Local chapter of non-profit that helps disabled vets has its charter revoked

HOUSTON (FOX 26) - There’s no doubt that James T. Hall #9, which is the name of the Houston chapter of Disabled American Veterans has helped thousands of local wounded soldiers over the years.

“The men and women of this chapter have always provided service and always had open arms for the men and women in our community,” said James King, the Houston chapter’s commander.

This DAV thrift store on Griggs and another one like it in Alvin is how the Houston DAV chapter generates funds to help disabled vets.

King admits some of the funds meant to help disabled vets was inappropriately spent.

“We found out these individuals was having money go to places and taking money that didn’t belong to them, but to the chapter and we had no way of accountability where the money went,” King said.

King says tens of thousands of dollars were misspent. He says he contacted the state DAV chapter but claims the state chapter failed to act.

The Houston DAV had its charter revoked.

A spokesman with the national chapter of the DAV says there’s  been a long standing feud within the Houston chapter that has resulted in half a dozen suspensions over the years.

That DAV spokesman says at the national level about 87 cents of every dollar raised goes to help veteran and their families.

But the spokesman says only about two and a half percent of the money raised by the Houston chapter would actually go to help local disabled veterans.

The national DAV has asked a judge to freeze about a quarter of a million dollars in the Houston chapter’s account.

The Houston chapter will get a chance to get its charter reinstated during a formal hearing set for this August.