This article says he received a security clearance but it doesn’t elaborate. Not everyone in the military automatically gets a security clearance. It also quotes his ex-wife as saying they both dreamed of being aviators. At the rank of sergeant? Are flight crew considered aviators?
As for the congressional action in 2005 it just occurred to me why that act concerns false decorations and medals. At that time several politicians had been caught lieing about where they served but had made no claims about decorations or medals. They covered their asses as usual.
Is it “stolen valor” if he actually served?
I remember a story about a 15 year old kid in Houston in 1970 who faked his way into the Army. He was a large kid and the story is he stole a sergeant’s uniform and went in and actually ended up in Viet Nam before he was found out. The army said he was a good soldier and they’d love to have him but they’d appreciate it if he’d wait a few years.