Posted on 08/19/2005 3:29:34 PM PDT by freepatriot32
SHREVEPORT, La. - William Lawson looked every bit the retired Marine general this summer as he stood before a crowd of 200 people, demanding that a cemetery properly dispose of the American flags placed at the graves of veterans.
He had on khakis, the Marines summer service uniform, complete with a generals stars and row after row of medals, including the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Good Conduct Medal. He even wore an eyepatch.
It turns out, however, that Lawson wasnt a general at all or even a World War II combat veteran. His 19 months in the Marines were all spent stateside he ended boot camp after Iwo Jima and he never rose above the rank of private first class.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
From the John Kerry School of War Heroism
You can get all that stuff at any military outlet store. They should be issued through the military only.
I can't find words for this.
I spent 12 months in Vietnam as a cook at a firebase, and got out of the Army as a Spec 4. No big heroism; I just fed soldiers. I can't understand why someone would do all this.
They say no one is an ex-marine. He may just qualify.
'this guy is in deep trouble'
The guys age will keep him from getting a beating from the young marines. Hopefully he'll steer clear of any Korean war vets for his sake.
"It just sort of snowballed." Yeah, right.
Disgusting
Kill A Commie For Mommie
Seven Dead Monkeys Page O Tunes
Ok so you beat me to it.
01/19/04
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 18 - CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I - CRIMES
CHAPTER 33 - EMBLEMS, INSIGNIA, AND NAMES
-HEAD-
Sec. 704. Military medals or decorations
-STATUTE-
(a) In General. - Whoever knowingly wears, manufactures, or sells any decoration or medal authorized by Congress for the armed forces of the United States, or any of the service medals or badges awarded to the members of such forces, or the ribbon, button, or rosette of any such badge, decoration or medal, or any colorable imitation thereof, except when authorized under regulations made pursuant to law, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.
(b) Congressional Medal of Honor. - (1) In general. - If a decoration or medal involved in an offense under subsection (a) is a Congressional Medal of Honor, in lieu of the punishment provided in that subsection, the offender shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both. (2) Definitions. - (A) As used in subsection (a) with respect to a Congressional Medal of Honor, "sells" includes trades, barters, or exchanges for anything of value. (B) As used in this subsection, "Congressional Medal of Honor" means - (i) a medal of honor awarded under section 3741, 6241, or 8741 of title 10 or section 491 of title 14; (ii) a duplicate medal of honor issued under section 3754, 6256, or 8754 of title 10 or section 504 of title 14; or (iii) a replacement of a medal of honor provided under section 3747, 6253, or 8747 of title 10 or section 501 of title
I bet there are a lot of GI's who you fed think you are a hero. Thanks for your service.
He could still run for President of the United States as a Democrat.
sad.
"I bet there are a lot of GI's who you fed think you are a hero."
I dunno. I sure as heck wasn't up to the level of culinary art you could get at Denny's.
I'm sure this is the wrong reaction but I laughed out loud at reading this.
Obviously, a dim bulb. But, he need some jail time. Could he be proseuted by the military and do his time on Parris Island brig?
Denny's wasn't over there cooking but you were, so thanks again.
99th Ord Det (EOD) RVN 72/73
I dunno. I sure as heck wasn't up to the level of culinary art you could get at Denny's.
I'm not sure about that. I'll bet your legs were just as hairy as the waitresses have at Denny's.
"I'm not sure about that. I'll bet your legs were just as hairy as the waitresses have at Denny's."
Good point...
I don't know if that would be a good punishment.I knew a few marines and i don't think any of the ones I knew made it into heaven but I almost guarantee you that they have satan backed into a corner right now and are taking over hell as we speak
One of the best Christmas dinners in my life was at Pleiku in 1966 thanks to you guys.
The day-in, day-out 'chow' at the standing messhalls totally sucked 80 percent of the time.
(This was 1966-68)
Once a Marine, always a Marine ... just not practicing it at the moment ....
I'm surprised he didn't run for President. Probably would've been more authentic than Wesley Clark...
Our ship was just back from a year on the gun line (off the coast of Viet Nam, 1972) and this young kid came on board. He went on liberty wearing a chest full of medals similar to this story.
Funny thing was that the medals he wore were all from WWII. A couple of the guys saw him with this stuff on his chest.
Trust me, it was the LAST time he did something like that.
I wasn't in Nam; but I spent enough grunt time to know that anybody that could serve me hot chow in the field was worth a big thank you.
Semper Fi.
I bet he was a democrat! Gore? Kerry? I know! It was Hillary in drag! She always claimed she wanted to be a Marine.
Thankyou. I would have left a tip, but, you made me bus my own table.
I read this in the Navy Times last week; cover on indoors was one of the things that got him busted. Another is that he has no pistol badge (kinda unusual for a commisioned type).
Maybe I'm being cynical, but I've always been slightly suspicious of those guys who hang around Vietnam War memorials wearing boonie hats, parts of fatigue uniforms, and combat boots. Maybe they're the real McCoy, but if they are, it seems as though they're beating it to death. I served for twenty years on active duty, and had my share of good times and bad times, but that's all behind me now. My sole military-related adornment these days is a baseball cap with the insignia of my favorite unit.
My humble opinion is that anyone caught wearing an award or decoration to which he is not entitled should be looking at some serious jail time.
Depends. Boorda had a conscience. Don't know about this guy?
The ones I had to work with would damn near skin this guy alive...I am talking about fellow SNCO's

Anti-war protester and President of Gold Star Families for Peace, Cindy Sheehan (L) of Vacaville, California holds hands with Iraq war veteran Benjamin Hart Viges during a sunset candlelight vigil at her roadside protest near the ranch of U.S. President George W. Bush in Crawford, Texas, August 17, 2005.
Anyone know if this guy is for real? He claims to have been in the 82nd Airborne.
Heck, who is?
"Maybe I'm being cynical, but I've always been slightly suspicious of those guys who hang around Vietnam War memorials wearing boonie hats, parts of fatigue uniforms, and combat boots."
Those are, 99% of the time, phonies. The ones wearing their Sunday best are the real vets.
Well, Denny's comes to mind :)
I don't know if he is legit or not. I bet a few FReepers will research it. Never be afraid to question someone service. The ones who brag about it way too often are most fakes. Outside of mention on FR I never talk about my service because most people don't care to hear it.
LOL.
Now I know where to go look if I need a job.
The embarrassment alone with probably kill him
The embarrassment alone will probably kill him
No, but from his comments he sounds like a shitbird.
Don't degrade your contribution. Cooks are as necessary as an Infantryman. They can't fight if they don't eat. Even Cooks were subject to wounds at Firebases, Charlie didn't care what our MOS was, he just saw an OD Green Uniform.
As far as understanding, some just want to feel important. They like to brag to others what a hero they are and some even use thier false tours to run for public office and actually win. B.G. Burkett wrote a good book, Stolen Honor, exposing many who claimed Veteran status and used it to further their careers. It was even discovered that many who tesitified at sKerry's so called "Winter Soldier" investigation were just as phony as this guy.
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