SHADY DEALINGS BY VFW CADRE DRIVE COMBAT VETS AWAY

By Juan Montoya
The chronic leadership of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3025 has earned itself such a reputation of admitting social memberships contrary to the organization's bylaws, fiscal mismanagement, and unprofessional conduct that it has driven legitimate combat vets away, critics say.
And the documented wearing of combat decorations and other medals by the commander himself that are not listed on his military discharge papers have led some veterans to seek assistance from national organizations that out cases of "stolen valor" to expose the alleged fraud.
http://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/2015/07/is-vfw-post-2035-commander-lucio.html
 All this has come atop the financial problems facing the veterans' group as its members try to keep the local IBC Bank holding a $300,000-plus note used to construct the post from foreclosing and them losing the building. Back in the early 2000s, the group sold its property and building which it owned outright at the corner of Los Ebanos and Paredes Line Road and built a grand structure which it is now having trouble paying.
Inside sources say that the post has kept its head above fiscal waters by a continuing refinancing of the note with the IBC. They say that the fact that Post Commander Luis Lucio is the cousin of Texas Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. is the only reason the bank has not pulled the rug out from the veterans' service group.
If and when IBC decides to foreclose, it will have to deal with the City of Brownsville. The city extended the VFW a 100-year renewable lease on 2.96 acres at $1 a year on December 2006. If the bank forecloses on the note, the bank and the city will have to reach an agreement because the lease the VFW signed with the city states that:
"All improvements hereafter constructed or placed on the Leased Premises and all alterations, modifications and enlargements thereof and improvements therein, shall become part of the Leased Premises with title vesting to the City at the expiration or earlier termination of this agreement subject, however, to Lessee's obligations to operate, repair, maintain and replace and right of possession, use and occupancy during the term of the term of this Agreement in accordance with the terms and the conditions thereof."
"When the young guys come back from Iraq and Afghanistan and visit the VFW a couple of times they see what's going on and don't come back," said a former member. "They can see what's going on. The place is being run by a bunch of wannabe combat veterans who treat it as their private drinking club."
In fact, a former quarter master documented that many VFW "regulars" wouldn't even qualify to be members under the national VFW requirements.
The VFW bylaws state that membership is limited to: "Those serving honorably in the U.S. Armed Forces in a foreign war or overseas operation recognized by a campaign medal, in Korea after June 30, 1949, and recipients of hostile-fire or imminent danger pay. Veterans of World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, Lebanon, Persian Gulf and Iraq, Kosovo, Afghanistan and other smaller expeditionary campaigns, as well as occupation duty, qualify." 
In some cases, veterans whose DD214 (discharge papers) show they wouldn't qualify under the regulations have been recruited by Lucio and his cadre of regulars despite their ineligibility. This group, the disaffected veterans say, run the place under direction from Lucio and seek to stifle dissent, even resorting to physical threats to do it.
"You have guys who were stationed in bases in Panama and in Germany or Okinawa in peace time claiming they were in combat or facing hostile fire when it never happened," said a veteran who who longer frequents the post. "They're right in there with the legitimate members even when they aren't eligible."
The problem with such "social memberships" has been addressed at the national level of the veterans service organization. In a F A and Q, the organizations states that:
"The National By-Laws provides for one type of membership, i.e., active membership in good standing in the Veterans of Foreign Wars with membership being in accordance with the By-Laws of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Social membership or any other type of membership other than active membership meeting the eligibility criteria set forth in the By-Laws is not authorized or condoned. Any Post admitting social members is in direct violation of the By-Laws and subject to disciplinary action to include the revocation of charter.
"Social Members" in the Clubroom/Canteen: In addition to the By-Laws of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, VFW Posts maintaining canteen/club operations serving alcohol beverages are required to comply with all applicable local, county and state regulations pertaining to such operations. In some instances, these regulations do provide for guests, but it is at the discretion of the Post to allow guests entry to their canteen/club." http://faq.vfw.org/faq/index.php?View=entry&EntryID=217
One former "social member" said he was curious about his status and contacted the VFW State Adjutant who told him he was not eligible to join the VFW. He could, the adjutant said, volunteer his time and frequent the post, but could not vote or take part in any organizational decisions.

Lucio, however, has his defenders.
Even after this blog posted documentation that he was wearing a Purple Heart and at least five other  decorations he didn't earn and were not listed on his DD214, one commenter wrote:
"You people that talk shit about the VFW have probably never even been in the Arm Forces and no one gets free beers there, and for your info they do have a staff to work the bar and a bar manager so you must not go there much just getting 2nd hand info. They might struggles but they manage. As for Mr. Lucio you got your info wrong he does no launder money he actually donates to the VFW, his time always and money when needed. I bet you probably go there and sit with him and pretend to be his friend and you are probably a back stabber just like some people that go there. If you are a Veteran why don't you go there and help out."
Well, not really.
While reimbursement of members' personal expenditures on behalf of the club are permitted under the VFW rules, a three-year review of the VFW's finances indicates that from 2009 to 2011, five VFW post officers drew more than $41,000 in "salaries" quite apart from reimbursements.
Among these was Lucio who drew $4,900 in 2009 as "bar manager" at $250 per week.
Ray Champion and Arturo Rios also drew regular payments for all three years. Another veteran, since deceased was also paid on a weekly basis.
The veterans whose goal is to set the post back on track and make it a place of honor say that they are not on a witch hunt singling out anyone, but want things to be done above board and right.
"If the commander wants to come clean, he should present an audit of the VFW roster to prove that all the members there are eligible, have an financial audit performed by an independent auditor to show things are above board, and invite the community to inspect its operations," said one. "After all, every Brownsville resident is a part owner of that post. Return honor to VFW Post 2035. Is that too much to ask?"