In Tyler, TX, a man - Samuel M. Garrison Jr. - died in Nov 2011. For several years he was a very public local figure. The city even named a new VA Facility after him. His notoriety was due entirely to his claim to have been a “Tuskegee Airman”. At various times he claimed to have been a P-38 pilot, to have been in many “dogfights” and to have “put 10 enemy planes out of commission”. He wore many different medals on his Red blazer along with both Cpt and Col rank insignia. The public readily accepted his stories (as evidenced by their putting his name on the new VA facility) despite some voices questioning his claims. This week a local reporter published a long exposé disproving almost everything this man had claimed, and the city is “re-considering” his name on the VA building. It can’t even be definitely established that he was ever in the military let alone the “Tuskegee Airmen”. All along people questioned Mr. Garrison’s claims. None of the units comprising the “Airmen” (99[SUP]th[/SUP] Pursuit/Fighter Sq., the 332d Fighter Grp; and the 477[SUP]th[/SUP] Bomb. Grp - which didn’t go overseas) flew P-38’s; no pilot of these units shot down 10 enemy aircraft; the different ranks he claimed; there was much confusion about the medals he wore, some that weren’t from that era. The Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. (the group that represents the “Airmen”) couldn’t verify his service. Yet the local people refused to hear anything but that he was a bonafide WWII hero. There is speculation that Mr. Garrison suffered from dementia and may well have believed his tales. That may be true but I think that the local people are using this as an excuse to explain their culpability. Mr. Garrison did a huge disservice to the real Tuskegee Airmen, to WWII Vets and to all vets. People (especially media reporters) should stop taking our (Vets) “war stories” at face value, many (maybe all) of us embellish our service at times, it is human nature. After telling these “tall tales”, over and over, all too often we begin to believe them ourselves. I have seen and heard reports for years where it is obvious, to anyone who is at all familiar with the subject, that the reporter did no research and had just taken the vets story as he told it. This failure continues the publics’ beliefs in many historical myths.
Here's a link to a news article. Its sad that people impersonate vets for their own personal gain. Researchers Say Sam Garrison No Tuskegee Airman EDIT: Here's another article, with a picture. In the picture, he has a Distinguished Service Cross. Complete records of DSC recipients are availablem and he is NOT on them. There are 3 "Garrisons" on the list, two from WWI and 1 from Korea. He also has an oak leaf cluster on the DSC, indicating two awards. There would definetly be records of him being a two-time DSC recipient if it was true. The big 'blunder', however, is Mr. Garrison's "Air Force Combat Action Medal" that can be seen on the bottom right. This medal was established in 2007, and is not awarded retroactively all the way back to WWII. The medal also has an oak leaf cluster indicating 2 awards of the medal -- the medal has only been issued once thus far. There's a few other discrepencies: Garrison has a Phillipines Liberation Medal, yet no Pacific Theatre campaign medal. He also has a USAF Commedation Medal, which was established in the late 1950s. http://www.cbs19.tv/story/18308383/researchers-say-sam-garrison-no-tuskegee-airman
I feel that another factor is in play with this story. Mr. Garrison was black, if any reporter was to question his credentials he/she would fear the uproar from the strong black community in the area. This is the culture we, in the US, live in. Especially since our current President was elected. Mr. Garrison has not only done great disservice to the real “Tuskegee Airmen” but to the black community as well. Their credibility is now in question and I don’t think they realize it.
Whilst i agree with your sentiments...It is a sad day when we must "question" our servicemen. It is right to take what they say at face value. Where this is excepted is when it could "mean" something, such as naming a building or anything else after him. Always a background check should be done not only for bona fides, but so that we/they aren't venerating a murderer or rapist or serial insubordinate...Let alone a pretender. I dont think the airmen's or blacks in general have been brought into disrepute either...most people are intelligent enough to make the differentiation..and after all its "whites" that are the "usual suspects" in this sort of "crime". At the end of the day, he's actually contributed to keeping the name "Tuskogee Airmen" alive...i bet there were hundreds, if not thousands who hadnt heard of them until this bloke...Doesnt excuse his behaviour though.
I think that it is great that the US cares enough about your veterans to consider legal action against persons attempting to pass themselves off as vets. Well done you! Roxy
