Veteran Owns Medal He May Not Have Earned

WJAR-TV, Rhode Island ^ | 5/21/03 | Alison Bologna, News Channel 10

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Questions Surround Man's Distinguished Service Cross

Bruce Cotta is considered Rhode Island's most decorated living Vietnam veteran.

At a dinner just weeks ago, where he was honored, he was proudly wearing his medals.

"Everyone equates heroism with some type of medal or some type of an award. And it's not that," Cotta said.

Cotta says he was an Army combat medic during the Vietnam War. He says he wanted to save lives, not take lives. And on May 19, 1968, he did just that while his unit was under attack.

"I reached down and picked up a grenade that had come into our group and I threw it back, wounding myself in the process but saving their lives. And then I was wounded again, I got hit off the head by a grenade," Cotta said.

Since the war, Cotta has earned many awards, according to a letter from the Army, including the Silver Star, Soldier's Medal, Bronze Star and Purple Heart. But one award -- for that May 19, 1968, battle -- isn't on the list.

The Distinguished Service Cross is not on the list, but it is worn on Cotta's lapel. The medal has earned him a lot of recognition, including on a Web site for Army veterans, which features a picture of Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., pinning the medal on Cotta in August 2000.

"It's incredible that somebody could have pulled of this kind of con whoever did it," author B.G. Burkett said.

Burkett co-wrote "Stolen Valor: How the Vietnam Generation Was Robbed of Its Heroes and Its History" and has worked with the FBI on several cases involving fraud related to medals. Acting on a tip, Burkett had questions about the legitimacy of Cotta's award. He's been examining some of Cotta's records. And so have we.

When someone earns a medal like the Distinguished Service Cross, paperwork goes along with it. In this case, it's called an order. We obtained one order, which we're told is an exact copy of the order that came from Cotta himself. To find out if it's real, we sent it to the Army.

In return, the Army sent us a letter. It said Cotta's Distinguished Service Cross order is not legitimate, nor has he ever received the award. On closer look, we found simple mistakes on the order, like spelling errors. We went to Cotta to try to get some answers.

Bologna: Did you have anything to do with this permanent order?

Cotta: No.

Bologna: Did you make it?

Cotta: No.

Bologna: I talked with the Army and they sent me this letter. And I'd like you to look at it. The Army says you never received the Distinguished Service Cross.

Cotta: Hmm.

Alison: Are they wrong?

Cotta: Well, I got it.

But from where, if the Army says he never earned it?

"Unfortunately, they sell these things en masse at gun shows and I can think of a half a dozen or a dozen companies that you can buy virtually every single military medal off the Internet," Burkett said.

But Cotta told us Kennedy gave him the Distinguished Service Cross after he says he got a call from the congressman's office.

"And they said could you prepare a ceremony on Saturday. We've heard from the Department of the Army -- I don't remember, I'm paraphrasing, you know -- and could you get some of your friends and relatives together, and I did," Cotta said.

Kennedy's office told News Channel 10 it did contact Cotta after receiving what it thought was the proper paperwork -- the paperwork the Army told us is fake.

"It breaks my heart. Not because I don't have, if this is true, that I don't have a Distinguished Service Cross because as I've said, I'm very proud of what I've done in the past. But it breaks my heart to think that I don't have it." Cotta said.

The story doesn't end there. Kennedy pinned the Distinguished Service Cross on Cotta almost three years ago. He expressed real concern over these latest developments.

"I understand there is an FBI investigation that is ongoing," Kennedy said.

The FBI told News Channel 10 it cannot confirm or deny any investigation into the medal.

[strela]

Any veteran stupid or venal enough to flash a decoration that he can't back up on his DD214 deserves what he gets.

People who brag about military awards they haven't actually earned are just a tiny bit higher on the food chain than flag burners.

[HairOfTheDog]

It breaks my heart.

Breaks my heart too. True or not, this issue is too dignified for casual internet or TV talk show banter. hope it gets NO play.

[MEG33]

Agreed..and pathetic con artists.

[mountaineer]

Kennedy's office told News Channel 10 it did contact Cotta after receiving what it thought was the proper paperwork -- the paperwork the Army told us is fake.

Of course, Patches (the stupidest member of Congress) wouldn't have noticed the misspellings or other errors in the fake documents.

[Kenton]

I too have a Purple Heart and a Distinguished Service Cross that I never earned. They were passed down to me when my Mom died, along with the flag that covered my uncle's coffin, and the letters dated 1944 that came with them.

The citations described how my uncle single handedly wiped out a German machine gun nest, though gravely wounded, and refused evacuation until the men in his squad were safe. The awards were posthumous.

I hold them in such reverence that misrepresenting them as something I earned is unthinkable. There are just some things that are simply too dishonorable to even consider.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

"It breaks my heart. Not because I don't have, if this is true, that I don't have a Distinguished Service Cross because as I've said, I'm very proud of what I've done in the past. But it breaks my heart to think that I don't have it." Cotta said.

Translation: "It breaks my heart that I've been caught and exposed as a phoney."

[joesnuffy]

the DD214 is somewhat misleading...

some clerk somewhere depending upon his mood goes through the 201 file looking for awards commendations as he types up the discharge paper..

Depending upon his work load his ambition (or lack of) a little grease crossing his palm he can pretty much type anything he wants (as long as it doesnt stretch credulity too far) and once it is on the DD form 214 and signed by the adjutant (who doesnt check the clerks work) most civilains consider it law...(unless the orders for the awards are in the 201 the typing on the DD214 is irrelevant...yet sometimes the award orders dont make it into the 201 or the DD214 which is why occasionally veterans get awards years after service is rendered...after a proper investigation turns up awards or reliable witnesses)

when in fact it may not necessarily reflect reality...

I ets'd from a small ft and not only knew all the clerks...was present as mine was being typed up..and even then he didnt include everthing...rather than have him redo it...I wanted to go home..and get going..

My DD214 doesnt reflect every award I earned..and I havent gotten around to petitioning the DOD to rectify this...

nevertheless...I have met combat vets who have earned medals...yet lie about additional medals or units of service... I knew a vet who earned a silver star from a straight leg line company who lied about being an airborne ranger..

go figure...Im guessing the guy felt he wasnt good enough just the way he was and wanted to be more and didnt do it when the time was right....and found it easier just to lie about it...
go figure..

[Spook86]

IMO B.G. Burkett deserves some sort of recognition from the DOD. On his own--and at considerable expense out of his own pocket--Mr. Burkett has become a one-man truth squad who has exposed the charlatans and frauds, including a couple (as I recall) who claimed they received the Medal of Honor.

The irony here is that Mr. Cotta could be legitimately called a hero; decorations such as the Silver and Bronze Stars and Soldiers Medal are nothing to sneeze at. But somewhere along the line, he apparently decided that he deserved a higher decoration.

Kennedy also deserves a slam, which Channel 10 conveniently omits. For a medal like the DSC--even one being awarded 30+ years after the battle--the Army simply wouldn't mail or fax it. The Army would have a project officer who would handle the entire matter, and deliver the medal and citation to Kennedy's office personally, and arrange coordinate event publicity with the Congressman's staff. This was a third-rate con job, and Kennedy (and his staff) fell for it hook, line and sinker. Of course, looking dumb as a stump comes naturally for the young Kennedy (no pun intended--I'm aware he lost a leg to cancer)....

[strela]

My DD214 doesnt reflect every award I earned..and I havent gotten around to petitioning the DOD to rectify this.

Therein lies the key. Its the easiest thing in the world to claim that you received more awards than you actually were awarded, and the DD214 is a quick-n-easy way to have something at hand to back up your sea stories.

(Agree on your numerous valid points about the validity of data on DD214s. I had a merry time getting my Navy Expeditionary Medal and last Good Conduct reflected correctly on mine).

[OldFriend]

Your reverence is so admirable and in stark contrast to what John Ketchup did with his medals (not really) which makes it even lower than low.

[BluH2o]

Going back about five or six years ago an obituary in the local paper caught my attention. The deceased had served in the U.S. Navy with UDT/SEAL teams. While serving in Vietnam he was awarded the Navy Cross (2nd only to the MOH) in addition to other awards. Knowing only a few members of this highly decorated unit had been awarded the Navy Cross I faxed the obit with a cover letter to the James Watson, Curator (at the time) of the UDT/SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce, FL ... simply to make them aware (if they didn't already know) they had lost a highly decorated former team member. The next day I received a call from Watson thanking me for sending the obit ... especially in light of the fact that the deceased had never served in the UDT/SEAL teams much less awarded the Navy Cross. My next call was to the writer of the obit who told me the family, his son, (who was in the Navy) gave him the info for the piece. The writer didn't verify it and it went to press ... nothing more was done about it.

[gdc61]

when informed of the situation Tom Daschle was heard saying "i'm deeeply saddened".

[strela]

The writer didn't verify it and it went to press ... nothing more was done about it.

I wonder if there has ever been a correction to an obituary?

[Cagey]

The writer didn't verify it and it went to press ... nothing more was done about it.

Obits, unless a featured story, are never checked out for accuracy. Some people just have to wait their entire lives to become famous.

I get a little nervous seeing people wearing an assortment of medals and ribbons on their civilian clothes. That's something the Soviets were much better at than we Americans.

[San Jacinto]

I am glad that you honor the memory of your uncle the way you do. He was a hero for all Americans.

[A Navy Vet]

I don't get it. A Silver and Bronzed Star, Soldiers Medal, Purple Heart and he still needed more?

[Republicus2001]

didn't Klintoon have a military staff member get busted for this and kill himself upon exposure?

[Squantos]

When I retired I was "outprocessed" at a CBPO and given my paperwork to review and ensure it was correct and proper per my military experience, awards , decorations and training. It wasn't, I had the clerk correct it on the spot with documentation from my records in his possession .

When one seperates or retires from the DOD the single most important piece of paper is the DD214 as it will be your single record of accomplishments and validation for retirement, employment or medical benefits.

Make certified copies and keep the original in a safe place. As to this event , one such lie negates all his honorable efforts if ever there was in the first place.

Stay Safe !

[MEG33]

That was as I recall proved to be an error and Hackworth started it.He was Navy ,Bourda, and I believe he was exonerated after his suicide. Others here know the whole story.