Tully falsely claimed to be a veteran of the United States Air Force, and would speak publicly about his military service, with claims that included service in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He also attended veteran's functions as a fellow member in uniform, ranked as a colonel, and was often invited as a Guest of Honor. By 1985, however, he was regretting and feeling the pressure of his claims, and started dropping not-so-subtle hints that he had never served in the military. Bill Shover, a Phoenix Newspapers Inc. executive, urged him to quietly get rid of his uniforms and to stop telling war stories, but Tully refused to stay quiet. Shover later commented that, "It's almost like he was trying to get caught."