Navy SEAL imposter attends military tribute

[Lisa 23]

Navy SEAL imposter attends military tribute

By The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Jun 2, 2011 10:25:27 EDT
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THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Navy SEALs are popular after the raid on Osama bin Laden's hide out in Pakistan, so imagine the patriotic pride when a man in a SEALs uniform showed up at a California school for a "Thank You Soldiers" tribute.
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But it turns out Salhem Dreasden, who wore the SEALs lieutenant uniform to the Ladera Elementary School event in Thousand Oaks last week, was a fake. The military says Dreasden never served in the Navy.

The Ventura County Star says Dreasden was wearing a Navy uniform with his last name, the words "SEAL TEAM," the trident pin insignia of the elite unit and lieutenant bars.

Federal law prohibits the unauthorized wearing of a military uniform.

Dreasden, a friend of a parent at the school, could not be reached for comment.

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2011/06/ap-school-learns-navy-seal-was-fake-060211/

[hbharrison]

What a dipwad!!!

[Old Marine]

Gee, I wonder why he couldn't be reached for comment.

[Cpl Heglar]

Salhem Dreasden needs a wake up call soon. He should be made to go through Seal training to curb future violations of the current law.

[CrockettJW]

Why do they do this? They have to know they're going to get caught, especially in such a public setting.

[USNAviator]

Looks like a SEAL to me. Snappy salute as well. I think he's had one too many Whoppers though. Gee I wonder how they caught him?????

http://media.vcstar.com/media/img/photos/2011/06/01/220110601181453003_t607.JPG

[USNAviator]

You get the feeling the guy on the left is saying "Get me the hell away from this POS"? While the guy on the right is eyeballing him saying "I can't believe what I'm seeing"?

[iamspartacus]

He should be made to go through Seal training to curb future violations of the current law.

EXCELLENT IDEA! I like it. If you're caught impersonating a service member, part of the punishment is you have to go through the amount of training that you were representing yourself as having done. If you just pose as a Marine you have to go through Marine Corps boot camp. If you pose as a SEAL you have to go through Navy boot camp and SEAL training. If you pose as a fighter pilot you have to go through human centrifuge training every day for a month!

Of course, this wouldn't be on the taxpayer's dime. Not only would you not get paid for this, but you would have to reimburse the government for the cost of training you.

[Cpl Heglar]

Looks like a SEAL to me. Snappy salute as well. I think he's had one too many Whoppers though. Gee I wonder how they caught him?????

http://media.vcstar.com/media/img/photos/2011/06/01/220110601181453003_t607.JPG
Where the heck did you find this pict Dan? I looked all over. Nice that we know what the pos looks like. Thanks for the post. BTW that is a girlscout salute. Obviously no military training what so ever.

[GruntDocIraqvet]

Looks like a SEAL to me. Snappy salute as well. I think he's had one too many Whoppers though. Gee I wonder how they caught him?????

http://media.vcstar.com/media/img/photos/2011/06/01/220110601181453003_t607.JPG
YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO SALUTE!! The Trident is ALWAYS gold! and I assume he's wearing solid black (not a uniform in ANY branch) because he was "deep cover ops" "SO clandestine" that he wears black...UGH!! He could have at least done more homework b4 pulling a stunt like that. His head/neck is turned slightly to the right while saluting open-palmed in the middle of his forehead.

Someone should ask him 2 simple questions that will de-bunk any fraud: 1) "Frog or SWCC?" (pronounced swick) 2) "Numbers or colors?" (only if he answered "Frog") A shooter will know what ur asking.

[hbharrison]

Porky Pig an't got sh*t on this t*rd and where the heck is his cover never seen no Navy Officer with out his cover outside noway. Think your right about the one he looks like he wants away from this Jackwagon.

[0861Scout]

Home slice is even wearing a pin of the US Navy Amphibious Forces on his left pocket flap.

http://worthopedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/thumbnails2/1/0409/04/1_02750d1db5256445c2a68b3a5861833d.jpg

Somebody needs to tell Fatty that that unit went away after WWII.

[USNAviator]

Where the heck did you find this pict Dan? I looked all over. Nice that we know what the pos looks like. Thanks for the post. BTW that is a girlscout salute. Obviously no military training what so ever.

Kevin I went to the newspaper listed in the link. I was surprised to see a picture of this POS. Imagine thinking he could pull something like that off? The salute is what gets me.

[Lisa 23]

Man in uniform at school event was not in Navy, officials say


By Adam Foxman (http://www.vcstar.com/staff/adam-foxman/)
Ventura County Star
Posted June 1, 2011 at 6:26 p.m.
A man who appeared in a Navy SEAL uniform at a Thousand Oaks school event this week apparently never served in the Navy, military officials said Wednesday.

Salhem Dreasden was among those in uniform Tuesday at a tribute to soldiers at Ladera School. The school was honored at the event for outstanding patriotism and support of the armed forces.

Dreasden was wearing a Navy uniform that bore his last name, the words "SEAL TEAM," the trident pin insignia of the elite unit and twin bars indicating the rank of Navy lieutenant.

The name Salhem Dreasden, however, does not appear anywhere in databases of Navy service members that go back to at least the Vietnam War, said Katie Suich, a spokeswoman for the Navy Personnel Command in Tennessee. There aren't any S. Dreasdens in the database, either, she said.

Federal law prohibits the unauthorized wearing of a U.S. military uniform.

Dreasden could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Dreasden was not associated with the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve organization that honored Ladera School with a Seven Seals Award on Tuesday for its commitment to the military, said Pat Kuykendall, executive director of the statewide group.

Questions about Dreasden's service were first raised in an online special operations community forum called SOCNET.com.

Ladera Principal Pam Chasse said Wednesday that Dreasden is the friend of a parent. The school had asked parents and the community to invite veterans and active military personnel to the event.

Military service claims were in the news recently as the 2006 Stolen Valor Act was challenged in a federal appellate court. That law prohibits false claims about receiving military medals or decorations. Last month, attorneys for a Colorado man who falsely claimed to be a decorated Marine Corps veteran argued the law was an unconstitutional violation of free speech, the Denver Post reported.

In 2009, the FBI received more than 200 complaints of fraudulent representation under the Stolen Valor Act, said Laura Eimiller, a spokeswoman for the FBI in Los Angeles.

Retired Navy SEAL Craig Powell of Thousand Oaks said he worries that false military service claims will make others less likely to help service members, who make immense sacrifices.

"It bothers me when anybody portrays themselves to be who they're not," Powell said.

http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jun/01/man-in-uniform-at-school-event-was-not-in-navy/

[CrockettJW]

You know this guy was looking at himself in the mirror, saying, "Damn, I look good!" as he put a gallon of mousse in his hair.

[R Landry]

IMO, the Army guy and the Air Force guy had snappier salutes.

[R Landry]

An entry on Horsepower Junkies message board. We know where he lives.

Ran Into Badass 05 stang
<hr style="color:#666666; background-color:#666666" size="1"> Was comin back from the movie tonight (that they wouldnt let my friend into because he didnt have an ID showing his birthdate, even though he looks 25) when we ran up next to an 05 lazer red GT with a body kit, bunch of stickers, etc. I asked him to pull into my campus, so he follows. Turns out the guys name is Salhem Dreasden, and he works for STI motorsports in LA. He had new heads (converted to 4 valve), cams, built motor, 150-300 shot with the bottles professionally mounted to either side of the trunk, an amp built into the bottom of the trunk, and a completely redone interior with BMW leather and suede everything. He said he runs consitent 6's in the 1/8th mile all motor. It was one bad ass mustang i must say. he gave me his business card (www.stimotorsports.com (http://www.stimotorsports.com/), which i cant get to work right now) and said he was heading to rockingham tonight. Let me know if any of you guys see a badass lazer red 05 out there tonight. he was a pretty cool guy, his girlfriend mentioned he was a navy seal as well.

[USNAviator]

An entry on Horsepower Junkies message board. We know where he lives.

Ran Into Badass 05 stang
<hr style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); background-color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" size="1"> Was comin back from the movie tonight (that they wouldnt let my friend into because he didnt have an ID showing his birthdate, even though he looks 25) when we ran up next to an 05 lazer red GT with a body kit, bunch of stickers, etc. I asked him to pull into my campus, so he follows. Turns out the guys name is Salhem Dreasden, and he works for STI motorsports in LA. He had new heads (converted to 4 valve), cams, built motor, 150-300 shot with the bottles professionally mounted to either side of the trunk, an amp built into the bottom of the trunk, and a completely redone interior with BMW leather and suede everything. He said he runs consitent 6's in the 1/8th mile all motor. It was one bad ass mustang i must say. he gave me his business card (www.stimotorsports.com (http://www.stimotorsports.com/), which i cant get to work right now) and said he was heading to rockingham tonight. Let me know if any of you guys see a badass lazer red 05 out there tonight. he was a pretty cool guy, his girlfriend mentioned he was a navy seal as well.

So when he isn't serving as a SEAL he's out trolling LA in a tripped out Mustang and working for STI Motorsports? It amazes me he finds the time to PT and stay in such great shape. SEAL's must be using a new type of hair jell, it makes his cover invisible

BTW Ron I couldn't get that link to work either. I suspect after that story hit net, he's pretty much SOL in the job and girl friend areas. I hope flipping burghers can keep him in gas money

[CrockettJW]

IMO, the Army guy and the Air Force guy had snappier salutes.

Of course, they did. They probably had some training. The things I see wrong with this guy's salute:

Fingertips in the middle of his forehead.
Palm facing outward.
Pinky finger not touching ring finger.
Thumb curled in.
Upper arm not parallel to the deck.
Shoulder raised.

No cover!

[peterpan0105]

Gee, I wonder why he couldn't be reached for comment.

[thewookie]

Gee I wonder how they caught him?????

http://media.vcstar.com/media/img/photos/2011/06/01/220110601181453003_t607.JPG

This guy got busted over at SOCNET - somebody did a SEAL check on him. They have a whole thread about this one.

http://www.socnet.com/showthread.php?t=102600

[EGA1957]

In this URL http://www.socnet.com/showthread.php?t=102600 (pay particular attention to ALL of post #260), this guy seems to be a real prize to who's ever path he crosses.

[USNAviator]

In this URL http://www.socnet.com/showthread.php?t=102600 (pay particular attention to ALL of post #260), this guy seems to be a real prize to who's ever path he crosses.


Sorry I only see posts 1-21

This guy has multiple names. On My Space he's Chris, on Face Book he's Dave. On Perfspot (?) he's Mike.

[R Landry]

Me too; only posts 1-21.

[EGA1957]

You're all correct. This post (#18)'s referenced URL in the URL I cited will take you to the site that contains post #260. Sorry.

[YLDNDN6]

I think this has all been just one big misunderstanding. He said he was with the "Gravy Squeals." When his fat azz sees gravy he squeals with delight.

[radio relay]

What a horse's rear!!

[06yz125]

How often does this stuff happen?

Seems its more in the news lately.

I was on the SEAL team that took out osama.
I was a Recon Marine training Recon Marines.
I am a brain surgeon.

Have to admit though. We all wish we were heros.
The problem with being a hero is..(if your still alive)..
having to carry the other heros memory with you.




All this Marine got was a good conduct ribbon...
and barely got that..LOL

[Sgt Leprechaun]

Home slice is even wearing a pin of the US Navy Amphibious Forces on his left pocket flap.

http://worthopedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/thumbnails2/1/0409/04/1_02750d1db5256445c2a68b3a5861833d.jpg

Somebody needs to tell Fatty that that unit went away after WWII.

Believe it or not, it's been reactivated! However...it's an ARMY unit.

This guy needs a beatin to be sure.