Vol. 3, No. 12, December 2006
RSS Feeds
No Honor for Levy
Questions about the military background of Atlantic City Mayor Bob Levy hounded the city’s top executive last month when he admitted that he had exaggerated his service. For more than 20 years in the Beach Patrol and during his campaign for mayor, Levy contended that his time in Vietnam included stints as a Green Beret and Army Ranger. When asked to provide proof of that service, Levy refused to answer. The controversy was triggered when an Egg Harbor Township veterans committee wanted Levy to speak as a former veteran, but asked for proof of his record. In an investigation by former Green Beret Don Bendell, it was revealed that the Green Berets or Army Rangers had no record of service by Levy. Records released by Levy in mid-November indicated that while he did serve in Vietnam as a switchboard operator, communications instructor, and later in Atlantic City as a recruiter, there is no indication that he served in any elite regiment.
The mayor’s office also failed to respond to requests from Casino Connection to provide proof of Levy’s Army service.
The mayor has issued a public apology for misrepresenting his service record. The scandal is yet another black eye for Atlantic City government just weeks after three council members, including its president, Craig Callaway, pleaded guilty to bribery. All three will be sentenced to prison in December.
