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These people Chuck and Mary Schantag steals the valor of us military veterans, then approach the veteran and they "ASK" for a donation to remove the false information that they themselves posted about said veteran. They discuss me. Recently Chuck and Mary Schantag where both arrested for possession and distrebution of Crystal methamphetamine. read about all they have don on the link at the bottom

http://www.valorvultures.freewebpages.org/

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20 comments
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sgttmthurman
Fort Worth, US
May 08, 2012 8:38 am EDT

These people export and extort injured veterans, even saying that people with PTSD and TBI aren't really injured. It's a disgrace that they have POW in their name, let's face it, if a POW was to be released and returned home this POW Network would probably slander that person also, trying to say that they don't really have PTSD too. The true ### here is the POW Network and anyone associated with them and helping with their campaign of terrorism upon these veterans.

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bpittler81
DC, US
Mar 28, 2012 3:29 pm EDT

I am happy to report Mr. Schantag is gone from this Earth. Hell just got one more fat piece of ###, low-grade cyber-bully.

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ViperAsh50
Montgomery, US
Aug 15, 2011 4:59 am EDT

All of the above is from years ago and has no basis in fact, if the POWNetwork was indeed guilty of any libel they could have been sued long ago and forced to shut down their website...as we all know in the Veteran community the Schantags do a good job of exposing liars and thiefs who make have made money by filing false claims with the VA. Look at Facebook ther are two or three pages that out phoney troops from all wars...people like to brag and make themselves heroes and when they get caught they scream bloody murder...well...if the POWNetwork is still there and you have been after them since 2006 it must be YOU who is lying either that or you have the dumbest lawyer on earth. Smoke that!

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anonymous_person
Boca Raton, US
Apr 18, 2011 5:11 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I have reported Chuck and Mary Schantag to the FBI for cyber bullying. I hope the internet does advance enough in the near future as to take care of these horrible people. Perhaps a class-action lawsuit?

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POW SLAYER
Branson, US
Jan 14, 2011 1:01 pm EST

all members of the military, past or present could be potential victims of harassment by Pow, who are vigilantes by any definition.
all members of the military, past or present could be potential victims of harassment by Pow, who are vigilantes by any definition.
all members of the military, past or present could be potential victims of harassment by Pow, who are vigilantes by any definition.
all members of the military, past or present could be potential victims of harassment by Pow, who are vigilantes by any definition.
all members of the military, past or present could be potential victims of harassment by Pow, who are vigilantes by any definition.
all members of the military, past or present could be potential victims of harassment by Pow, who are vigilantes by any definition.
all members of the military, past or present could be potential victims of harassment by Pow, who are vigilantes by any definition.
all members of the military, past or present could be potential victims of harassment by Pow, who are vigilantes by any definition.
all members of the military, past or present could be potential victims of harassment by Pow, who are vigilantes by any definition.
all members of the military, past or present could be potential victims of harassment by Pow, who are vigilantes by any definition.
all members of the military, past or present could be potential victims of harassment by Pow, who are vigilantes by any definition.
all members of the military, past or present could be potential victims of harassment by Pow, who are vigilantes by any definition.
all members of the military, past or present could be potential victims of harassment by Pow, who are vigilantes by any definition.
all members of the military, past or present could be potential victims of harassment by Pow, who are vigilantes by any definition.
all members of the military, past or present could be potential victims of harassment by Pow, who are vigilantes by any definition.
all members of the military, past or present could be potential victims of harassment by Pow, who are vigilantes by any definition.
Pete Sumaruck is the only person who has ever verbally fought the Powpeople vigorously. For that infraction, Powpeople have given him a special position on their website for his audacity to refuse to stand down. For additional punishment, the Powpeople sent one of their enforcers to the Sumaruck home town. Finally the stalker made his move, but a knuckle to the forehead easily took this menace down.

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POW SLAYER
Branson, US
Jan 14, 2011 12:58 pm EST

http://www.valorvultures.freewebpages.org/
http://www.valorvultures.freewebpages.org/
http://www.valorvultures.freewebpages.org/
http://www.valorvultures.freewebpages.org/
http://www.valorvultures.freewebpages.org/
http://www.valorvultures.freewebpages.org/
http://www.valorvultures.freewebpages.org/
http://www.valorvultures.freewebpages.org/
http://www.valorvultures.freewebpages.org/
http://www.valorvultures.freewebpages.org/
http://www.valorvultures.freewebpages.org/
http://www.valorvultures.freewebpages.org/
http://www.valorvultures.freewebpages.org/
http://www.valorvultures.freewebpages.org/
http://www.valorvultures.freewebpages.org/
http://www.valorvultures.freewebpages.org/
http://www.valorvultures.freewebpages.org/

Illegal Activities of Pownetwork

Pownetwork
Pownetwork
P.O.Box 68
Skidmore, MO [protected]
US
www.pownetwork.org

Vigilantism is Against the Law - http://law.jrank.org/pages/11129/Vigilantism.html Pownetwork of Skidmore, Missouri attempts to convince patriotic Americans that this country is threatened by an avalanche of veterans or supposed veterans who are cheating on retirement and health benefits from the military. Beware, these people are not law enforcement officers. Pownetwork has created a niche business to solicit donations to fund their illegal activities.

Exactly what are these people doing and not doing. The vigilantes in question come from the Pow network (or POWnetwork), which use the letters POW or Prisoner of War as buzzwords to attract attention. The group was started in 1989, when there were still some American POWs alive, still left behind in concentration camps in Southeast Asia. Did Pownetwork strive to lobby or personally organize efforts to gain the release of these prisoners? No they did not.

If not to help save the lives of American prisoners of wars, what then does Pownetwork do. They supposedly ferret out people - actually, men only - whom they suspect were either never in the military, or who claim to be more highly decorated than they legally deserve. For this, Pow people call these supposed miscreants, wannabes. The Pow aim is to discredit their suspects through articles and videos on the internet and on their Pow website. Note, they are referred to, here, as Pow and not POW, in an effort not to sully the reputation of Prisoners of War, from any war.

The Pownetwork is not affiliated with any branch of the United States Military, or any Federally franchised law enforcement organization. The Pow network group is self-appointed, and committed to activities which define them as vigilantes, organized for unlawful purposes which make their group a menace to the citizenry of this country. How does this menace present itself.

Pownetwork vigilantes, Mary and Chuck Schantag, Steve Robinson, and Larry Bailey, to include several volunteers, choose their intended victims from various sources. One is from newspaper obituary lists. If the obituary of the deceased mentions he had been a member of the military (and especially if awards and medals were described), the Powpeople investigate his military records. If the man does not show up on Pownetwork accessed data bases, they print their accusations on their website, pownetwork.org. and give the information to the military. Powpeople hope the embarrassed family will donate to their group, believing the miscreant name will be removed. What the family does not realize is that Pownetwork never removes a name, even if Pow is proven to be incorrect which is frequently the case.

Pownetwork claims that they are saving the government much money in undeserved health and retirement benefits. It has been suggested these illegal vigilantes receive compensation from the government as rewards for tips similar to information given to the IRS as finders fees.

These investigative activities might remind one of the East German Communist secret police, the Stasi, who during the Cold War encouraged neighbors to spy upon their own friends and family, a most insidious activity. See the movie, Lives of Others, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0405094/

Powpeople find their victims everywhere. Pow member, Steve Robinson tells of meeting a man on the highway who was having car trouble. After the man mentioned he had been in the military, Mr. Robinson investigated him.

Do these Pow people have anything else of interest going on in their lives; are they so bored with life, or so malicious, that they need to seek out or invent trouble. The names on the Pow lists number into the thousands so this is not merely a part-time hobby. They have created a niche business for themselves; this is the way the Schantag couple supports themselves, whereas, Robinson and Bailey are retired. It is a good thing to be self-employed, and develop a niche, but it is not a good thing when their group chosen activity infringes upon the constitutional rights of other citizens.

If a wife or girlfriend has suspicions about their mate and have relationship problems, they report him to the Powpeople, so these White knights can go into action. Larry Bailey is an avowed member of Free Republic, a white supremacist organization that advocates the overthrow of the US government. http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Larry_Bailey Also, Bailey is the original Swift Boater, so he is much experienced as an activist and mauler.

One of the things these vigilantes enjoy most is going out in mass (usually a group of 5 to 8 men for the purpose of intimidating their supposed victim. They set up a surveillance for an intervention, waiting for the right moment to accost their suspect (as was witnessed on one of their group videos). Members expressed pride in this altercation, when actually, it was embarrassing to watch - one wonders, where are the police when you need them for protection.

The usual intention of the Powpeople is to convince their suspects to confess that they are not as they represent themselves to be. Did their suspect lie about, or embellish accounts of his military service. Whether he did or did not, his name will forever remain on the Pow list of fallen miscreants. For Pows, is this the thrill of the chase for old men.

In another case, Powpeople incited their associates and followers to stalk an individual on the phone and on the internet by threatening to bring my buddies down to assault the victim in some alley. The individual, Peter Sumaruck, has hardcopies of these written threats. Fortunately he can defend himself. The following quote is from Larry Bailey to Mr. Sumaruck on Sept. 17, 2009 - I will track you to the ends of the Earth to ensure that you do not continue to perpetrate your scams, whether they are military or otherwise, per Mr. Bailey.

Sumaruck was a civilian contract combatant (taught by Navy SEALs) - in combat for nine and a half years, in the 1970s and 1980s. One of his friends gave him a SEAL Trident (emblem pin); Pete put it on a baseball cap and wore it proudly. That drove the Powpeople crazy - they just hate him - even though Pete never received any benefits from the Navy. The Navy did however ask Pete several times if he would like benefits; he always declined because he was outside of the regular Navy, and because he is independent by nature.

Pete Sumaruck is the only person who has ever verbally fought the Powpeople vigorously. For that infraction, Powpeople have given him a special position on their website for his audacity to refuse to stand down. For additional punishment, the Powpeople sent one of their enforcers to the Sumaruck home town. Finally the stalker made his move, but a knuckle to the forehead easily took this menace down.

This is what inevitably happens to all vigilantes; either the law gets them or a peaceful civilian defends himself. The vigilante insists upon using force until someone has the courage to take the bully down. Interestingly, the Navy knows where Mr. Sumaruck is; they could arrest him if they thought he was doing anything to harm the reputation of the military, but the Navy is fine with him.

These interventions by the Powpeople amount to stalking, intimidation and physical harassment; those are illegal activities.

All Americans are guaranteed certain rights: the right to a speedy trial by their accused and/or peers, by a legally appointed or elected judge, and/or jury. This is not happening for those attacked by Pownetwork, no day in court. This is a serious hazard; all members of the military, past or present could be potential victims of harassment by Pow, who are vigilantes by any definition.

Pow people go after others but they are the ones who are actually engaged in illegal activities.

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POW SLAYER
Branson, US
Jan 14, 2011 12:56 pm EST

Illegal Activities of Pownetwork

Pownetwork
Pownetwork
P.O.Box 68
Skidmore, MO [protected]
US
www.pownetwork.org

Vigilantism is Against the Law - http://law.jrank.org/pages/11129/Vigilantism.html Pownetwork of Skidmore, Missouri attempts to convince patriotic Americans that this country is threatened by an avalanche of veterans or supposed veterans who are cheating on retirement and health benefits from the military. Beware, these people are not law enforcement officers. Pownetwork has created a niche business to solicit donations to fund their illegal activities.

Exactly what are these people doing and not doing. The vigilantes in question come from the Pow network (or POWnetwork), which use the letters POW or Prisoner of War as buzzwords to attract attention. The group was started in 1989, when there were still some American POWs alive, still left behind in concentration camps in Southeast Asia. Did Pownetwork strive to lobby or personally organize efforts to gain the release of these prisoners? No they did not.

If not to help save the lives of American prisoners of wars, what then does Pownetwork do. They supposedly ferret out people - actually, men only - whom they suspect were either never in the military, or who claim to be more highly decorated than they legally deserve. For this, Pow people call these supposed miscreants, wannabes. The Pow aim is to discredit their suspects through articles and videos on the internet and on their Pow website. Note, they are referred to, here, as Pow and not POW, in an effort not to sully the reputation of Prisoners of War, from any war.

The Pownetwork is not affiliated with any branch of the United States Military, or any Federally franchised law enforcement organization. The Pow network group is self-appointed, and committed to activities which define them as vigilantes, organized for unlawful purposes which make their group a menace to the citizenry of this country. How does this menace present itself.

Pownetwork vigilantes, Mary and Chuck Schantag, Steve Robinson, and Larry Bailey, to include several volunteers, choose their intended victims from various sources. One is from newspaper obituary lists. If the obituary of the deceased mentions he had been a member of the military (and especially if awards and medals were described), the Powpeople investigate his military records. If the man does not show up on Pownetwork accessed data bases, they print their accusations on their website, pownetwork.org. and give the information to the military. Powpeople hope the embarrassed family will donate to their group, believing the miscreant name will be removed. What the family does not realize is that Pownetwork never removes a name, even if Pow is proven to be incorrect which is frequently the case.

Pownetwork claims that they are saving the government much money in undeserved health and retirement benefits. It has been suggested these illegal vigilantes receive compensation from the government as rewards for tips similar to information given to the IRS as finders fees.

These investigative activities might remind one of the East German Communist secret police, the Stasi, who during the Cold War encouraged neighbors to spy upon their own friends and family, a most insidious activity. See the movie, Lives of Others, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0405094/

Powpeople find their victims everywhere. Pow member, Steve Robinson tells of meeting a man on the highway who was having car trouble. After the man mentioned he had been in the military, Mr. Robinson investigated him.

Do these Pow people have anything else of interest going on in their lives; are they so bored with life, or so malicious, that they need to seek out or invent trouble. The names on the Pow lists number into the thousands so this is not merely a part-time hobby. They have created a niche business for themselves; this is the way the Schantag couple supports themselves, whereas, Robinson and Bailey are retired. It is a good thing to be self-employed, and develop a niche, but it is not a good thing when their group chosen activity infringes upon the constitutional rights of other citizens.

If a wife or girlfriend has suspicions about their mate and have relationship problems, they report him to the Powpeople, so these White knights can go into action. Larry Bailey is an avowed member of Free Republic, a white supremacist organization that advocates the overthrow of the US government. http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Larry_Bailey Also, Bailey is the original Swift Boater, so he is much experienced as an activist and mauler.

One of the things these vigilantes enjoy most is going out in mass (usually a group of 5 to 8 men for the purpose of intimidating their supposed victim. They set up a surveillance for an intervention, waiting for the right moment to accost their suspect (as was witnessed on one of their group videos). Members expressed pride in this altercation, when actually, it was embarrassing to watch - one wonders, where are the police when you need them for protection.

The usual intention of the Powpeople is to convince their suspects to confess that they are not as they represent themselves to be. Did their suspect lie about, or embellish accounts of his military service. Whether he did or did not, his name will forever remain on the Pow list of fallen miscreants. For Pows, is this the thrill of the chase for old men.

In another case, Powpeople incited their associates and followers to stalk an individual on the phone and on the internet by threatening to bring my buddies down to assault the victim in some alley. The individual, Peter Sumaruck, has hardcopies of these written threats. Fortunately he can defend himself. The following quote is from Larry Bailey to Mr. Sumaruck on Sept. 17, 2009 - I will track you to the ends of the Earth to ensure that you do not continue to perpetrate your scams, whether they are military or otherwise, per Mr. Bailey.

Sumaruck was a civilian contract combatant (taught by Navy SEALs) - in combat for nine and a half years, in the 1970s and 1980s. One of his friends gave him a SEAL Trident (emblem pin); Pete put it on a baseball cap and wore it proudly. That drove the Powpeople crazy - they just hate him - even though Pete never received any benefits from the Navy. The Navy did however ask Pete several times if he would like benefits; he always declined because he was outside of the regular Navy, and because he is independent by nature.

Pete Sumaruck is the only person who has ever verbally fought the Powpeople vigorously. For that infraction, Powpeople have given him a special position on their website for his audacity to refuse to stand down. For additional punishment, the Powpeople sent one of their enforcers to the Sumaruck home town. Finally the stalker made his move, but a knuckle to the forehead easily took this menace down.

This is what inevitably happens to all vigilantes; either the law gets them or a peaceful civilian defends himself. The vigilante insists upon using force until someone has the courage to take the bully down. Interestingly, the Navy knows where Mr. Sumaruck is; they could arrest him if they thought he was doing anything to harm the reputation of the military, but the Navy is fine with him.

These interventions by the Powpeople amount to stalking, intimidation and physical harassment; those are illegal activities.

All Americans are guaranteed certain rights: the right to a speedy trial by their accused and/or peers, by a legally appointed or elected judge, and/or jury. This is not happening for those attacked by Pownetwork, no day in court. This is a serious hazard; all members of the military, past or present could be potential victims of harassment by Pow, who are vigilantes by any definition.

Pow people go after others but they are the ones who are actually engaged in illegal activities.
From: Message Author (click here to email author) (has asked not to receive email)
Date: Saturday, 18-Dec-10 13:45:29 CST

Business: Reply Online Consumer: Comment On This
Comment On This

I too have been attacked by pownetwork. They posted information concerning me and jeopardized the safety of myself and my family. All the information that is posted on pownetwork about me is false. I do not know where or how Chuck & Mary Schantag picked me out. I do know that they wanted a donation to remove the posting. (EXTORTION)... pownetwork is made of all small town, rural, uneducated people.

I will consider a federal action to appear on pownetwork concerning their activities.(IRS) pownetwork has no value, the owners have no money, and they are involved in several litigation's at this moment. I feel sorry for them and wish them to cease their activities. Friends, associates and family members all questioned my service and validity because of pownetwork. I can only say that my service with the U.S. Military was secret and covert. Yet - pownetwork found me and is still trying to extort me. If you too have been subjected to pownetwork - leave a comment and somehow we will all have an opportunity to speak.
From: Message Author (click here to email author)
Date: Sunday, 09-Jan-11 08:38:49 CST

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waynependejo
Tampa, US
Oct 31, 2010 10:44 am EDT

I thought POWNETWORK.ORG WAS OPERATED BY 2 INBREDS(CHUCK AND MARY)WHO ARE MARRIED(BROTHER AND SISTER)
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001785128734

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waynependejo
Tampa, US
Oct 31, 2010 10:42 am EDT

I thought POWNETWORK WAS RUN BY TWO INBREDS(CHUCK AND MARY SHANGTAG ) WHO ARE MARRIED TO EACH OTHER
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001785128734

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Michael Sparks
, US
Aug 12, 2010 4:51 pm EDT

pownetwork.org

http://www.valorvultures.freewebpages.org/
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Michael Sparks
, US
Aug 12, 2010 4:50 pm EDT

Mary

POW has no respect - you suck. Would you like a donation? You have no life with your fat slob husband Chuck.
I have an idea - How about a real job?

POW NETWORK = VALOR VULTURES

Now there's the truth!

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vets4vets
Cincinnati, US
Aug 11, 2010 10:52 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

On May 2nd of this year, one day before the infamous VA laptop was reported stolen; veteran’s rights advocates Beery and Simes filed a formal complaint with the Department of Veterans Affair, Office of Inspector General (VAOIG). Beery and Simes suspected Chuck and Mary Schantag, owners on the WWW.POWNETWORK.ORG were illegally accessing their personal information from the VA. Jere Beery provided the VAOIG with emails sent from the Schantags claiming they had ‘friends’ within the VAOIG that would sift through records and provide them with any information they requested. In one email, associate of the Schantags, Diane ‘AKA Gunny Di’ Weller claimed the group had already captured Jere Beery’s Social Security number. Weller also stated that the official records the Schantags receive would contain all information and that nothing would be blacked out. Publicly, the Schantags stated they receive all of their information through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Privately, they boast they could get any military or VA records on anyone through their friends within the VA.

The event that started this entire story was when Jere Beery learned he was under unauthorized investigation by Chuck and Mary Schantag of POW Network. The questionable investigation came about when Diane Weller publicly accused Beery of falsifying his military service record and embellishing his DD214. Gene Simes was also targeted for a similar shake down by the group.

POWNETWORK.ORG are VALOR VULTURES; they exploit the sick, demented desire of many Americans--particularly some veterans who are overly in love with themselves (narcissism)--to find someone "pretending to be a Soldier" to bully and humiliate them without any due process of law--by themselves of course; as a vigilante group--so if no due diligence is done to find the facts and they just happen to falsely accuse a veteran of being "phony", they themselves will not serve prison terms for false accusations. When the Valor Vultures are forced into admitting they are wrong, they take the web page down and never apologize for their disgusting Nazi-like crimes.

Sadly, I am not alone; I know of so far 6 other veterans who have been wrongly defamed by POWNETWORK.ORG; one of them, veteran Jere Beery well-intentionally placed his DD-214 report of his military service on the internet hoping to prove his background--only to have it used as a veritable Pandora's Box from which Valor Vultures nit-picked it to try to find offense--and failing that--make-up ones to harp on so they could have a convenient public victim to feed their racket.

They whine about "Stolen Valor"--when this is exactly what they themselves do against actual veterans--particularly vulnerable ones suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) who are not ready to play "Junior Lawyer" in order to defend themselves from their harassment--which is why the Schantags are VALOR VULTURES.

POWNETWORK.ORG, a tax-evading, criminal scam corporation run from Skidmore, Missouri by Chuck and Mary Schantag have posted an illegal, defamatory web page accusing me of somehow being a "phony"--which shows they have a reckless disregard for the truth and facts.

In my case, an unbalanced nut job--Sean Patrick Kraft who goes on 66-day hunger strikes and posts videos on how to build illegal machine guns began to cyberstalk me by calling my Air-Mech-Strike: Asymmetric Maneuver Warfare for the 21st Century co-author retired LTC Richard Liebert to try to ascertain my home address.

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Rick Townsend
, US
Aug 10, 2010 11:37 pm EDT

Before the Department of Veterans Affairs lost its first laptop computer, combat Vietnam veterans, Jere Beery and Gene Simes were already concerned with personal data security within the Cabinet Level Agency.

The event that started this entire story was when Jere Beery learned he was under unauthorized investigation by Chuck and Mary Schantag of POW Network. The questionable investigation came about when Diane Weller publicly accused Beery of falsifying his military service record and embellishing his DD214. Gene Simes was also targeted for a similar shake down by the group.

According to Beery and Simes, they never had any objection to anyone verifying their military service under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The problem began when the Schantags suggested they had inside help within the VA that would provide the two men's Social Security numbers and medical records.
http://www.valorvultures.freewebpages.org/
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On May 2nd of this year, one day before the infamous VA laptop was reported stolen; veteran's rights advocates Beery and Simes filed a formal complaint with the Department of Veterans Affair, Office of Inspector General (VAOIG). Beery and Simes suspected Chuck and Mary Schantag, owners on the WWW.POWNETWORK.ORG were illegally accessing their personal information from the VA. Jere Beery provided the VAOIG with emails sent from the Schantags claiming they had "friends" within the VAOIG that would sift through records and provide them with any information they requested. In one email, associate of the Schantags, Diane 'AKA Gunny Di' Weller claimed the group had already captured Jere Beery's Social Security number. Weller also stated that the official records the Schantags receive would contain all information and that nothing would be blacked out. Publicly, the Schantags stated they receive all of their information through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Privately, they boast they could get any military or VA records on anyone through their friends within the VA.

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Rick Townsend
, US
Aug 10, 2010 11:35 pm EDT

----- Original Message -----

From: P.O.W. Network - Chuck and Mary Schantag

To: dweller@rrbiznet.com

Sent: Sunday, April 30, 2006 3:00 PM

Subject: Re: Fw: berry

Hold off on ALL till we get records. Other facts don't match either with posted records - like the MOS.

Just try NOT to keep Beery in the loop on the investigation. Cannot afford to have some "friends" compromised as they search through files for the truth on this.

And we meet with the VA IG Friday...

Mary

Both Beery and Simes are convinced their privacy rights are being violated. They both stated they had no problems with someone verifying their military service and awards. But, they feel unauthorized access to their Social Security numbers and medical records are way-out-of-line.

Beery and Simes have contacted the POW Network and warned them if they acquire, distribute, or publish their personal information - both men will take extremely aggressive actions to shut down the POW Network and prosecute the people involved.

In a Firebase Network telephone interview with Jere Beery and Gene Simes, both men were extremely angered by this situation. "These people are attempting to acquire information they have no right to. And apparently, the DoD and VA are assisting them, " Beery said. "If the POW Network has to break the law in order to expose phony veterans, we don't need them, " he added.

Gene Simes said he resents the attacks on his character and exemplary military service in Vietnam. "These people are a disgrace and their overzealous attitude will be their down fall, " Simes said.

Jere Beery and Gene Simes are convinced many legitimate veterans have had their personal information compromised by the POW Network and other such groups. "The Inspector General offices for both the VA and DoD have been made aware of the situation. We expect a full investigation of who is leaking personal information on veterans from the DoD and VA to private organizations such as the POW Network", Simes stated. "This is nothing less than identity theft, " Beery added.

[NOTE: Jere Beery and Gene Simes are both highly decorated combat veterans with multiple tours of duty in Vietnam. Beery is the recipient of one Bronze Star w/combat V device (Awarded to him on behalf of President H.W. Bush in 1990), and three Purples Hearts. Simes also was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries incurred in combat.]

The following emails were supplied by Jere Beery.

Subj:

Re: Anti-Veteran ###s

Date:

4/30/2006 2:06:36 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time

From:

dweller@rrbiznet.com

To:

ArmyAntPlatoon@aol.com

Sent from the Internet (Details)

I will have it when the records come back. NOTHING is blanked out when I receive the records from Mary and Chuck.

----- Original Message -----

From: ArmyAntPlatoon@aol.com

To: dweller@rrbiznet.com

Sent: Sunday, April 30, 2006 1:19 PM

Subject: Re: Anti-Veteran ###s

if this pow network is for real, they can get his ss number. the question is will they give it to you. i don't know how good of friends you have, but i heard you say you were former law enforcement. you can't get it? you are the person leading this investigation.

Subj:

Re: Fw: Fw: Anti-Veteran ###s

Date:

4/29/2006 7:52:01 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time

From:

dweller@rrbiznet.com

To:

ArmyAntPlatoon@aol.com

Sent from the Internet (Details)

Already got it.

----- Original Message -----

From: ArmyAntPlatoon@aol.com

To: dweller@rrbiznet.com

Sent: Saturday, April 29, 2006 7:18 PM

Subject: Re: Fw: Fw: Anti-Veteran ###s

that would be cool if we could get his ss number off his military records. we could really check him out. TC they are an organization that have been doing it for eons. How, ..I don't know. their entire website is set up to PROVE the phonies.

www.pownetwork.org please, check it out. IT'S A GODSEND AND THEN SOME!

----- Original Message -----

From: ArmyAntPlatoon@aol.com

To: dweller@rrbiznet.com

Sent: Saturday, April 29, 2006 6:53 PM

Subject: Re: Fw: Fw: Anti-Veteran ###s

How can she get his military records without his consent? Isn't that an invasion of privacy?

This article appears in the May edition of THE VETERAN VOICE

POW Network Negatively Targeting PTSD Veterans

By; Jere Beery

Operation Firing For Effect

www.offe2008.org

When you finish this article you will be faced with a decision. You will either choose to ignore that this is going on, or you will help find a way to stop it.

One of the most common symptoms associated with combat related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is paranoia, the delusional fear that someone is out to get you. Recent revelations within the nation's veteran community seem to imply these fears are not all that imaginary.

The Veterans Administration was originally established as a 'non-adversarial' agency, and our veterans have always considered the VA as a 'sanctuary'. Those two words are at the root of this entire article. The VA was a place where a vet down on his luck could get a cup of coffee and a hot meal, or the place a sick vet could count on being treated and cared for without fear of ridicule or unwarranted scrutiny. The vet always knew he/she could find unconditional 'compassion', 'understanding', and 'prayer' within the walls of a VA facility. Any vet could walk through the doors of a VA and know they were safe and not in danger. Well, the VA has apparently changed their ideology and method of operation.

http://www.valorvultures.freewebpages.org/vvvvv
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There is currently a group of self-appointed "government agents" targeting veterans receiving disability compensation from the VA. Their objective is to locate and prosecute disabled veterans that are receiving VA disability compensation that they are not entitled to. Their main focus is on veterans with a PTSD rating. They claim that the VA healthcare system is being bilked dry by phony PTSD claims. However, they cannot provide data to support their outrageous accusations. They operate with the full support and cooperation of the VA Inspector General's office and other major law enforcement agencies. According to Chuck and Mary Schantag of Skidmore, Missouri and owners of the POW Network (www.pownetwork.org), they have friends within the VA and DoD that will provide them with any personal information on a veteran they are investigating. In a recent email forwarded to my office, Mary Schantag wrote; "YES we continue to turn phonies and frauds and goldiggers into the VA IG and the FBI and law enforcement on a daily basis with a great team and huge support". (Editor's Note: All misspelling, capitalization, and sentence structure are the results of a direct quote via email.) In another email, POW Network associate and group member Mr. Gary Assell of Montgomery, Illinois and owner of Viper's Web Page made this statement to justify their operations; "All disabled veterans are NOT the targets, only those who have obtained benefits through fraud and misrepresentation, which is punishable under Title 38 USC. It is a proven fact that veterans who have fraudulently received benefits or medical care through fraud or misrepresentation HAVE cost the VA millions of dollars".

This is not the first time we have heard of the POW Network and their questionable operations. Exactly one year ago, this same group harassed Mr. Gene Simes and myself and even boasted of acquiring our Social Security numbers without our consent. In an email exchange the Schantags made this statement; "We cannot afford to have some "friends" compromised as they search through files for the truth on this. And we meet with the VA IG Friday..." Mr. Simes and I filed a complaint with the VA Inspector General's office and a formal investigation was launched. The investigation concluded the Schantags committed no crime, the case was dropped, and they continue their questionable relationship as informants with the VA IG today. The most notable and curious fact about our first encounter with the POW Network was Mr. Simes and I called our complaint into the VA Inspector Generals Office on May 1, 2006. On May 3, 2006 the Department of Veterans Affairs "announced they had lost a computer containing personal information on 26.5 million veterans (including Social Security numbers)..."

R
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Rick Townsend
, US
Aug 10, 2010 11:31 pm EDT

POW Network under Investigation by

VA Inspector General

WWW.FIREBASENETWORK.NET
By Staff Writer: Rick Townsend
firebaseadrian@tc3net.com

June 29, 2006

According to recently released documents Chuck and Mary Schantag of the POW Network, (www.pownetwork.org) are under investigation by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Veterans Rights advocate Jere Beery has received confirmation from the VA Inspector General’s office that a case number had been assigned to the investigation and that their findings would be forthcoming.

The POW Network WWW.POWNetwork.ORG is a registered 501-3 corporation operated by Chuck and Mary Schantag of Skidmore MO, and has been in existence for over 16 years. The organization claims to be involved in the accounting of prisoners of war and missing in action from the Vietnam War. Their web banner states: “Since 11/11/89, dedicated to information distribution on our Prisoners of War and Missing in Action Servicemen”. However, in recent years they appear to have branched-out into other areas and expanded their mission. The Schantags now claim to be ‘investigators’ for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Last month the Schantags claimed they met with the VA Inspector General to turn over information on five veterans they suspected were receiving veteran’s benefits that they were not entitled to. In addition, the Schantags have claimed to have ‘friends’ within the VA IG’s office they fear compromising.

The current VA investigation of the POW Network is the direct result of a formal complaint filed with the VA IG on May 2, 2006 by Vietnam combat veterans Jere Beery and Gene Simes. Both men feared their personal information and confidential medical records were being accessed by unauthorized persons, specifically Chuck and Mary Schantag of the POW Network. In a series of emails from the Shantags they stated they had ‘friends’ in the VA that would sift through military and VA records and provide them with personal information on anyone they requested, and that they did not want to compromise these ‘friend’s’ identity.

The POW Network web site maintains an active list on hundreds of veterans ‘they’ say are frauds. They call this area on their site, “Phonies & Wannabees”, and its intent is to publicly humiliate and dishonor individuals they have declared guilty of some infraction. Photographs and personal information on these individuals appears on their site as well. It is important to realize the vast majority of these veterans have not had the benefit of the legal process to prove their innocence in a court of law. In fact, most of the veterans listed have committed no crime at all. In some cases, a mere internet chat room war story has launched a full investigation by the POW Network of a veteran’s service records because a certain individual was questionable, they would ask the Schantags to do their investigation.

Several years ago Jere Beery posted a copy of his DD214 & DD215 on his web site for public viewing. As a veteran’s advocate Beery felt compelled to verify his service publicly. Several months ago, Air Force veteran, Ms. Diane Weller, (aka: ‘Gunny Di’) took issue with two entries obviously added to Beery’s DD214 and that the posted copy was not certified. According to Jere Beery, he did in fact add two corrections to his DD214, but the correct information he added was not misleading or embellished. The real injustice here appears to be Jere Beery’s original DD214. His discharge paper doesn’t come close to reflecting his service in Vietnam. Even with three separate DD215s, all of the corrections have yet to be made.

In early May of this year, Diane Weller contacted Chuck and Mary Schantags of the POW Network and asked them to investigate Jere Beery’s military records and report back to her on what they discovered. Weller was publicly accusing Beery of lying, embellishing, and altering his military service record. Evidently, the Schantags had provided this investigative service for Ms. Weller in the past. Three weeks ago, the Schantag’s released 18 pages of Jere Beery’s military documents which do appear to have come from the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, MO. However, they are not certified either. But, the documents do confirm the two corrections Beery added to his DD214 were 100% accurate. The Schantags also sent Beery’s 18 pages of service records to a number of individuals that had requested to see them.

Gene Simes just received 6 pages of his military records from Diane Weller which were provided to her by the Schantags. “My personal information was blacked-out on the documents, but I don’t know if this information was blacked-out before, or after the Schantags received it, ” Simes stated. “The point is, these people have received my military records which I did not authorize for release, ” Simes said.

Jere Beery says he has been contacted by several other veterans complaining of similar shake-downs by the POW Network. According to one veteran, his Social Security number was stolen by factions associated with the POW Network and eventually led to identity theft and thousands of dollars of unauthorized charges in his name. In another case, a veteran had a pending law suit against the Schantags for defamation and invasion of privacy, but the case was dismissed in January of this year because the veteran died before justice was served.

Gene Simes has reservations about the current VA IG investigation into the operations of the POW Network. In a FBN telephone interview Simes compared the VA investigation to ‘the fox guarding the hen house’. “I don’t put a great deal of confidence in the VA investigating itself. If the Schantags really do have ‘friends’ in the VA IG office, I expect very little to happen. The only way the VA IG could conduct a proper investigation of this matter is to review every single person listed on the POW Network’s web site to see how the Schantags got their information. I don’t see the VA IG doing that, ” Simes stated.

Jere Beery is more optimistic about the VA IG investigation. “Protection of veteran’s personal information is a very hot and sensitive topic right now. I expect this investigation to change the way these organizations get their information in the future. It appears to me that these people are using the sacred POW/MIA issue as a front for more sinister reasons, ” Beery said. “In view of recent catastrophic failures with the security of veteran’s personal information, the last thing the veterans of this country need is some mom & pop ‘Columbo team’ with ‘friends’ in the government they don’t want compromised, ” Beery concluded.

Jere Beery says he has contacted the Schantags by email several times requesting that they release a public statement clarifying their findings. Diane ‘Gunny Di’ Weller still contends the Schantags have proven Jere Beery to be a liar and fraud. However, to date, the Schantags have refused to publicly comment on this matter.

The FBN will continue to follow this developing story.

Please submit all comments and questions to: Rick Townsend - firebaseadrian@tc3net.com

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mike sparks
, US
Aug 08, 2010 4:59 pm EDT

HERE'S MORE ON THESE DIRTBAGS

Site Profile
Estimate Value: $4, 790.67 USD
Estimate Daily Revenue: $6.52 USD
Estimate Daily Pageviews: 2, 879
Alexa Rank: #521, 528
Google Pagerank: 6/10
Google Index: show google links
Yahoo Index: show yahoo links
History: show history
Site Title: P.O.W. Network

Site Server
Server IP Address: 209.237.150.20
Server IP Decimal: -[protected]
Server IP Location: Pordenone, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy

PLEASE EVERYONE CONTACT THE IRS NOW. THEIR SERVER IS LOCATED IN EUROPE AND CAN NOT LEGALLY ACCEPT MONIES FOR CHARITY.
CONTACT THE IRS NOW AND REPORT THIS SCAM AND FRAUD CHARITY.
USE THIS INFORMATION TO STOP THESE ### SKIDS FROM MO.

CONTACT THE IRS.GOV AND REPORT THESE DIRTBAGS!

M
M
mike sparks
, US
Aug 08, 2010 2:04 pm EDT

MARY SCHANTAG IS A FAT ###. UGLY ### FROM ### SKID. LOSE WEIGHT SOON BECAUSE IN PRISON THEY WON'T FEED YOU ALL THE RIBS AND CHICKEN YOU EAT NOW!
DROP THE BEER TOO.

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mike sparks
, US
Aug 08, 2010 2:02 pm EDT

BYE BYE ### SKID TWINS

M
M
mike sparks
, US
Aug 08, 2010 2:01 pm EDT

oh - before I forget - the ### twins from skidmore are looking for money now to help with the lawsuit from NJ. It's too bad for the ### skids - this time you ###ed with someone who works for the Congress.

now - since neither of you filed any tax records for the last ten years, I guess it will be proven that you extort money to survive.

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mike sparks
, US
Aug 08, 2010 1:58 pm EDT

You know I find it extremely interesting that these smucks have placed me on their website since I neither claim nor desire to claim VA bennefits as a result of my service to my country. Nor do I lay claim to suffering from PTSD.

I can tell you that they are committing fraud, practicing extortion, and blackmail, and making threats and claims they cannot substanciate nor are capable of proving. They accuse us of lying yet they do it constantly. An example of this is that they demanded my Social Secuirty number, and then turned around and said that it wasn't mine that it belonged to some woman who lived in ABQ, NM by the name of Valerie Tait-English. As it happens I am married to Valerie Tait-English and she's never lived in ABQ, NM.

They then demanded that I produce a witness that could verify my service in Vietnam. I did along with his DD214. They came back almost immediately and said that he never served in 5th Group and that his job was as a cook. Well, that was his primary MOS, but not his secondary, and cooks or men who never served in Vietnam don't recieve the Order of the Lion with Palms from the Republic of Vietnam government which clearly was stated on his DD214.

So tell me...who are the liars and the frauds here? They started all of this crap based on a book entitled "Stolen Valor" by a guy who claims to remember everyman who served with the groups in Vietnam. Now they are even going back as far as the Korean War...Jesus! Who the F--K do they think they are?

_________________
When all else fails...pull the pin and run like hell!

his POWNETWORK is such a fraud. We have been busy this summer with some major surgery issues, but I am back on the case guys. It took forever to get some feedback on military records. At first they thought my 58 yr. old hubby was active in Iraq. Give me a break. Then we applied again for records and finally they found them. However, we got a new copy of the DD214 with the seal of the national archives on it. I still want more information from them before going to court, which is what we will do. I can't believe when so much has been released after all these years that the government won't release the names of his campaigns he was in. Instead they are called "unknown campaign". Due to the nature of the work he did in Nam we have not played the name game the pownetwork will do with you if you keep emailing them. No matter what I have sent them they will turn my words around and come back with some crazy claims. I think THEY need to be reported for stolen valor, defamation of character, and investigated from the IRS. I am extremely angered by them. This all started for me from an irrate step-child that wanted revenge. Like you said Gone, they do not checkout their claims. They do seem they are into extortion and fraud. They are very frustrating Bill.

Old Goa

_________________
Honesty is NOT a lost virtue.

If you are fed up with the POWNETWORK.ORG ###, email me at dynmicpara@aol.com so we can put an end to their crimes.

The liars there are libeling me and it's time that justice be done.

Airborne!

Mike Sparks