Man Charged for Wearing Medals Prosecutors Say He Didn't Earn

JSOnline via AP ^ | June 23, 2006 | Staff Writer from AP

[Diana in Wisconsin]

FOND DU LAC, Wis. (AP) -- A 60-year-old man faces a federal trial for wearing military medals or decorations that prosecutors say he did not earn.

William James Richardson, of North Fond du Lac, is charged with a misdemeanor of knowingly wearing a badge authorized by Congress for the country's armed forces without authorization, the federal court in Milwaukee said.

Trial was set for Aug. 3 by Judge Aaron E. Goodstein at a hearing on Tuesday.

No plea has been entered yet.

Richardson said that former members of the Fond du Lac American Legion, of which he is a member, have been harassing him. He said they're making a bigger deal out of his case than is necessary.

"They're trying to make a federal case out of a misdemeanor case," he said.

He would not say whether he wore medals he did not earn.

John Stateson, a World War II veteran, served on the Fond du Lac American Legion firing squad with Richardson. He said he reported Richardson to the Federal Bureau of Investigation after Richardson tried to join the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

"He wasn't a veteran of foreign wars," Stateson said.

He said he believed Richardson served in the U.S. Army for two months in Germany but was not eligible to be a member of the VFW.

Bud Ruckman, a former member of the Fond du Lac American Legion, said he had spoken with Richardson several times because he felt Richardson was wearing medals that he had not earned for years.

"I confronted him and said, 'Bill, you're wrong,'" he said.

Stateson said Richardson continued to wear the medals in public, including a Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest award for valor.

Ruckman said that Richardson was still a member of the Fond du Lac American Legion. He said he and five other members left the group or transferred because they did not agree with a decision to allow Richardson to stay on as a member.

Stateson and Ruckman said wearing medals that have not been earned is a disgrace to veterans of war and people who have lost loved ones in wars.

"That's a mockery. That's a slap in the face," said Ruckman, a World War II and Korean War veteran. "He's a disgrace to the families who lost family members."

http://www.fdlreporter.com

[chesty_puller]

Honey, does this Navy Cross make my butt look big?

[squirt]

Go read or take a look at Stolen Honor

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Oh, Chesty, you card, LOL! ;)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

You must've skipped over my other posts.

I'm not for this guy getting off scott free. I just think he's nuts. He claims to be a WWII Vet and he's 60 years old? That does not compute. He's a wanna-be camp follower...and as usual AP gives us little and/or convoluted info to go by.

If nothing else, the AP is getting in their daily jab at the military by finding the fruitcakes to base their stories upon. (And I mean "stories" versus actual, factual NEWS.)

I just think an FBI inquiry and subsequent trial is a tad too much for someone that's obviously nuts. The timeline does not add up.

I mean, Facts Be Damned, as usual for the AP. Military = Bad. Socialism = Good. *Rolleyes*

[dagoofyfoot]

my thoughts exactly...LMAO


I bet that had to be the first reation of 99% of the freepers that read this post!

Too funny!

[msnimje]

Even the Bronze Star with the "V?" Make that Silver Star with the "V". :-) http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=14743

Oops, I got my fake and fraudulently awarded medals confused! Thanks for the correction.

[Redleg Duke]

Gotta disagree with you here.

[Watery Tart]

He said he believed Richardson served in the U.S. Army for two months in Germany but was not eligible to be a member of the VFW.

The records clearly show he was in Cambodia, not Germany.
</snarc>

Probably just cr@ppy, confusing and hard to understand reporting as always from the AP. *Rolleyes*

I noticed that, too! I can't believe "Staff Writer" gets paid to do this garbage!

I wonder how Mrs. Writer feels, being humiliated publicly on a regular basis?

[xarmydog]

I am planning the same thing with the trumpet.As a matter of fact,I have the info sheet right in front of me.The cost is 500 dollars plus shipping and handling.Comes complete with trumpet and the device which has multiple calls[8]pre programmed with a safety switch for taps.I am a musician and could learn to play a real one just for taps,but I kissed the side of an APC during training many years ago,ending up with two broken teeth,13 stitches,and disfigured lips.Try as I may,I cannot complete the seal around the mouthpiece.I am reminded everyday,as I see the dribble down the side of my coffee cup!One other reason I am doing this is out of guilt.During my tenure,they used to send a minimum of 6 soldiers to a funeral detail.I was elected to go,and it was a detail we all disliked.At the time,we did not realize the importance of the mission,and also did not realize how much it meant to the family.We did the job very professionally,but we used to make jokes and such on the ride home.For that,I am truly ashamed.I make it a point to personally thank the representatives that are now sent.I have never seen more than two,which as you know is the minimum for the flag folding.Sadly,I see many think the way I used to.They cant wait to get out of there.But I make sure they know how important their duty was that day.I had no idea how much it would cost to get a uniform up and running!I am doing it out of pocket and have asked none of the clubs for monetary help.I also plan on using it at the surrounding communities ceremonies,when at all possible.My next major hurdle is losing 20 pounds around the waist!I have lost 5 so far.I figure by the time I lose the weight,I will have acquired all of the things I need for my uniform.My post was long,and I hope that it will inspire some others to do likewise.The last concern is,who will take over the trumpet when I'm gone.Thanks for your thanks.I have a t-shirt given to me by a Marine who saved my life.He is no longer with us,as I believe ,agent orange finally caught up with him.I wear it on Memorial day,and have had many people ask me why I would wear it.I tell them its none of their business.Politely,of course.Thank you for your service.Respectfully,xarmydog.

[xarmydog]

P.S.I forgot to add,sales tax is required on the trumpet.The state of NY only!Go figure!

[R. Scott]

An FBI case over this? Come on.

Yes.

[ASA Vet]

Comrade Kerry did in fact sign the SF 180.
He just didn't send it in.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Read my Post #64 for further clarification on my position. :)

[brazzaville]

Good morning.

This should open the door for prosecution of a bunch of these wannabes.

Why do we find so many of them in veteran's service organizations like VFW, or making themselves public figures. You would think they would know that they were going to be exposed by the real vets in these groups.

What medals did phony Ranger Macbeth wear, or phony lurp/phony Native American Ward Churchill?

I wonder if the Native American prison gangs would protect Professor Churchill, or if scrawny Macbeth would be popular inside.

Michael Frazier

[brazzaville]

Good morning.
"this is the first WWII I've seen."

The article puts his age at 60. He is either claiming to be a Vietnam vet, or he thought the guys at the VFW hall were particularly gullible.

Either that or he is a really stupid wannabe.

Michael Frazier

[brazzaville]

Good morning.

I am most bothered when these people try to ride their unearned medals to some level of fame and fortune.

Michael Frazier

[R. Scott]

I just think an FBI inquiry and subsequent trial is a tad too much for someone that's obviously nuts. The timeline does not add up.

He is obviously nuts? Yes, in the same way anyone who commits cold blooded murder is nuts, anyone who thinks they can out run the cops is nuts, anyone who thinks they can get away with robbing a 7-11 is nuts …

[operation clinton cleanup]

Guess I better quit wearing my Medal of Honor I bought on E-Bay out in public!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Ya think? LOL!

[dpa5923]

Why punish a purse snather if he returns the purse once caught? Wasn't his crime about obtaining a purse and keeping it, the exact opposite of what would be if he is caught and returns the purse?

This issue is more than just he lied about it or he tried to score a few free beers at the local bars. He has made a mockery of the awards and brought discredit to himself, his family, and his military branch.

I think they should just give the American Legion post 24 hours free from prosecution. This peice of $%^* will never wear an award he didn't earn again and many other paper heroes would think twice before pulling this crap.