I think we have seen a few people exposed here that were phonies. The one that comes to mind is CWO Thomas Barnhart. But... there have been a few right here on military.com

A question I have is what should be done with these sick people? They obviously have a mental problem of some sort. They feel the need to impress others with fake awards and accomplishments.

Another question is what is too much? If they add a unit commendation is that a big deal? How about a Presidential Unit Citation, an OIC insignia, Silver Star, just what is too much, or too little?

I have my opinions, but I'd like to hear yours first. Someone has e-mailed me with information about another phoney on these boards. I may fill you in with the details, but I'd like to hear your thoughts on this first.

Wray...

Wray,

Expose and ignore(their rantings), but keep exposing.

later

cliff

I don't lose any sleep over it. They usually end up creating their own karma. . . and usually. . . the higher and longer they climb on their house of cards; the further and harder their fall. Until then, they have to live under the constant stress of the fear that they'll be found out. That can't be too good for one's health and state of mind.

Besides. . .imitation is the highest form of flattery.

Wray,

Impersonation of a veteran in some instances is a federal crime. If you have proof positive, tee it high and let it fly!

Wray,
I don't have much, a lot of "been there a long time" stuff, but am proud of what I do have. As a BM phony Coxswain pins get me the most. If you know someone that is claiming more than they have, let it rip.
Brian

To be honest, I haven't taken a look at many profiles to really care what people put in.

I agree that it must take a really sad person to have to build themselves up to something they are not. Heck, just serving 4 yrs in the military gets my respect.

My experience is that a person at one station can do the exact same things as a person from another station. One will get a chest full of ribbons because of his/her CO or OinC while the other may not.

One 2 a.m. SAR case in Mass, I went into the water for a women who jumped off a bridge in a suicide attempt. I got her to the boat, the MK2 pulled her in and had to wrestle her to the deck because she tried to jump back overboard. Meanwhile, I had to pull myself into the 41 UTB while the Cox'n was manuevering in a fast current between two bridges. All I could think about was my legs and those props or the chance of being a human fender for the UTB against the bridge.

My peers all gave me a pat on the back as some spoke of putting me in for an award. I did not get one but to me, the good words from my coworkers was plenty enough. It was a team effort as far as I thought, EVERYONE did a good job.

Don

Make them clean out the paint locker or the grease traps for starters...

P.S.

I've mentioned it before but I sometimes feel guilty about the Armed Services Expeditionary Ribbon I have for Grenada. We, on the Chase, went there during the invasion...didn't do a damned thing...but it's on my DD214.

Not like we fired a shot though my GQ billot was in the 5" 38.

Don

Arrrrgh matey make them walk the plank and send them to Davie Jones locker.

I can't wait for Pirats of the Caribbean 3.

Opps I just impersonated a pirate......

We have one of these pseudo-phonies at work. My last job had one too. Both had actually served but bloviated how they'd pretty much done or seen it all. A couple of examples of their claims follow.

My last job: Prior Air Force (true), Enlisted (true), E-9 (false, was E-5), Desert Storm (false), flew with Thunderbirds (false), Purple Heart (false), Silver Star (false), shot up with AK-47 (false), was a PJ (false), flew as crewman on B-52s (false, was some admin specialty).

This job: Retired Navy (true), CPO and SCPO (false, retired PN1 though he's made both claims at different times), enlisted in 1972 (true), saw ground combat in Vietnam (false), took off and landed on a carrier as the "rear" in an F-14 (false), combat coxswain for the Navy SEALs (false), diver (false), taught SEALs (false), Expert rifle and pistol (false, not noted on DD-214s), served on every type navy ship possible (false), Beach Master (false), Desert Storm ground combat (false, was on carrier in Med), the list goes on.

I don't confront these people because it's so much more fun to see how far they'll go with their stories. Bill, the current bloviate extraordinaire, seems to forget what he told people just days prior. It really is entertaining.

quote:

Someone has e-mailed me with information about another phoney on these boards.

I have my opinions

I may fill you in with the details

Why allow yourself to get it the middle? Apparently you have no first-hand knowledge and are being asked to "out" someone.

Let the accusor come forth and state their case thus allowing the accused to come face to face their accusor.

Otherwise you are allowing someone who emailed you make charges against another person (you've already judged a phoney) on these boards with anonymity - a practice you despise.

Keep stirrin' the pot ...

Fred

This message has been edited. Last edited by: fasiegel,

I guess I would have to ask, does anyone know this guy?

http://profile.military.com/member/view.do?memberId=4980282

He has taken OFF his profile a Silver Star, OIC ashore & OIC afloat insignias.

Several of the high ribbons on his profile are not on his DD 214, & neither is any of the insignias other than the coxswain insignia.

I would have to ask what makes people do this? Do they think we are easily impressed?

Wray...

I say that if they are in violation of the Stolen Valor Act and someone can show that they have made claims or otherwise, report them and let the chips fall where they may. They are POS's who obviously aren't proud of their service and have to live a life through others.

How or why would someone see someones DD-214?

Stolen valor act, he looks like and old geazer and pretty harmless to me.
I have seen pilots get DFC for flying in beautiful weather and I have an uncle, army pilot, got shot down , flew his plane into the water in Vietnam after he struggled to hold it steady so his crew could get, didn't have enough altitude for himself to bail out, also recieve a DFC. He died. I am also sure there are some aircrews/boatcrews out there that flew/sailed through some very bad weather and held it together long enough to get home but received no ribbons for it.
Sincerely,
Dick Driscoll

I agree with Fred first of ALL! Then again here is my opinion.

While most people on here are phonies including the ones that have wrote a reply to this board (including myself) have told a lie at some point in there career or life (Can you tell the difference?) if you say you haven't then what I say to you sir is that your a "Liar". Who cares what people say about themselves?

We do this everyday in life "you setback, listen, watch, and evaluate" people and how well they can be trusted. Is what they tell you true? Who know's you weren't there! You take the best of what someone has told; you take out the bad and decide what it is about that person you either admire or demise, but you move one an either you trust them or you don't buy the car "Homer".

Life is too short to set here on the CPU and dispute someone's claim about their career. Who care's if they tell a lie about themselves or a buddy they served with? Remember the Old saying if you didn't see it shut your mouth.

I believe this applies here since none of have seen it; talk about something else there aready soap operas on TV let's not start one here. Can't we all just get along? Where are my TPS reports? Lumbergh!

Wray,

I agree, anyone who says they are something they are not or says they have what they didnt get, is pretty sad really. And it devalues the ones that did succeed.

chapwood

I guess the question comes down to what you base your opinion on. Is it the context of what they write or the person behind the message and their accomplishments? For me I think it goes hand in hand, if you have to embellish your profile then I find your post suspect in the same way I find posts suspect when one hides their identity. If you cant stand behind who you are and what you have to say then why should others stand behind you? I have no problem with someone challenging anothers identity or resume, you put the info out there be ready to back it up.

I think the issue that should be addressed is if someone knowingly makes a false claim and someone else has evidence that the claim is false then let them either move forward with it (to the proper authorities) or get off the pot. When someone starts waving another's DD214 around the questions that come to my mind include what authorization would they have to possess another's DD214; are we talking privacy act issues here or not? Remember, Military.com and these boards do not condone or tolerate any illegal activity.

On the "have you ever lied" question? NEVER UNDER OATH; NEVER UNDER OATH.

quote:

Originally posted by Wray:
I guess I would have to ask, does anyone know this guy?

http://profile.military.com/member/view.do?memberId=4980282

He has taken OFF his profile a Silver Star, OIC ashore & OIC afloat insignias.

Several of the high ribbons on his profile are not on his DD 214, & neither is any of the insignias other than the coxswain insignia.

I would have to ask what makes people do this? Do they think we are easily impressed?

Wray...

Just curious how did you see his DD-214?? But getting back on topic if they want to post awards that they did not get short of them sending a copy of their DD-214 to the administrators of this site you will not stop them. It’s usually obvious when someone post an award or badge they didn't achieve. You will never stop people from lying or embellishing about their careers or time in I doesn’t demean my service only their honor. We are taught from the beginning of our careers that Honor is one of the Core Values in every service. If you loose your Honor you lost more than you can imagine.