Posted on 11/22/2016 11:47:43 PM PST by nickcarraway
A Fort Worth man faces up to 21 years in prison after he admitted lying about his military service to get a mortgage-free house and monthly veterans' benefits.
Brandon Blackstone claimed to have received a Purple Heart when his Humvee drove over a bomb in Iraq and it exploded.
"I was blown up while I was there," he said in a 2012 interview with NBCDFW. "I had to be medevaced home."
He offered more details about the explosion in a YouTube video.
"The one (Humvee) behind me got totally destroyed," he said. "I suffered a head injury and a head laceration that caused traumatic brain injury."
Blackstone pleaded guilty in federal court in Dallas to making up the story and will be sentenced in February, The Dallas Morning News reported.
Blackstone's attorney, Justin Sparks, did not return a telephone call from NBCDFW.
But he told The DMN that his client served his country and still suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder.
It turns out Blackstone may have taken more than money.
The sister of another Marine who served in the same unit said Blackstone stole his story.
Lezleigh Kleibrink, of Trophy Club, said what Blackstone claimed happened to him really happened to her brother, Casey Owens.
Owens did receive a Purple Heart after the Humvee he was in blew up.
He somehow survived but lost both legs, broke almost every bone, and injured his brain, too.
"He was absolutely a hero," his sister said.
The truth is Blackstone never received a Purple Heart.
He came back to the U.S. after a month overseas – not with a war injury but with appendicitis.
And a story.
"It was Casey's story, minus his legs being gone," Kleibrink said.
Blackstone accepted a mortgage-free house, and monthly veterans' benefits he now admits he didn't deserve.
Owens tried to adjust to life back home. Even without legs, he skied in Colorado.
But his sister says he had trouble coping. He died in 2014.
"In a very manic moment, he took his life," she said.
Kleibrink said she is no longer angry but still wonders why Blackstone lied.
"It just brings all of this back up," she said. "Now I'm left sitting here looking at pictures. This is all I have left."
Give this azzhole to the muzzies. Let them play soccer with his severed head.
He should move to Connecticut. They elected a Stolen Valor criminal U.S. Senator (Democrat Dick Blumenthal).
Deplorable, but pales in comparison to what Mrs. Bill Clinton has done.
She’s having false flashbacks to landing under sniper fire...
Then again, she was replaced by John FTA Kerry who lied to Congress about witnessing and participating in war crimes and met with the enemy in a time of war to wage a propaganda war against the US war effort.
“Blackstone accepted a mortgage-free house, and monthly veterans’ benefits”
How could he get that stuff without medical records and a 214 to back it up?
No. It doesn’t.
I dont even know why you would bring that up. It’s an insult to servicemen.
TBI is horrific, trust me. This guy killed himself, likely because of its effects.
And a “man” took advantage of that.
300k more with TBIs.
I’ve had PLENTY of injuries (not a vet), and TBI is BY FAR the worst.
17 a day are dying because there is little treatment or comfort
#### the obsession with hillary on this board, even taking away from a hero’s horrific ending to mention her name.
It makes me sick.
Is there anything more insulting and revolting to veterans and honorable patriots than a “man” who would lie about his service record and injuries?
Well, “hondact200”? Is there?
Now, if John (I served in Vietnam) Kerry would do the same...
I think anybody lying about their military service should face a firing squad composed of disabled veterans.
DD214 is just discharge form....hope his home is given to a more desevering vet
My wife is DAV.
She might actually enjoy that.
Perhaps people took him at his word & were probably too lazy to check his records.
at least he admitted it. That is the first step to repentance.
There was a UT congressman who lied in the 1950s about WW2 service. I think his name was “Stringfellow”. He was a one-termer, as the truth was exposed. Most aren’t this brazen; surprised he was caught.
Sorry f’r.
Probably the mortgage company isn’t allowed to actually check that the information given by the applicant is true & accurate. Kinda like the DMV not being allowed by rule to inquire into an applicant’s citizenship status while they are required to push “motor-voter”.
Regulations confounding Law. Seems to be a theme where the liberals don’t like the Law.
Who gave him the house and the benefits?
Certainly not the VA. They do a fairly good job of verifying these claims.
Something is amiss here.
Despicable. I’m glad that they caught him.
The weird thing about that case is Syringfelbow had a legitimate Purple Heart.
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