TYLER (KYTX) - A Tyler man's name will be removed from the state veteran's home more than a year after his death.
The State Land Board voted this morning to remove Sam Garrison's name after it was discovered his claims about being a Tuskeegee Airman were false.
Garrison's name is still on the entry sign as of now, although it has been pulled off the website.
The vote was made today that it will be taken down, and veterans are reacting to the news.
"If he's been proven guilty, don't need to be there," says Larry Daly, a veteran.
"They need to take his name off the wall and find another hero and put up on that wall," says Eddy Featherson, a veteran.
East Texas veterans are hurt to hear the claims of Sam Garrison were false.
And angry he received undue recognition when his name was placed on the state veteran's home last year.
A state board voted on the change Thursday morning.
"Sgt. Garrison was a sergeant, not a captain. His military occupational specialization was cargo checker," says Jim Suydam with the Texas Land Office.
He says their investigation concluded Sam Garrison was never a Tuskeegee Airman, even though he was known for telling incredible stories of flying in the war.
Suydam says Garrison did not earn the silver or bronze star medals he wore on his red jacket.
Garrison's widow, Willie, told us in an earlier interview she thought there was something suspicious about his story, and he ordered several medals online.
He was nominated locally for his name to appear on the home.
"This is the 8th home we've built and this is not something we've had to deal with yet," says Suydam.
"He had so many flaws in his history there. They should have seen that at once," says Featherston.
Something local vets say is shameful, on many levels.
"Nobody done no homework on this stuff," says Featherston.
The state wants to reiterate the home isn't affected by the name on the outside walls, and they provide the same care here as they do at all of their veteran's homes.
And as of now, there isn't a timeline set up for when the name will come down.
We did hear from Garrison's widow close to news time tonight, she apologizes again for everything that has happened and feels the state has made the right decision.
The investigation into Sam Garrison's service started with an article from our news partner, The Tyler Morning Telegraph, in May.
It all came down to a lack of records to support his claims.
