“I am a simple man of simple means who only wants to be everything God has

ordained me to be” Vietnam vet lives his truth.

By: Kassady Winfrey

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy”(Prov31:8-9).This biblical
passage hangs above the door to David Poston’s office at Truth Verification LLC in downtown
Shelby. For Poston, a retired Shelby police officer and Vietnam vet, the above verses are a way
of life. As a private investigator and licensed polygrapher Poston’s intense gaze and impressive
bearing seem tailored to such a position. He possesses a confidence that alludes to his many
years in law enforcement, and his competence is obvious.

“So, in September 1970 I entered into the most intriguing 20 years of my life; I joined the
United States Navy.” In 1970 when the 2nd year of the Vietnam draft rolled around Poston, who
was already considering a career in the military, decided to enter under his own volition rather
than waiting to be drafted. He would spend the next twenty years as a Navy “SPOOK” an
extremely selective position in which he was responsible for the gathering and analysis of raw
intelligence. His findings, once reported, were then used in matters of national security and
foreign intelligence.

During his time in the Military he would be able to experience an amount off traveling that
most people can only dream of. His travels would take him all over the world. From the floating
markets of Bangkok; to the fjords of Norway; the deserts of Ethiopia and Somalia; the Alps of
Germany and Austria; to Rome and ancient Greece (he has a piece of the Roman Colosseum),
but as a devout Christian, places of biblical importance seem to hold a special place in his heart.
He has been to Bethlehem where Christ was born; to Nazareth where Christ grew up; Galilee
where Christ walked on water, and to Golgotha were Christ was crucified. A person would be
hard pressed to find a known biblical site that Poston has not visited.

At ten weeks old David Poston was adopted from the North Carolina Children’s Home Society
in Greensboro N.C. He maintains that his adoption was never a secret. He goes on to explain “I
have known that I was adopted since I was old enough to understand what adoption is. Knowing
that I was adopted did not impact any aspect of my life whatsoever.” After adoption, he was
brought home to Shelby where his new parents had roots going back over 100 years.

Poston’s career would eventually lead him back to Shelby, N.C where, at first, he would teach a
basic education class for Cleveland Community College. However, after the death of his wife he
joined the Shelby police department. While there, though primarily a Narcotics detective, he was
also served as a member of the Special Response Team. After retiring from law enforcement due
to a service-related injury, he focused his attentions to his private polygraph and investigative
service Truth Verifications LLC. Just this past January the Shelby Star ran a story on Poston that
was featured on the front page. https://www.shelbystar.com/news/20190115/private-investigator-
brings-polygraph-services-to-shelby
 Poston hasn’t just rested on his laurels though, he holds a BS in Social Science (criminal justice
specifically), and a master's degree in Forensic Psychology. When asked about his biggest
motivation in life he said this “My biggest motivation is to be an acceptable bondservant to my
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”.

At 67 Poston seems nearly a decade younger. Possessing an energy many a younger man would
admire he shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon.