One man's database helps uncover cases of falsified valor

Washington Post ^ | 9 May 2010 | Christian Davenport

[Sarajevo]

   It certainly looked real. It had the right font, right seal. It was even signed by the secretary of the Navy.

 

But Doug Sterner, self-appointed guardian of the nation's military decorations, immediately suspected that there was something fishy about the Marine's citation for the Navy Cross, one of the military's most prestigious awards.

[Sarajevo]

Cottone, the FBI agent, has arrested phonies audacious enough to show up at the Congressional Medal of Honor Society banquet. He busted another person who sat in his full-dress uniform at the funeral of a Marine killed in Iraq. Cottone made the phony take off his uniform in the reception hall parking lot. And then slapped on the cuffs.

Heh-heh!

[plinyelder]

Bastard was probably partying in Canada while the rest of us were on the frontlines!

[FormerACLUmember]

"The fact is that people lie about things all the time," said Jonathan Libby, a California public defender whose client is challenging the law.

Speak for yourself, Jonathan Libby.

Although as a democrat liberal government shyster without any honor, it can be certain that you "lie about things all the time."

[piasa]

ping

[KingLudd]

I worked with a guy who claimed to be a Navy Seal. He had the lapel pins, hats, shirts, etc. Had everyone thinking he was legit. I suspected he was a fraud and checked it out. His name is on some web site “wall of shame” that exposes fake Seals, CMA winners, Purple Heart, etc. Big list.

[Fish Speaker]

We had a local guy running for a local office who claimed he was an Air Force veteran. He even came to my door to ask for my vote and admired my retirement display (medals, ribbons, and flag). Real sincere guy but he dropped out of the race when it was revealed he never served in the military. His wife, who was the county judge, was really embarrassed by the whole thing.

[Ro_Thunder]

Happens a lot.

One guy I worked with who claimed to be a SEAL even had a certificate on his wall at his house saying he was an OSSA, yet swore up and down to me (I was a CTT3, NON-SEAL) that he had to be discharged before he could ‘join’ the SEALs. I called Bravo Sierra on that one - loudly.

Heck, I lived at NAB Coronado for 2 years; those guys EARN the name SEAL. They can keep it - and every time I hear someone claim to be one, I get leery. Most SEALs aren’t braggarts.

I did work (years later) with another guy who claimed to be a SEAL. Frankly, I don’t think either one was.

[gunnyg]

...speaking of falsified valor, etc.......

http://www.thebutter-cutter.com/The_Butter-Cutter_s_LATEST.php

[stbdside]

The name of that website is www.pownetwork.org