Yes and no. Under a provision of something called ROPMA, an officer used to be abler to retire at the next higher rank, strictly for retirement benefits and status. If they ever returned to service they would revert to their previous rank. For a time one would see few retired Ltcs as they almost all retired as full bird.
“an officer used to be abler to retire at the next higher rank, strictly for retirement benefits and status.”
So I guess it’s “Yes” for him (stolen valor) if he retired during that time.
Even if so, that’s the least of his faults. What this country has come to ... Unbelievable.