Posted on 05/10/2011 5:44:43 PM PDT by Gamecock
Pastor Jim Moats of Newville, Pa. once had a conversation with a supervisor about the Navy SEALs. He's apparently seen a few movies portraying the SEALs as well.
In the Christian Bible Fellowship Church in Newville, Pa., Pastor Jim Moats was apparently known as a Vietnam-era Navy SEAL. Moats was known to tell tales of his time as a SEAL to parishioners and family. His sons, both of whom served in Iraq, even made their dad a plaque honoring the SEALs and other Navy units. The plaque hung on Moats' wall.
His tall tales and this plaque had led to questions, and probably even tokens of gratitude. The Pastor was living the lie. That was until The Patriot-News sought out local, retired Navy SEALs to interview after the daring raid of SEAL Team 6 led to the death of Osama bin Laden.
Readers, including two real former SEALs, saw right through his bogus story. Retired Navy SEAL Don Shipley connected two of Moats' stories to the Steven Seagal movie "Under Siege" and the Demi Moore classic, "G.I. Jane." Maybe if Moats had seen "Navy SEALs" or "Under Siege 2: Dark Territory" his story would have more credibility.
Jason Ertola, a Navy SEAL from 1992-1996, said any SEAL could see right through Moats' fraudulent story. He also expressed outrage at men like Moats who "claim the honor that many good men have earned and died for." He also noted that bogus claims similar to Moats' have increased since the death of bin Laden.
Shipley confirmed that Moats was never a SEAL (and never even served in Vietnam) by accessing a database with the names of all SEALs. Shipley then confronted the Pastor with a phone call on Sunday night. Moats gave in and admitted he was never a SEAL, never served in Vietnam, but had served in the Navy.
Moats used the ruse as an ego-booster and said he was living his dream through his sons. He will explain himself to parishioners Wednesday night at the Christian Bible Fellowship Church.
Pastor Moats' lie is disrespectful not only to all current and former Navy SEALs, such as Shipley and Ertola, but also to anyone who has served or is serving in the military, including Moats' two sons. Navy SEALs and others serving in the armed forces are the real heroes in this country, and there should be no issue with citizens pretending to be them. As long as they are 12-year-old kids. Not 59-year-old pastors with two kids of their own.
“There is a famous former EWTN priest who claimed that he was Green Beret as well but never completed training. Veterans got a hold of his military record via a FOIA request.”
Who is it?
I feel sorry for his sons who apparently are serving admirably.
I read this book years ago called Stolen Valor. I have no respect for these liars.
I met a Chaplain with a Seal tab. He saw my facial expression and explained his path took him far and wide before he heard his calling.
I am a former F-4/F-16 pilot. Once I was having dinner with a group of friends who brought a new guy along. He started spouting off about how he had flown F-16’s in the USAF. I perked up and asked him a couple of Q’s and it became painfully obvious that he was full of Sh#$. I warned my friend who was considering doing business with the fraud. He went ahead anyway and lost his shirt to a fraudulent deal. I tried.
I admire and appreciate our warriors and may God bless each and every one. My the scum that pretend to have military service be exposed each and every time they try to claim it!
I had a college classmate who was a SEAL. Didn’t find out for months. We were drinking a couple of beers and he told me a bit about it. Very matter of fact stories.
After that night I never heard him mention it again.
I tend to trust Chaplains with Ranger and SF tabs, as well as CIBs more than most other Chaplainss.
I figure they had a serious come to Jesus episode somewhere in their past.
“the pastorate is a God-honoured position that has eternal value, while being a Navy SEAL is not.”
Exactly what is NOT ‘God-Honored’ about a Navy Seal? Who is ready to lay down his life for his team mates and country?
St Michael the Archangel: God’s Warrior
Evidently, this guy never learned, “Thou shalt not bear false witness.” This church needs a new pastor.
David was a warrior, was he not?
Did he boast about his exploits in the Hürtgen Forest?
I don't see anything in the Bible about God honouring Navy SEALs. I DO see Him honouring pastors who discharge their office faithfully. So a guy lays down his life for his countrymen and his teammates. That's all well and good, but doesn't mean much in light of eternity. People don't go to heaven, just 'cause a Navy SEAL pops Osama bin Laden.
Sorry, but service in the US military doesn't make one right with God, give them special merit before Him, or anything else along those lines.
Yeah - but David was honoured because he lived for God, not because he was a warrior.
How can ANYONE say that being a SEAL is not the God honored position that has eternal value.
You have every right to your sanctimonious position regarding the military. I will agree to disagree. I don’t have a single minister in my entire pedigree. I have lots of warriors in the family. I salute each and every one of them because THEY gave you the right to your opinion.
God used his warrior attributes to defend Israel.
Yawn. So, because I honour pastors more than soldiers, this is "sanctimonious"?
I don't think that word means what you think it means.
For the record, soldiers didn't give me ANYTHING. God gave me my rights. These rights I have and retain, regardless of whether it is easy or difficult to exercise them, but nonetheless, I do not own any soldier my freedoms. Those come from GOD alone, not ANY man. Indeed, throughout history, soldiers have been the ones who have helped to take away peoples' liberties - and quite frankly, this will probably be the case here in the USA in the not too distant future.
So, I see no reason to honour people whose work has no ETERNAL value, over those who GOD honours in His Word.
My buddy was an exchange officer to the British Army for a few years.
He said it was odd, while living in England he met countless former members of the SAS, but not once did he met a former truck driver.
I was personally burned by a guy who posed as a World War Two paratrooper in Normandy. He was so convincing that my platoon marched to his home calling cadence near St. Mere Eglise. As Airborne soldiers we were in awe of this man and hung on every word he said. Imagine my surprise when I did a search for him and found out he was a fraud. His name is Howard Manoian and I had the misfortune of being conned by this guy.
Here is a link that covers his story.
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23716587-d-day-hero-exposed-as-a-fraud.do
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