Waging war against military imposters

[thedrifter]

Borrowed from Hubby..
Thanks fontman!


By STEVE VISSER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 05/20/06

Marine Corps veteran Stephen Walker was honored to meet Richard Thibodeau, especially when he read about the heroism that earned his fellow Gwinnett Marine the Navy Cross in Vietnam.

"When I got his biography, I took it over to my dad's house, I was that impressed," said Walker, a Gulf War veteran. "I thought 'How can I be in the same room with this guy?' It made me feel small."

Richard Thibodeau, 64, claimed to have received the Navy Cross, but the Lawrenceville resident's claims have turned out to be a hoax.

Volunteer George Patsios, 91, of Lilburn, a former communication specialists in Germany during the war in 1944, shows some of the items he loaned to the Gwinnett Veteran's Memorial Museum in downtown Lawrenceville on Friday.

The Navy Cross brought Thibodeau, 64, a seat of honor at the Marine Corps League's Georgia banquet May 13 at the American Legion Post 251 in Duluth. The Navy Cross citation, outlining acts of uncommon valor, hung in the Gwinnett County Veterans Memorial Museum in Lawrenceville. Thibodeau claimed in the paperwork he supplied the museum to have retired as a sergeant major, the highest enlisted rank in the Marines.

But the citation, the medal and the rank all were lies.

Thibodeau now admits he never served in Vietnam, never earned the Navy Cross, never saw combat. He never was a Marine.

The Lawrenceville resident, a medical technologist, is one of the latest of a growing number of military frauds.

Doug Sterner, who runs homeofheroes.com, a Web site that honors genuine heroes, said he has referred the case to FBI Special Agent Thomas Cottone, who investigates medal fraud.

Cottone wouldn't confirm there is an active investigation, but medal fraud is becoming more prevalent nationwide as military service has risen in prestige among Americans, especially in time of war.

Walker, the 35-year-old commandant of the Gwinnett chapter of the Marine Corps League, said Thibodeau had been well liked by metro Atlanta Marines. Now he hopes Thibodeau will be prosecuted.

"Everybody is completely in shock. This thing completely blindsided us," Walker said. "I hope he gets what he deserves."

Cottone, based in New Jersey, said he has come across about 50 referrals of fraud involving medals like the Navy Cross in the last year.

"I guarantee you that this Memorial Day and this Veterans Day, there will be many people out there wearing unearned military awards," he said.

The imposters' motives range from pure ego to profit, Cottone said. Wearing medals for valor is a federal offense that carries prison time, he said, but the real punishment is public exposure.

Thibodeau admitted to the Journal-Constitution that he illegally wore the Navy Cross. He later admitted he was never a Marine, despite claiming in an e-mailed apology to real Marines that he had been wounded while in the service.

Hal Gosnell, a retired Marine Reserve colonel in Rome, outed Thibodeau after the banquet when he couldn't find Thibodeau's citation listed on homeofheroes.com.

He sent a copy of the Navy Cross citation to Sterner, who found it had been plagiarized almost word for word from the legitimate citation of another Marine who earned the Navy Cross in 1966.

"I had several friends in the Marine Corps League who vouched for him," said Gosnell, 66. "The whole thing unraveled."

In an interview with the Journal-Constitution, Thibodeau blamed the lie on a prank that had gone awry. He claimed his actions were mitigated because he only deceived his fellow Marines.

"I never went to a parade or a school touting it, it was only the Marine Corps League," he said Thursday night. "At least I had enough integrity for that ... In my mind I wasn't harming anyone because I wasn't capitalizing on it."

Thibodeau explained that the deception began about 13 years ago. He and two friends he described as Marine vets had a mocked-up photograph that showed Thibodeau wearing the Navy Cross. At Marine get-togethers, one of the friends would pull out the photograph as evidence he was a war hero, Thibodeau said.

"He just got a real kick out of how many people were that stupid," said Thibodeau. "Then I couldn't say anything because if I did it would hurt them and make the believers look stupid."

Norm Worthington, a medically retired Marine staff sergeant in Buford, said Thibodeau wasn't a reluctant party to a bad joke. He said he even once heard Thibodeau complain that his achievement was overlooked at a Marine League gathering in Birmingham, Ala.

Thibodeau helped organize the Gwinnett veterans museum, and donated the fraudulent citation to it, Worthington said.

"He put himself there," said Worthington, who was the chairman of the Marine banquet in Duluth. "My wife and I - my wife was a Marine too - are just totally devastated."
Thibodeau claimed a friend put his citation in the museum.

He has changed the story about his Marine service repeatedly since the Journal-Constitution first interviewed him. On Thursday night, he claimed he had been part of the elite Marine Recon in Vietnam. But after learning that Sterner, who runs the hero Web site, was pulling his military records, he admitted he had never served in Vietnam.

On Friday morning, he e-mailed the following message: "I have never been in the military. I have never been to Vietnam. I have never had any dealings with the military."

Sterner noted that Thibodeau's paperwork at the museum said he had retired as a sergeant major. Other Marines said Thibodeau claimed to have retired as a master sergeant.

"I guess he couldn't keep his lies straight," Sterner said.

"This was just a stupid, immature thing that took on a life of its own," Thibodeau said. "Then it becomes a question of ego and you don't want to admit you screwed everyone, so you keep the lie going."

http://fontman.smugmug.com/photos/70925536-M.jpg


Ellie

[John Mayotte]

It turns my stomache to read about a$$es such as this, who, in my opinion, would stoop so low, just for a "prank". I don't think he was "reluctant" in any part of it. If he was so uncomfortable about the deception, then he would of come clean to begin with, before it even got out of hand. People like this have no honor or respect for those who actually served and bled for this country.


:flag: John

[MillRatUSMC]

&***&^%&(((*&&
This scumbag is wearing medals and awards earned by men better than his low A$$.
Wonder how much money that complete set of Dress Blues set this scumbag back?

[ggyoung]

There is so much of this kind of low-life stuff going on around the country that it seem half the people are doing it. There are a lot good sites that is exposing these low-life sobs. pow.network's phonies index

[John Mayotte]

Unfortunately, for every jacksh$t puke that gets caught, there are another five to take his place. It's like you said Sgt, it's become the norm. It's like trying to stop leaks in a levee with one or two swabs.

[sgt.lane]

Nice Stash----freak

[outlaw3179]

lol

[goat]

How did this guy get into the Marine Corps League?!! Didn't they check him out before they let him join? This makes me sick! What kind of sleeze bag does this? What he did was not a joke, it criminal and he should do time for his "hoax". Maybe in federal prizon he'll finally learn what that this is not a joke. There's a purpole heart on the uniform he's waring, and gold jump wings! I don't have @#(&^% gold wings! And this slime... ... I can't think abput this any more, I'll go nuts.
-Goat

[MillRatUSMC]

Another Marine points out, this lowlife/scumbag isn't even wearing the rank he was claiming.
Those are 1st Sergeant stripes not the stripes of a Sergeant Major.
It got past my eye, but some Marines have hawkeye vision.
What a low-life and scumbag.
And I concur, he should do time, so he might learn that this no joke to other Marines, Ricardo included...
On a second or third look, these lowlife/scumbag is wearing the Purple Heart medal...now I'm really hot...Because to me, many Marines earned that medal by being wounded in combat, to me this worst than him wearing the Navy Cross...

[ggyoung]

Look close-----------and--------you will find--------there are no crosed rifles in the red center. Them strips are of 1959 and later.

[MillRatUSMC]

The cross rifles are there because I check on a image program.
He almost correct but wearing jump wings of a parachutist and the Purple Heart.
To me is worst than wearing the Navy Cross, but on second thought.
He stealing the valor of some Marines, who did acts of valor resulting in them becoming recipents of the Navy Cross.
Which right below the Medal of Honor.
Now did he also forge a DD 214 to get into the Marine Corps League?
I printed out from the neck down as far as the belt buckle and he has everything where it should be.
But he still a Lowlife/Scumbag in my book...

[MillRatUSMC]

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/shared-blogs/ajc/badie/entries/2006/05/23/fake_heros_flas.html
Found this on this lowlife/scumbag...more insight on this lowlife and scumbag...

[rktect3j]

There was a time when we wouldn't be sitting around wondering what is going to happen to this person.

[Marine84]

Ya'll know I don't live very far from this guy.......................any requests?

[goat]

Take it easy kid, he's not worth it. He'll ware the shame of this thing as long as he lives. And I hope he lives a vary long time. He should and will suffer. Every Marine should keep a copy of his picture so he can be identified where ever he goes. School kids should be able to pick him out at 100 meters and say "hey (mommy)daddy there goes that guy who lied" Exposure is the worst thing that could happen to him. H shouldn't be able to outrun or outlive his lies. Personally, I think rat bastards like this one, and there's plenty of 'em, should have fraud tattood on their forheads. Anyway I wish him a vary long and vary public life!
-Goat

[MillRatUSMC]

I should let it go, but, I owe too much to other Marines to let this scumbag/lowlife get away with any of ths BS.
Why today?
I recieved an E-Mail requesting if they could use my name and location for their editorial opinions.
I replied affirmative.
When I went back to that blog by Rickie Badie...I found this comment...
May 27, 2006

Thibodeau even posted the following in this column’s forum back in Feb. of 2006 ref. the Gwinnett Co. Veteran’s Museum. So much for his claim that he only deceived his “fellow” Marines & that he never touted it other than at the Marine Corps League.

By Richard H. Thibodeau

February 13, 2006 04:26 PM

Rick Badie

The Gwinnett County Veterans Museum is to honor all veterans who served in war or peace. As a great Marine general once stated “There is only one color in the Marine Corps…Marine green. There is dark green and light green, but that is it. I’m from Louisiana and grew up during the 40’s and 50’s. Racist? Hell no! In Vietnam my injuried body was carried to a helicopter by a team member of my recon unit, who had already been shot once. His name was Dan Warwick and he was as dark as night…and I loved him like a brother.

Richard H Thibodeau United States Marine Corps, retired.

Well, I check 1st Recon, 3rd Recon, 1st Force Recon and 3rd Force Recon for the name Dan Warwick or Daniel Warwick, nothing shows.
But there's a band member by that name.
Now I wonder where did he come up with the name Dan Warwick.
What a slime.
Maybe I should just let it go...
NO
Remembering too many good Marines and the task of my platoon to go back for the most serious wounded first than our dead, on 19 October 1967...

[Shadowman777]

&***&^%&(((*&&

Wonder how much money that complete set of Dress Blues set this scumbag back?

Answer: Nothing. The body, uniform and medals are probably legit. His head and face were placed over the head of the real Marine.

If you copy the pic and paste into any photo software, and zoom in on the neckline, you can see it. It is very simple to do.

Case it point:

This is an original picture:
http://content30.bigoo.ws/content/image/funny/funny_105.jpg

This one I modified, and placed the faces of my son and daughter as a joke!
http://www.mttu.com/cool_as.jpg

It took me 15 minutes to do - and would be perfect if I had spent 30 minutes on it. Hell - you should have seen the pic I made of my pastor's head being on Leonardo DaVinchi's "David!" Made him look like he was standing there in all his glory. He wasn't too keen about it, but his wife "LOVED IT!"

Anyone want the body of Arnold??

[Shadowman777]

I should let it go, but, I owe too much to other Marines to let this scumbag/lowlife get away with any of ths BS....

Hmmm .... you just gave me an idea ...

This scumbag likes to play around right? How about I do my magic, and send the pic to his hometown newspaper - and also have posters made up and plastered on the telephone poles of his town - --- of him involved in gay porn!

After all - it would "just be a joke" right???"

(LOL - I am a *good* friend to have - and even *worse* enemy!)

[spike7451]

Over here in the UK,we call them 'Walts'.(as in Walter Mitty) & on ARRSE(the British Army forum,www.arrse.co.uk)we have pages & pages dedicated to hunting down & destroying these sad,pathetic tossers!
The are a insult to all who serve & have served their country,whatever branch of the service it may be.

[MillRatUSMC]

Thanks or should it be Thank you, Spike for your very kind words and we see that we are not alone.
Maybe we should come up with a name as you call yours, "Walts"...
Again a heart-felt Thank You...

[ChristianMedia]

I say again, if a man claims to be a Marine or former Marine, ask him to state any two of his units. We all know the rattled off text when we see it.
:sick:

[david43844]

What a &^%$*!@$ JERK...............Posting Pics of him around town and exposeing him is an excellent idea,go for it!!! Have you ever seen a modern day Marine with a mustaches that exceeded the corners of his mouth?

[recon532002]

I have a real good Idea on how to use that handlebar mustash And it ain't for calf ropin
RECON:thumbdown

[jennifer]

I HATE hearind and reading about this. I swear if I ever see someone that did this I will re-arrange their face. Don't they Fu/cking know the importance of earing the title United States Marine!!! And to wear the uniform... ***sigh*** My heart breaks every time I hear of a fellow brother or sister losing their life in the Middle East. :( And then to see and read about this, the nerve.... :devious:

[jennifer]

Sounds like a good idea. I think you shoud do it!! :banana: Hmmm .... you just gave me an idea ...

This scumbag likes to play around right? How about I do my magic, and send the pic to his hometown newspaper - and also have posters made up and plastered on the telephone poles of his town - --- of him involved in gay porn!

After all - it would "just be a joke" right???"

(LOL - I am a *good* friend to have - and even *worse* enemy!)

[redneck13]

:mad: :evilgrin: :flag: Go for it Marine. Put his picture everywhere you can. I think that's under the 1st Amendment. Anybody, and I've had three-four imposter's actually sitting in a Nam Group Therapy sessions, and one in a Combat Stress Program who were nothing but imposter's. "IT MAKES ME WANNA PUKE" (really I'd like to say what I really would want to do, but, I'm using restraint). I'm not up to full speed on this topic yet, but I'm going to look into it, but, there are those who will take advantage of anything, greed, glory, seeker's, who want to be one of the Few The Proud, The Marines!!" "DOES FIRING SQUAD SOUND GOOD?"
I'm sorry this happened to you my Friend. Just flat, "DO IT, DO IT!!" We'll cover your back!! SF

[spike7451]

We was sitting in the RBL (Royal British Legion-serving & ex-serving vet's assosiation kind of club run as a charity) a while back & the was 3 other's & myself (all serving or ex-serving) when we was joined by someone who we loosly know.(The kind of bloke who sit's at the bar & join's in,sort of Billy-no-mates)
He gave it the "When I was..." & one of the lads pipped up," Ahh,you must know.....?" To which the reply was "Er.it was a big camp..."
WALT!!!

[spike7451]

On a slightly lighter note about military imposter's,aka WALTS!
We have a thread running,currently around 85 pages dedicated to a Coy of these sad individuals.....


www.arrse.co.uk/cpgn2/forums/viewtopic/t=24926/postdays=0/postorder-asc/start=0.html (http://www.arrse.co.uk/cpgn2/forums/viewtopic/t=24834/postdays=0/postorder-asc/start=0.html)

You'll need a couple of 6 packs,a comfy chair & something to wipe away the tears of laughter!!:beer::D
Enjoy

[spike7451]

On a slightly lighter note about military imposter's,aka WALTS!
We have a thread running,currently around 85 pages dedicated to a Coy of these sad individuals.....


www.arrse.co.uk/cpgn2/forums/viewtopic/t=24834/postdays=0/postorder=asc/start=0.html (http://www.arrse.co.uk/cpgn2/forums/viewtopic/t=24834/postdays=0/postorder=asc/start=0.html)

Sorry but the link above does'nt work.
Please go to www.arrse.co.uk & look in the 'Inteligence cell' on the Sticky's.
Sorry......

[ChristianMedia]

Don't get mad at imposters. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. And,.. imitating a Marine can be no easy task.


<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=600 align=center><TBODY><TR vAlign=center><TH align=right width=260>http://www.heritagestudio.com/264-231b.jpg (http://www.heritagestudio.com/usmcart15.htm)</TH><TH width=40></TH><TD align=left width=300>SERGEANT JOHN BASILONE, USMC
Medal of Honor Recipient, Guadalcanal, 24-25 October, 1942
ARTIST: C.C. Beal—c. 1945
Mixed Media —31"× 26"

Marine Corps Art Collection

264-23-1 More: http://www.heritagestudio.com/usmcart.htm

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[redneck13]

:!: :( How in the hell do you log in as a new member on the site, can you explain it? I would like to see the 80 some odd pages of this! Help me, a retard. LOL Win

[spike7451]

:!: :( How in the hell do you log in as a new member on the site, can you explain it? I would like to see the 80 some odd pages of this! Help me, a retard. LOL Win

Go to www.arrse.co.uk & click on 'pinky' (main site)
Then click on register on the left hand column (user info) & fill in the form.
Spike

[redneck13]

:banana: :D :flag: Got it Spike, many thanks, willl get 'r done...SF

[Noci]

Too wear those Medals without earning them is a crying shame. This man is a criminal! I would have to end myself if I did this. A Marine I knew wore the expert badge and was really a pizza box , man did he pay for this.

[His_angel]

I've avoided commenting on this for a few days now. I've read and reread it. I have 2 schools of thought about it.

Did he really get to enjoy the attention his lies garnered him? Once a lie is told it takes more lies and a lot of effort to remember them all. He may have gained some attention but he will never know what it feels like to BE a Marine. Okay. So maybe he was a good story teller, liar, actor and felt smug each time someone else believed him. I'm glad to know all of this has come full circle to bite him in the @$$.

On the other hand look at all those who want to join the Marines. Maybe they can't because of a medical condition. Or maybe they join and just can not get through boot camp for whatever reason. Or the Marines that do graduate boot, get injured later or for whatever reason can not be a career Marine. Anyone who has been in of course knows there are Marines who are heroic beyond expectations. Some are injured or killed and while they may deserve certain medals they may actually never be awarded. Or if the are awarded it's posthumusly. Yes. In that manner it royally p!$$e$ me off.

There are many who serve besides Marines. Not just Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. But the firefighters, police officers, border patrol, air marshals, and all the civilians who serve or put their lives on the line each day. So this p.o.s. slime ball didn't just disrespect the Marines. He disrespected any person who has ever sworn to serve and protect.

I'm glad that caught the bastage. I hope he gets what is really coming to him. Sadly though there will always be some others out there and among us just like him. They can't take pride in their own lives and what they do so they have to try and fake it with their lies.

angel

[marinegreen]

His-angel, I dont think theres anyone on here who doesnt mind hearing anothers view directed to them but when a person has nothing good to say about or to any of us it gets old, if you havent seen all his post he slammed on everyone and that was because either he was just a lonely lil man, or some twirp teenager or cuz he just hates everyone but hisself. And the most important thing when ever someone who critzies someone could atleast use alittle tact which he showed none, it takes alot to pi** the moderators off and he was given his chance and blew it SO NOW THEY GAVE HIM A LIL VACATION(SUSPENSION) because he used no tact, if I could've I would have reached in thru this puter and squeezed his friggen neck and I have thick skin and broad shoulders so alil constructive critizem doesnt bother me but show some tact, its not hard to do. SF MARINE,your service is appreciated.

[redneck13]

:flag: :!: I myself may have been to harsh on him, but I felt the same way. I just didn't get most of what he was posting except to "slam" everyone like you said. I figger what's good for the "goose is good for the gander." Maybe I'll be next, but, I just can't stand, and I admit, I've done it too, slam another Marine. Yet I've also apologized for it, either on the site, or in pvt messages. He just got my dander up, and I thought, My Word, is this guy ever going to get off?Move on? For pete's sakes. So my hat's off to the moderator's, job well done. SF CArry on Maggot's.

[Shadowman777]

His-angel, I dont think theres anyone on here who doesnt mind hearing anothers view directed to them but when a person has nothing good to say about or to any of us it gets old, if you havent seen all his post he slammed on everyone and that was because either he was just a lonely lil man, or some twirp teenager or cuz he just hates everyone but hisself. And the most important thing when ever someone who critzies someone could atleast use alittle tact which he showed none, it takes alot to pi** the moderators off and he was given his chance and blew it SO NOW THEY GAVE HIM A LIL VACATION(SUSPENSION) because he used no tact, if I could've I would have reached in thru this puter and squeezed his friggen neck and I have thick skin and broad shoulders so alil constructive critizem doesnt bother me but show some tact, its not hard to do. SF MARINE,your service is appreciated.

Wrong thread Green?

[redneck13]

:p :banana: :flag: He's right MarineGreen, both of us got on the wrong thread. OOP'S ME TOO-LIKE DUH!! SORRY 'BOUT THAT PEOPLE. SF CARRY ON R

[Shadowman777]

What a &^%$*!@$ JERK...............Posting Pics of him around town and exposeing him is an excellent idea,go for it!!! Have you ever seen a modern day Marine with a mustaches that exceeded the corners of his mouth?

Have you ever seen a modern day fat woman with a moustache like that? Well ... besides Italian women.

(My wife is Italian - I have to vent somewhere ..)

Onto our fake Marine.

I did a Google search, and found he had done another impersonation. And this one is really disturbing! Dunno, maybe it is a real picyure of him. Hard to tell with this turd. But it could give reason why he wanted to someone better then himself.

You decide.

[marinegreen]

lol utmost appologies shadowman/poleclimber, I've started the 100 8 count pushups for my punishment. Utmost hilariuos pic, stomach hurts. SF

[Shadowman777]

lol utmost appologies shadowman/poleclimber, I've started the 100 8 count pushups for my punishment. Utmost hilariuos pic, stomach hurts. SF

No worries bro. Hell, I did one post to the Range guy, and the next day I looked at it and thought, "What the hell was I writing about?" It didn't even make sense to me, and I wrote it - nor could I understand what point I was trying to make!!

And *your* stomach hurts? Do you how pics of ugly fat chicks I had to look through - just to find the right one??? LOL - my stomach hurts but from throwing up!!

I'm pushing the envelope a bit with that pic, but given the turd in question, I think the moderators will understand. I don't see anything sexual there, but I can't speak for Greenville Gunny.

(Let's see how long it takes Gunny to find this post! LOL!!!)

[marinegreen]

yeah shadowman,that pic is pushing the envelope, just pled temporary insanity to the moderator if its brought to your attention.

[Shadowman777]

yeah shadowman,that pic is pushing the envelope, just pled temporary insanity to the moderator if its brought to your attention.

OK - I fixed the pic!

[airframesguru]

FBI pursues pretenders masquerading as war heroes
By Gregg Zoroya
USA TODAY

The FBI is cracking down on phony war heroes, who often buy medals on the Internet and wear them at public events.

This year, federal agents have launched a dozen investigations against people allegedly masquerading as decorated veterans. At that pace, the FBI would open about twice as many cases as it did last year.

The cases are sometimes difficult to prosecute because the phony heroes have to be caught wearing the medal. And because the crime — unauthorized wearing of military medals and decorations — is a misdemeanor, the penalty is small. Of the 58 cases that were opened by the FBI in the past six years, 20 are pending. Of the other 38, almost 60% ended in convictions.

Support in Congress is growing for the “Stolen Valor Act,” which would stiffen penalties for falsely claiming to have received any medal. Since it was introduced last year, the number of co-sponsors has doubled.

The bill would make it a crime to merely claim the medal was earned. It would also increase punishment. Today, only those fraudulently wearing Medals of Honor face up to a year in jail and a $100,000 fine. The bill would increase penalties for wearing other medals to the same level.

Offenders are people who buy Purple Hearts, Bronze Stars or even Medals of Honor on the Internet or at flea markets and play the role of war hero at military funerals, banquets and benefits, says FBI Special Agent Thomas Cottone, a violent crimes investigator who took on phony war hero cases as a personal crusade 10 years ago.

“They do it for the attention. They want to get noticed,” Cottone says. “These people, by wearing those medals, are literally stealing the valor and recognition of those who legitimately did the act. And this is absolutely disgraceful.”

The most recent conviction: Theodore Bantis, 59, of Dunlap, Ill., who pleaded guilty Tuesday to posing as a Marine Corps officer who had won the Navy Cross, the second-highest Marine valor award. He admitted he never served in the military.

http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20060621/1a_bottomstrip21.art.htm

[Shadowman777]

Careful there Mr. Sparks...........you could get a dose of your own prescription there in Portland. I know where you are!

Who are you? Fill out your profile.

[david43844]

Well &^%$ me running!!! I beleive I just got a threat from Zanesville.:D God its good to be loved!!:banana: Semper Fi..................."Its better to be a once was than a never will be"

[Shadowman777]

Well &^%$ me running!!! I beleive I just got a threat from Zanesville.God its good to be loved!!Semper Fi..................."Its better to be a once was than a never will be"

Looks like Zanesville got whacked. His bio said nothing, so in my mind, he was just a wannebe, a never was.

[Quintin]

Canton, Ohio Police just busted a man who was posing as a war hero. This man wore dress blues and had all the ribbons. He made a mistake of wearing them in the wrong order. I am a Commander of the local American Legion Post and we have all ranks. No imposter could come in our post without say our Sergeant Major seeing something wrong with his uniform. He still gives me hell on my hair and I am retired.
This man had no reason to be an imposter he was pretty well off. Now he cant even go down the street without someone yelling at him. OH did I tell you he had no legs and said he lost them in combat. Same Same-- never been in the Marines or any other branch either. Never served a day in jail either. Q

[Shadowman777]

Canton, Ohio Police just busted a man who was posing as a war hero. This man wore dress blues and had all the ribbons. He made a mistake of wearing them in the wrong order. I am a Commander of the local American Legion Post and we have all ranks. No imposter could come in our post without say our Sergeant Major seeing something wrong with his uniform. He still gives me hell on my hair and I am retired.
This man had no reason to be an imposter he was pretty well off. Now he cant even go down the street without someone yelling at him. OH did I tell you he had no legs and said he lost them in combat. Same Same-- never been in the Marines or any other branch either. Never served a day in jail either. Q

LOL - sounds like you have a great Sergeant Major! I also love the fact he still busts your balls about your hair as well! Hard Corps!

Ever notice how these "posers" always pick the Corps? How come there are no Squid or Flyboy posers?

My guess? Having money can afford you the nicer things in life, but respect is not one of them. Respect is "earned" just like the title "United States Marine." They have no respect - especially "self-respect" - so they choose to pretend they are one of us.

On one hand, it is a compliment to Marines. On the other hand, it is a huge slap in the face to those who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in their sacrifice of self. Given the gravity of the latter, guys like him are scumbags - stealing honor they never deserved nor earned.

Have a pic of the guy? I'd like to put him in a gay porno.

Just a thought ...

Semper Fi

[MillRatUSMC]

I almost have some flash-back on seeing the name "Sparks", there another "Mike Sparks" and this dude couldn't cut in the Corps and he bad mouth the Corps every chance he gets.
Had a web site by the name of "Special Operations and Tactical Studies" if I remember correctly.
Claimed back than that he was airborne, but most of the airborne never heard of the group he claimed to represent.
Now, I see a David L. Sparks...could he have change his MO?
Saw a web page with this name tacitus AKA Mike Sparks, so he still around.
What name was he going by here before it got trashed?

[Quintin]

I have no picture or even his name. I was still working then and that was about a year ago. My men and I laughed about this for some time. My men knew how I felt about the Marines. Now I just do vol. work for veterens, VFW, Legion, VSC and Brecksville. I really work now and that is kinda funny. When you owe you have to pay, what ever way it takes. Did that make sense? I have had a great life and achieved every goal I had ever came up with. I know many who have nothing. So now I do for those who cant.

[8th&I Marine]

Clear on the left! Clear on the right! comence fireing when all scumbag tagets are up. People like this really make me angry. I showed this to my thread to my father (former Marine also) he said back in the 50's people like this would just disapear. I hope I never meet someone like this, I not sure I could hold back my anger. I hope this sh*%bird is prosecuted to the full extent.

Cantrell:flag:

[FISTFU68]

:evilgrin: LISTEN UP MARINES,A BOOK TITLED STOLEN VALOR! BY B.G.BURKETT& GLENNA WHITMAN~ADRESSES THIS FAKE WANNABE'S,QUITE A FEW WERE BUSTED IN IT'S WRITING'S! GOOD~READING,YOU WOULD BE SURPRIZED WHO ACTUALLY GOT BUSTED? 10/4:evilgrin:

[david43844]

Mike Sparks is no relation to me or my family, Why the interest in me? my profile is public and can be verified. My service # if any one is interested was 2271023. My father was also a Marine WWII vintage his name was Wilton Alden Sparks.