Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-10-10
Cracking
.D0Wn0n Ph0ny
Soldiers

NE of the queerest offshoots of the war which
J puzzled psychologists and policemen alike is the
49, tendency Of an abnornaly large number people
TO become "phony", or "make-beleve' soldiers.
Although ether nations undoubtedly report cases
Of adults making out like they fighting
gong 10 the extreme of posing as such TO fool many per-
sons the greatest number of these frauds by have
turned up in America since Pearl Harbor They present
not only puzzle to psychologists and students Of human
nature. but also problem to the armed end the
Omen who, however have dealt swiftly with them.
Literally hundreds of persons throughout the United
States have been arrested the couple years
for posing soldiers, sailors Army heroes
herones The make believers" not confined any
locale but by far the greatest number have been uncovered
IN washington headquarters OF the Omen and Of the
bestpoliced cities by the armed services in the country
The 'phones," study of case-fies show,
fined TO any class of society Elderly and rich
who have been the Army have been caught
posing as generals; policemen who should know better
have been caught passing themselves off as coones
boys scarcely out Of their have been picked up posing
second heutenants shavetas this classification
is universally known in the Army.
One in Washington successful at imper-
sonating general that he able many occasions
TO commander "jeep or staff car the occasion
demanded, and attend social functions style.
ported at the War Department every day in
for several months before his hoax was uncovered.
Chief Oman J. Edgar Hoover who has written the
subject before declares majority
harmless in the that they want to hurt the country
have any criminal intent But he that many of
the phonies that way for purposeto cash checks
10 hoodwink unsuspcctng girls who fall for pretty
form, to put something someone who is i'm
pressed by bright Army buttons
Probably the lowest Of this type the
who bedeck themselves in uniform go into strange
city and let it be known casually that they ION
Bataan," "pioted Flying Fortress New Guinea"
performed other heroic action Invariably
pectng civic groups and patriotic citizens fete these
heroes" take them into their homes and cases
give them chests fun Of money behalf the city
OF course there is chagrin and rage all
the trick uncovered The despcabIe thing
persons that they dsusion the average
him skeptca Of the real heroes who all good
things this country give.
There record of such fakes going into as
many five towns before they discovered
what they arc-nothng but dressed up
in military Farb. The Army just IS 70
about these imposers the G-men
penalties for misusing the uniforms of fighting
1t is pointed by officials in Washington that one
factor IN the great increase in hones undoubtedly has
been the comparative with which people could
military uniforms. obtain them other way When
soldier for example, in boarding house O
his uniforms might be stolen and disposed
Of these INSCRIPTIONS persons or be sold
who IN viii resell IL TO soft headed fater
folks TO think he's doing his part in the effort.
All civilians warned that s dangerous 10 take
material that looks like military goods and it into
suit that resembles uniform for the
good chance of being accused OF trying 20 initiate
officer enlisted man.
a Washington, H. G., woman recently arrested in
homemade outfit which closely rcscmhcd the uniform
of tho WhACS. She proved that she any
intent 10 uniform OF the United States Army
IT Was embarrassing nevertheless TO face the publicity
One ~ the oldest cases to the attention the
authorities IS that Of fraudulent soldier who first posed
q private IN the Signal Corps When his gave
birth ~ baby hc added stripes he had
been tod 20 corporal Later ne posed q second
lieutenant and took part activities 1T different clubs
r.a.re soldiers are entertained.
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