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Army alerts feds of possible Stolen Valor case

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.

The general orders and citations in Calandra’s official service record for the two highest awards — the Distinguished Service Cross and the Silver Star — conflict with records at the National Archives and Records Administration, according to copies of the documents obtained by Army Times.

General orders are issued by various commands to announce awards, among other news, and are published in chronological order in a given year.

In Calandra’s file, the U.S. Army Vietnam general order announcing his Distinguished Service Cross is numbered 9,580.

According to the National Archives, U.S. Army Vietnam only issued 4,519 general orders in 1969. The most general orders USARV ever issued in any year during the conflict was 7,149 in 1966.

In Calandra’s file, the 9th Infantry Division general order announcing his Silver Star is numbered 5,293.

That general order number corresponds to one at the National Archives announcing a posthumous award of the Army Commendation Medal for a different soldier, Spc. Larry Brown.

The documents contain other inconsistencies.

The Army most recently began reviewing Calandra’s file in August after U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., forwarded an inquiry from Calandra about his Medal of Honor nomination.

“Mr. Terry Calandra has contacted my Allentown office inquiring on the status of his nomination for the Congressional Medal of Honor,” Specter wrote in a July 18 letter to the Military Awards Branch. “Since the request falls under your jurisdiction, I have forwarded you a copy of his request.”

Specter later told a local newspaper editorial board that Calandra should be considered for the military’s top award.

In an e-mail to Army Times, spokesperson Kate Kelly said, “Sen. Specter’s office has been briefed by the Army concerning the questions surrounding Mr. Calandra’s service.” She declined further comment.

In October, Pennsylvania state Rep. Richard T. Grucela introduced a resolution “memorializing the Congress of the United States to award Terry Calandra the Medal of Honor for valorous service during the Vietnam Conflict.” The bill, which was co-signed by dozens of representatives, died in committee.

Grucela’s office didn’t return a call seeking comment.

Photos courtesy of The Express-Times