Military record of college official questioned

[unhappycamper]

Military record of college official questioned
By Jim Suhr - The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Feb 3, 2009 9:16:48 EST

ST. LOUIS — A Southern Illinois University administrator who told the student newspaper vivid stories of his heroism during the Vietnam War has been accused of lying about his military record.

The newspaper, the Daily Egyptian, reported Monday that career services director Jim Scales falsely claimed that he completed two tours in Vietnam, and served in Bosnia, Honduras, Panama, the Persian Gulf and Iraq while in the Army. He also said he earned three Purple Hearts.

But U.S. Army Human Resources Command records show that Scales’ active duty in the Army was spent in Germany from 1970 to 1973 and at Fort Riley in Kansas from 1973 to 1976 — never in Vietnam. During the Gulf War, the command says, he was at Wisconsin’s Fort McCoy as a transportation officer.

“There was no indication whatsoever of any combat time,” Master Sgt. Keith O’Donnell, spokesman at the St. Louis-based human resources command, told The Associated Press. “No Purple Hearts, no combat awards of any type.”

University officials said Monday they will confer with Scales to “determine what is best for both parties at this time.” The statement said Scales was hired based on his academic achievements and work experience, and “his performance at the university over the past 29 years has been exceptional.”


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/02/ap_southern_illinois_scales_020309/%2e