'War Stories' Have Some Facing Prison

[unhappycamper]

'War Stories' Have Some Facing Prison
August 18, 2008
The Oklahoman

John Smith said he was a Navy SEAL who was imprisoned in Vietnam after his helicopter was shot down.

Troy Brodrick spoke in schools about his 30-year military career in which he earned three Purple Hearts and flew President Eisenhower as an Air Force One pilot.

William Whitely, a former University of Oklahoma professor, told stories of his career as a Navy SEAL while he served as a mentor to Naval ROTC students who wanted to follow in his footsteps.

Trouble is, they were lying.

Smith, Brodrick and Whitely are among a growing nest of military imposters, people who make up military careers or exaggerate their service.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/war-stories-have-some-facing-prison.html?col=1186032311124

[billyoc]

1. Man, of all the things I can think of that are bad luck, that's gotta take the cake.

I just want to go on record saying that I had a LOVELY time of it during my 3 year active duty hitch in the U.S. Navy, and I never ate better. :hi:

[Ganja Ninja]

2. Every one of them a staunch Republican no doubt. n/t

[TahitiNut]

3. These people have been dishonorinig actual Viet Nam veterans for 40 years.

The perceptions they've created and even the backlash to their lies have led to even more animosities. I personally believe such people are in large part responsible for the reprehensible stance that "nobody ever spit on a Viet Nam veteran." By some reputable estimates, more than five times as many people were CLAIMING to have been Viet Nam veterans than actually served in Viet Nam. (There were about 2.7 million of us and fewer than 1/3rd of us are still alive ... and dying off fast.)

When I first returned from Nam, and for about 10 years, I almost never voluntarily talked about it or even identified myself as a Viet Nam veteran. I was working too hard to "get it behind me." When I did finally choose to speak out ("in polite company"), it was with gritted teeth and a commitment to "say it like it was." I was lucky ... one of the many REMFS/POGs (Rear-Echelon-Mother-Fuckers or Persons-Other-than-Grunts) who (blessedly) didn't have to drag his poor ass through the elephant grass or rice paddies. At the same time, getting shelled at night (mortars or RPGs) and having to wake up and run for cover was 'normal.' Tet of 1969 was a nightmare. Spending the night on the bunker line or guarding the perimeter of the heliport was a test of emotional fortitude. There's no simple way to describe the insanity of the 'experience' to someone who wasn't there ... and no need to describe it to someone who was there. I can't describe the frustration of confronting folks whose perceptions were molded by some LIAR ... and the divisions sown by such THIEVES.

It was bad enough to feel BETRAYED by my own fellow Americans - the people in whose service I went - but worse that SOME of them chose to SUPPLANT me and claim credit for a kind of 'service' that was a LIE. Besides those who treated me like I was some FOOL for allowing myself to be drafted I had to deal with those posturing asses who shored up their own LIES by sneering at me for not being a grunt ... for not being as 'brave' as they claimed to have been - but were not. And the beat goes on. Even today, the misguided assholes who fail to step up to their responsibilities as citizens of a democracy and accept the FACT that 'service' really is to the NATION (people) and not to some autocracy annoy me no end.

The reason LIES prevail is because far too many of us human beans prefer the (simple) LIE to the (messy) truth. When I present the truth of my own experience, without any pretense of speaking for all, I meet with disdain, avoidance, suspicion, and hostility. Welcome home, GI. Fuck you.

[DustyJoe]

4. Posers

These posers have been around a long time. If the services had as many Seals, Special Ops, Special Forces as the posers identify themselves as. The wars would all be very short.

[The Wizard]

5. Ask for their MOS and service number

An MOS beginning with the number 1 indicates combat. My original MOS started with 8, and I was supposed to be a forward observer. Since they were using air observers in light planes and LOH helicopters for the most part, I got changed to an MOS starting with 1. Believe it or not, this helped with my claim for veterans benefits.

[DustyJoe]

6. Not Always

I was 05B20 radio operator. So, I got to hump the prc25 and batteries along with the standard ruck in a Light Infantry brigade. The true test is an award (listed on the DD214) for Army anyway is the Combat Infantry Badge, don't know about the other services.

[The Wizard]

8. I was speaking in generalalities,

I learned this from someone who works at the VA.
I didn't get a CIB, but we traveled to and occupied different field positions (NDPs) with the infantry.

[TahitiNut]

7. An MOS doesn't mean they served in Nam.

Many of the frauds did their time stateside or in Germany. Some of the most belligerant veterans never went outside the U.S. I have a cousin who 'served' in the Air Farce, 100% of the time in Texas, who's a Bush-loving, bigoted, militaristic wannabe-Rambo ass. He REALLY doesn't like it that I was in Viet Nam ... and sneers at the "losers."

[The Wizard]

9. I'm aware

but there are lots of these posers who never put on fatigues. I caught one at a party, and he didn't know what his MOS was. After exposing him, I told him I wanted to take him down to the VA regional office to get his veterans benefits. He ducked out without another word.

[DustyJoe]

10. That's the way to do it

When you shine a light on a cockroach, they run under a cupboard.