View Full Version : Fake Marine busted!
Absolutely outrageous..and nothing new honestly, the idea of lying about being a war hero, is as old as war itself. Shame on him!
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,26340095-954,00.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/11/accused-military-fake-ste_n_354753.html
In one photo, he's pretending to be an enlisted Marine, in the other photo, he's an officer. Scumbag, just...sad.
The stolen valor act, what a fitting name for the crime.
wow he really went all in with those medals didnt he...what a loser.
You know, it's bad enough that you have young Marines with libo ribbons. But now you have civilians wearing them? I guess it's as easy as going to the local surplus store and playing Barbie dress up. That stuff really brings out "that side" of me and makes me want to go earn my pay the old school way. And you know he was laying it on thick if he got caught by a Squid.
I noticed that Navy Cross and Bronze Star right away. At least he had them in the proper order. I'm surprised he didn't have Jump Wings to add to his coolness. Yep, the dude has serious issues. What a loser!
What a piece of crap! I'd like to tie that guy to the back of my truck for a while.
John_Wayne777
11-12-09, 00:42
He probably wouldn't have been so noticeable if he hadn't tried to have the largest salad bar in the history of mankind. If your salad bar almost goes over the shoulder you might be overdoing it a bit. Tends to draw some unwanted attention from the kind of people who know what all those ribbons stand for. I'm surprised he stopped at the Navy Cross. Go big or go home...get the CMOH ribbon and complete the set!
Of course, actually looking something like a Marine would help too...
John_Wayne777
11-12-09, 00:50
http://i.cdn.turner.com/trutv/thesmokinggun.com/graphics/art4/1111091medals1.jpg
http://i.cdn.turner.com/trutv/thesmokinggun.com/graphics/art4/1111091medals2.jpg
RancidSumo
11-12-09, 00:58
How ****ed up do you have to be to do something like that?
Something about this week is bringing out all the weirdos. I don't think I am going to leave my house for a few days just to be safe.:eek:
parishioner
11-12-09, 01:12
He probably wouldn't have been so noticeable if he hadn't tried to have the largest salad bar in the history of mankind. If your salad bar almost goes over the shoulder you might be overdoing it a bit. Tends to draw some unwanted attention from the kind of people who know what all those ribbons stand for. I'm surprised he stopped at the Navy Cross. Go big or go home...get the CMOH ribbon and complete the set!
Of course, actually looking something like a Marine would help too...
Seriously. Im surprised he didn't fall over from the weight of it all.
The guy is wimpy and looks like he isn't confident of himself with the most prestigious navy medal. Who did he think he was fooling?
VooDoo6Actual
11-12-09, 01:22
Sad indeed and there's a lot more of them out there than most people think or know....
http://i.cdn.turner.com/trutv/thesmokinggun.com/graphics/art4/1111091medals1.jpg
http://i.cdn.turner.com/trutv/thesmokinggun.com/graphics/art4/1111091medals2.jpg
Damn his fruit salad looks like mine but I top out at a BSM for service. No way I'd go out and buy any medals that I didn't earn though. I guess guys like him have no clue what our awards mean to us. They truly are representations of our trials and tribulations. This dude graduated in 1988 which means that he had every oppurtunity to earn the awards he is wearing if he had volunteered to join the service. He took the cowards way out instead and is definitely a POS.
ThirdWatcher
11-12-09, 01:39
What a loser!:eek:
His pencil-neck is a dead giveaway!:eek:
Shadow1198
11-12-09, 02:34
Who the **** does shit like this, seriously? If he gets seen by the right guys, he would be in a lot less pain jumping into a vat of acid while being devoured live by an alligator in comparison to the ass beating he'd be on the receiving end of. :rolleyes:
And you know he was laying it on thick if he got caught by a Squid.
Eat a dick, Jarhead :D
There are many websites dedicated to debunking false claims of being in Delta Force, SEALs, Rangers, SpecOps, etc. It's alot more common than most of us would like to think. I can't remember where I saw it but there were pictures floating around not long ago of a couple Marines ripping apart some young guy dressed up as a Marine in an airport with the uniform all dicked up, his expression was priceless :)
Do a search on the Stolen Valor Act and you'll see all sorts of pictures of imposters claiming to be someone they're not. I think they should just ship his ass over to Iraq or Afghanistan and hand him over to a real group of Devil Dogs and let them have their way with him and then take him out on patrol with them for a year.
I think they should just ship his ass over to Iraq or Afghanistan and hand him over to a real group of Devil Dogs and let them have their way with him and then take him out on patrol with them for a year.
They should ship him over there and leave him in the middle of the desert with all his medals.
You know I think the best punishment (for someone like this) would be to treat them as awol. I couldnt imagine the type of punishment they would get in a brig. He would be like "omg omg dude i'm sorry i was just pretending so i could get some poon please dont put me in general population" Or i like one sugestion, pick him up while he's all dolled up and drop him over iraq desert somewhere, tell him "now you can earn those you puke" maybe not even pull his ripcord just let him figure it out.
He's also an officer in the top picture, and a Master Gunnery Sgt. in the bottom.
I guess he only wore the officer uniform for "Those really special occasions".
Absolute coward and scumbag.
Should be jammed in the breach of 155mm and blasted into a pig pen.
Who the **** does shit like this, seriously? If he gets seen by the right guys, he would be in a lot less pain jumping into a vat of acid while being devoured live by an alligator in comparison to the ass beating he'd be on the receiving end of. :rolleyes:
There was a guy here in TX who was passing himself off as a MOH winner. He was the grand marshall at several parades and even drew VA benefits. He got caught when he tried to get additional VA benefits and sent in his fake DD214s and the data didn't make sense.
This is just pathetic....:mad:
John_Wayne777
11-12-09, 07:54
There are many websites dedicated to debunking false claims of being in Delta Force, SEALs, Rangers, SpecOps, etc. It's alot more common than most of us would like to think.
There have been a lot of guys in the military caught fudging their resume...claiming to be in units they were never in, claiming awards they were never given, etc.
Jim Colborn
11-12-09, 08:23
There are a lot of ASSHOLES out there.
He should be sentenced by a judge to wear a large sign in the mall, work and around his home - I am a fake Marine for 60 days.
Jim
FromMyColdDeadHand
11-12-09, 08:52
Should be jammed in the breach of 155mm and blasted into a pig pen.
What do you have against pigs?
You know I think the best punishment (for someone like this) would be to treat them as awol. I couldnt imagine the type of punishment they would get in a brig. He would be like "omg omg dude i'm sorry i was just pretending so i could get some poon please dont put me in general population" Or i like one sugestion, pick him up while he's all dolled up and drop him over iraq desert somewhere, tell him "now you can earn those you puke" maybe not even pull his ripcord just let him figure it out.
ROFL, that was really funny! :D
But I really do not understand people like this at all. It isn't like getting in the .mil is really all that hard to do (barring medical issues). Go enlist and wear the real thing.
And fakers in this day and age really boggle the mind. Not like there aren't a hundred websites you can't go to find out if the guy is full of shit.
Is that a John Kerry button he's wearing on his top right pocket in some of those pic's?
landrvrnut22
11-12-09, 10:45
I HAD a friend that claimed to be enlisted in Marine reserve. He got caught when my buddy, a LT. in the Guard called in a favor and asked an actual Marine. He wasn't charged, but got in some deep shit. He moved to Texas where he supposedly joined the Marines. If you look at his facebook, there are pictures of "him" on patrol, in ghillie suits, etc. I never did trust him, and I respect him even less.
They are out there, and they deserve everything they get.
Littlelebowski
11-12-09, 11:31
What was he passing himself off as in the first pic? Looks like oak leaves to me.
What was he passing himself off as in the first pic? Looks like oak leaves to me.
Yeah, i think so. Looks that way..
I don't agree with a possible prison sentence. Make him a conscript, give him an age waiver to attend MCRD, and then deploy him.
ohiorifleman
11-12-09, 16:02
Must have been a field promotion- he probably got so excited when he paid the cc bill for the first uniform that an order with Medals of America was in order for such heroic action.
Without sounding like I'm defending the guy... because I feel like he should have his head stomped in and that rack full of medals shoved down his throat... there is obviously something wrong with someone who portrays themselves in this way.
I didn't do any research and wouldn't waste my time but people like this probably have some pretty deep seeded psychological issues going on to act out in this way. Obviously it's far from normal and the little white lie that most guys spit out to get in a girl's pants at a bar. Maybe we shouldn't be so quick to judge...
and yes he still needs an ass kickin' ;)
Without sounding like I'm defending the guy... because I feel like he should have his head stomped in and that rack full of medals shoved down his throat... there is obviously something wrong with someone who portrays themselves in this way.
I also don't want to sound like I am defending the guy, but I can't honestly decide which is more pathetic: The fact he is pretending to be something he isn't or the fact that it is possible to get a year in Federal Prison for playing dress up.
John_Wayne777
11-12-09, 18:42
Impersonating a police officer will get you some jail time too.
Was this guy endangering society? No. He was, however, treading on sacred ground.
I didn't earn a Purple Heart or a Navy Cross so I'm not qualified to discuss their meaning or remind people of the blood those awards represent. I'm sure some hold those awards to be sacred, while others who earned them (or who sure as hell deserved them) may not think it's a big deal. Nobody pinned one on my chest or left one on my coffin so that's not my call to make.
...but, given the standards set for the award of medals like the PH or the NC, it doesn't strike me as terribly incongruous to have stiff penalties associated with faking it.
Is it sensible that in a society where child molesters, rapists, and murderers get slaps on the wrist that a guy who plays Marine is likely to serve more time? Probably not. Still, I don't think that means we should take this sort of thing lightly.
ThirdWatcher
11-12-09, 19:27
Every culture needs a way to recognize heroism. We choose to recognize our military heroes by awarding decorations. If we allow phonies to wear the uniform and decorations, it will cheapen them. Pretty soon everyone wearing the decorations would be suspect. I find this unacceptable.
I don't agree with a possible prison sentence. Make him a conscript, give him an age waiver to attend MCRD, and then deploy him.
This idea has some possibilities. A week or two after I hit the fleet and checked into my battalion, there was a guy in another company who got busted for doing something like this. They were inspecting his room for field day and he left his wall locker open. In it there was a pic of him and his pops. Now at this point he had only been out of boot for a short time, but in the pic he had a stack of ribbons, jump wings, a bubble and (now this in the Marine Corps) a SEAL Budweiser. His 1st Sergeant was less than impressed with his awards, he was in it deep.
RogerinTPA
11-12-09, 19:41
****in PX Poser/Loser MotherFocker. If I was a Marine, and near his AO, I'd be stopping a hole in his ass. Anyone notice how many EX-Marine Snipers are running around or Delta or Seals? This poser BS is well below whale shit. :mad:
EX-Marine
That would be "former Marine", as "EX- Marines" are dead... ;)
B
I know it's different but what about Halloween? Should people have the right to impersonate our military personnel on that day? Obviously the hot girls in skimpy uniforms are ok ;) I am being a bit of a devil's advocate...
The cop thing is a bit different in my opinion. Some numb skull in a Marine outfit isn't going to try to pull me over or give me a lawful order without me laughing at him and probably alot of people looking at him weird as most civililans don't take orders from military personnel. With someone impersonating an LEO they have quite a bit more perceived power over the average Joe or Jane and I think this could be used alot more maliciously.
Also, I'm forced to watch So You Think You Can Dance... 2 nights ago some dancing little fruitcake was wearing a Marine Private insignia on his shoulder and wearing Navy Petty Officer insignias on his collars which I obviously commented on to my wife and she gave me a :confused: look but it still bugged me.
Also, I'm forced to watch So You Think You Can Dance... 2 nights ago some dancing little fruitcake was wearing Navy Petty Officer insignias on his collars
They may of been real... :rolleyes:
Just saying...
B
P.S. Love's not wrong... ;)
RogerinTPA
11-12-09, 20:37
That would be "former Marine", as "EX- Marines" are dead... ;)
B
True, but when I hear a poser conversation, it's mostly stated as "Ex". A quick way to spot a poser.
why?
didn't he know lies have short leg?!
Wow,in both photo's he sure does have a chest full of medals!! I see he thinks very highly of himself.I hope this p.o.s get the max of whatever penalties he has coming to him.
There have been a lot of guys in the military caught fudging their resume...claiming to be in units they were never in, claiming awards they were never given, etc.
Before the Army went electronic, soldiers used to hand carry their personnel files from one assignment to the next. Quite a few soldiers would leave an overseas assignment and arrive promoted or with additional awards in their file. Luckily we are electronic now because the services would be rife with falsified documents.
ROFL, that was really funny! :D
But I really do not understand people like this at all. It isn't like getting in the .mil is really all that hard to do (barring medical issues). Go enlist and wear the real thing.
And fakers in this day and age really boggle the mind. Not like there aren't a hundred websites you can't go to find out if the guy is full of shit.
This may sound odd to some but i was raised in a military family, i had a marine corp flag on my wall since cub scouts, my life plan was organized around service, and due to an internal injury from motorcycle wreck(found out 10 years later recruiter was jerking me to see if i was really wanting to go) i was not accepted into the marines. Yearly i weigh trying again as i have a patriotic yearning to serve, in fact its almost like an emotional scar that i couldnt carry on the long history of my family name to serve. I cannot imagine the anger this puts on someone who did serve and spill blood for our country, but for me I'm extremely sickened of people like this. Some people dont want to serve but do, some people want to but cant, whole different mindset. And to think theres someone out there who wants the respect earned by generations but too much of a pussy to put in his time, well i could spend time behind bars and still die happy.
It's sad to see someone go to these lengths to pose as a Marine. That said, it's hardly surprising that someone would do this. I know a Vietnam vet who used to enjoy exposing phonies. After a while he just stopped. He told me that it really says something about how unhappy a person is with his life that he has to pretend to be a combat veteran.
Sadly, it's not just wannabes outside the military. There are individuals in the military who do wear medals and devices they did not earn. The most glaring example that I can recall was Admiral Boorda. He wore valor devices that he had not earned. When he was about to be exposed, he committed suicide.
cougar_guy04
11-12-09, 22:59
What was he passing himself off as in the first pic? Looks like oak leaves to me.
First article I saw on this was that he was pretending to be an Lt. Col.
Sadly, it's not just wannabes outside the military. There are individuals in the military who do wear medals and devices they did not earn. The most glaring example that I can recall was Admiral Boorda. He wore valor devices that he had not earned. When he was about to be exposed, he committed suicide.
On a much lighter note regarding that, i have kinda of funny story. At the Marine corps. ball many yrs ago, i saw a guy in my platoon, wearing an expert rifle markman ship badge. Knowing that he was most deffinately not an expert, but only a marksman i asked him about it. He looked at me with a smile and said "hey dog, it's the ball, everybody's an expert tonight" During the course of the evening i noticed several guys sporting expert badges, who deffinately weren't experts. I remember finding it pretty funny.
On a more serious note the matter of receiveing awards that people haven't earned is something that pisses me off quite a bit. Here's an interesting article about it
http://www.military.com/Resources/ResourceFileView?file=Hackworth_093003.htm
It's sad to see someone go to these lengths to pose as a Marine. That said, it's hardly surprising that someone would do this. I know a Vietnam vet who used to enjoy exposing phonies. After a while he just stopped. He told me that it really says something about how unhappy a person is with his life that he has to pretend to be a combat veteran.
Sadly, it's not just wannabes outside the military. There are individuals in the military who do wear medals and devices they did not earn. The most glaring example that I can recall was Admiral Boorda. He wore valor devices that he had not earned. When he was about to be exposed, he committed suicide.
I don't think that Boorda is a good example for stolen valor. I think that he may have thought that he was entitled to wear the V devices. I have a difficult time putting otgether my dress uniform after 22 years of service. Mike Boorda served for 40 years so you can imagine the amount of ribbons and accouterments that he had to place on his dress uniform. I know that trying to keep my uniform and records straight is a pain in the ass. His situation wasa twice as bad as mine. You lose count your personal awards and unit awards after a while and the various devices doesn't help. The fact that he committed suicide also tells me that he would rather die than dishonor his uniform. His downfall waas that he had enemies in the Navy and D.C. who were just waiting for a reason to take him down. A simple Admiral you can't wear the V devices and this is why would have sufficed. Instead he faced media scrutiny and shameless attacks. I don't think that he stole any Valor or even needed to. The man went from Seaman (E-1) to CNO. Not many men can say that they have the stuff to accomplish that.
Iraq Ninja
11-13-09, 02:05
Chesty don't suffer no fools...
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d127/Iraqninja/chesty2.jpg
ThirdWatcher
11-13-09, 03:14
Doc, Admiral Boorda never entered my mind when I wrote my posts. When Boorda died, I asked my father (who was retired from the Submarine Service, now deceased) why anyone would commit suicide of a "V" device. He explained why in much the same way as you have in your post.
IIRC, it was later determined he was entitled to wear the "V" device on his Bronze Star.
Either way, I refuse to impugn the reputation of a fine warrior.
I believe boot camp is in order for this jack ass! WTF is wrong with people...
I think he thought the NCO uniform has a little more bling with the extra piping and the extra buttons!
What a turd......I wish this were an isolted incident, but it's a sign of the society in which we live. There are no real consequences for our actions. People aren't accountable and there are very few rights of passage that people go through to be consider a man!
The weak are taking over the warriors are being killed off....through military servive, LEO, heroic acts....the survivors that are propofating the species and the pussies that stay in the shadows and then they offer a sympathetic ear and a shoulder to cry on for the women who are left behind.......there's a whole study that addresses this. We're screwing ourselves as a society.
VooDoo6Actual
11-14-09, 10:31
Here's 16 PHONEY MOH Marines busted this year....
MARINE CORPS TIMES Association wrestles with how to treat fakers
MARINE CORPS TIMES
July 27, 2009
Association wrestles with how to treat fakers
By Dan Lamothe
dlamothe@militarytimes.com
The Marine Corps Association is ignoring fraudulent veterans in its ranks, say a growing number of critics disgusted with the organi zation for publishing a member ship directory listing dozens of unearned military decorations.
The criticism follows the associ ation’s response to learning that at least 40 profiles printed in the 2009 Marine Corps Association Membership Directory had false or fraudulent medals listed, including 16 Medals of Honor and 16 Navy Crosses. The Nation al Personnel Records Center, which maintains former service members’ paperwork, also had no record of at least five people listed in the directory ever serving a day in the military. Tom Esslinger, MCA’s chief oper ating officer, said no members have been expelled from the orga nization, including Donald Laisure Sr., 80, a former private who admitted to Marine Corps Times that he pretended to be a retired four-star general with a Navy Cross and Silver Star.
MCA, a nonprofit with about 80,000 members, is considering what to do with Laisure. Any deci sion the association makes must be approved by its board of direc tors, which isn’t scheduled to meet until December, Esslinger said.
MCA posted a one-page adden dum to the directory on its Web site after the problems were outlined in the July 6 issue of Marine Corps Times. The addendum includes corrected information for all 40 profiles originally called into ques tion by retired Lt. Col. Thomas Richards, a Navy Cross recipient and MCA member.
Richards first discovered irregu larities in the directory while look ing for individuals eligible to join the Legion of Valor, an organiza tion for Medal of Honor and service cross recipients.
MCA officials said many of the incorrect profiles were not the result of individuals lying about their military records, but because of errors by Harris Connect, a pub lisher contracted to collect infor mation for the directory. Harris officials acknowledged the compa ny’s mistakes, but critics say MCA needs to launch a full investiga tion of its membership, starting with those who claim high-level military decorations and service as a general officer, which are rela*tively easy to verify.
“You have to police your own,” said retired Col. Len Hayes, execu tive director of the 1st Marine Divi sion Association, a separate non profit with about 11,000 members. “Once a guy emerges as a phony, it’s just inconceivable that they don’t purge him from their association.” Hayes said that after he read about the mistakes Harris made, the 1st MarDiv Association launched an investigation of its own membership directory, published by Harris last year. The group is in the process of verifying members who claim to be retired generals or recipients of the Medal of Honor and Navy Cross, but has not found any discrepancies.
Last year, the 1st MarDiv Associ ation demanded that two members resign or defend their military record after their claims raised the eyebrows of the association’s lead ers, Hayes said. One of them, a for mer corporal, first said he was a retired captain, but shifted his story to say he was a retired lieu*tenant colonel. The second one, a former private first class who served in Korea, said he was a retired colonel who earned a Navy Cross as an F-4 pilot in Vietnam.
“We sent them a letter telling them to appear before our direc tors to show cause on why they shouldn’t be thrown out, or to
resign,” Hayes said. “Both elected to resign, and we notified a FBI agent in L.A. about them. That’s what the Marine Corps Associa tion should do.” Richards, an MCA member for 30 years, said he still believes MCA does a lot of good work, but thinks its leaders are trying to weather the bad publicity without making serious, time-consuming changes.
“They haven’t demonstrated that they take it as seriously as their statements suggest they are,” he said. “I’m a longstanding member of the Marine Corps Asso ciation, but I think they’ve gone astray on this one, relative to their mission, vision and values.” Ë
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They should ship him over there and leave him in the middle of the desert with all his medals.
I like it, I'll throw $100 towards his one way plane ticket!
Heavy Metal
11-14-09, 12:56
I don't think that Boorda is a good example for stolen valor. I think that he may have thought that he was entitled to wear the V devices. I have a difficult time putting otgether my dress uniform after 22 years of service. Mike Boorda served for 40 years so you can imagine the amount of ribbons and accouterments that he had to place on his dress uniform. I know that trying to keep my uniform and records straight is a pain in the ass. His situation wasa twice as bad as mine. You lose count your personal awards and unit awards after a while and the various devices doesn't help. The fact that he committed suicide also tells me that he would rather die than dishonor his uniform. His downfall waas that he had enemies in the Navy and D.C. who were just waiting for a reason to take him down. A simple Admiral you can't wear the V devices and this is why would have sufficed. Instead he faced media scrutiny and shameless attacks. I don't think that he stole any Valor or even needed to. The man went from Seaman (E-1) to CNO. Not many men can say that they have the stuff to accomplish that.
I agree. The whole Boorda thing was a true tragedy. At least he is fianlly able to kick the SOB Lantos' ass now!
Heavy Metal
11-14-09, 13:02
He's also an officer in the top picture, and a Master Gunnery Sgt. in the bottom.
I guess he only wore the officer uniform for "Those really special occasions".
Absolute coward and scumbag.
An Officer and an NCO! He is a regular master o' disguise! LOL! What a tool!
I don't think that Boorda is a good example for stolen valor. I think that he may have thought that he was entitled to wear the V devices. I have a difficult time putting otgether my dress uniform after 22 years of service.
Although I understand that people can make an honest mistake on what they think they are entitled to wear, the Boorda incident seemed to be a little more than a simple misunderstanding. In the aftermath, Boorda's family asked for an audit to be done on his record to prove he had the right to wear the valor devices. They felt they had a strong case since one of Boorda's former commanders felt he had earned it. The Navy came back and determined he had not earned it.
I am not trying to take away from the fact that the man accomplished a lot in his career. A person can do many good things and one bad thing. It's not the movies where a person is either all good or all bad. I am not denying that Admiral Boorda had enemies within the Navy. He certainly did. My point was the temptation to inflate one's resume can be hard to resist for people.
The interesting thing with the Boorda case was that he was being outed by Hackworth who had a chest full of medals himself. In response to Hackworth's allegations about Boorda, he was challenged about some of his resume. There were two mistakes. He was part of a Ranger battalion where the commander had decided to issue everyone in the unit a Ranger tab which the Army did not consider valid for Hackworth. The other one was that he had an additional Silver Star award he did not know about.
So yes, mistakes happen. People can honestly believe they are entitled to wear something they are not entitled to wear. However, with Boorda I do not believe he committed suicide over the respect he had for the uniform. I think the public humiliation is what he wanted to avoid. If he felt he had honestly earned the devices, I think he would have been willing to fight for his personal honor. I cannot believe the man had the drive to go from seaman to Admiral, but didn't have the backbone to stand up for his good name. Hackworth didn't commit suicide over the Ranger tab thing. -I believe Admiral Boorda got caught doing wrong and he knew it. An individual committing suicide over a personal failure, disgrace, or to avoid further humiliation is a well worn path. It's a shame that it got to that point but it is what it is.
RogerinTPA
11-14-09, 17:10
I don't think that Boorda is a good example for stolen valor. I think that he may have thought that he was entitled to wear the V devices. I have a difficult time putting otgether my dress uniform after 22 years of service. Mike Boorda served for 40 years so you can imagine the amount of ribbons and accouterments that he had to place on his dress uniform. I know that trying to keep my uniform and records straight is a pain in the ass. His situation wasa twice as bad as mine. You lose count your personal awards and unit awards after a while and the various devices doesn't help. The fact that he committed suicide also tells me that he would rather die than dishonor his uniform. His downfall waas that he had enemies in the Navy and D.C. who were just waiting for a reason to take him down. A simple Admiral you can't wear the V devices and this is why would have sufficed. Instead he faced media scrutiny and shameless attacks. I don't think that he stole any Valor or even needed to. The man went from Seaman (E-1) to CNO. Not many men can say that they have the stuff to accomplish that.
That was a sad situation indeed. My former HQ was on the Navel Training Center in Orlando when this went down early 90s (We were the only Army MI Battalion on the base). A lot of Sailors from the top down, admired Admiral Brooda.
Anybody have a tip on checking out a former Marine who has some pretty big & bold claims to include Force Recon? This guy just does not fit the bill for most of the Marines I knew when I was in the Navy. He had this on his wall so I'm inclined to think he was in but the Recon stuff just seemed really bogus...
http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/4683/img000871.jpg
irish, you could file a request for freedom of information act (?) about his military records, but that could take months after your request has been submitted. I've seen a website strictly for the purpose of ousting phony Navy SEAL's, but I looked around for one for the USMC, and came up empty handed. I'd ask at the stolen valor forum who to contact.
Well I almost steped on my crank! I did not know the 5th Marine Division was reactivated for Vietnam I thought it was only for WWII. When did he say he was in the Corps was it always the 5th Mar Div? Looks like they were disbanded again in '69 and your guy was discharged in '74 as a Cpl.
I think you can do a freedom of infoqtion request and get a look at his DD214 or you could ask to see it and any old photos. Is he even old enough to be a Vietnam Veteran? I know some of the fake vets are too young.
Littlelebowski
07-05-10, 18:47
I kinda doubt he did 4 years and was with all of those units. Ask him if he went to ARS or BRC and where at.
When did he graduate from high school? What is his date of birth? That should be easy to verify. If he did a straight 4 and Wikipedia is right http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/5th_Marine_Division_(United_States)?wasRedirected=true then he is full of it. The 5th was tone again in '69. Any Old Corp Marines out there with more first hand info. On the 5th Marine Division?
Ask him about calling naval gunfire, ask him what ships had what guns, 5"-38's, 16", 8''-54's, ranges of such, because that ANGLICO patch has me wondering. Ask him about beach and harbor reconnaisance, ask him about tide tables and soundings. I see patches, I don't see jump wings or a scuba device. I don't see rifle and pistol expert devices and I don't see any ribbons or medals; those would tell the career tale.
SeriousStudent
07-05-10, 22:07
Perhaps you could ask these guys: http://forcerecon.com/
Shoot them an email with your person of concern. If he's the real deal from the Vietnam-era, someone there can likely vouch for him.
Anybody can buy a patch off eBay.
Is he even old enough to be a Vietnam Veteran? I know some of the fake vets are too young.
He's old enough for the Vietnam era stuff. I'll be pursuing this in the next week and post what kind of info I find. He made several comments about "running & gunning" and typical internet commando remarks that just didn't jive. His demeanor and talk made me think more of a supply clerk, read POG, than any type of grunt I've ever met and I've worked/been friends with quite a few.
Perhaps you could ask these guys: http://forcerecon.com/
Shoot them an email with your person of concern. If he's the real deal from the Vietnam-era, someone there can likely vouch for him.
Anybody can buy a patch off eBay.
I just emailed them. Thanks for the link.
It looks like Nevada may be coming up with our own Stolen Valor Act. http://www.lvrj.com/news/military-impostors-targeted-97141054.html
The Nevada Veterans Services Commission wants a state stolen valor law to crack down on military impostors.
On Wednesday, the commission asked its staff to craft legislation that empowers law enforcement to arrest and prosecute those who violate the federal Stolen Valor Act of 2005.
If approved Nevada would join the states with laws to prosecute cases not taken up by federal authorities. Connecticut, Illinois, Missouri, California and Kentucky have approved stolen valor measures, and Tennessee and Georgia are considering a similar law.
The Nevada measure would be aimed at protecting the integrity of the state's 339,000 veterans who served the country honorably, said retired Army Maj. Gen. Scott Smith, a commission member who invited fellow soldier and veterans advocate Bill Anton of North Las Vegas to make a presentation about stolen valor legislation.
"I believe everybody who has served his or her country has a vested interest in honesty and integrity whether you were a cook, a driver, a logistician, an infantryman or a cannon cocker," Smith said Thursday. "What you did was in service to our country, and anybody who misrepresents themselves takes a little bit of honor away from our country."
The commission, chaired by Assemblywoman Kathy McClain, D-Las Vegas, voted unanimously in favor of the recommendation in the absence of members Sean Fellows, Bill Baumann and state Sen. Terry Care, D-Las Vegas.
Anton, who was inducted into the Army Ranger Hall of Fame last year, said the FBI has time to work on only the most egregious military fraud cases because agents have been consumed investigating terrorism cases since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorism attacks.
"The problem is fast reaching epidemic proportions," Anton said. "The impostors ... put their tales of heroism to a wide variety of uses. For some it is a matter of bolstering sagging ego. For others it is a means of gaining respect among their peers. Some invent tales of bravery in seeking public office.
"Others claim military honors to acquire employment, and still others tell stories of hardship and sacrifice on the battlefield while seeking personal or financial gain," he said. "Among their victims are banks, charities, businesses, veterans' organizations and wealthy, lonely women. At one time or another, each has fallen prey to the military con man."
Anton's plea came as the U.S. Attorney's office is two months away from prosecuting its first case in Nevada under the federal Stolen Valor Act of 2005.
Air Force veteran David M. Perelman, a former Department of Veterans Affairs employee, is accused of unauthorized wearing of a military medal, the Purple Heart, and stealing about $180,000 in monthly disability benefits from the VA. His trial is scheduled for Aug. 30 in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas. The felony theft charge for stealing VA benefits carries up to 10 years in prison and a conviction on the misdemeanor of "unauthorized wearing of a military medal" could carry a fine and an additional year in prison.
Perelman, 57, of Las Vegas is accused of wearing a Purple Heart in 2008 during a national convention of recipients of the medal. He was the Nevada commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart that year and had worked as a clerk at a local VA office. He claimed he was wounded in combat in Vietnam when in fact he was wounded by a self-inflicted gunshot in 1991, an indictment says.
Perelman also once claimed to have earned a Medal of Honor, the highest U.S. military valor award, and distributed a phony citation that was the subject of a 1997 federal court case in California. The case was dismissed because prosecutors waited too long to bring him to trial.
In 2006, Anton alerted the FBI to a military impostor, Jacob Cruze, who claimed to be a retired Army colonel and managed to obtain special Purple Heart license plates illegally. The FBI took no immediate action against Cruze, but a Las Vegas police detective for an FBI task force confiscated the Purple Heart tags. Instead of facing stolen valor charges, Cruze was cited for three traffic violations that carried combined fines of $1,620. A justice of the peace reduced the fines collectively to $399.
If Nevada would have had its own stolen valor law at the time, Anton said, prosecution for the more serious violations for impersonating a military officer and illegally wearing valor medals "absolutely wouldn't have fallen through the cracks."
"The federal law is being selective enforced, and we want the veterans who are quite incensed over the magnitude of stole valor to have state and local law enforcement officers apprehend and prosecute these impostors," Anton said.
Contact reporter Keith Rogers at krogers@review journal.com or 702-383-0308.
I'm also emailing the reporter to see what sort of additional resources he may have in the state of Nevada to prosecute this guy if in fact he's guilty.
Hey Irishluck, contact these guys. They seem to have to scoop on who has served and who hasn't. http://www.pownetwork.org/
Hey Irishluck, contact these guys. They seem to have to scoop on who has served and who hasn't. http://www.pownetwork.org/
Will do, thanks! The reporter I mentioned above is helping me out as well. ;)
My initial response from Mary at www.pownetwork.org.
Will file for his records and see what happens after we verify the info you send on him. It usually takes 4 weeks to get a reply from NPRC. There is NO match for name and SSN in our inhouse files for service in Nam.
Mary
My initial response from Mary at www.pownetwork.org.
going to give him the benefit of the doubt if there is any?:p
going to give him the benefit of the doubt if there is any?:p
If proven to be guilty of the Stolen Valor Act I'll ensure he has his own personal thread here on M4C ;) and I'll do everything in my power to ensure that he's prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Although I was not a Marine, Navy guy myself, I have plenty of Devil Dog brothers who I worked beside and who have gone into harm's way with some giving the ultimate sacrifice. I will not stand idly by while some fat useless **** disparages their memory and anyone else who has proudly worn the uniform of a United States service member.
I just can't get worked up about this.
There are so MANY dipshits out there claiming to be former operators of some sort or other. SEAL's, Delta, etc.
Go to your LGS or range and listen.
You'll hear their B.S.
No one wants to claim they were mere Army, Spec 4, maybe Spec 5 grunts, with an MOS of 11-C-10 (81 MM mortars) cuz, hey it ain't sexy/glamorous.
I have to believe in some cases, some of these guys are former military, but they were cooks or truck drivers who never even earned a CIB, but want to claim they were, cough, cough, operators...yeah, sure you were...
scoutfsu99
11-19-15, 01:10
Worked up enough to resurrect a 4.5 month old topic?
titsonritz
11-19-15, 01:20
Worked up enough to resurrect a 4.5 month old topic?
Look again at that date.
scoutfsu99
11-19-15, 08:54
Look again at that date.
Lol you mean it's not 2010?!?! Even better...
Meh, I simply saw a thread and posted on it.
Nothing to get hung about...
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