NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Wednesday, November 2, 1994

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

94-622 - Delaware Water Gap (Pennsylvania/New Jersey) - Fraud Investigation

Early this fall, Lt. Col. J.M. approached park staff to seek support for
a program to commemorate prisoners of war and MIAs through the lighting of
memorial watchfires at several locations in the park on October 22nd.  J.M.
represented several veterans organizations and had the support of the United
States Army National Guard; he had also made arrangements for retired General
William Westmoreland, commander of U.S. forces in Vietnam, to speak at the
occasion.  The event was held on the arranged date amid considerable fanfare. 
General Westmoreland gave the keynote speech before about 200 veterans at
Smithfield Beach and the memorial watchfires were lit there and at three other
locations.  Prior to the event, however, chief ranger Doyle Nelson, law
enforcement specialist Bob Wilson, and criminal investigator Bob Van Nortwick,
all of whom served tours in Vietnam, began to have suspicions about J.M.'s
Army service.  They initiated an investigation that led to the discovery of
several significant errors in J.M.'s story.  While this investigation was
still underway, J.M. was involved in a drunk-driving accident and was
arrested by local police.  During subsequent questioning, J.M. confessed that
he was a complete fraud and that he had never spent a day in the military. 
Park staff are now working with FBI agents and Army authorities to determine
J.M.'s real identity and find out how he came to hold legitimate Army
identification cards.  J.M., who had an imposing military presence, wore a
number of ribbons and several medals, including the Silver Star.  Until
challenged, he had convinced military officers of all ranks of his
authenticity.  J.M. said that he had served as Westmoreland's briefer in
Vietnam in 1966, that he'd been captured while on a recon mission in 1968, and
that he helped keep fellow POWs inspired and alive by making a small flag from
a piece of clothing, blood and the juice of berries.  J.M. is still being
held; bail has been set at $25,000, considered to be a record for a drunk
driving case.  He was scheduled to head a local Veterans Day parade next week,
but it appears unlikely that he will be available.  [Bill Halainen, MA, DEWA,
11/2]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No field reports today.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No notes.

MEMORANDA

No memoranda.

Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the cooperation and
support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.

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