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Fake retired Marine general may face charges Man wore rows of unearned medals, insignia, eyepatch
http://msnbc.msn.com ^ | 8 19 05 | The Associated Press

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 general’s 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 wasn’t 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 ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Louisiana
KEYWORDS: anamericansoldier; charges; events; eyepatch; face; fake; fakegeneral; general; insignia; man; marine; may; medals; military; of; retired; rows; shreveport; stolenvalor; to; unearned; waltermiddy; wore
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this guy is in deep trouble
1 posted on 08/19/2005 3:29:38 PM PDT by freepatriot32
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To: freepatriot32

From the John Kerry School of War Heroism


2 posted on 08/19/2005 3:31:03 PM PDT by My2Cents ("The essence of American journalism is vulgarity divested of truth." -- Winston Churchill)
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To: freepatriot32

You can get all that stuff at any military outlet store. They should be issued through the military only.


3 posted on 08/19/2005 3:31:35 PM PDT by Indy Pendance
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To: freepatriot32

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.


4 posted on 08/19/2005 3:31:43 PM PDT by BeHoldAPaleHorse
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To: freepatriot32
Stolen honor.

They say no one is an ex-marine. He may just qualify.

5 posted on 08/19/2005 3:31:54 PM PDT by mware (Trollhunter of Note)
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To: freepatriot32

'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.


6 posted on 08/19/2005 3:32:41 PM PDT by Bogey78O (*tagline removed per request*)
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To: freepatriot32


"It just sort of snowballed." Yeah, right.


7 posted on 08/19/2005 3:32:47 PM PDT by onyx (North is a direction. South is a way of life.)
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To: freepatriot32

Disgusting


8 posted on 08/19/2005 3:33:07 PM PDT by Fiddlstix (This Tagline for sale. (Presented by TagLines R US))
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To: freepatriot32
Maybe he took the same military promotional training that J 'F'n K took!


Kill A Commie For Mommie
Seven Dead Monkeys Page O Tunes

9 posted on 08/19/2005 3:33:29 PM PDT by rawcatslyentist ("If it's brown, drink it down. If it's black send it back." Homer's guide to drinking in Springfield)
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To: My2Cents

Ok so you beat me to it.


10 posted on 08/19/2005 3:34:12 PM PDT by U S Army EOD (WHEN JANE FONDA STARTS HER TOUR, LET ME KNOW WHERE SHE IS)
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To: freepatriot32
18 USC Sec. 704

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

11 posted on 08/19/2005 3:34:35 PM PDT by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum.)
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To: freepatriot32
He should be obligated to apologize to every living Marine individually and when he is done he should be forced to beg forgiveness at the grave of each and every Marine that reported to Heaven.


12 posted on 08/19/2005 3:34:36 PM PDT by darkwing104 (Let's get dangerous)
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To: BeHoldAPaleHorse

I bet there are a lot of GI's who you fed think you are a hero. Thanks for your service.


13 posted on 08/19/2005 3:35:25 PM PDT by U S Army EOD (WHEN JANE FONDA STARTS HER TOUR, LET ME KNOW WHERE SHE IS)
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To: freepatriot32

He could still run for President of the United States as a Democrat.


14 posted on 08/19/2005 3:37:04 PM PDT by HighWheeler (RATS hero is an impeached, dis-barred, lying, perjuring, cheating, lazy, cowardly sexual predator)
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To: freepatriot32

sad.


15 posted on 08/19/2005 3:37:09 PM PDT by Ciexyz (Let us always remember, the Lord is in control.)
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To: U S Army EOD

"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.


16 posted on 08/19/2005 3:37:36 PM PDT by BeHoldAPaleHorse
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To: freepatriot32

I'm sure this is the wrong reaction but I laughed out loud at reading this.


17 posted on 08/19/2005 3:37:41 PM PDT by Mount Athos
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To: freepatriot32

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?


18 posted on 08/19/2005 3:39:21 PM PDT by don-o (Don't be a Freeploader. Do the right thing and become a Monthly Donor!)
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To: BeHoldAPaleHorse

Denny's wasn't over there cooking but you were, so thanks again.

99th Ord Det (EOD) RVN 72/73


19 posted on 08/19/2005 3:40:01 PM PDT by U S Army EOD (WHEN JANE FONDA STARTS HER TOUR, LET ME KNOW WHERE SHE IS)
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To: BeHoldAPaleHorse

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.


20 posted on 08/19/2005 3:40:08 PM PDT by HighWheeler (RATS hero is an impeached, dis-barred, lying, perjuring, cheating, lazy, cowardly sexual predator)
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