Fr. Corapi Under Attack
A friend of mine recently told me that Fr. Corapi’s credibility is being questioned by an organization called P.O.W. Network. What is at question is his military service.
This website claims that Fr. Corapi has presented himself as a former Green Beret who had served in Vietnam. They link to his DD-214Freedom of Information Act released records (a document every service member receives when separating from active duty which summarizes his service) which, in fact, does not show that he ever received Special Forces training, served in any SF units, or that he served in Vietnam. Assuming no errors were made in documenting his service (something that is very common) we will take it as given that Fr. Corapi did not ever earn the Green Beret and never made it into the Vietnam theater during his time in the Army.
The question remains, has Fr. Corapi ever made the claim that he served in Vietnam or that he wore the Green Beret? The P.O.W. Network says that he has. I might note that their website does not appear to me to have been professionally done and the quality of their claims seem to follow this same do-it-yourself pattern.
They begin to make their case with a “cut and paste” from Las Vegas Marian Center which makes the claim that Fr. Corapi had been a Green Beret. Then POWN follows this up with the claim that suddenly in August 2007 Fr. Corapi’s website was changed to remove all references to his having been a Green Beret and had served in Vietnam. Their proof that he changed the site. Well, I suppose it is the link to Fr. Corapi’s bio on his website. Sure enough, it doesn’t claim that he was a Green Beret or that he served in Vietnam.
So let’s see what we have so far. A website that Fr. Corapi apparently has nothing to do with makes a claim about him. We go over to his website and he doesn’t make that same claim. We have nothing documenting that his website ever did make that claim. I don’t know about you, but it seems to me that Fr. Corapi cannot be held responsible for what the Las Vegas Marian Center puts on their website. At this point, I am not impressed.
POWN then provides links to a variety of websites, some saying that he was a Green Beret and two saying that his hopes of becoming a Green Beret serving in Vietnam “dissolved” after a helicopter accident. I am not sure if they read these posts very closely because this would appear to me to be testimony that is in conflict with their claims.
It doesn’t take a trained detective to suspect that those quotations with the additional details (about the helicopter accident) which say that his hopes of becoming a Green Beret were never realized might merit further investigation. They clearly indicate that he did not say he earned the Green Beret and one seems to indicate that he says he never went to Vietnam. I still do not see that they have any case . . . except perhaps, that they may be guilty of libel.
But not to fear; there is more. They have posted two e-mails from a stellar . . . errr cosmic might be a better term “detective.” He is a certain Don Bendell. A quick perusal of Mr. Bendell’s website gives some illuminating and relevant insight into his personality I think. These suspicions I believe can be confirmed from his rather surprising ramblings when asked to produce evidence of his claims in this e-mail exchange with my friend (as with all e-mail trails, read from the bottom up). His attacks on a Desert Storm veteran and the Catholic Church for nothing more than that veteran’s request for primary source documentation of their claims says all I need to hear to make up my mind. Ad hominem is often the first line of defense for those who have been caught a bit short in the intellectual department. Nevertheless, I will let you decide about this for yourselves. It appears to me that this Bendell character is the source of P.O.W. Network’s interest? As with the latter, the former is large on accusations but short on evidence.
I have looked over the evidence that these activists have provided and I have to say that at this point it is clear to me that some good Catholics have believed that Fr. Corapi has said that he was a Green Beret and served in Vietnam. However, I have not seen from Fr. Corapi’s himself any words that would justify this belief. Further, I do not know if any of these good Catholics would have had the background to make the proper distinctions that it seems to me, Fr. Corapi may have been making.
What I mean is that it is possible for Fr. Corapi to have made reference to training that he, and every soldier, underwent during basic training and subsequent advanced individual training that all infantrymen received as preparing him for his plans to become a Green Beret. Fr. Corapi has said that he was enlisted under a contract guaranteeing him a slot in Special Forces training. As such, he could legitimately have said that his initial training was preparing him for Special Forces (Green Beret’s) school. This would be valid even though he was injured and disqualified prior to such an assignment proper. Again, saying that he served in the Army during the Vietnam War does not mean to suggest that he went to Vietnam. It locates the service in time; not geographically.
In the absence of evidence and the good possibility that the manifold erroneous biographies are due to the propagation of perhaps one or two people’s mistaken understanding of Fr. Corapi’s biography, it is necessary to give Fr. Corapi the benefit of the doubt. If anyone has any direct evidence to the contrary (transcripts, recordings, published quotations, etc. of Fr. Corapi’s exact words), please provide such.
By the way, many have heard that Fr. Corapi is no longer traveling because of some unidentified ailment that his doctors have not yet been able to identify. Please keep him in your prayers.
Erratum: I erroneously referred to the document providing Fr. Corapi’s service history as a DD-214. The information was actually a summary of his records on a National Archives form (NA 13164) along with his assignment history apparently directly from his personnel file.
Update: The POW Network’s claim above that Fr. Corapi “suddenly” changed his website in August 2007 after having been confronted can be seen to be patently false. They imply by this that it previously had referred to him as a “Green Beret soldier.” The Wayback Machine has this page of Fr. Corapi’s website back as early as September 2005 and this is what it says of him: “From small town boy to the Vietnam era US Army, from millionaire businessman in Las Vegas and Hollywood to drug addicted and homeless, to religious life and ordination to the priesthood by Pope John Paul II, to a life as a preacher of the Gospel who has reached millions with the simple message that God’s Name is Mercy!” (Underline added). The more we check into the POW Network and their SF investigator the more we find that they make unfounded accusations following incompetent investigators apparently motivated by a precommitment of the guilt of their target.
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FYI, I checked Fr. Corapi’s bio/CV using the Wayback Machine Internet archive and there are only a couple of references to his military service. In November 2005 (the earliest the archives go) his bio refers to simply his participation in the “Vietnam era US Army” and doesn’t change. There’s no mention of his Army service in any of his CV data, from 2005-2007 (the latest the archives go).
That being said, I do recall him discussing being in a helicopter crash while in the Army and referring to the Green Berets during one of his talks, I think one of his conversion stories. Perhaps someone with one of those CDs can listen to it and give the direct quote.
Comment by +veritas+ — May 18, 2008 @ 10:24 PM
Hello,
Fr. Corapi is one of many who has embellished on his service. The biggest offenders are individuals that served who have low self esteem and want to be more than they were. They want to be some body.
We have Corapi in video wearing an SF Medal and making a statement relevant to it. We also have a long tape where he was introduced as such ( and never corrected ) then went on to tell of his “specialized training”. After he was confronted he changed the bio on his page but if you do a web search Fr. John Corapi, Green Beret.. you will be reading for some time.
He was busted by a REAL DEAL Green Beret whom “Father John” refuses to speak with. We may be seeking his prosecution under The Stolen Valor Act of 2005.
There will be a website up shortly with the video’s and audio that confirms he made the claim.
Comment by Joe — May 18, 2008 @ 11:11 PM
PS: The PoW Network ( despite the condition of the web site they have ) is one of the most professional groups you will meet. Mary is also secretary for NAM PoW’s those who were held captive during the Vietnam War and is held in high esteem by those who served in all branches and SF Specialties for protecting the honor they earned that people like corapi Steal. Stolen Honor: Wound That Never Heal
The only ones who despise the PoW Network are wannabe’s and their enablers. Now please tell me what animus PoW Network would have to pick Corapi out of billions of people they don’t know, zero in on him just to tarnish his glowing armor?
NONE! If he didn’t make the claim, he wouldn’t be listed. When he is man enough to apologize and to start correcting some of the sites and good catholics on the web who believed his hallucinations about Green Beret, he will be removed.
Comment by Joe — May 18, 2008 @ 11:19 PM
The Man who busted Corapi… he also has two sons who are Green Beret and serving in Harms Way as we type this.
My Own Iraq Study Group
by Don Bendell
This morning, my wife started crying when we listened to the long-awaited findings of the Iraq Study Group. She said, “Just great! We have two sons in harm’s way, and they have a bunch of gray-haired old geezers with political agendas trying to influence how they will fight in this war, and none of them have a clue how to fight or win!”
For some time now, I have been conducting my own Iraq Study Group, but I asked fellow Green Berets and former Green Berets working for the CIA who have lived with the Iraqi and the Afghani people, men of the US Army Special Forces, the highest trained military unit in the world, who are experienced at training people to fight their own battles. WE DO NOT NEED AN IRAQ STUDY GROUP. We need to use the resources we already have and do things right, and we will most definitely win in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Based on my Iraq Study Group, this is how we should prosecute and will win the war:
Tariq and Abdullah ran through the alleyway between the rows of high buildings in Baghdad not far from the Green Zone. One carried the baseplate for the 60MM mortar and the other, the mortar itself. They each carried an HE (high explosive ) round in their backpack. Tariq also carried a dead cat, with a high explosive IED inside. He carefully placed the cat’s body on a crate, making it look like the critter might be napping, and close to eye-level on a vehicle. Then he stretched a trip wire across the alleyway and tied it off to a pipe. Moving away from the wire, and while Bayid, their friend, waited two blocks away in his multi-colored Nissan taxi with the engine running, they set up the baseplate, aimed it like they had practiced over and over, and quickly fired both rounds in rapid succession towards the armored cavalry headquarters located behind the high walls of an old presidential palace. Before the deadly rounds even hit, killing one American and wounding two more, the insurgents ran as fast as they could to the waiting car and sped to another part of town. Soldiers investigating shortly after would suffer two more wounded from the dead cat IED. The attackers knew that their friend, Ayoob, who worked as an interpreter for an NBC News crews in the Green Zone would tell them later what kind of damage the two mortar rounds and the IED had caused.
The story and names are fictional but the strategy is very real, but easy to overcome. One major solution is to move all military headquarters out of the cities and into the desert, so that insurgents firing mortars or rockets at the US military have to come at least one mile out of a town and expose themselves to fire their weapons. Then, we can pinpoint and eliminate them. Now the way it is, they have numerous concrete and glass caves and asphalt labyrinths to easily move through and hide in. Many Iraqi citizens are paid the equivalent of $ 20 US per month to act as lookouts or to simply look the other way as insurgents move through their neighborhoods.
The other solution to this scenario is also common sense. By far and away, the largest percentage of our soldiers who are killed or wounded are the victims of IED’s, Improvised Explosive Devices. We were supposed to learn from the lessons of Vietnam, but we have not. The Vietnam War proved to us that the helicopter is a very useful tool. It is time to park and significantly limit all the wheeled and tracked vehicles and start using helicopters more. Additionally, Apache attack helicopters should accompany every major troop vehicle movement. That also makes attackers more exposed to our fire.
In another fictional, but very typical anecdote, Special Forces Sergeant First Class Jones, serving in Basrah as a team weapons sergeant, had worked with one neighborhood in particular and was really getting to know the citizenry who were starting to trust him and were bringing him intelligence on a steady basis. It also helped that he and his teammates dressed like Iraqis and spent money in the struggling stores in the neighborhood. One of those stores was owned by Muhammad who supported his family of 7 and his late-brother’s family of 5 and all lived in the same little house. He was a Sunni and his brother had been beaten and set on fire by Shiites. The A-Detachment members realized that the Sunnis and Shias have been killing each other for centuries, so they befriended both groups separately, learned how to interact with both, and did not ever try to force them to act like good friends.
Then a new conventional armored US Army unit came into the neighborhood. Seeing the shabbily-dressed Green Berets, the commanding officer called the team commander, a young handsome West Pointer, in to his office.
He said, “Captain, your unit is working OPCON to mine (Under Operational Control) and your men do not look like soldiers. They are to wear proper battledress from now and will be clean-shaven with haircuts that are high and tight. The ABC reporter we have imbedded with us could not believe it when I told him your men are Green Berets.”
The captain argued with the colonel for five minutes to no avail. Then later that week, when Muhammad was ready to leave for work to support the 13 in his household, the armored unit got a report of insurgents in the neighborhood. They immediately sent two Abrams tanks to the opposite corners of the walled neighborhood, while a ground force worked its way towards them. The two tanks churned up the asphalt in the road, so Muhammad could not get his flimsy car to even drive down his own street to go to his own store. The long barrel on one of the main battle tanks, while the turret swiveled around, totally demolished the privacy wall built by Muhammad’s second cousin behind his house.
Then, Muhammad and his two teen-aged sons, who were working to help support the large brood as Iraqi police officers on graveyard shift, as well as all other IAAM’s, (Iraqi Army-Aged Males) were rounded up and herded into the playground of the local school. The men understood this, but their little children did not when they were taken from their homes like prisoners. Then the US Army conventional unit spent the entire day thoroughly checking the ID’s of each of the men from the large neighborhood. The men understood that was necessary to find insurgents even though it took money from their pockets making them miss work. What the men did not understand though, was as the weeks went on, this became a continuous process and the same men were repeatedly checked for proper identification papers, detained all day, and questioned.
On top of that, the team commander got a call from his B-team commanding officer located in an air-conditioned office in the Green Zone. The Lieutenant Colonel chewed out the captain for not conforming to the rules set down by the Basrah commander. The captain argued his case, which fell on deaf ears, as the lieutenant colonel had just gotten an earful from a Marine general in charge of that part of the country.
The solutions to these scenarios are also common sense and simple to execute. We spend millions of dollars to qualify and train each Special Forces operator (Green Beret). They are very well-trained to conduct a counterinsurgency war, plus are trained in direct action missions, as well as civil affairs and psychological operations. FOLLOW THEIR LEAD. Do not make them serve OPCON, or under operational control to a conventional unit that is not trained in counter-insurgency warfare. The entire country of Iraq should be divided up with an appropriate number of Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha, or A-Teams, who live and work with the civilian populace. Conventional commanders should report to them, not vice versa.
Instead, use conventional forces as a Quick Reaction Force in the same way that the 5th Special Forces Group used Mobile Strike Forces in Vietnam. If one town or area gets “hot,” the Quick Reaction Force for that area comes in immediately to reinforce whoever is already there fighting. The Conventional Force is also used for specialized joint operations where intelligence indicates a major enemy target.
The US Army Special Forces proved their worth in Vietnam and ever since. They are not on trial, but are still wearing shackles and handcuffs. If you want to win the war, let our very best warriors lead the way. They have been the American military’s quietly professional stuntmen, for decades, but now they need to be the stars of the show. If you do that, you will not need to train more trainers, just deploy more Special Forces operators. That is what they are trained for. And DO NOT micromanage the war from Washington, MacDill AFB, or Fort Bragg. The commander on the ground must be trusted to perform his job, who sees what is going on around him and knows what is best at the time, not a Chairborne Ranger in headquarters miles or continents away. One of the best ways for him to see what is going on and control enemy movement in the cities, day and night, sniper teams need to be deployed on many, many more rooftops, especially with the “reach out and touch someone” long range .50 cailber Barret sniper rifle. Snipers in Iraq and Afghanistan have proven their worth.
It is frequently mentioned that Usama bin Laden has become a non-factor in the Global War on Terrorism. No, I am sorry, he is not. He and al-Zawahiri are heroes to the jihadists who are totally bent on our demise. One of the most important psychological aspects to winning a war is the live action game of Capture the Flag. The “flag” in this war has two banners: Usama bin Laden and al-Zawahiri. Both must be found and taken out, period. They have both sworn not to be taken alive. So let us happily give them their wish. They do not need to be in prison cells, waiting for their day in court, so we can prove we are civil, and they can play the world media. Kill them. That will knock the wind out of the al-Qaida. Those two are the symbols of hope and power to the al-Qaida.
It is also incredibly important to “Know thy enemy.” The al-Qaida is not jealous of America. They hate Christians, and they hate Jews, and they will NOT sit down at a peace table with us someday or ever. We must accept that. They have a 7th century mindset to capture and convert all countries to Islam, called Dar el Islam, and to kill all Jews and Christians.
They must be killed or conquered, period, and to that end we absolutely must fight to win the war, not friends. If a sniper shoots an American from a rooftop, level the building. If insurgents kill Americans then hide in a mosque, turn the mosque into rubble, and let a politician apologize later. And in doing this, we must understand an important principle. YOU CANNOT WIN A WAR WITH SUPPLIES FROM WAL-MART. This war will never be won by fighting on the cheap. Do what it takes to win quickly and decisively regardless of the price tag. The long term is the real drain on our resolve and our cash reserves.
This includes no more Mr. Nice Guy with Pakistan. US Forces led by area-knowledgeable Special Forces teams must execute a massive search and clear operation with extensive use of helicopters, into the warlord-controlled tribal regions along the Afghani-Pakistani mountain corridor to find and eliminate al-Zawahiri and Usama bin Laden.
Psychological operations are a major part of the Global War on Terrorism, and the al-Qaida have learned very effectively how to play some of the US media like a cheap fiddle. If you are a decision-maker in a news organization, you must realize that the courage, sacrifice, and actions of the US military insures your freedom of the press. The al-Qaida wants to destroy that precious freedom by using it against you, against us, and they are succeeding in some quarters. Your first loyalty is not to the news, but to the country. Without our freedoms, your stories will be dictated to you by a man with a sword in his hand.
And we have to start publicizing our successes in Iraq and Afghanistan and stop imbedding reporters with military units. The military’s primary job is to kill people, blow things up, and break the enemy’s back. We are there to fight and win, not protect CNN News, because “the public has a right to know.” The American public wants to know, but more importantly, they have a right to be protected, first and foremost.
So many more men and women become general officers now with an eye on politics after their military careers end. They used to fade away, but now they run for office. If we want to win, there can be no more one-upsmanship with the US military. It has gone on for years and must stop now for the sake of victory.
Additionally, Generals are only told whatever will keep the briefers from getting in trouble. If you really want to know how to improve things to win, don’t ask a general, ask his sergeant major.
We can, must, and will win this war in Iraq, in Afghanistan, and against terrorism. We simply have to learn from our mistakes in the past, follow the K.I.S.S. principle, and stop trying to win the Ms. Congeniality Award, and playing to the liberal elitists and naïve anti-war crusaders.
I spoke on the phone to a woman who was right there on the flight on November 27, 2006, when the US Airways incident took place with the 6 Immams. One sat in the front in first class, and one in the very back and, and the rest in between. Although neither the front or the back man was fat, both asked for seat belt extenders, which when used like a garrote could render a flight attendant unconscious in 8 seconds. When they supposedly prayed all 6 were shouting “Alluya Ahkbar!” which is what the hijackers on 9-11 were yelling before the planes crashed, and when they were thankfully removed, their attorney was already standing by ready to cry out about racism and unfairness and play the media some more. No matter what is said on the news, we were clearly being tested. We also must immediately seal our southern and northern borders. That is our Achilles heel, and it is where the al-Qaida can effectively infiltrate weapons and people, and strike us at home again.
Nobody ever tries to break into my house or steal my property, or even consider it, because everybody knows they will be shot and killed, period. No conversation, just double taps-center mass, and lots of blood to clean up. My country should always be regarded with that kind of respect, and if it is not, it is indeed our fault..
Don Bendell’s current novel, a modern day military thriller about the GWOT, BROKEN BORDERS, was just released worldwide by Berkley/Penguin and is a a sequel to CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DETACHMENT, released in 2005 and got nothing but 5-star reviews. Don attended Infantry OCS, served as an officer in 4 Special Forces Groups, including a tour on a Green Beret A-Team (Dak Pek) in Vietnam in 1968-1969, was in the Top Secret Phoenix Program, attended the US Army Intelligence Officers school, and was in charge of all the Top Secret Area Studies for the entire continent of Africa, is a top-selling author of 23 books, with over 1,500,000 copies of his books in print worldwide. A 7th degree black belt master in 4 martial arts with over 40 years experience, he is a 1995 inductee into the International Karate Hall of Fame, and owns karate schools in southern Colorado. Don’s editorials have been widely-published in newspapers and magazines, and circulated by millions all over the world on the Internet. He has been interviewed on FOX NEWS LIVE and on many radio shows, and speaks all over the country. He has two sons currently in the Special Forces community. Contact Don at don@donbendell.com. Permission is herewith granted to reproduce, publish, or distribute this in whole. – Don Bendell. December, 2006
Comment by Joe — May 18, 2008 @ 11:24 PM
Thank you, Joe.
I have long wondered about the truthfulness of Father Corapi’s claims. They were all so vague. I look forward to seeing the video when you post it.
Comment by Ted — May 18, 2008 @ 11:46 PM
Having listened to a lot of Fr. Corapi on the radio I have never heard him make this claim. I can’t even remember him mentioning his military service. His conversion story on tape makes no reference of this.
I guess we will just have to wait for further evidence. If it proves true though it will sadden me. As a retired Chief I pretty much despise wannabe’s or embellishers unless it is a “sea story” that starts off “this is no bullshit.”
Comment by Jeff Miller — May 19, 2008 @ 8:18 AM
Fine Joe, post the evidence. Until then we have claims but no proof. By the way I have already linked to Mr. Bendell’s rather over the top, self promoting website. Please do not take up comment space with cut and pastes when links will do.
Comment by David — May 19, 2008 @ 9:43 AM
I have never heard Fr Corapi claim he was in the Green Beret. He did say he went through very difficult spec op training while in the Army, but the training sounded very similar to Ranger Training, which has always been considered Special Operations.
The Green Berets rarely takes soldiers who have not already served one enlistment with either the infantry, Rangers, or Airborne. Fr Corapi could never have gotten into the Green Berets (of course he never said he did). Fr Corapi never finished his spec ops training as he was seriously injured in a training accident before he could graduate.
Fr Corapi is not a stupid man. In his conversion story he made several claims that are easy to confirm. Whether it was his relationships with those in Hollywood or his time in the Army, it would be quite easy to confirm what he says.
The attacks on him are from people with agendas. Fr Corapi never made claims about being a war hero. He always stressed that he was a sinner above everything else.
The people who attack him have no shame.
Comment by JP — May 19, 2008 @ 10:54 AM
Placing the honorific “Father” in scare quotes was enough to let me know that the people publishing these things are juvenile twits, whether they’re right or not. People who invent or pump up their service records are despicable. People who lob testosterone-engorged attacks while repeatedly mentioning their own service, are only a step or two behind. I’ve known a lot of military, including my dad and uncle. My dad rarely talked about it and didn’t wave his achievements in everyone’s face. My uncle was the opposite, always talking tough and reminding us about his service, using it as the ultimate conversation-stopper when he wanted to end a discussion. Guess which one had the more valorous service record.
Comment by GetOverYourself — May 19, 2008 @ 11:01 AM
To the man who said he heard Father Corapi state he went through ( but didn’t complete ) SpecOp Training maybe Ranger — unequivocally not.
Here is a link to his FOIA Records. He had no Op Training period. We are trying to verify the helicopter accident claim ( can’t say it didn’t happen – can’t say it did – till we do ) But poor John seemed to be accident prone when ever he was about to accomplish a mission.
http://www.pownetwork.org/pownet.secure/corapi.pdf
In the 1st tape we have that will be posted online soon, he is introed as Green Beret, then makes the claim when he speaks.. stating he went through all the “training” necessary then “crashed”.
In the second tape he appears to have the SF pin and grabs his jacket and stated de oppresso liber as if he earned the right to
claim SF and Green Beret. He does this as he speaks about his service … also all over the web he is touted as being Green Beret.. and when introduced as one or in print ( see some of the Catholic News Papers we found onLine.. he never bothered to correct them. Hmmmmmmmmmm..
For the person who don’t like “these” but defends a liar – well your post says alot about you as well. Here’s a “SCARE” quote just for you… mater of factly it’s the first time I ever heard that – but we will go with the flow.
To foul mouth .. I’ll call the nuns in soon if you persist.. and give them over sized “clickers” – if any one recalls what they were.
Or I’ll really bore you to death here and recite the entire Mass in Latin.
Finally, Corapi as well as you or I… we are all imperfect, and will not be other wise till we meet our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ face to face. That does not absolve Corapi, you or I from our actions or words.. we are accountable first to mans law ( render unto Caesar ) then to God. Thank God He sent his Son as through Jesus Christ we have righteousness before our Father and forgiveness for our human nature specific problems (sins). He is The Way, The Truth and The Life, and no man goes before God accept through Him.
May all who are struggling through life’s issues or issues such as this find His perfect peace, the peace that surpasses all human understanding.
“Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.”
-Thomas Paine 1777
http://www.soft-vision.com/warriors ( In Support of those serving and more.. )
WHY are we at war? http://www.soft-vision.com/why/
In Memory of “Bouncer” – http://www.soft-vision.com/lrrp
Col. Ted W. Guy, 4-18-29 to 4-23-99 – Never Forgotten
“To live in the hearts of those you leave behind is never to die” ~Robert Orr~
http://www.soft-vision.com/we-remember
http://www.soft-vision.com/hanoi
…. as no one is dead until they are forgotten!
Col. Gordon “Swede” Larson
http://www.soft-vision.com/hanoi/larson
Col. Lou Makowski http://www.soft-vision.com/hanoi/makowski
US Army Ranger/Advisor to BDQ http://www.soft-vision.com/ranger
The Frogs Puddle: http://docrioseal.soft-vision.com
(Come Play in Docs Pond – Frogs in the oven at the moment)
Tribute to PGR: http://www.soft-vision.com/pgr/
Working together, we find solutions.
As one, ALL give a forceful voice to people rarely heard.
Restoring Honor: (Dear Wannabe – You Can Run, But You’ll Just Die Tired!)
http://www.pownetwork.org *** http://www.veriseal.org
To Report Suspected Wrongdoing in VA Programs and Operations
Call the OIG Hotline – (800) 488-8244
Eagles Nest I: http://usvetdsp.com/eagle/index.php
Eagles Nest II: http://www.eaglesnest-2.net/eagles/
Eagles Up! http://www.eaglesup.us
Gathering of Eagles: http://www.gatheringofeagles.org
Comment by Joe — May 19, 2008 @ 4:01 PM
To the man who said he heard Father Corapi state he went through ( but didn’t complete ) SpecOp Training maybe Ranger — unequivocally not.
Here is a link to his FOIA Records. He had no Op Training period. We are trying to verify the helicopter accident claim ( can’t say it didn’t happen – can’t say it did – till we do ) But poor John seemed to be accident prone when ever he was about to accomplish a mission.
http://www.pownetwork.org/pownet.secure/corapi.pdf
In the 1st tape we have that will be posted online soon, he is introed as Green Beret, then makes the claim when he speaks.. stating he went through all the “training” necessary then “crashed”.
In the second tape he appears to have the SF pin and grabs his jacket and stated de oppresso liber as if he earned the right to
claim SF and Green Beret. He does this as he speaks about his service … also all over the web he is touted as being Green Beret.. and when introduced as one or in print ( see some of the Catholic News Papers we found onLine.. he never bothered to correct them. Hmmmmmmmmmm..
For the person who don’t like “these” but defends a liar – well your post says alot about you as well. Here’s a “SCARE” quote just for you… mater of factly it’s the first time I ever heard that – but we will go with the flow.
To foul mouth .. I’ll call the nuns in soon if you persist.. and give them over sized “clickers” – if any one recalls what they were.
Or I’ll really bore you to death here and recite the entire Mass in Latin.
Finally, Corapi as well as you or I… we are all imperfect, and will not be other wise till we meet our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ face to face. That does not absolve Corapi, you or I from our actions or words.. we are accountable first to mans law ( render unto Caesar ) then to God. Thank God He sent his Son as through Jesus Christ we have righteousness before our Father and forgiveness for our human nature specific problems (sins). He is The Way, The Truth and The Life, and no man goes before God accept through Him.
May all who are struggling through life’s issues or issues such as this find His perfect peace, the peace that surpasses all human understanding.
“Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.”
-Thomas Paine 1777
http://www.soft-vision.com/warriors ( In Support of those serving and more.. )
Comment by Joe — May 19, 2008 @ 4:02 PM
Jeff… I had to grin when I read your post.. do ya happen to know SEAL Capt. Larry Baily.. I agree with the last line of your post.. sometimes hip boots required.
God Bless
Comment by Joe — May 19, 2008 @ 4:13 PM
PS: When you look at his records you will see his full time MOS
71L20 or a Administrative Specialist from the git. You will also note on page two NO SF Training period. Only Clerk Typist/Stenographer .. They are from St Louis and official FOIA releases.
Caught him again here: Listen to the intro then Fr. Corapi’s testimony.. about 9 minutes into the tape.
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/john-corapi-lost-his-millions-as-a-real-estate-mogul-due-to-drug-addiction/179427089?icid=acvsv3
This one at about 7 minutes into the tape..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhAyEZR4gUk
Comment by Joe — May 19, 2008 @ 4:33 PM
I am Don Bendell the former Green Beret you mentioned with “the over-the-top self-promoting website.” First of all, I write paperback books and own karate schools. If you do either one of those, you better be a good self-promoter, or you will starve to death. I must be doing a pretty good job at it, since there over 1,500,000 copies of my books in print, and BLACK BELT, the top martial arts magazine in the world for over 48 years just did a feature photo story about me in the May, 2008 issue, as they have done before. How many feature stories have they done about your local martial arts instructor wherever you live? So, I am not going to apologize for being a good businessman, or do you not believe in our free enterprise system?
Because I have books to write and promote, and karate schools to run, besides needing to be a good husband and father and grandfather, I do not have time to waste chasing liars around exposing their deceit while they keep growing in stature because their followers stay in denial when they learn they have been hoodwinked, as they do not have the courage to admit they have.
I most certainly do have an agenda, and that is to protect the stolen valor of my friends who died in Vietnam, who died knowing guys like me would protect their legacy. That is my agenda. Don’t like it? Tough.
I have Father Corapi’s records, and he went through ZERO SPECOPS training of any sort. He was after Basic and AIT, which everybody goes through, a clerk-typist, pure and simple and nothing else. He also claimed that he was a Green Beret many times, and we have proof. At his rallies, he sells over 2,000 DVDs often, not counting what is sold over the internet, and look what they cost. Nobody wants to kill the cash cow, do they? Remember when Jesus turned over the tables of the money-changers in the Temple? When you lie in any way and then use God’s name to rake in money, power, prestige, or accolades; it is of great import that the money says In God We Trust, because it has just been proven we cannot even trust our clergy. Father Corapi is a proven liar and a hypocrite, period, yet you want to attack me for protecting the honor of the men of the US Army Special Forces. Brilliant! I am so impressed how the bishops and priests in charge of Fr. Corapi listened to your own Pope state that he wants no more controversies. Why haven’t any of them contacted me about this? “Hey, the guy brings in tons of money to the church. He is only lying a little bit, so why rock the boat?” You attack me all you want. I will still protect the legacy of my fallen brothers, no matter who approves or disapproves.
Comment by Don Bendell — May 19, 2008 @ 4:57 PM
Joe,
I will be interested in the future posts you have twice referred to. I trust you will provide the sources for them and they will not be edited? It is interesting to note your bias against him. In what you provide, it seems that the best you are saying you can now provide is that Fr. Corapi DENIES that he was SF regardless of what he meant by “completing the necessary training?” The second tape–well that is hardly worth posting as you describe it.
You make a statement that Fr. Corapi never bothered to correct the erroneous attributions to him around the internet. This presupposes he knows about them or that he has an obligation to scour the internet and Catholic publications in order to ask people to correct their mistaken attributions.
I have yet to see anything of Fr. Corapi that makes his military service much more than an anecdotal aside in his talks. Frankly, I don’t think that many people to whom Fr. Corapi speaks would even appreciate what the Green Beret means. In the context of his talks in which he considers himself to have been the lowest of the low, it simply makes no sense to me that he would be misstating his military career for the sake of self-aggrandizement as this is exactly the opposite of his message. He is not trying to say how great he was but how much he was in need of conversion.
Nevertheless, I will wait to see what sort of evidence is to be provided. By the way, I haven’t heard you comment on Fr. Corapi’s 2003 Hudson, NY talk posted above.
Comment by David — May 19, 2008 @ 5:01 PM
Don,
I read your website, you don’t need to continue the self promotion here. I don’t read novels and I am not interested in karate. Your claims about Fr. Corapi are, at present, without substantiation. Reading through your writings and especially your e-mails at which you engage in scurrilous ad hominem against a Desert Storm vet, unwarranted attacks against the Catholic Church, and other rather outlandish claims, you will excuse me for not taking your claims of having evidence secreted away somewhere with due caution.
Your claims that I am protecting a liar fall empty on me. You seem to have tried and convicted Fr. Corapi, based upon what you have provided, evidence that does not support your claims. With what you have shown, the most one can argue is that you are not aware of whether Fr. Corapi has been as aggressive as you would like in hunting down and asking to various unrelated entities to correct false attributions about him. The evidence your friend Joe mentions also appears to fall into this category. Thus, I say provide the evidence. If you cannot then the honorable thing to do is to withdraw your accusations until such time as you can establish the claims.
You are interested in protecting the meaning of SF. I would suggest that you also should be concerned in ensuring that before your accusations are made public that you have the evidence vetted by independent, disinterested parties that are familiar with forensic rules of evidence. If the letters you posted on POWN were your first attempts to contact Fr. Corapi then you certainly are not interested in accomplishing your stated goals. These were assaults on character before even asking him to account for himself. With the amount of anti-Catholic hate mail that someone like Fr. Corapi receives, I would guess yours was barely read before it was thrown away. I will not attempt to judge your motives but I can say that from what I see of your methods your failure to communicate with Fr. Corapi must be attributable to your overzealous assault on character.
Fr. Corapi is a priest in an order that takes the evangelical counsels. These counsels include the vow of poverty. Therefore the proceeds from his efforts do not enrich him personally. Your claims that he has used false pretenses for earning money therefore, do not wash. Furthermore, as I said to Joe above, his references to his military service do not amount to anymore in his talks that I have heard, to an anecdotal aside. In the context of his talks, he certainly is not pointing to his life prior to his conversion in order to glorify himself. Much the opposite. Thus, your claims just do not add up.
By the way, listen to the 2003 Hudson, NY talk in the post above and tell me that he is promoting himself as SF for his own personal enrichment and/or glory. This was four years before you sent your first letters it seems to me. How does this fit in with your accusations?
Comment by David — May 19, 2008 @ 5:15 PM
David,
You block the post here I see. And pick and choose whats on the table. You must be from the same scum pile as crapy – what ever..
Did you mother have any kids that lived? Thats OK – real men posting at your site gives it a life – we will stand down and let it die -
and thats a fact..
Comment by Joe — May 19, 2008 @ 6:13 PM
Joe -
You block the post here I see.
I have no idea what you are talking about with this statement and much less of an idea what you are trying to say in the rambling that follows. I will let your comments stand this time, such as they are, as they speak for themselves. However, if you wish to comment here further, please articulate in complete, lucid sentences and stick to the issues and please keep the ad hominem to yourself.
Comment by David — May 19, 2008 @ 6:38 PM
First of all, I want to make it perfectly clear that I hold the United States armed services, and all members of the military, past and present, in very high regard. The accomplishments of Mr. Bendell, and his sons, as well as all Green Berets are to be respected.
The most obvious question is this: Why would Father Corapi risk losing the ministry (and trust) he has built up over the years by going around the country in front of huge crowds and lying about himself? Crowds which included, on many occasions, members of the military. This type of behavior would defy logic.
The man has five university degrees, including a Phd. in Sacred Theology from the University of Navarre in Spain. With this level of intelligence, I can hardly imagine Corapi would lie face to face with the millions of persons who support his ministry by purchasing his material and promoting his conferences. Even I can figure that one out, with just my High School diploma.
Who among us has the right and authority to publicly condemn and embarrass an individual without having rock solid evidence to support those claims?. In my book, NO ONE has the right to do such a thing. Once a persons’ good name and reputation have been trashed, they are marked for life. Even if no wrong doing has been committed.
Mr. Bendell and the POW NETWORK have forwarded “their” evidence to the authorities for examination. Why then do they continue to trash Father Corapi, myself, and other Catholics repeatedly in emails? Reading between the lines, I believe threats and intimidation were also conveyed.(Like posting my name, email, and all of my former mailing addresses on the worldwide web) Is all of this really necessary? No, it is not. You have forwarded your evidence, now leave us alone and let the authorites do their job.
In conclusion, I find no wrong doing in the approach Corapi has taken. Has he incorporated his military service into many of his talks.? Yes he has. He was honorably discharged from the service and I will leave it at that. If there were a dishonorable discharge, my feelings toward him might be different. Are we also going to prosecute John Wayne for wearing the Green Beret uniform? I have listened to hundreds of hours of Corapi’s tapes/cds/dvds and never once have I heard him make the statement “I was a Green Beret and fought in Vietnam during the war”…until he says those words, there is no concrete evidence against him.
Was it not Jesus himself who said the words……..”Let the man among us without sin cast the first stone…………..”
Comment by Jim Gorski — May 19, 2008 @ 6:59 PM
Does someone have an “Idiot-to-English” dictionary, because I am really not understanding some of this, particularly “Joe”. The childish contempt of these people kills any point they have.
It’s very simple: if you have proof, post it and let it speak for itself. Otherwise, you’re just making noise.
Comment by GetOverYourself — May 19, 2008 @ 7:05 PM
1. The wannabe enablers did not post the “links” we placed here in this forum.. see letter to man without mother above. Apparently
he is the dictator of this forum and has a private licence to ad hominem attack men of valor like Don Bendell, but can’t take what he dishes out. A typical whimp.
2. You don’t like the way we speak – thats life.
3. On the why would corapi do it?
I could ask that question to thousand of men who served with honor yet embellished their service record. Corapi doesn’t hold the license on being an only one.
Why would Bob Levy Mayor of Atlantic City New Jersy (Don busted him as well.. despite Dons warning, apologize of face the Stolen Valor Act – embelish and claim Green Beret and more?
He didn’t listen to Don:
( Remember thgis is only one of thousands who embellish )
Lawyer says missing mayor under investigation, has resigned
NEW YORK (CNN) — The mayor of Atlantic City, New Jersey, who is the target of a federal investigation into his military disability payments, has resigned after being missing from work for two weeks, his attorney said Wednesday.
Edwin Jacobs released a statement saying that Mayor Robert Levy was stepping down because of “multiple health problems” that were “precipitated by a pending federal Department of Veterans Affairs investigation.”
Jacobs said Levy was accused of misrepresenting his military service record.
For years, Levy said he served with the Green Berets, an elite special force in the Army, during the Vietnam War.
But last year, on Veterans Day, he admitted that he had been an enlisted soldier, not a Green Beret. He was awarded several decorations, including two Bronze Stars, for his service, according to the mayor’s staff.
“The pending investigation has called into question two of those awards, neither of which appear to be supported by an appropriate military order,” Jacobs’ statement said. “This, in turn, creates a question as to a portion of Mr. Levy’s veteran’s disability benefits.”
Jacobs said the federal investigation includes no allegation “that Mr. Levy in any direct or indirect way abused the electoral process or his position as mayor or was corrupted by criminal influences.”
“Nonetheless, Mr. Levy has concluded that public confidence is so eroded by these circumstances that the only responsible action is to step down, as he has done.
“He does so with great regret and with apologies to his supporters, to the people of Atlantic City, and to his family and friends,” the attorney’s statement said.
On September 28, the mayor’s office released a statement saying that Levy would be out on medical leave until further notice. The mayor had not been in his office since September 26.
Jacobs said he delivered letters to the Atlantic City business administrator and the city clerk on September 28, explaining that the mayor needed a medical leave of about six weeks.
He did not specify what the health problems were.
advertisement
Levy, who was elected by an overwhelming majority in November 2005, previously took an unannounced 11-day leave in 2006. Acting Mayor Domenic Cappella said the mayor left to have back surgery.
This is not the first scandal Atlantic City officials have faced in recent years. In 2006, three of its nine City Council members were arrested on federal corruption charges.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/10/mayor.resigns/index.html
This is a last post here – it’s hard dealing with the uninformed or the mindless sheep.
and thats the way it is..
Comment by Joe — May 19, 2008 @ 7:44 PM
Dear Mr. Gorski;
You already saw the partial evidence I gave to your friend SGT Kenneth A. Follis last night who CCed you with an alias whiteeaglefeather or something like that, instead of your given name. Somebody asked why I keep going after Corapi. I have not been but every month or so someone, such as you, sends me an email attacking me, questioning my motives or whatever, for exposing him, so I have simply responded.You know, when I legitimately earned a Green Beret and two of my sons did and less than 3 out of every 100 who try earns one, and you have friends who died wearing one and then your sons have SF friends die, too, you want to protect that legacy and zealously go after anybody who tries to steal the valor. That is why I so zealously went after the former Mayor of Atlantic City Bob Levy for the same thing. You got a CC last night on that email from me to Follis with a Youtube link showing Father Corapi tell his conversion story for ten minutes. For ten minutes, he wore a black suit, a black shirt, and a clerical collar. You would think he would wear a crucifix or maybe a cross lapel pin, but no, the only jewelry he wore was a full-sized Special Forces badge which he did not earn. At 7 minutes and 41 seconds into the vidoe he even touched his lapel indicating the pin and said, “De Oppresso Liber, free the oppressed” our official motto for Special Forces.I sent you that link and another, yet you come back tonight and write in this blog. You talk about denial!!! He did not earn the right to wear the Special Forces crest, and that alone is a violation of the Stolen Valor Act of 2005.
You aks why would Father Corapi risk losing all by making false claims? That is a good and intelligent question. We ask such questions all the time. Mayor Bob Levy was a Vietnam veteran, for two tours, a switchboard operator. Instead of being proud of that, which he should have been, he got elected over and over for forty years even having his own son doing a TV Commercial for him talking abotu his dad being a Green Beret war hero. He got away with that and then falsified his records and started collecting VA compensation for wounds he never received. Now he is waiting to be sentenced next month to a federal pen.
I gave evidence to the FBI long ago as did the POW Network. I do not have to give evidence to anybody or even respond to you in such a forum. The FBI gathers their own evidence then. I have no clue if they will prosecute him. I would guess they would because he is high profile, but that is for them to decide. The POW Network has busted more wannabe war heroes than anybody or any entity and frequently assist the FBI and VA Inspector General on many cases. My wife and I just had dinner with the principles last night in Colorado Springs and met them for the first time, although we have worked on many cases together. I am a resource person who helps them and others on cases involving phony Green Berets. I get nothing for or from doing this, except tired, disrespectful remarks from people who do not know me such as elitist David above, and occasional threats. I have friends as mentioned who cannot be here to protect their own legacy, so guys like me have to.
I am a protestant Christian, but if Father Corapi was instead named Jimmy Swaggart, for example, I would go after him with even more vigor because he would be dishonoring my church, too.
With just the one link alone I gave you last night, I do not understand how you could possibly be in denial still. I’m done wasting any more time on this. Do as you choose to do.
Comment by Don Bendell — May 20, 2008 @ 12:00 AM
You stated I secretly CCed you with an alias “whiteeaglefeather”
Mr. Bendell, go back and read your diatribe against Fr. Corapi on POW Network that started this mess. That is where I got the email of whiteeaglefeather (Jim Gorski). I simply “cut and pasted” it from your letter, my friend. I know your paranoid but we aren’t out to get you. I have never met or talked with Mr. Gorski. I CC’d all parties I thought would care, based on you previous correspondence, to answer the basic question I asked:
Where do we have evidence other than “he said, she said” that John Corapi ever claimed to be a Green Beret?
You provided me with people who said he said it. So what! I can find people who say you’re from Mars, does that make it so? I want actual evidence and not someone, like yourself, who has an axe to grind and is obviously blind to objectivity to show me more than than what has been shown.
Comment by Ken Follis — May 20, 2008 @ 3:16 AM
bunch of stupid sissy’s who like sheep one day will be led to their slaughter. David wares a bra is seems and will not post the url’s to
your hero’s lies on tape. He blocks any message that HE doesn’t agree with.. sounds kinda communist to me.. he probably can’t control much in life so he is power enabled by controlling what is read.. and to prove he is correct – censor posts that show the Father embellishing his service.
Comment by Can Think Can You — May 20, 2008 @ 7:08 AM
It is real simple: Show me one place where John Corapi says he was a Green Beret?
Not where he might have insinuated it, might have worn the unit insignia or someone wrote or said that he said.
You have NOT provided one example of primary source when as far back as 1999, we have four accounts in books and audio stating emphatically otherwise.
How do you sleep at night?
Comment by Ken Follis — May 20, 2008 @ 7:32 AM
By the way, “De Oppresso Liber” is a phrase dating back to priest Father Augustine, based on Luke 4:18, the words of Jesus our Great High Priest. It is sort of fitting for John Corapi.
Plus how can you tell us that he is wearing the Special Forces crest? You are starting to scare me.
Besides, you also state it is a violation of the Stolen Valor Act of 2005. Not really. It is about Awards and Decorations, not unit insignias.
Comment by Ken Follis — May 20, 2008 @ 7:38 AM
Joe (aka can think can you) said, “He blocks any message that HE doesn’t agree with.. sounds kinda communist to me.. he probably can’t control much in life so he is power enabled by controlling what is read.. and to prove he is correct”
Joe, why the undeserved attack on David (and others) when he has provided a credible link which pretty much disproves everything you hoped to be true, when it’s you who has yet to provide anything of substance to lend credibility to yourself or your claims?
Comment by shelray — May 20, 2008 @ 9:48 AM
Don – your “elitist” comment above is, well shall we say, ironic to say the least. Your statements about Fr. Corapi’s violation of the Stolen Valor Act of 2005 is an empty accusation. Ken above points out some of the problems with your claim. Even if one can show that the badge is SF you will have to show his intent is to mislead. With all of the evidence that shows Fr. Corapi has denied for many years that he ever was SF or that he went to Vietnam, you will find it hard to make any case. How do you know that he was not being honored by former SF in that venue who gave it to him to wear? As you have admitted, it would be surprising that he would wear something like that when he is wearing his clerics. Furthermore, one never sees him wearing such a badge otherwise. Finally, as I understand it, you will have to show that the video to which you refer was taken from an event after Dec 2006 when the Act was signed into law. I have not yet seen that to which you refer but from your comments I assume it is online some place? However, given all of the other instances I have seen, including the first video Joe referenced above and which Ken did point me to, the context is always Fr. Corapi talking of his failure to have “become someone.” Only someone with a blinding bias and pre-commitment to convict regardless of the evidence could listen to those events and think he is saying something he is not. I will post soon an evaluation of this and your other claims that Ken has put together and that I have been over with him. Also, your continual reference to people’s e-mail addresses as some sort of subversive alias as though it is some sinister plot is quite amusing. I never got the memo that said an e-mail address had to be the user’s proper name. This along with the rest of your ramblings suggest to me that you have something of a conspiracy paranoia.
Joe (aka Can Think Can You [sic]) – you really must learn more about how the internet works (as well as about English grammar). You cannot just change your name and address and not change the computer you are using if you want to disguise your identity (google IP address if you don’t know what I am talking about). Even so, your childish screed and reference to an accusation about which, apparently, only you know about is enough to have given you away. By the way, I really do have no clue what you mean by my having “blocked” your comment. If you mean I deleted a comment, I did not. If it was abusive or vulgar it is possible that one of the other administrators did. If you mean that you got a “comment blocked” message when you tried to post, you must also have a conspiracy paranoia as the possibility of my having known what to have set up as blocking criteria is quite unlikely. No, if you had a comment blocked it is because you used obviously vulgar language in your comment. Again, I do not know your age but I assume that your are old enough to carry on a reasoned, adult conversation without resorting to infantile ad hominem one might rather expect to hear on a school yard. If you are not able gain control over yourself then I will save you further embarrassment by deleting any future screed you might feel the need to discharge. One last point, your reference to sheep being led to the slaughter seems to me, a prophetic comment on your part. You see in Scripture the sheep who are led to the slaughter are those who obediently follow the will of God in the face of attacks from godless men. This is quite appropriate for you to admit don’t you think?
Comment by David — May 20, 2008 @ 9:50 AM
Follis;
You use your eyes and look at it. He is wearing the SF crest on his left lapel. It is the only jewelry he is wearing. he even made refrence to it, and he would not have inserted such a comment during that diatribe. It IS very much a violation of the Stolen Valor Act of 2005, and any judge would tell you that. I just had dinner night before last with Chuck and Mary Shantag of pownetwork.org and Doug and Pam Sterner of homeofheroes.com. Pam is the author of the Act. She wrote the draft for Congressmen John Salazar to propose. But as I told you at the time, I did not need to prove a thing to you. You would only try to disprove it, so I gave you a few morsels, and you simply spit them out without tasting them. I predicted you would because you are an apologist and not a truth-seeker like you claimed. My discussions with you are over. The same type of people and thinking overlooked and justified a man my age getting blowjobs in the Oval Office of the United States from a 21 year old intern, with all the storied traditions of that office and historical decisions made there. But Clinton was good for your wallets so you overlook such a disgusting thing from a married man who is President. The same type of denial and justification. Jesus did not teach us to rationalize or to have gray and fuzzy thinking.
Comment by Don Bendell — May 20, 2008 @ 9:52 AM
I have listened to every Fr Corapi talk I could get my hands on (working in a Catholic bookstore helped) for as many years as they have been available. I have heard him speak live, and have the recordings to the lectures given. We watched and recorded every talk given on EWTN and usually watched them more than once. He is an excellent teacher of the faith, I am a convert. Never once can I recall him saying anything at all about the green berets, much less claim to be one of them. He did say he had some Special Forces training. I believe he was injured, shoulder problem? He never claimed, that I heard, to have served in Viet Nam. Never in all the talks I’ve listened to, many several times, did I ever hear him claim to be a Viet Nam veteran. He has mentioned he grew up during the Viet Nam era, he was in the Army near the end of the Viet Nam war but never that he served overseas. My dad was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross during WWII, missing in action for 6 weeks, a true hero especially to me. I do not take kindly to false claims. I never heard Fr Corapi make any of the claims of which he’s being accused. I’ve heard a lot and read a lot of Fr Copapi. Sure would like to see some real evidence, like an archived Google page.
Pat in Texas
Comment by Patricia — May 20, 2008 @ 12:24 PM
Bendell,
As an Air Force veteran who was awarded three Air Medals for service in Operation Burning Wind against the Soviets, believe me when I say that I have nothing but contempt for those who claim military honors they have never earned.
I also have contempt for those who abuse their military honors to rationalize wrongdoing. Your special pleading as an ex-Green Beret gives you no license to defame Fr. Corapi. Even more disgusting is that you use the distinguished service of your sons to justify your rotten conduct.
You should be ashamed of yourself.
Bill Tingley
Comment by Bill Tingley — May 20, 2008 @ 4:07 PM
Tingley;
Since I wrote a long comment earlier and they did not even put it up. And that Joe guy wrote me earlier and said he put up two links showing Corapi, and they did not put it up. I doubt if they will put this up. Only one-side for this joke of a blog seems to be the name of the game.
Comment by Don Bendell — May 20, 2008 @ 4:22 PM
Don -
Always with the ad hominem with you isn’t it. Always assuming the worst. As both you and your “that Joe guy” friend of yours complained, I decided to search our 30,000 spammed comments. I found two from potty mouth Joe, a couple from you and some from Ken Follis (apparently the SPAM filter is not biased). You will find them posted. In the future you might try an e-mail that a comment you posted didn’t show up before casting accusations…do I begin to see a pattern with you and your buddy Joe?
Comment by David — May 20, 2008 @ 4:56 PM
Dear Mr. Bendell,
Obviously, our differences run very deep on this issue, no doubt about that. Just a few parting thoughts I want to share.
First, I firmly believe in law(s), the justice system of the United States, and the judicial branch of the Government. Without them, this great country of ours would degenerate into chaos.
Since our first exchange last fall, I have thought about this situation with Father Corapi on numerous occasions. I examined the material posted on the POW network as well. I prayed for enlightenment from On High in understanding everyones concerns, claims and correspondence. Then I began receiving emails from Mr. Follis and yourself, as well as several other persons whom I do not know. And it started all over again.
Although I have not been a member of the military service, I have three brothers who have, as well as my Father who was a WWII veteran. Whenever I visit Leavenworth National Cemetery where Mom and Dad are buried, I stand in awe and respect at the thousands of graves of past service men and women that lay before me on the hills overlooking the Missouri River. After visiting Mom and Dad, I sometimes walk through the cemetery and visit random graves and say a short prayer for that person. Then I begin to think……..”I wonder who this person was, what were they like, what things in life did they enjoy, were they happy or were they lonely….and most especially, how did they die? Was their death instantaneous, or did they have to suffer greatly? Yes, I sincerely do respect all veterans, living and deceased.
As you point out, very very few people have the strenth, fortitude, character and intelligence to achieve the rank of Green Beret. As a citizen of the United States, I have the utmost respect for your courage. I will be honest with you; had I been in the service, I could never have achieved, or even come close to doing the things you did during your service in the military. For this I thank you. Without courageous men and women like yourself and my brothers, the United States would not exist today.
I often wonder what must have been running through the minds of those young men, when their plane first touched down on the soil of Vietnam……the fear, uncertainty and the separation from wives, families and parents. I can hardly imagine.
I spend most of my working day outside. I work for a local municipality in the building and grounds division. I enjoy being outside, no matter what the weather conditions, for each season has something to offer our senses that the others don’t. Sometimes I am on my hands and knees working the soil on a landscaping job. This makes me think of the comment you made about the Army……..no matter what ones position in the Army, it is a necessary position…….some are very high visibility, and then there are the “unsung” heroes who work behind the scenes.
I am tired of arguing, and I don’t hold grudges well either. I respect your comment about going after a person if he has claimed false valor, even if he were your minister. That tells me something about you. A man who dedicated a part of his life to the Armed Services, and who has passed that legacy on to his sons must be a good man at heart. My belief in Father Corapi is not a personal attack on you, nor is it disrespect for the members of the Green Berets. I have a cassette tape with the Ballad of the Green Berets, by Sergeant Barry Sadler. It brings a tear to my eye each time I listen to it.
May time heal the wounds we have all endured, and may we someday meet in the Heavenly Kingdom. I believe all Christians with a good heart will enjoy the Kingdom prepared by God for all who follow his word, regardless of their Faith.
Time will provide the answers we all seek. If not on this earth, then in the heavenly kingdom of Almighty God.
Jim Gorski
p.s. I have enjoyed several trips to nothern Colorado over the years and was shocked to see the damage done to the trees by the Pine Bark beetle. Has your particular area been affected?
Comment by Jim Gorski — May 20, 2008 @ 5:17 PM
Tingley,
Listen .. before you rag on Don Bendell 3 air medal dude Tingley ( BTW if it didn’t matter why’d ya mention 3 air medals ) note you are sadly mistaken there are no X Green Beret’s, former Green Beret’s or any other way you can describe.. You are a Green Beret till the day you meet Saint Pete and then some.. Do you have contempt for you? You just USED your claimed Military Honors….
http://www.soft-vision.com/corapi ( in the oven – and as items come in they will be posted. ) Are you calling the folks who heard him speak LIARS TOO? BTW They sounded prety religious when I viewed their site..and they are one of many.. remember we don’t need a million affirmations as out of the mouth of 2 or more witnesses a truth shall be established .. we have met that burden.. cept for those who need to keep their head in the sand as they recite the mantra like lolly pop sucking tots … “no he didn’t”..
lol..
David:
be aware if you are upset with how some come with emotions dangling on a string then you don’t understand, period. I think you learned a new word in school this week, btw: ad hominem – does it make you feel important?
Lets see if the spam filter eats this one..
Comment by Joe — May 20, 2008 @ 5:24 PM
Still, I ask, “How on God’s green earth, can anyone tell me this is the Regimental Insignia of the 5 SFG that he is wearing?”
Actually, I think it is the Proctor & Gamble symbol with a pentagram and 666 in the sky and the Starbucks two-tailed mermaid trying to seduce the viewer into the spirit of Anti-Christ IOT bring about a NWO- with the Illuminati, Knights Templar, Opus Dei and MAD Magazine conspiring to rule the world from the Vatican “Whore of Babylon”. (I hope Jack Chick or James White never see this video or we will be exposed.)
Perhaps it is why my wise step-sister says, “Believe nothing that you hear and only half of what you see.”
It appears we hear what we want to hear and see what we want to see.
From what I saw posted on CA:
Ransom Stoddard: You’re not going to use the story, Mr. Scott?
Maxwell Scott: No, sir. This is the west, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.
That single quote, uttered by newspaperman Maxwell Scott (Carlton Young), encapsulates the primary theme of John Ford’s last great Western, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.
“Truth is only meaningful as long as it agrees with what the public wants to hear. When heroes don’t exist, it is necessary to invent them. (When they do exist and you don’t like them, destroy them. Sic) And, never let the facts get in the way of a good story. A clear-eyed deconstruction would likely reveal that what most of us accept as ‘history’ is a patchwork of real events, exaggerations, and tales so tall that Paul Bunyan would likely blink in amazement.”
A Film Review by James Berardinelli
It is up to us to confirm or deny the accuracy of the story. Always go to the source. Never believe the first report.
King Solomon, the wisest man outside Jesus to live, says, “The first person who pleads his case seems just until another comes and examines him.”
Comment by Ken Follis — May 20, 2008 @ 6:27 PM
Joe,
Your comments about those who have heard Fr. Corapi claim he was Green Beret: we have tracked down one person who has said that. He pointed us to the audio tape we provide a link to at the top of the next post. In listening to it, we see that he was mistaken. He also heard Fr. Corapi talk about his experience in the Okefenokee Swamp and thought that was in Vietnam. The point is, apparently there are some who have no military background who misunderstand what Fr. Corapi is saying. Those with military experience I have heard from affirm that they have never heard him make this claim. You are stuck with the evidence that at the very beginning of his speaking career (prior to 1995) he has explicitly DENIED that he was ever SF or that he ever served in Vietnam. You have yet to deal with that piece of evidence.
A couple of quick comments: ad hominem is a quite common term I believe. I’m sorry if you were unfamiliar with it. Display of emotion does not bother me. It does not, however, justify personal attacks. Finally, your prose, especially when you are flaming makes absolutely no sense. You need to be much more careful in conveying your thoughts so they can be understood.
For your personal attacks on the various posters here, you own an apology. For your unfounded attacks on a holy man of God, Fr. Corapi, you owe considerably more. In the end, until you have some explicit evidence that Fr. Corapi has made these claims, which you have not yet provided, I don’t think you have anything more of value to say here.
Comment by David — May 20, 2008 @ 7:15 PM
They are still on their crusade and their animus is now beyond reason, friends. We have provided them with enough evidence refuting the claim of Mr. Bendell but they refuse to remove his outright misrepresentations when they have been pointed out. This is an example of a good mission gone awry. The POW’s are the ones getting shafted here.
As Christians, could they not have followed the dictates of Christ Jesus our Lord in Matt. 18 about a brother in error? All of this reminds me that Jesus was crucified between two thieves.
In like manner, instead of changing the errors of his diatribe, Mr. Bendell has now just reinforced his assumptions with more posts about what others wrote or said. My heart breaks that Christians would act like BECAUSE THEY ASSUME the claims are true without verifying them. They post a link to Mr. Bendell’s diatribe and insult all of our intelligence by thinking we would just say “Well if 10 people say he said it, it must be true”. What if 100 people say he didn’t?
No, you must PRINT THE LEGEND because it sells. It brings attention to POWN…there is is your motivation. Yet this is bringing infamy to the Schantags and the POWN as long as they label him as a liar. Mr. Bendell’s own star has fallen. All of his posts say Fr. Corapi lied but then he lies about Fr. Corapi in response. e.g Unit Insignia. Irony of ironies! The least you could do is just point out the facts and indicators of possible indictments to then let the chips fall where they may as I am doing but you are all hell-bent on crucifying without evidence. I recall how Chaiphas was able to bring people who spoke all manner of lies against Jesus. This proves Corapi is not above his Master.
Did Fr. Corapi lie because people posted a lie…a lie that is able to spread all the way to Japan before truth got on its pants?
“The tongue is a fire, a world of evil. Placed among the parts of our bodies, the tongue contaminates the whole body and sets on fire the course of life, and is itself set on fire by hell.” (Js. 3.6)
This is the equivalency of what they are posting. What they have is the skin of the truth stuffed with a lie!
They are convinced that Corapi could not have had Special Ops training but cannot explain what he did for months in Ft. Knox. They failed to see he was Infantry, which for enlisted soldiers is the first step toward SF- especially since it was in his contract to be SF.
They state he could not have been SF because he did graduate SFAS, AAS or jump school. He never said he did. They misread the National Archive Form and accept a five posts circulating one lie and two “supposed witnesses” to Corapi making the claim. Who are these two? What proof do they hold?
They expect us to believe Fr. Corapi is claiming to be SF by saying “De Oppressor Liber”? I have “Semper Fi” a million times, am I claiming to be a Marine? They insult us by assuming we won’t question that the supposed lapel pin is the SF unit insignia, as they claim.
This is a scandal but not by Fr Corapi!
(One last thing, Joe, what kind of bra did you see David wearing? Do you have evidence? We’d all like to see it. LOL)
Comment by Ken Follis — May 20, 2008 @ 9:44 PM
Please do not send me any further emails from your site.
Comment by Don Bendell — May 20, 2008 @ 9:49 PM
Okay, so the video is up and the pin is obviously NOT an SF pin, Father does not ever say he was a Green Beret, the “smoking gun” tape of him being introduced as someone with a “commitment to the Special Forces” is completely accurate, Don Bendell is clearly a lying, self-aggrandizing, Catholic-hating blowhard, and his pal Joey is an ignorant, abusive thug.
Am I up to speed now?
Comment by GetOverYourself — May 20, 2008 @ 9:50 PM
I wrote to Don Bendell saing, “You told me wrongly a GCM was for 4 years of service when it is for 3 unless you ETS before the 3 and your time is up. Did you get yours since you served less than three years? I am just curious. I’d also love to see the report by the government stating ‘An investigation by the Pentagon uncovered it was actually a classified experimental hand grenade, and it contained mustard gas, which burned Don’s face, hands, lungs, throat, and mouth. As far as can be uncovered, Don is the only veteran from the Vietnam Era who has been burned with mustard gas.’I won’t believe that until I see a first hand report of it.”
Mr.Bendell reported in a letter to SOLT that he served more than three years. I haven’t seen Mr. Bendell’s DD214 or even the NA Form for that matter to know if he served more than three years.
Additionally, I still haven’t seen a government document showing Mr. Bendell’s claim to be the test subject of a govenrment conspiracy as depicted on his website. As with Dr. Corapi, I just want proof. That is not too much to ask. This is not an attack on Mr. Bendell.
However that is for another blog. This one isn’t about him.
Comment by Ken Follis — May 21, 2008 @ 6:38 AM
It is obvious that Father Corapi personally did not embellish any claim regarding his army tour of duty. Never did! Older reports, going back over 10 years indicate that he was interested in some special forces or rangers or something, but this was cut short by a helicopter accident. He never claimed to serving in Vietnam.
However some others, from time to time, particularly recently seem to have embellished Father Corapi’s military record in some short bios. It is easy to exaggerate the accounts of someone we love and admire.
So what do I make of all this? Nothing!
Nobody owes anyone any apology. The lesson from all this is that many of us have to have a hero at a time when there are none. The story about people we admire simply seems to grow because we read too much into things. Father Corapi did not need or what this to happen.
Peace
Comment by Michael — May 21, 2008 @ 10:41 AM
I spoke with Don Bendell, and I could care less what he says, it means nothing…My faith in JESUS CHRIST THE SON OF GOD AND HIS HOLY MOTHER MARY, PLEASE ALL WHO MAY READ THIS PRAY FOR FR. JOHN CORAPI,S.O.L.T.
Remember Our Crucified Jesus on the Cross, there is a JUDGEMENT DAY FOR US ALL, HEAVEN OR HELL, AND PURGATORY. PRAY FOR DON BENDELL HE IS A TORMENTED SOUL, this life is not eternal.
J
Comment by J.Hanley NYPD — August 12, 2008 @ 5:04 PM
Comment by:J I spoke with Don Bendell, and I could care less what he says, it means nothing…My faith in JESUS CHRIST THE SON OF GOD AND HIS HOLY MOTHER MARY, PLEASE ALL WHO MAY READ THIS PRAY FOR FR. JOHN CORAPI,S.O.L.T.
Remember Our Crucified Jesus on the Cross, there is a JUDGEMENT DAY FOR US ALL, HEAVEN OR HELL, AND PURGATORY. PRAY FOR DON BENDELL HE IS A TORMENTED SOUL, this life is not eternal.
J
Comment by J.Hanley NYPD — August 12, 2008 @ 5:08 PM
I agree………………I must pray more frequently and with greater zeal for Father John, and Mr. Bendell as well. This will all pass away, as pointed out by J. Hanley. I believe any further discussion with Mr.Bendell and the POW Network is an excercise in futility. I have done extensive research on the internet about the POW Network, and was quite dismayed by what I found. They actually have pictures of deceased persons’ gravestones posted on their website, and have written to the families of the deceased about “stolen valor”. I say let God be their judge, for only God knows what is in the hearts of all men.
Comment by Jim Gorski — August 12, 2008 @ 5:19 PM
I just came by this site and was reading blogs, the only ones I agree with is J of NYPD, and Jim Gorski. Blessings on these Gentlemen. I truly feel sorry for Don Bendell…he must get pleasure, instead of being concerned about his sons in Iraq,I think
THIS DON BENDELL SHOULD BE IGNORED!!!! You Internet wizards can you block this guy??
God Bless, and God Bless America!!!
AVE MARIA
Liz
Comment by Liz — August 12, 2008 @ 7:19 PM
GOD HELP AMERICA…UNDER ATTACK BY THIS DON BENDELL, AFTER READING MUCH AND DOING RESEARCH, I CAME TO A CONCLUSION, AND MANY AGREE WITH ME, IS: DON BENDELL IS SEEKING ATTENTION, LET US NOT GIVE HIM THE SATISFACTION, VALOR?????IS HE GETTING IT NOW?? NOoooo!!!
GO OVER AND HELP GEORGIA THEY NEED A KNOW IT ALL LIKE DON BENDELL.
MAY GOD HAVE MERCY ON HIM, AND LET US PRAY FOR OUR TROOPS FIGHTING FOR AMERICA, AND LET BENDELL DO SOMETHING TO HELP THEM.
GOD BLESS AMERICA AND SAVE HER.
Therese
Comment by Therese — August 15, 2008 @ 4:11 PM
Green Beret Defends Fr.Corapi
Folks Mr.Bendall is full of himself and full of lies. I believe his true motive he is anti-Catholic. I have spent 23 plus years in the US Army Special Forces. Ten years as an SF Medic 18D and ten years as an SF Team Sergeant 18Z. I had the blessing to met with Fr.Corapi several times.
When I returned home from my 2005-06 tour in Iraq, I had the chance to meet Fr.Corapi at the men’s Boston Catholic Conference March 2006. I gave Fr.John that SF Crest he was wearing in the talk everyone is discussing about. Grow up folks!
It was my small way of saying thank you to Fr.John. Thanking him for his military service and especially for answering the call to serve Christ and His Church.
For Mr.Bendall benefit: Army Magazine May 2008 covered my team’s successful operations while in Iraq. I’m sure he will question my back ground also.
Visit below link: Army Magazine May 2008 issue http://www.ausa.org/publications/armymagazine/armyarchive/may_2008/May%202008%20Features/Grip.pdf
As a Catholic I’m very grateful that we have such faithful and solid priests as Fr.Corapi teaching us the truth about the Catholic faith. Pray for our priest!
God Bless,
MSG Michael Cutone
US Army Special Forces
SOD-G
Comment by MSG Michael Cutone — April 12, 2009 @ 7:26 AM
MSG Cutone,
Thank you so much for having the courage to come forward and defend Father Corapi’s good name! And, Thank You for your dedicated service to the United States of America…….it is men like yourself who truly make this country a country to be proud of. I had the honor of meeting Father Corapi personally at a Lenten Retreat he gave several years back in Kansas City. What an honor to meet such a wonderful Priest and speaker! Over the years, I have amassed a large collection of Father Corapi’s material, the greatest investment I have ever made.
What a shame that the forces of evil have ramped up their attack on Father Corapi. A person with even limited mental capacity can see that Father has NEVER misrepresented himself as something he was not. He is a man of honor, integrity and good character. Those folks who continue to attack Father Corapi are nothing more than two bit thugs, with nothing better to do than sit around and try to dig up dirt on people. What a pathetic existence they lead.
Comment by James Gorski — April 12, 2009 @ 3:29 PM
Michael – thank you for your comments and testimony about Fr. Corapi. God Bless. David
Comment by David — April 14, 2009 @ 10:49 AM
Don Bendell and a few lowlifes from the POW network, have no lives. So they take it upon themselves to bust a few people playing soldiers
(as any of us really give a darn about people who do this anyway)
They never let facts get in the way in their efforts to defame Father Corapi, and many other innocent people.
The fact that they think a few wannabes could passably dishonor the achievements of any American serviceman, only shows that they must be very insecure people.
BTW the stolen valor act really has no teeth. The FBI rarely prosecutes this, unless financial fraud was involved.
Furthermore, the SVA will soon be challenged in a federal court under free speech rights.
If I want to say I am a Green Beret, or even a clown with Barnum and Bailey circus, I may be a liar, but it is my constitutional right to do so.
Comment by Jack from Nashville — July 11, 2009 @ 2:14 PM
Great words Jack………..Don Bendell and his friends need only look at Father Corapi’s honorable discharge from the Army to establish the fact that he did serve his country. Father Corapi should not, and will not ever waste his time explaining anything to these POW Network hillbillies………………..
Comment by James Gorski — July 12, 2009 @ 5:35 AM
Mr. Bendell,
The fact is those in the FBI are well aware of these accusations. And Fr. Corapi is not being prosecuted, because the evidence you claim against him, would not stand up in any court of law.
Your irrational desire to ruin an innocent man, is never going to happen. Move on.
Comment by Jack from Nashville — July 12, 2009 @ 8:32 AM
So glad someone believes they found evidence that Father Corapi is not perfect. I hope they are right. Being a Christian, I place my trust in the Bible. God never chose perfect men to deliver His message. It is the message, not the messenger that is more vital. Father Corapi speaking the Truth in matters of Christian Faith is what is more important than his personal frailities. So I ask…are those attacking Father Corapi after the messenger or the message?
Comment by Fran Ingram — December 6, 2009 @ 9:50 PM
Fran,
You have a very strange view of the Gospel. First, it is sinful to hope that another person, especially one who faithfully witnesses to the Gospel has fallen into sin. You also seem to mistake the nature of the Church that Christ left. It is true that faith is in Christ and not in men but at the same time, it is also true that Christ left men to witness to Him. It is failures of these witnesses that are so often valid scandal but also rationalization for those looking for it. In the end, they have not found evidence. This group notoriously has defamed honest men in their haste and incompetence. Fr. Corapi is one of them. I pray that you repent of your hopes that another Christian has fallen into sin.
Comment by David — December 7, 2009 @ 9:59 PM