The Mississippi state pension board seems to be far more trusting than other states. Nothing in this application indicates any attempt to check with the War Department in Washington to validate this man's records.

"We, the undersigned, certify that the facts stated in the above application are true and the applicant is the identical person named in said application."
Pension application does not require that witnesses attest to the applicant's military service. Based on their ages, none of them could have done so. The main point is that the applicant is personally known to them and that they believe statements made in his application.

As identified on the 1920 census, witnesses are --

Richard D Cochran, born Jan 1873
John Denmark, born Mar 28, 1858
Hardy Walley, born Nov 8, 1857

Denmark --
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=WA&GSfn=h&GSpartial=1&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=27&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GSsr=401&GRid=48822008&df=all&
Walley -
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=WA&GSfn=h&GSpartial=1&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=27&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GSsr=401&GRid=48822008&df=all&