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Veterans Protest Philadelphia City Council Candidate David Oh's Military Claim

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A group of military veterans protested today in center city Philadelphia against a City Council candidate who, according to the vets, exaggerated his military record.

About a dozen veterans stood in front of the Municipal Services Building, across the street from City Hall, to bash the campaign of Republican council-at-large candidate David Oh.

At issue were claims in Oh's campaign literature that he was a US Army Special Forces officer -- a "Green Beret."

Among those challenging that position was John Murphy (at right in photo), a retired Vietnam veteran who had served in the Special Forces since 1966.

"A man like that has absolutely no character," Murphy said today.  "And if he's going to lie to veterans and lie to the rest of us, he's going to lie to all his constituents."

Oh stands by his claim that he served in the US Army Special Forces National Guard.

"I was a Special Forces candidate who served in the unit, and was part of the unit," Oh told KYW Newsradio.  "I was a second lieutenant."

Oh says the veterans who spoke today are being misled by his political opponents, whom he would not name.

Reported by KYW City Hall bureau chief Mike Dunn

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