Tommy Franks paid $100K by charitable military support organization under investigation

Fundraising

Charitable Taking

William Barrett 12.21.07, 12:45 PM ET

"I am proud to contribute my time and financial support to Salute America's Heroes," now-retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Arthur F. (Chip) Diehl III wrote in some of the more than 300 million direct mail fundraising letters sent out since 2000 on behalf of the charitable military support organization headed by San Diego businessman Roger Chapin.

Despite the altruistic language, Diehl actually ended up being paid--$5,000 a month for "consultation and development," according to a March 2007 invoice the Tampa, Fla.-based "Diehl & Associates" sent the Chapin organization.

Retired Gen. Tommy Franks, leader of the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, apparently did even better: Several of Chapin's former employees said Franks received a one-time payment of $100,000. That was primarily for the use of his name in fundraising and his appearance at a Nov. 9, 2004, Washington, D.C., event to promote the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes Foundation, now based in Ossining, N.Y. At the time, it was the newest in the Chapin panoply of military-themed nonprofits and brand names, led by his flagship California organization, Help Hospitalized Veterans, started in 1971.

Undisclosed until now, these and other expenditures could become part of an ongoing investigation of the Chapin organization by the U.S. House's Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on the general topic of whether veterans' charities are doing the job. At a Dec. 13 hearing, Chairman Henry A. Waxman, D-Calif., charged that Chapin had gone into hiding to avoid U.S. marshals trying to serve him with a subpoena. Another hearing has been set for Jan. 17, and Waxman says he expects Chapin to appear and answer questions.

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