|
Current KWVA national headquarters in Beavercreek, Ohio
(Click for a larger view)
|
Coon Administration
Introduction
The page below was the KWE's original introductory (index) page for KWVA News when it was first posted on the
Korean War Educator. At that time, Harley Coon and the Coonites serving on the Executive Council were
heavily involved in deceiving the members in a number of ways, including the publishing of a fraudulent
photograph in the national newsletter, frivolous expenditure of treasury money, electioneering with treasury
money, self-dealing, illegal meetings/motions/votes, and a host of other improprieties. There were also
repeated and very public attempts on the part of Coon and the Coonites to harass and intimidate any member who
disagreed with them. Included in them were "Go to Hell!" letters to members from the Coon-appointed editor
of the KWVA newsletter.
This introductory page is now archived on the Korean War Educator under the subject heading "Coon
Administration." On July 27, 2004, the newly-elected president of the KWVA, Lou Dechert, took the helm as
the chief executive officer of the KWVA. The pages now found under the Coon Administration link will
remain as a permanent reference and resource for those concerned about the KWVA's past and for those encouraged
by the KWVA's present and future under a distinguished new leader who has vowed to right the wrongs of the Coon
Administration.
Introductory Page - KWVA News
Final update: July 27, 2004
ALERT! COON & EXECUTIVE COUNCIL BLOCK NEWLY-ELECTED PRESIDENT & WINNING DIRECTORS FROM TAKING OFFICE!!
See Election 2004 for details. Join the
fight against the Coonite stranglehold on the KWVA. Find details on how your voice can be heard.
The purpose of this page of the Korean War Educator is to inform the public about news associated with the
Korean War Veterans Association—one of the nation’s largest organizations entirely devoted to the veterans of
the Korean War and Korea Service. The KWVA has more than 275 chapters in states throughout the USA. The chapters
are the glue that holds the KWVA together (see heading "KWVA Accomplishments")
Primarily, this page focuses on the organization’s leadership, organization, and administration at the
national level during the three-term (two years per term) presidency of Harley Coon of Beavercreek, Ohio. It
also discusses the relationship of the KWVA officers, board of directors, and other officials at the national
level with respect to the chapters at the local level, and with the general membership.
At the present time, the exact location of the national headquarters is on Marsetta Drive in Beavercreek,
Ohio. For a time it operated out of an industrial building owned by Harley J. Coon in Beavercreek. When he sold
the building, the KWVA operated out of a post office box in Beavercreek. The address listed for "National KWVA
Headquarters" in the most current issue of the organization's magazine is a business complex in Beavercreek. The
small office is used by the illegally-sitting president of the KWVA, the national secretary, and the treasurer.
Administration of the organization is scattered among the president and officers residing at different
locations across the country. Mailing address for membership is: KWVA, P. O. Box 10806, Arlington, VA 22210.
During the Coon administration, the distribution of a list of chapter locations and contacts was not permitted.
Nevertheless, chapter locations can now be found on the Korean War Educator [See heading "Chapter Information."]
The National KWVA, which is reported by Harley Coon to have an unverified membership count of over 16,000
active (dues-paid) members, has accomplished many objectives in its 18 years of existence. For instance, its
chapters played a role in the fund-raising and promotional efforts to build the Korean War Memorial in
Washington, DC. It stages annual reunions. It maintains a website. It has a bi-monthly publication that is a
valuable source of information about issues affecting Korean War veterans, reunion details, chapter news, and
more. In addition, the individual KWVA chapters actively help veterans within their communities and promote a
"Tell America" educational program within the local school systems. [See heading "KWVA Accomplishments".]
To the casual observer, the KWVA might appear to be a well-oiled and well-run organization. But inside the
organization, there has been continuing dissension and turmoil among the membership over the last six years (the
years of Harley Coon’s presidency). For instance, some members who disagree with the current illegal president
and board policies have been arbitrarily and illegally removed, or threatened with removal, from the membership
rolls. Some members question what they feel to be unnecessary, unwarranted, or exorbitant expenditures of funds.
Business is conducted and executed in meetings with no quorum present. Passed motions have been ignored by the
president. The financial status of the organization is based on a "95% audit."
The organization's national magazine is highly censored, and the advertising contracts of non-Coon supporters
have been broken. Their advertisements were pulled from the magazine, and funds were not returned to at least
one of the advertisers. There is also controversy over a falsified photograph of the KWVA national
headquarters that was published in the national newsletter, as well as a high budget for funding and operation
of a headquarters that the magazine claimed was "donated space." Columns of the magazine are also repeatedly
used for one-sided electioneering for Harley Coon and his friends. Organization money has been illegally used to
fund the publication and mailing of a propaganda campaign called the "Special Bulletin" during the middle of a
national election.
Another extremely significant controversy deals with KWVA bylaws that were changed in 2001 (illegally,
according to the KWVA judge advocate) to allow a third- and fourth-term presidency, heretofore forbidden in the
original bylaws. As a result of the bylaws manipulation, Harley Coon is serving as the illegal, third-term board
president.
Please note that this page of the Korean War Educator is not solely a sounding board for complaints about the
Korean War Veterans Association, nor is it intended to be a propaganda page to expound unduly on the KWVA’s
virtues. Instead, it is meant to be an informative resource for Korean War veterans who want to make their own
decisions regarding the worthiness, honesty, and integrity of the leadership of the Korean War Veterans
Association. No where else in the world can our readers find a better collective resource for the topics and
issues that have affected the KWVA (past and present) than can be found on KWVA News, Korean War Educator.
This page was created by Lynnita Jean Brown (lynnita@koreanwar-educator.org),
with information supplied to the Korean War Educator by members of the Korean War Veterans Association. There is
a standing invitation to readers of this page that if they discover any errors in the information on KWVA News,
they are welcome to provide supporting documentation that disproves anything stated. The KWE will rectify any
errors inadvertently made on KWVA News. Send your documentation to: Lynnita Brown, 111 E. Houghton St., Tuscola,
IL 61953. |
