From: William Brooksby [mailto:bill.brooksby@verizon.net]
Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2011 7:47 AM
To: DonPoss-lm37@vspa.com
Subject: Wayne Coe

Don: To make a long story short and realizing that most of what I know about Wayne isn’t an eye witness account I really don’t have much to add.  I did meet Dr. Dave Warden, who is mentioned in Wayne’s stories.  Dr. Warden practiced medicine in Kaysville, Utah after returning from his service in Viet Nam. 

The last contact I had with Wayne was a voice mail I received five years ago after I sent him a message, through a web master that posted the picture you linked to in you post.  My brother had stayed in contact with Wayne over many years and when he was killed in a motorcycle accident I sent word to Wayne. 

The stories he has written as consistent with stories he told me after he left the Army in the early 70’s but I wasn’t in harm’s way and can’t verify their truthfulness.

Bless you for your service.  I hope you are well.

Bill Brooksby

Author: Don Poss
Subject: Re: War-Stories.com's Banned Authors List: Wayne Coe
In reply to: William Brooksby 's message, " War-Stories.com's Banned Authors List: Wayne Coe "

Bill,

In reference to Wayne Coe, who is listed on War-Stories.com’s Banned Authors List and also banned at VSPA.com:

No one is saying that Wayne Coe is not a personable and likeable person, nor that he is, was, or may have be a helicopter pilot. What has been alleged and strongly stated (with supporting evidence) by members of units Wayne Coe claims to have served with, is that he did not serve with those units nor perform ANY events he has claimed.

The pity is that Wayne Coe is a gifted writer who apparently draws upon the valor and courage or others to spin creative stories portraying himself as having performed courageously at those events. Wayne Coe’s stories are not merely an embellishment of actual deeds he has claimed to have performed or participated in, as aging veterans are prone to do, but in short: his claims are unsubstantiated by anyone who was a part of any event(s) he purports to have participated in – without exception.

Sadly, Wayne Coe has declined to reply, address, or dispute any of the several allegations concerning matters of honor or stolen valor, resulting from his claims that he merits honor and valor from claimed combat actions. For your information, the several persons making these allegations were unaware others had independently protested and denied Wayne Coe’s claimed combat exploits.

Over the years, I have received emails from loyal friends of Wayne Coe, all strongly supporting his claims, and none having personal knowledge or eye witness to any of his claims. It is likely those friends would consider their loyalty abused and misplaced if they discovered that loyalty was based on false claims, deceptions, and gross distortion of personal courage by Wayne Coe’s claims inserting himself in to the midst of brave men fighting for their lives. Consider that Wayne Coe is in the driver’s seat and permits others to continue speaking up on his behalf, but will not (cannot) do so himself. Wayne Coe could clear the air entirely if he chose to do so, if his claims are truth. For Wayne Coe to remain silent is to continue a deception at other’s expense, and flaunt a willingness to continue claims of stolen-valor while basking in the admiration of those who otherwise could withdraw their support of him.

What brought Wayne Coe’s claims to a head, for me, was his personal exchange of emails with a Vietnam Veteran, where he claimed to have been present when four USAF military police (Security Police) were killed in action while repelling a force of 1,400 Viet Cong and NVA, at Tan Son Nhut Airbase, South Vietnam, during TET 1968. Those four KIA airmen, and one other who survived, received Silver Stars for their valor. An airman who took part in defending the airbase was personally contacted by Wayne Coe whereas Wayne Coe restated his own combat role of having flown huey gunship air support at Tan Son Nhut. Later, upon learned through other parties that Wayne Coe did not fly any of the mission in support of O-51 Bunker at Tan Son Nhut, and not a member of the air units he claimed, that airman suffered severe depression and was distraught for several months.

No change on Wayne Coe’s status will be made at War-Stories.com or VSPA.com, Inc., unless he personally responds to the persons, and their statements, who are confirmed as members of the units Wayne Coe has claimed having served with. The offer to Waynce Coe to dispute allegations against him, remains open.

Don Poss,
Webmaster, War-Stories.com and Vietnam Security Police Association, Inc. (vspa.com)

Wayne R. "Crash" Coe
BANNED at War-Stories.com

From: Den Cook
Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2005 6:58 AM
To: Don Poss
Subject: Wayne R. "Crash" Coe

Don, Last night I was talking to Wayne Salisbury, MSgt., USAF (ret) President Tan Son Nhut Association. Wayne was in contact with a Bill Stribling who was based at Hotel-3 during the Tet Offensive as a door gunner during the attack. Bill is positive that that Wayne Coe was not stationed at Hotel-3 during Tet, and [Bill] has the name of a commander from Hotel-3 who would confirm that information.

Is there a chance you could shead some light on this information? I'm concerned about who is spreading mis information?

Thanks, Den

From: Den Cook
Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2005 7:55 AM
To: Don Poss
Subject: Wayne R. "Crash" Coe

Don, I received this info from Charles Penley:

I have heard about Wayne "Crash" Coe and his stories on the VSPA. About three to four years ago, I talked to several men of the 120th Attack Helicopter Co., and they were like Bill Stribling.  They had never heard of Mr Coe. That is why I never put any
of his stories on the 377th Security Police web page.

Charles Penley

Den

----- Original Message -----
 From: Don Poss
 To: Den Cook
 Cc: "Gattis, Steve T. LM-49, VSPA President
 Sent: Thursday, March 16, 2006 11:15 PM
 Subject: RE: Wayne Coe

Den:
 
Regarding "Wayne Crash Coe" and his Vietvet stories and claims:
 
Several years ago (maybe 6 or 7), you posted an outstanding story at War-Stories called "Heaven's Door". After reading the story, and in response, Wayne "Crash" Coe posted at War Stories, "Tet '68 ... 120th Assault Helicopter Company". Both stories were moved to VSPA.com shortly thereafter. Please reread them.

Below is the web research I have found to date concerning "Wayne Crash Coe" who is mentioned, honored, and praised, across the web. However, I have located no one who actually served with him. Many mentioning him online qualify their friendship with him via introduction of a known Vietvet friend. Finding Coe, so far, is not easy, and it appears that he is misrepresenting himself and his deeds.

Background concerning Wayne R. “Crash” Coy:

• His years-old email addresses are returned without contact:

Recipient: <crashcoe@davidzimmer.com
Reason: not local host davidzimmer.com, not a gateway

• A Google on "Wayne R. Crash Coe" discloses that he is invisible and not locatable:

a. Coe currently has about ten (10) stories at War Stories, that have been posted for 5 or more years, and three at VSPA.com.
 
b. John Angelini, Alpha Co. 1968-69 [(3/1/2000) writes the following:

"I've met Tom Pienta and Ron Languria (doorgunner) through my good friend Wayne Coe (pilot) of the 187th Crusaders [they were formerly called the Black Hawks as well]. Ron Languria's chopper picked up four or five guys from my squad that was badly burned from JP4 fuel (both returned to the bush after a stint in Japan)."
 
c. Jul 4th, 2005: One Red-Flag is posted at the "DUSTOFF Association Message Board" at where J. W. CAMPBELL (MAJ, USA Retired. P.O. Box 11039 Fort Huachuca, Arizona 85670 (503)665-4428) is trying to get the Flight Surgeon mentioned in one of Coe's stories an award for bravery. The writer states that the he contacted the Office of the Surgeon General asking for their support, they stated they had no record of a Major David R. Warden ever having been in Vietnam. Perhaps a phone call to Campbell could shed light on what his inquiries produced?
 
d. An article posted in the Boston Globe mentions “Coe” as a featured interviewee in "Vietnam: The Soldier's Story," produced by Lisa Zeff and Ed Hersh, on The Learning Channel (1998).
 
e. Coe is also used as a source of reference in Government research regarding Agent Orange.
 
f. A photo of Wayne R. "Crash" Coe is at: http://www.heli-vets.net/coewayne.html. Perhaps those who do not remember him could check it out? That photo comes from a page that posts "Now" photos of helicopter pilots (http://www.heli-vets.net/young_now_old.html).
 
g. I do not know anyone in the organization "stolen valor" but although Coe does not claim MOH or any medals to my knowledge, if his claimed heroics are false, then they may likely have info on him.
 
I do not know Coe, and recognize that he is a gifted-writer. It also appears that he is a gifted-liar. I have sent an email to his old email, and do not have a newer email for him. Coe's stories appear in numerous Vietvet websites. If I can contact him, I will present him an opportunity to speak directly to those who do not remember him. If he declines, his stories will be removed from WS and VSPA, and I will contact the webmasters of the several Vietvet websites and report what we know.

Don Poss
Da Nang Air Base, RVN, 1965-66, USAF,
366th Air Police Squadron/K-9: Blackie, x129;
6252d APS; 35th APS; and 28th ABG/AP
Webmaster:
· War Stories http://www.war-stories.com;
· Vietnam Security Police Assn (USAF) http://www.vspa.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Den Cook
Sent: Friday, March 17, 2006 7:23 AM
To: Don Poss
Subject: Wayne R. "Crash" Coe

Don: I try to look at life in positive way, and although this makes me feel like I've been lied too, the fact that Coe's writings may have helped release memories locked up inside of many veterans and helped them find peace maybe the good side of all this -- hummmm, wouldn't it be great to track down this wannabe so we could all pay him a visit, or at least fill his email box with every virus we could find?

Thanks Don,
Den Cook

----- Original Message -----
From: Don Poss
To: Den Cook
Cc: Steve Gattis, Steve. LM-49, VSPA President" <SteveGattis-LM49@vspa.com
Sent: Friday, March 17, 2006 8:13 PM
Subject: RE: Wayne Coe

Den:

The simple truth is Coe could not have written such a response without having something to build on. He took your heartfelt story and embellished it, following with the ideal response. He is a very talented writer without life's experiences to create a story of his own. What I have noticed is that Coe appears to take someone else’s' passionate story and weaves a tale around that in which he plays a major, but oblique, role in which the only conclusions possible is that he is heroic. That does not take away from the truth of what you wrote at all. Your story will stand as long as VSPA has a website, and be carried through the AP/SP Museum for a hundred plus years...maybe as long as there is an USAF. Coe's appendage will likely fall to the wayside as a momentary footnote, and soon forgotten.

The truth of what we did as AP/SPs does not require the pen of fantasy, however poetic, to justify, embellish, enhance, or inflate the self-evident valor, honor, and worthiness of our collective accomplishments.

I do not think Coe would reply even if we were able to find and contact him. As for causing him harm, neither of us would ever do that. The greater the lie, the greater harm when exposed to the light. Our findings will see the light to everyone who posts his name. And that, to me reflects WWI English Warrior-poet Wildred Owen's definition of "pity." Wildred Owen once said:

"Above all I am not concerned with Poetry--my subject is War, and the pity of War ... the Poetry is in the pity."

The Vietnam War has brought out wannabes who would steal valor and bask in the light, or shadows, of true warriors. Such appears to be the essence of Wayne Coe. His motives, goals, craving praise and adulation from those who are what he was not, amounts to the Pity that Owen wrote about. The difference is there is very little poetry in theft of warriors' heartfelt memories: and as such ... Coe falls beneath contempt, leaving only an enduring pity.

Don Poss

-----Original Message-----
From: Den Cook
Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2005 6:55 AM
To: Don Poss
Subject: Wayne R. "Crash" Coe
 
Don, I received this info from Charles Penley:

Den I have heard about Wayne "Crash" Coe and his stories on the VSPA. About three to four years ago, I talked to several men of the 120th Attack Helicopter Co., and they were like Bill Stribling. They had never heard of Mr. Coe. That is why I never put any of his stories on the 377th Security Police web page.

Charles Penley

-----Original Message-----
From: Den Cook
Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2005 5:58 AM
To: Don Poss
Subject: Wayne R. "Crash" Coe
 
Don, Last night I was talking to Wayne Salisbury, MSgt. USAF (ret) President Tan Son Nhut Association. Wayne was in contact with a Bill Stribling who was based at Hotel-3 during the Tet Offensive as a door gunner during the attack. Bill is positive that Wayne Coe was not stationed at Hotel-3 during Tet, and has the name of a commander from Hotel-3 who would confirm that information. Is there a chance you could shed some light on this information? I'm concerned about who is spreading misinformation?
 
Thanks, Den Cook

-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Gattis, President, Vietnam Security Police Association [mailto:SteveGattis-LM49@vspa.com]
Sent: Friday, March 17, 2006 10:48 PM
To: Don Poss and Den Cook
Subject: Wayne R. "Crash" Coe

Don & Den,

Both of you have written something that is both eloquent and incredible. Den, your story is a reflection of who we are in the finest sense of the word.

I have just gone a number of rounds on something similar and far simpler with some shirt seller who stole our logo and name and then tried to sell shirts on eBay. Fortunately, after preparing an affidavit, we have prevailed and the legal staff at eBay has hammered him into the ground to the point where he is pleading with me to drop the complaint. Just like the days when the car thief said, "Please don't take me to jail, I'll lose my job."

He initially tried to be cooperative by removing one item. I thanked him and asked him how he obtained the logo. He stated that he "bought it from a guy who said he had a right to sell it." I asked him for the information on the person who sold the logo and didn't hear anything else. He failed to remove the second item and I asked the eBay’s legal staff to remove the other item. It was only after the eBay legal team removed the other item and took him to task that I heard from him again. I am currently pressing the seller to reveal who gave him the logo. No luck yet, but I am sure the copyright folks at eBay will succeed.

My best to you both. Coe will fall eventually. It would be interesting if we still had our Military.com membership to see if he is listed as having served in Vietnam. We only had it for one year as an association with ten slots and then it expired.

Steve

Steve Gattis, President
Vietnam Security Police Association
Life Member #49
Cam Ranh Bay 68 - 69