Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Man who inflated his military service sentenced in Roanoke
Virginian Pilot ^ | Mike Gangloff

Posted on 04/08/2010 6:14:25 PM PDT by csvset

By Mike Gangloff

ROANOKE

A man who falsely claimed a chestful of military medals was sentenced to a year and a day in prison and was ordered to repay $11,098 in veterans benefits he shouldn't have received.

Thomas Barnhart, 59, had 21 years of legitimate Navy and Coast Guard service, including offshore duty in Vietnam. But starting in 1979, he began inflating his experience in claims for promotions and benefits, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake Jacobsen told U.S. District Judge James Turk today in Roanoke.

Among Barnhart's lies, according to the prosecutor: he was a Navy SEAL, he received elite low-altitude parachute training, he was awarded five Purple Hearts, three Bronze Stars, two Silver Stars and a Vietnamese medal of honor. He also falsely claimed that a downed U.S. helicopter pilot died in his arms and that he saw other U.S. soldiers die around him.

Jacobsen, a veteran of the current Iraq war, called Barnhart's conduct "repugnant."

Barnhart wept in court and said he lied because neither the Navy nor the U.S. public appreciated his real service.

"I just can't punish myself enough," he said, sobbing. "Every day I ask forgiveness."


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; US: Virginia
KEYWORDS: fake; fraud; jackass; punkmofo
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-29 next last
What a f'ing low life.
1 posted on 04/08/2010 6:14:26 PM PDT by csvset
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: csvset

And what are we to do, then, with Senator Dirtbag Cambodia Kerry?


2 posted on 04/08/2010 6:16:52 PM PDT by Da Coyote
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: csvset

I inflated my sevice record too. I neglected to mention all the card playing and sand bag filling.


3 posted on 04/08/2010 6:18:25 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: csvset
Barnhart wept in court and said he lied because neither the Navy nor the U.S. public appreciated his real service.

Sad.

4 posted on 04/08/2010 6:18:40 PM PDT by iowamark
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: csvset

I have more respect for a buck private clerk who served his tour at some stateside supply post than for anyone who claims service or medals not earned. At least the clerk served honorably and is proud of that service.


5 posted on 04/08/2010 6:21:36 PM PDT by taxcontrol
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: taxcontrol

My guess is he did it for the attention. IMO justice was served.

I still remember going home on leave as an E2. Wore my dress blues to church and could not figure out what the old guy was doing holding the door for me.


6 posted on 04/08/2010 6:26:35 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: csvset

The US public didn’t appreciate his service? Well I guess selfless sacrifice wasn’t part of it.


7 posted on 04/08/2010 6:28:17 PM PDT by pfflier
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: csvset

“five Purple Hearts, three Bronze Stars, two Silver Stars and a Vietnamese medal of honor”

Well heck if you’re gonna lie you might as well go for it. I wonder if any of them are for rice in the butt.


8 posted on 04/08/2010 6:29:57 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: driftdiver

I frequently fly as part of my job. As often as I possibly can, when I see someone in uniform, I go up to them, shake their hand and thank them for their service. It is the least that I can do.

Once I was fortunate enough to see a senior NCO return from a long tour. You could tell by the family greeting that he had been gone for some time. I took only 2 min to shake his hand but you could see in all three kids faces that dad must be someone extra special for a stranger just to walk up and say thank you.


9 posted on 04/08/2010 6:33:33 PM PDT by taxcontrol
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: csvset

Go to any bar at 2300. Guarantee ya that every guy there that claims to have served in Nam was either Special Ops(Kerry) or was a Navy Seal.

From my experience, apparently there were no cooks in Nam.

While it might be just typical bar talk on the one hand when you take it to the next level and start taking it seriously, it is akin to treason in my mind.

Then I don’t care what you did, you’re just a POS to me.


10 posted on 04/08/2010 6:34:55 PM PDT by 240B (he is doing everything he said he would'nt and not doing what he said he would)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: driftdiver

He might get something in the butt during his tour of duty in the hoosegow.


11 posted on 04/08/2010 6:43:56 PM PDT by csvset
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: taxcontrol

They also serve who only stand and wait, not inflate.


12 posted on 04/08/2010 6:45:16 PM PDT by Past Your Eyes (You don't have to be ignorant to be a Democrat...but if you are...so what?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: csvset

Well, he’s no Admiral Boorda.


13 posted on 04/08/2010 6:46:35 PM PDT by Past Your Eyes (You don't have to be ignorant to be a Democrat...but if you are...so what?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Da Coyote
The only difference between this mutt and Kerry is that Kerry has the MSM covering up his mendacity, cowardice and treason.
14 posted on 04/08/2010 6:48:43 PM PDT by wmileo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Past Your Eyes

Yeah. I met Admiral Boorda when he was the head of Bupers.


15 posted on 04/08/2010 6:58:21 PM PDT by csvset
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: 240B
Go to any bar at 2300. Guarantee ya that every guy there that claims to have served in Nam was either Special Ops(Kerry) or was a Navy Seal.

My experience is that guys who have seen $hit don't talk about it.

16 posted on 04/08/2010 6:59:49 PM PDT by TankerKC (I think P. T. Barnum had his time off by about 59 seconds.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: csvset
he received elite low-altitude parachute training

Elite indeed. Very few survive low altitude parachute training.

17 posted on 04/08/2010 7:02:22 PM PDT by centurion316
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TankerKC

I believe you’re right. Those who were there don’t need to talk about it too much, and those who weren’t there wouldn’t understand it anyway.


18 posted on 04/08/2010 7:22:07 PM PDT by jstaff
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: csvset

You never know who you might meet. I once gave a soon to be newly minted 2nd Lieutenant, in the last days of his ROTC cadet life, the shock of his life.

He had been intensively drilling underclassmen in the dirt and the mud, and was quite a mess himself, filthy, sweaty and exhausted. And he hadn’t had anything to eat for over a day, so was pretty starved. I offered to stake him for some lunch, sitting outside of course. He at least washed some of the muck off his hands in the restroom before sitting down.

I got him a somewhat sloppy giant burrito, and he was lashing into it, when an elderly gentleman in a suit walked by. I knew him, and wanted to do the cadet a favor by introducing him.

He told me later than he didn’t hear his name, but he stood up, apologized for being such a mess, and shook the gentleman’s hand, who grinned and said “Pleased to meet you. Carry on.”

After exchanging a few pleasantries, I asked the cadet what he thought. About what?, he replied.

“About meeting a Lieutenant General who used to be on MacArthur’s staff”, I replied.

The expression on his face was priceless.


19 posted on 04/08/2010 7:22:59 PM PDT by yefragetuwrabrumuy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Da Coyote

and Tom Harkin


20 posted on 04/08/2010 7:52:50 PM PDT by stylin19a (Never buy a putter until you first get a chance to throw it)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-29 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson