiming or death of these extremely brave men and women. In the case of a drone pilot, this of course does not occur.
We urge you, Mr. Secretary, not to withdraw this award but to change its’ significance, better define its’ merit and give the unmanned aircraft, cyber war experts and others that are involved in this type of warfare, an award that is within the nature of their risks. Their risks are somewhat different than a combat soldier. The stress of knowing you have destroyed an entire village or an entire military installation, or just the life of one person with the movement of a computer, is a risk to them worthy of an award, but not one ranked as high as the “Distinguished Warfare Medal” has been designated.
Respectfully
James E. Ferris, President
Korean War Veterans Association, Inc. (KWVA/US)
@70. I’m missing your points Research. It would help if you gave the purpose of the material that you posted in cmt 65 and 70. I thought I understood but, now, I’m not at all sure.
@71 The irony in 70 is an Admin Clerk who wears his brothers’ Combat Action Ribbon and a Vietnam ribbon much less the other ribbons is lecturing the Secretary of Defense on anything…
In 65 this a list of folks to whom Ferris owes a deep apology.
@72. Got it. Thanks.
Ya gotta love this statement from the letter:
“We do not disagree that the aforementioned people should not be awarded for their dedication to duty…” actually means that they agree that the aforementioned people should not be awarded for their dedication to duty.
And just how does one award a people anyway? Is he, by chance, suggesting that the cyber warriors should all be sold into slavery perhaps? Or maybe they should be given away. And would he have the Navy give their cyber warriors to the Army, or to another government? Maybe they could ship some of them along with the aircraft going to our “friends” in Egypt.
Just wondering.
OWB: I’ve been looking at the KWVA website and thinking about this situation with Ferris and I would like to offer you some info you may or may not have.
First, exhausting an available administrative remedy is an essential step in a process that could end up in a legal arena. In this case, that means a member IN GOOD STANDING (dues paid) should file a written and SIGNED complaint with the KWVA’s Judge Advocate. The complaint must be sent through the USPS-REGISTERED, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED to:
KWVA Judge Advocate
William B Burns LC00251
105 Emann Dr
Camillus, NY 13031-2077
Multiple members, of course, may submit a complaint but should do so separately. A member who does so is bound, by the procedures, to keep the matter of the complaint confidential.
The Ethics and Grivance Process is set forth in Section 3.8 of the KWVA Manual. The complaint should specify the exact infraction alleged and cite to the manual wherever possible. For instance, a member might point assert that Ferris has violated Manual Section 3.8.7.5 by making one or more untruthful statements to other members regarding his service in Korea.
I will not repeat the complaint investigation and hearing process here inasmuch as it is outlined in the Manual. However, I will say that Ferris himself–as president– is involved. The main point is that a formal complaint needs to be filed for purposes of exhausting an administrative remedy. As I said, any member in good standing may file a complaint AS DESCRIBED ABOVE but chapter presidents would pack additional punch, I would think. So, too, would multiple complaint filings.
I hope this helps but you were probably on this aspect all ready. Let me know if I can be of help and I will work though email with you.
Hmmmmmmm. I seem to remember reading somewhere that anyone who’s ever served in Korea since Jun 1950 is eligible for KWVA membership. If correct, that means anyone with the KDSM would qualify to join.
@76. Yes, that’s correct. Anyone who has been there in service as a duty assignment is eligible for membership.
Someone mentioned in an earlier thread that his brother’s record should be checked. I think the string should be pulled on that too. I would be willing to bet his brother didn’t earn those awards. Does he even have a brother? If my brother had served and earned medals, I would have the common sense to not wear what he had earned. I would possibly make a shadow box with HIS name on it. You don’t just go around sporting other’s awards
The Chief: that’s already in-process. See comments 49 and 50 at
http://valorguardians.com/blog/?p=35379#comment-832944
Interesting background on who may or may not be a voting member of the KWVA, and why they need Congress to modify the Internal Revenue Code. http://www.kwva.org/bylaws/bylaws_2011/bylaws_2011_ratified_111030a.pdf The bylaws were modified to allow current membership for anyone who served in Korea to date, but my understanding is the original IRS filing has never been changed to allow DMZ Veterans voting status, so it appears they may be non-voting associate members. They have been asking Congress to amend the IRS code to allow War Veteran status for DMZ veterans, but that failed. This is up to the lawyers to figure out the differences between articles of incorporation and bylaws. Auburn.com “To keep the group going strong, Ferris is championing a bill currently in Congress: H.R. 5903, which would grant IRS-recognized veteran status to those who served in the Korean Demilitarized Zone since the war ended in 1953.” Failed Bill HR 5903 (To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to treat recipients of the Korea Defense Service Medal as war veterans for purposes of determining whether contributions to posts and organizations of war veterans are charitable contributions. (Failed in Committee) Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. TREATMENT OF KOREA DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL RECIPIENTS AS WAR VETERANS FOR PURPOSES OF DETERMINING DEDUCTIBILITY OF CONTRIBUTIONS TO WAR VETERAN ORGANIZATIONS. (a) In General- Paragraph (3) of section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new flush sentence: `For purposes of this paragraph and section 2522(a)(4), any recipient of the Korea Defense Service Medal under section 3756, 6258, or 8756 of title 10, United States Code, shall be treated as a war veteran.’. (b) Effective Date- (1) IN GENERAL- Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amendment made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act. (2) APPLICATION OF GIFT TAX- To the extent that such amendment relates to section 2522(a)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, such amendment… Read more »
Thanks, AC. Very good advice.
Clarification.
As it was explained to me, the original cutoff date back in 1985 when they created the group was around January 1 1955. You could have 10 percent of the members as associate-members without voting status, and HR 5903 was created to assign official Korean War Veteran status to anyone who had served in Korea to date so the organization could survive attrition and continue to collect dues and keep growing. They don’t want to be a lights out group. The issue in Congress has been whether DMZ Veterans would feel comfortable telling their children that they are Korean War Veterans.
Should have known you’d be way ahead of me when I suggested you check the brother’s record!
http://www.stripes.com/news/veterans/korean-war-veteran-voices-outrage-about-medal-dishonesty-1.219253?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+starsandstripes%2Fgeneral+%28Stars+and+Stripes%29
Hondo – forgot to add – feel free to send 2/17 Air Cav my contact info.
2/17 Air Cav: any issue with me contacting you (see comment 85 above)?
(My request is pursuant to #85 above, Hondo.)
(or #75! Argh!)
OWB: understood – but at this point, I’ll need assistance from 2/17 Air Cav in order to facilitate contact. And I pretty much always ask before contacting anyone unless they’ve previously given me explicit permission to do so.
@89.
I don’t.
Its no fun that way.
Understood, and very much appreciated, Hondo.
Bumping this for AC.
OWB: inwood@hushmail.com
Got it.
OWB: I presume you no longer need me to facilitate contact? (smile)
@90 (GT)
TAH,
I was talking (by typing) about posers.
No offense.
Well, Hondo, you are more than welcome to facilitate any and all contacts, but your particular skills will not be needed in this instance. For now.
Thanks, awfully. 😉
Naomi is a Korea vet ain’t he?
11BScottie: see comment 41 above. If I’m reading that comment correctly, Sam let his membership lapse due to disgust over the asshattery he saw in senior KWVA leadership.
@98 11BScottie
Yes I am A Korean Veteran, but not to proud to say that up till the 3rd of last month March,3rd I gave up my membership.
Guess what??????? it was my Birthday and the same day that the TAH posted the James Ferris Blog, Helluva Birthday.
Sam (From Iowa, where the tall corn grows)
So did James Ferris make it to the White House today?
Did he meet with the President of Korea?