North Carolina

Stolen Valor | North Carolina military leader vouched for discredited veteran

Published

12 months ago

August 5, 2023

Stolen Valor | North Carolina military leader vouched for discredited veteran

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — The ABC11 I-Team has discovered that North Carolina Secretary of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, Lt. General Walter Gaskin wrote a letter of recommendation vouching for a former Montford Point Marines Association member who’s been thrown out of the group for claiming military honors he didn’t earn.

There’s been a major shakeup at the national nonprofit the Montford Point Marine Association. Our sister station KGO originally reported three organization officials were caught exaggerating their own military records and awards, according to military records obtained by KGO.

Billy Ray Zinnerman was the Western Region Public Relations Officer and Chairman of the Scholarship Committee. Our sister station, KGO found he was kicked out of the group for faking a decades-long military career. He claimed to have a 25 year military career in which he earned medals for being injured in combat and Desert Storm.

The ABC11 I-Team has learned the North Carolina Secretary of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, Lt. General Walter Gaskin wrote a recommendation letter for Zinnerman last year when he ran for city council in Maricopa, Arizona.

In the letter written by Gaskin, he stated he witnessed “first-hand” Zinnerman’s “superior performance, bravery and dedication to duty while in combat in Desert Storm/Desert Shield in Iraq and the Liberation of Kuwait.”

Military records show Zinnerman was never in Iraq.

ABC11 went to the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to find out why Secretary Gaskin would sign off on something that apparently was not true.

Davis: “Did you write this letter?”

Gaskin: “Of course I wrote the letter. You saw the signature on the letter. The letter is not the issue.”

SEE ALSO | Honoring the first Black U.S. Marines

But the question remained of why he claimed to know about Zinnerman’s supposed service in Desert Storm.

Davis: “So, you didn’t verify the information.”

Gaskin: “I didn’t verify the information because I was there.”

Gaskin told the I-Team he was stationed in Korea and went to see the results of Desert Storm in Kuwait.

Davis: “We know Zinnerman was not there.”

Gaskin: “Zinnerman was an African American Gunnery Sergeant at the unit I saw. At a later time in discussions with him, he told me it was him.”

Davis: “So you never saw him there.”

Gaskin: “I don’t know if it was him or not now after this. I remember seeing an African American Gunnery Sergeant when I was there. When he approached me he reminded me of the time when we were in Kuwait.”

Gaskin admitted to not verifying Zinnerman’s service record before writing the letter that stated he “watched his performance” in combat. Instead, he said he relied on Zinnerman’s word.

An ABC Owned Television Stations documentary last year spotlighted the many contributions of the Montford Point Marines, the first African American recruits to report to basic training camp at Camp Montford Point, a segregated section of Camp Lejeune. Between 1942 and 1949 at the height of World War II, 20,000 men trained there. While many of the trailblazers have died, their families are being awarded replicas of the Congressional Gold Medal for their unsung role in history.

Our America: Mission Montford Point | Watch the Full Episode

Last year marked the 80th anniversary of the Montford Point Marines integrating the Marine Corps. A ceremony was held at Camp Lejeune in August of 2022 to honor the families of the original Black marines.

“It meant so much for my father to be honored for the things he went through,” said Rocky Mount resident Shirley Deberry.

Deberry is the proud daughter of a Montford Point Marine and she calls the wearing of unearned medals a disgrace.

Davis: “If your father were alive, what do you think he’d say?”

Deberry: “He would be appalled. If he were living today he’d say how dare they put on a medal or ribbon they did not earn.”

SEE ALSO | Efforts launched to recover the history and identities of the nation’s first Black marines

Gaskin told ABC11 the stolen valor accusations raised in the KGO report have not impacted the leadership of the Montford Point Marine Association.

“You are using that particular incident of what happened in Kuwait to associate with the Montford Point Marine Association is absolutely BS,” he said.

ABC11 reached out to the Montford Point Marine Association about Gaskin admitting to writing the letter. We were told he is a life member of the organization and the president will look into the matter.

Zinnerman told the I-Team “no comment”, but denied any wrongdoing to our sister station KGO.

Related stores of stolen valor

VIDEO: Phony lieutenant commander honored at Alameda’s USS Hornet Museum

VIDEO: Marin County man pleads guilty to stolen valor

VIDEO: Fake Navy SEAL faces felony theft charges

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North Carolina

Tropical weather update for Wilmington: What we can expect and when

Published

7 hours ago

August 3, 2024

Press Room

Tropical weather update for Wilmington: What we can expect and when

The National Hurricane Center continues to monitor a tropical depression over Cuba. It’s expected to become a tropical storm later Saturday, bringing impacts to the Carolinas around the middle of next week.

Heavy rainfall and flooding are the primary impacts expected, according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington.

“Gusty winds are also possible, but it is too early to predict specific impacts in great detail at this time,” the weather service said.

At the same time, there is the potential for heavy rainfall and some flooding associated with front expected to stall inland this weekend.

As of 11 a.m. Saturday, the center of the tropical depression, which would be name Debby if it becomes a tropical storm, was over Cuba and moving west-northwest near 15 mph. The hurricane center said a turn toward the northwest is forecast for Saturday, followed by a northward motion on Sunday and then a slower northeastwardmotion Sunday night and Monday.

Maximum sustained winds were near 35 mph. Slow strengthening is expected throughout the day Saturday. Faster strengthening is possible Sunday, with the storm nearing hurricane strength when it reaches the Florida Gulf Coast, the hurricane center said.

STORM TRACKER: Monitor the latest tropical developments here.

Here’s a look at what we can expect in the Wilmington area, according to the latest briefing from the National Weather Service in Wilmington.

Wind

The probability of tropical storm force winds has increased, especially for the South Carolina coast. The most likely time of arrival of for northeast South Carolina is Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, and for Southeastern North Carolina is during Wednesday morning.

Rain

The potential for significant rainfall exists with 8 to 12 inches possible from near Cape Fear to portions of thenortheast South Carolina coast. Flash flooding and urban flooding are possible. Some rivers, including the North Cape Fear River and the Waccamaw River, could exceed flood stage next week.

INTERACTIVE MAP: Enter your address to see hurricanes, tropical storms that have passed nearby

Marine impacts

Rough surf, including dangerous rip currents, and hazardous marine conditions are expected this weekend and will persist into the upcoming week.

Are you prepared for a hurricane?

Hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. Even if this system won’t pose a threat to the NC coast, it’s never too early to be prepared.

GET READY: Are you prepared for a hurricane? Here’s what to know if you live in the Wilmington area.

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North Carolina

Tropical Depression Four forms on its way to the Gulf of Mexico

Published

14 hours ago

August 3, 2024

Press Room

Tropical Depression Four forms on its way to the Gulf of Mexico

As of the 5 AM update Friday, Tropical Depression Four has formed. Areas along the East Coast including North Carolina need to continue monitoring this system. Winds are at 30 MPH and gusts are up to 40 MPH. The pressure dropped to 1009 mb and is moving to the west at 16 mph. TD 4 is expected to become Tropical Storm Debby over the weekend. Tuesday night and Wednesday are First Alert Weather Days due to the threat to ENC from this system but we may need to adjust the timing as we get closer.

The latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center continues to show ENC in the cone of uncertainty.(WITN)

It’ll move slowly before escaping to the north next week. As it moves up the East Coast, there’s a lot more uncertainty about the track and threats. We expect the track of this system to change through the weekend and even into next week. If ENC sees impacts from this system, they’d likely come mid-week. The longer this system stays over land, the weaker it’ll be. It’ll have the chance to strengthen if it moves back over open water, especially if it moves over the warm waters of the Gulf Stream.

Storms are possible Saturday through Monday as a developing tropical system gets closer.(WITN)

The speed of this system is just as important as the strength. The quicker it moves through, the less rain piles up. If it slows down or stalls, higher rainfall amounts would be expected. Our river levels have dropped a bit since July’s wet weather, but levels are still higher than what you’d find in a typical August.

What We Know, What We Don't — What We Know, What We Don’t(WITN)

This is a reminder that we are heading into the heart of the hurricane season and to make sure your emergency supplies are ready.

Stay with WITN and WITN.com as we continue to track this system over the coming days and monitor the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.

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North Carolina

Alabama man on work trip stops to buy $3 quick pick Powerball ticket, wins 6-figure jackpot

Published

21 hours ago

August 3, 2024

Press Room

Alabama man on work trip stops to buy quick pick Powerball ticket, wins 6-figure jackpot

Christopher Baker of Leesburg, Alabama was on a work trip in Hickory, North Carolina, when he thought he’d try his luck on a lotto game. It turned out to be a lucrative Powerball win.

An Alabama man on a work trip in North Carolina bought a $3 Quick Pick Powerball ticket on a whim and walked away with a six-figure windfall.

Christopher Baker of Leesburg in northeastern Alabama bought his lucky ticket in July in Hickory, North Carolina, where had been traveling for work, according to Powerball.

When the numbers were drawn, Baker says he had to do a double-take when he realized he had a $100,000 winning ticket. He had matched four white balls and the red Powerball, which would have been $50,000, but a 2X multiplier doubled the win and the disbelief.

“I just kept looking at it to make sure I was reading it right,” he laughed, according to Powerball. “I told my family but they didn’t believe me. either.”

Baker, who called his win “a shocker.” said he plans to save his winnings to buy a house.

Baker will take home $71,501 after federal and state taxes are withheld.

How to play the Powerball

In order to purchase a $2 Powerball ticket, you’ll have to visit your local convenience store, gas station or grocery store − and in a handful of states, you can purchase tickets online.

To play, you will need to pick six numbers in total to mark on your ticket. Five numbers will be white balls ranging from numbers 1 to 69. The Powerball is red and one number which is between 1 and 26.

If you want to increase your chances of winning, you can add a “Power Play” for $1 which increases the winnings for all non-jackpot prizes. This addition can multiply winnings by 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, or 10X.

Players can also ask a cashier for a “Quick Pick” where a cashier will give you a computer generated numbers on a printed Powerball ticket.

Drawings are held on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday nights. If there’s no jackpot winner, the cash prize will increase by millions.

Where to purchase tickets

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington D.C. and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050(MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-981-0023 (PR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit jackpocket.com/tos for full terms.

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