![\"Macon](\"https:\/\/www.azuse.cloud\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Macon-Georgia-phonies-300x165.jpg\")
<\/a><\/center><\/p>\nI had a conversation yesterday with Wayne Crenshaw of the Macon Telegraph<\/a> about Steve Valcke<\/a> and Les Black<\/a>, two of our valor thieves of recent fame. Valke had claimed to be a POW of the Vietnam War, but he had been an Air Force entry-level discharge with four weeks of service. Black had claimed to be a Vietnam veteran who was haunted by the horrors of war, but his Vietnam-era wartime service had been in the Netherlands.<\/p>\n When asked about the allegations Monday night by The Telegraph, which sent a reporter to Black’s home for a comment, Black said, “That’s a family thing that family members created.”<\/p>\n He then shut the door and offered no explanation of what he meant.<\/p>\n A pickup parked in his driveway Monday evening had a “Vietnam veteran” sticker in the rear window.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Valcke confirmed his service record when contacted by phone Monday. He said he hurt his foot in basic training and was discharged.<\/p>\n Valcke said he does not recall ever telling anyone he was a POW or a Vietnam veteran. However, when it was pointed out that his clothing in the photo identified him as a Vietnam veteran, he said “I might have been wearing a Vietnam-era T-shirt.”<\/p>\n Wilson and Crockett both said they recall speaking to Valcke after the ceremony and that he told them he was a POW in Vietnam. They said he did not speak during the ceremony.<\/p>\n Crockett said he remembers Valcke giving a detailed account, including that he had toe nails pulled out by his captors and that he was rescued by Delta Force.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Our own Dave Hardin was mentioned in the story, too. I’m guessing that Hardin was the impetus for the call from Mr. Crenshaw. in fact, Hardin stole one of my quotes;<\/p>\n “We don’t take any joy in this,” he said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n I really don’t take any joy in this business anymore, so people should stop lying about their service and I’ll quit. <\/p>\n But, Mr Crenshaw deserves our accolades. So many journalists just don’t care about getting the real story of these liars and they’re perfectly happy to let the false narrative stand as historical record.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"