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Officer who testified in Zimmerman trial wore questionable ribbons, including one from WWII
Guns.Com ^ | July 3, 2013 | Jennifer Cruz

Posted on 07/03/2013 1:44:36 PM PDT by EXCH54FE

While watching the Martin-Zimmerman trial this week, combat veteran and Navy Cross recipient, Jeremiah Workman noticed a particularly disturbing decoration on Doris Singleton’s Sanford Police Department uniform when she took the stand. Singleton’s uniform had two ribbons — the World War II Army of Occupation Medal and the Defense Distinguished Service Medal – which Workman knew could not belong to someone who had only served in the Army for three years.

“I worked at the Pentagon with Sgt. Maj. [Carlton] Kent and Gen. [James] Conway for two years and I was around every general in the Marine Corps. I know these high ribbons, I know just about all the ribbons anyways,” Workman told The Marine Corps Times.

Workman, a former Marine who fought in the second battle of Fallujah, posted a picture of the woman on Facebook with the caption, “Am I going blind or is this police officer in the Zimmerman-Martin trial wearing ribbons that she doesn’t rate? I see a WW II army occupation medal and a Defense Distinguished service medal. Wow! On the stand she was asked about her military career. She said army for 3 years. So she received in three years what a 4 star general receives after forty years of service. Wow. What a superb 3 year army career!”

Gina Harkins, who writes for The Military Times, saw the post and contacted Workman, who had already talked with the Sanford Police Department by telephone. He told Harkins that according to the conversation he had with a Sanford PD official, since the department doesn’t have their own awards system, they simply went to the Army-Navy store and picked out Defense Department military ribbons. The official also stated that they intentionally chose World War II ribbons because there are not many veterans still alive from that era and they did not think anyone would notice.

The response left Workman thinking, “So that makes it all better now because these guys are dead?” He told Harkins, “The fact that that was their response is still pretty shameful, I think.”

Shameful, indeed.

He questioned, “But what kind of professional police department would send Bob the patrolman around the corner to go pick out some ribbons for our officers to wear when they do something heroic or have good service over the years?”

Workman also said that the official told him that they were working to set up their own awards system.

The police chief, who is also an Air Force veteran, replied to Business Insider via email stating that they “apologize if any veterans were offended, and promise to rectify the situation.”

Also according the website, other veterans have emailed the police chief insisting that the use of the ribbons be immediately stopped.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: awards; donutwatch; military; sanfordpolice; zimmerman
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To: Half Vast Conspiracy

Well, except for her apparently referencing her military service as part of all this. So there’s an implied connection.

Just from what I picked up on this thread. YMMV.


61 posted on 07/03/2013 3:09:31 PM PDT by castlebrew (Gun Control means hitting where you're aiming!))
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To: Conserev1
What would a cop do to earn the same ribbon as a service member!

Why don't you ask this fake Four Star General? Or better yet, have him arrested for impersonating a military officer........Sheesh!


62 posted on 07/03/2013 3:10:18 PM PDT by Hot Tabasco (This space for rent)
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To: Godebert; Hot Tabasco

Ok guys, never speak ill of another FReeper.....


63 posted on 07/03/2013 3:13:19 PM PDT by KoRn (Department of Homeland Security, Certified - "Right Wing Extremist")
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To: KoRn

He started it.


64 posted on 07/03/2013 3:14:37 PM PDT by Godebert (No Person Except a NATURAL BORN CITIZEN!)
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To: EXCH54FE

Even though I had absolutely nothing to do with this, as an American citizen, I apologist to ALL veterans for what our country has devolved into.

You deserve so much more respect. Our government, at many levels is vile and unworthy of your sacrifice.


65 posted on 07/03/2013 3:15:23 PM PDT by Wurlitzer (Nothing says "ignorance" like Islam! 969)
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To: noinfringers2
As a WWII vet I see wearing unearned ribbons earned in/by military service as a an assumption of an honor not qualified for or earned. There are many persons who died for this Nation who earned ribbons/badges who become just part of any glory seeking mindset. I wonder how many SC Justices have put their their lives on the line for all the garbage decisions they make.

If we're talking about a person wearing a uniform with ribbons they didn't earn, or a person claiming to be a former member of the military for monetary gain or fame/recognition, I have a very strident dislike for it.  The impersonator deserves to go to prison IMO.  The person wearing the medals they didn't earn, should face a stiff fine. In some instances, I might go along with a jail term too.

If a person is not wearing a military uniform and ribbions mean something different in the context in which they are use, they stand for something else, I don't have a problem with it.

I'm not trying to be argumentative with you here.  I simply want to make it clear how vile I consider certain misuses of these ribbons to be.  In that we certainly agree.  I do not share your dislike of the ribbons being used on a police uniform, but I do think it would be best to come up with unique ribbons that would not be seen by some vets as a misrepresentation or insulting.  It's the uniform that she wears now that makes a difference for me.  I don't think she's trying to claim an honor that she doesn't qualify for.

I don't think she's doing this for monetary gain.

Thank you for your service.


66 posted on 07/03/2013 3:15:32 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (Breaking News: Hillary not running in 2016. Brain tumor found during recentI lo colonoscopy...)
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To: clintonh8r

I see it as just another example of the militarification of the domestic police. Gestapo wannabees love medals, dress uniforms, and all the pomp. That’s why the police refer to non-police as “civilians” when they themselves are civilians.


67 posted on 07/03/2013 3:19:17 PM PDT by SpaceBar
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To: Hot Tabasco
Maybe this one should be displayed as well.  photo Medal_of_Honor_ribbonsvg.png Stars may be of any consequence but ribbons are of a differernt nature.
68 posted on 07/03/2013 3:19:24 PM PDT by Conserev1 ("Still Clinging to my Bible and my Weapon")
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To: frankenMonkey
"The official also stated that they intentionally chose World War II ribbons because there are not many veterans still alive from that era and they did not think anyone would notice."

How completely pathetic! They should give them all authentic SEAL Tridents too!!

69 posted on 07/03/2013 3:22:50 PM PDT by KoRn (Department of Homeland Security, Certified - "Right Wing Extremist")
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To: Rides_A_Red_Horse

Age does not necessary correlate to sexual maturity.

There are endocrine disorders which postpone or even obviate puberty. I think a hypothalmus damaged by neonatal asphyxiation is the most common (one in twenty five thousand people) and some of those never have a puberty at all.

If they meet height and weight minimums they would still be able to get in.

Okay, not a common situation but this does come up.


70 posted on 07/03/2013 3:25:06 PM PDT by MrEdd (Heck? Geewhiz Cripes, thats the place where people who don't believe in Gosh think they aint going.)
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To: DManA

The Army of Occupation Medal has an unusual history. It was awarded long after the war to U.S. servicemen stationed in West Berlin, due to that city’s status under the Four Power Agreement.

I was assigned to the Berlin Brigade in the mid 1970’s, and was awarded that same medal.


71 posted on 07/03/2013 3:29:08 PM PDT by 04-Bravo
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To: 04-Bravo

Funny you should mention that, the the old man was there and usually had a story about hauling ass down to the check point at the Berlin border in the middle of the night!


72 posted on 07/03/2013 3:39:50 PM PDT by Conserev1 ("Still Clinging to my Bible and my Weapon")
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To: TurboZamboni

I was a soldier and I never saw one. I was a combat engineer though, not infantry. There were a few Nam Vets who were infantry, but I never saw a CIB with 3 stars.


73 posted on 07/03/2013 3:42:32 PM PDT by HenpeckedCon (What pi$$es me off the most is that POS commie will get a State Funeral!)
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To: HenpeckedCon

3rd Star is the foruth award recieved.


74 posted on 07/03/2013 3:50:08 PM PDT by Conserev1 ("Still Clinging to my Bible and my Weapon")
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To: HenpeckedCon
Oh, I was at a military funeral recently and there was a young Spec 4 who was an honor guard and he had an impressive amount of ribbons including a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star with a “V” along with the CIB. He was in the National Guard but his combat patch was from the 82th Airborne. I wanted to shake his hand but that wouldn't have been Kosher. It gives me faith in today's army.
75 posted on 07/03/2013 3:50:56 PM PDT by HenpeckedCon (What pi$$es me off the most is that POS commie will get a State Funeral!)
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To: Gay State Conservative

Not just a CIB. The decoration in question is given to a person who has been awarded 3 CIBs (the bar and wreath represent the first, the stars represent additional awards). There have only been 324 of these awarded - far fewer than CMOH - and the only people to wear them served in direct infantry combat as infantrymen in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. If you ever see a guy wearing one and he’s not at least 85 years old, he’s a fraud.


76 posted on 07/03/2013 3:51:07 PM PDT by stormer
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To: Conserev1

Sorry I hit post too soon each star is a war served.


77 posted on 07/03/2013 3:51:25 PM PDT by Conserev1 ("Still Clinging to my Bible and my Weapon")
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To: EXCH54FE

Um, I was in Sang Bang... Dang Gong...

I was in Spoon Platoon- First Underwater Mess Kit Repair Battallion


78 posted on 07/03/2013 3:51:42 PM PDT by Einherjar
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To: Conserev1

The old man carried 2 Vietnam and Korea.


79 posted on 07/03/2013 3:53:09 PM PDT by Conserev1 ("Still Clinging to my Bible and my Weapon")
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To: SpaceBar

Agreed. The militarization of the police is a dangerous practice. I am especially outraged by the police use of the term “civilians” as well.


80 posted on 07/03/2013 3:53:12 PM PDT by stormer
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