I think what we are trying to do is determine this man's validity. If he was a SEAL, and later changed his name, OK, that's his right. [By the way, fellow FReepers, SEAL is all caps. It stands for SEa Air Land - they operate everywhere.]
When military personnel sign up for alumni sites they generally use the rank they had when assigned to that unit. Otherwise it would be hard for their old buddies to recognize them.
However, the man texas booster found who said he was on the Currituck did not follow this normal procedure. Regardless of how senior he was, he could NOT have been a Master at Arms in 63-66 because the rate did not become official until 1973.
reference: http://www.navcops.com/history/1973.htm
See reply #268 from document on Ahmad. Read the "correction" statement.
http://diodon349.com/Torpedoman/TMA_newsletter/TMA_Newsletter_Nov2003.pdf Page 11 of 16 for formatted copy.
I didn't need to research military history to figure that out. This thread is way out of proportion. FR is bringing CBS News to its knees. Now it's being turned on some guy who gave an opinion. He didn't forge documents. He's not an "expert" on CNN. And he's not running for President. He's just some guy who changed his name and doesn't want his privacy invaded. And you people are trying to destroy him. This is abuse and abuse of power pure and simple and I've reported it as such.