Fake military veteran hid under 'ocean of lies'

[Dennis Donovan]

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/06/11/veteran.imposter/index.html

CNN) -- Richard Strandlof said he survived the 9/11 attacks on the Pentagon. He said he survived again when a roadside bomb went off in Iraq killing four fellow Marines. He'd point to his head and tell people he had a metal plate, collateral damage from the explosion.

Richard Strandlof says he didn't mean to cause harm when he lied about being a military veteran.

Crowds ate up his story. He canvassed Colorado appearing at the sides of politicians. Inspiring and seemingly authentic, he spoke on behalf of veterans at the state Capitol.

It turns out the whole thing was a lie. He wasn't at the Pentagon. He was never a Marine. He never served his country. He never graduated from the Naval Academy. He claimed his name was Rick Duncan.

He formed a group called the Colorado Veterans Alliance, and the FBI is now investigating whether he embezzled money as a result.

Where was he on 9/11, the day he said he witnessed heroism firsthand?

"I was in San Jose, California, watching it in horror on TV with a few other people," Strandlof told CNN's Anderson Cooper.

[DURHAM D]

1. So one night I am at my local pub.

The bartender is a good friend of mine. A fellow patron and someone new to the area began to tell me his personal war stories. He said he was a navy Seal, Vietnam, etc. He went on (bragged) for a while but his macho shit soon became tedious. I didn't let on and instead I said to my friend the bartender - Hey Harry, listen to this guy - he is incredible.

Harry listened, asked some polite questions, acted impressed, got his name, talked a little military stuff, asked his class number, etc.

The next day Harry listed him on the internet (on a website specifically for exposing phony Seals) as an impersonator. You see, Harry actually was a Seal.

[napoleon_in_rags]

2. I've had similar experiences. Usually people trying to convice how badass they are.

But the real ones I've known don't do a lot of talking, in my experience.

[ConcernedCanuk]

5. You are correct that most "bad-asses" don't talk about it - they just DO -

.
.
.

My best friend Bryni passed away 2 summers ago, and he WAS a bad ass - 5th dan(something like that) black belt in karate, and wicked with knives.

To his last days he worked out constantly - but he spoke and behaved like a meek, mild mannered person -

UNTIL YOU CROSSED HIM!

There would be no talk,

you would just be wondering how you ended up on the ground so fast

But he wasn't a bully - he rarely got into fights as he had sort of a presence

yeah - I miss the dude

[Dramarama]

9. Reminds me of Bob Dylan's "The Hurricane"

"Rubin could take a man out with just one punch
But he never did like to talk about it all that much.
Its my work, hed say, and I do it for pay
And when its over Id just as soon go on my way"

[timtom]

11. That's amazing!

In one small business, I spoke with at least two individuals who claimed to have been in the Marine Corps. I asked them a couple of questions and determined (based on their lack of understanding of some basic military concepts, such as what unit they were in or what their mos was) that they were patent frauds.

They're real easy to spot, but what the hell is their motivation?

[MADem]

4. The Seals have turned over that duty to another group---they ran out of volunteers to take on the

task. It's the POWs who are doing it now: http://cyberseals.org/SEAL%20Imposters.html

The AuthentiSEALs and SEAL Imposters

In years past the CyberSEALs organization was involved in providing the public with a service - performed by a small group of former Navy SEALs using the name AuthentiSEALs - which offered verification or denial of credentials made by men who claimed they were current/former members of the US Navy Underwater Demolition Teams or SEAL Teams. Associated with that activity the CyberSEALs maintained an online roster called the WALL OF SHAME listing men who had been publicly exposed as SEAL IMPOSTERS.



~The AuthentiSEAL verification/denial activity ceased completely in November 2005 due to a lack of volunteer manpower



~The AuthentiSEAL's WALL OF SHAME listing no longer exists



The CyberSEALs organization has undergone a significant change of both personnel and mission; it is now primarily engaged in providing members of the Naval Special Warfare community with a private, secure communications link to other SEALs. This web site comprises a portion of that effort, and also serves as an informational site for the general public regarding the US Navy SEALs and the predecessor units upon which they were based.



If you wish to verify a person's military credentials, in whole or in part, we strongly recommend that you contact the POW NETWORK or visit their web site for further information. That accredited 501 (c)(3) Not For Profit organization has been in business for more than 18 years, honoring the real military veterans and POWs, and exposing military imposters of all stripes. They have a large variety of contacts in both military and government circles, including several federal law enforcement personnel. Their track record of support for current and past military personnel is unmatched, and their expertise in ferreting out and dealing with military imposters is beyond reproach.



Web site: www.pownetwork.org

Email: [e-mail].

http://cyberseals.org/SEAL%20Imposters.html

I often wonder why people have a need to lie and make themselves into heroes? It's much less stressful to just speak the truth.

I have a relative who doesn't boast about his service, though he has a silver star and a couple of bronzes, the PH and a few other geegaws, and you won't ever see him holding court about his background at all--if anything, he downplays that time in his life. He doesn't display any of his awards, and the only reason you'd even know his background or his military service at all is because he's a thrifty fellow--PH vets get free license tags!

[Blue_Tires]

3. is it too much to hope that he could be another freep?

[fishwax]

6. based on his organization, I'd guess he's not

Here's a release about the Colorado Veterans Alliance's "Congressional Report Card," printed at SquareState, which appears to be a progressive blog focusing on Colorado (http://squarestate.net/diary/7766/colorado-veterans-alliance-congressional-report-card):

The 111th Congress has been in session for several months and in that time out elected officials have voted and been briefed on several items affecting the veterans and active duty military communities.

This report covers numerous issues important to Colorado's post 9/11 veterans, active duty troops and their families - an responsible end to the Iraq War, closure of Guantanamo Bay, support for homeless veterans and relief for military families facing foreclosure.

[Ernesto]

7. always remember that

o'rielly claimed that he was in combat
nuf said already!

[SpiralHawk]

12. Chickenhawk Republicons, like O'Reilly, love to pretend they are war heroes

I'd bet a sack of doughnuts that the clown who is the subject of the OP was, at heart, a Republicon Homelander Chickenhawk.

So typical.

[Bandit]

13. Bush*: "I've been to war and raised two daughters and believe me raising daughters is far worse"

:shrug:

[Canuckistanian]

8. How do they get away with it for so long?

Vets listening to these stories usually want to connect with these guys. And they're EXCELLENT BS detectors.

Also, some vets are VERY detail oriented and WILL check out another guys record or details of his service.

I'm surprised that a real Vet couldn't sniff him out in a few days.

[Rhiannon12866]

10. Reminds me of "Joe the Plumber..."

His name isn't Joe and he isn't a real plumber... :crazy:

Doug Sterner has catalogued hundreds of people claiming to be military veterans who never served in the military. He says it's typical for those perpetuating the hoaxes to claim mental illness.

"I don't buy that," Sterner said. "What he was doing was looking for a cause to promote himself. I see this repeatedly. I've had a hundred cases just this year like Rick Strandlof's. ... What they're doing is building a kingdom of self and feeding their own ego."