Too often, when we have a natural inclination towards a certain point of view or an ideology, we accept any and every reference in support of it. Should that reference be found faulty, one's personal integrity is only re-established by the acknowledgment of that error and a commitment to scrutinize one's sources more thoroughly. In the case of "The Phoenix Program", a book by Douglas Valentine, a key source used to create the story told of U.S. atrocity committed in the name of counter-insurgency is a demonstrated fraud. One Mr. Elton Manzione claims to have had completed the training required by Navy SEALs and acted as a SEAL in his service during this episode. It should be well understood that there is a rather large body of people in this country that gain prominence in their communities by making false claims of being a Navy SEAL. This is due to the respect the people of this country show to those who make the physical and mental commitment that it takes to actually pass BUDS (Basic Underwater Demolition / SEAL) training.
Having nothing more than suspicion of Manzione that came from others making the claim of fraud against him, his affiliation with an anti-Vietnam war organization, his clearly biased writings, and the positive review of the book by another proven fraud, I endeavored to back up my opinion with the facts of the issue.
I contacted every author of the negative reviews of "The Phoenix Program" published at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. I received a response from every one. Over the course of many days and many e-mails, I was directed to a myriad of websites and databanks that help to clarify the issue. An article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette written by Milan Simonich helps to portray the average mindset of those people that undertake the task of exposing SEAL frauds.
I also contacted Mr. Elton Manzione and he has not yet replied. Bear in mind that I am quite capable of hiding any preconceived notion or bias I might have in order to diplomatically ask a question. I simply inquired whether Mr. Manzione would be willing to answer any question regarding the charges of fraud surrounding his Navy SEAL career. I'm sure this isn't the first time someone asked him about this.
The key thing to remember here is that every day of a soldiers life is well documented. The various branches of the military collect and store their data in their own specific ways. The Navy collects and stores data which can verify members of the UDT/SEAL's and be obtained using F.O.I.A. procedures at:
Public Affairs Office
Naval Special Warfare Command
Naval Amphibious Base Coronado
San Diego, CA 92155-5037
Another source of data which can be obtained through F.O.I.A. procedures where one can verify a name (if you have the Social Security number) is:
National Personnel Records
Army (or Navy or Air Force) Military Personnel Records
9700 Page Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63132
In addition to that there are several private groups composed mostly of ex-SEAL's that track and document each other as the onslaught of phony SEAL's continues to erode the dignity of those that served. One of these groups is the US Naval Special Warfare Archives (civilian) which is commonly used by the Naval Special Warfare Command (military) in the course of updating and maintaining their records. The NSWA is headed up by Ty Zellers, an ex-SEAL who makes it his business to catch fake SEAL's. Zellers and those like him (I personally contacted three organizations like this) use standard F.O.I.A. procedures and network within a very close, small community in order to expose these people.
Facts:
BUDS training is not and has never been classified material.
UDT/SEAL activity records are not and have never been classified.
Assignment to Vietnam was not classified.
OER's (Officer Efficiency Reports) aren't classified and never have been. All SEAL's are officers.
DD214's (military discharge form which includes medals awarded and service duty) is not classified.
Active Duty Master Files (comprehensive information) are not classified.
Military Retired Pay Files are not classified.
Every one of the above documents (and another half dozen I haven't listed) can be used to determine whether a man had the Special ops training required to become a SEAL. Every one of the organizations I contacted had already ran the F.O.I.A. procedure on Mr. Manzione which perused these files and found him a fraud. Several of the respondents had actually participated in the Phoenix program, had been Navy Seals, and had no knowledge of Mr. Manzione.
I had an acquaintance with a man who was killed in a plane crash two years ago that liked to brag about his Navy SEAL career. Those of us that had spent any real time with him completely dismissed his stories but he was a nice enough guy and was well liked. All the same, it always gnawed at us a bit to consider that this fellow got a sense of worth from identifying with something he respected but couldn't attain. His general lack of character was manifest and he was generally untrustworthy. The airplane he flew was purchased and maintained partially by the welfare checks he received - and we all knew it. I don't bring this up to denigrate Jim and I don't feel good speaking ill of a dead friend. I bring it up because it is a life experience that I can draw upon to make a good point. If those of us who were not SEAL's but have some notion of ethics and principles were mildly offended by the ethical lapses of those like Jim, imagine how offended an actual SEAL must be to hear how he was a murdering butcher - and hear it from a man who was only pretending to make the kind of commitment they devoted themselves to.
I received an e-mail from W. M. Oszczakiewicz, retired Navy SEAL who participated in the Phoenix Program during Vietnam. He recounted for me the awful dilemma the program put him and all his buddies through as they attempted to identify those VietCong operatives within their ranks. He tells of a nice old Vietnamese woman who was the cook for his A-Team that was discovered as a source for the VC as to certain upcoming U.S. troop activity. How bitter it must have been to hear of the men, possibly his friends, who were killed in that operation. He tells of discovering that the village barber set land mines at night that were meant for him and his buddies. He obviously still suffers today because of that situation. His e-mail could not hide the fact that those people like Mr. Manzione, who steal their honor by taking their name and then sully their name by having no honor, are considered reprobates of the worst kind. He make a point of recommending Mark Moyar's book on Phoenix. He says that book tells it the way it actually was.
Make no mistake. The SEAL community is quite aware of the false claims of Mr. Manzione and the very shoddy research done by Mr. Valentine which overlooked them. Steve Waterman tells me he is soon to feature this issue and take Mr. Valentine and Mr. Manzione to task. Mr. Manzione apparently holds a special place in a great many hearts from what I'm able to tell.
I received more than one recommendation to read the book, "Stolen Valor" by B.G. Burkett in order to understand more about the nature of the people who do this kind of thing. But anyone who buys into biased, ideological fabrications will not be inclined to hear it, I suppose.
Let glory gained by fraud tarnish and fade while deserved honor serves the heart always. All glory is fleeting but after it has died, a man of character is sustained by honor.
Stuart Gort
