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Mashpee Wamapanoag chair relinquishes duties
Friday, August 24, 2007
Filed Under: National | Recognition

Glenn Marshall, the chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts, has relinquished his duties amid scrutiny into his military record and past.

Marshall apologized and said he was handing duties to vice chairman Shawn Hendricks so he can “properly deal with the mental and physical issues," according to a statement released by the tribe.

The move came after the U.S. Marine Corps said it didn't have any records that Glenn Marshall, the chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts, received top awards for valor.

The New London Day reported that Marshall received five Purple Hearts and one Silver Star during three tours of duty in Vietnam. The information was provided to a reporter by a consultant working with the tribe and also from a biography prepared by the tribe's public relations firm.

Marshall was present at the interview but didn't appear to know that the consultant gave the information to the reported. The paper did not seek confirmation until questions about Marshall's record came up [Blog: Five Purple Hearts AND the Silver Star for Valor?]

In 1981, Marshall was convicted of rape. He cited his service in Vietnam as he was sentenced for five years. He only served three months before being released on probation.

Marshall testified to Congress that he participated in the siege of Khe Sahn during Vietnam. But that took place before he even graduated from high school and before the Department of Defense says his military service began.

Rep. John Doolittle (R-California), who is under federal scrutiny for his ties to convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, cited Marshall's record in a letter to support the tribe's federal recognition bid. Doolittle says he was misled.

Get the Story:
Mashpee Chairman Apologizes, Turns Over Duties (The New London Day 8/24)
Username: indianz@indianz.com, Password: indianzcom
Marines: No Record Of Marshall Earning Combat Medals (The New London Day 8/24)
Marshall's record includes rape, lies (The Cape Cod Times 8/24)

Mashpee Casino Agreement:
Intergovernmental Agreement (July 2007)

Relevant Documents:
DOI Final Determination | Summary of Acknowledgment Cases | R. Lee Fleming Declaration

Only on Indianz.Com:
Federal Recognition Database V2.0 (May 2005)

Relevant Links:
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe - http://mashpeewampanoagtribe.com