quote:

I know what you mean Wray...where did you get your Surfman qual...Florida????

boatsdogg --> Yes, in fact I did.. it was probably before you were born.. Mine is on my DD-214, and if you come up with a real name I'll be glad to show it to you!... (or, you can request it.. )

FYI -- There were several "Surf" stations on the East Cost. Do your homework ...

Wray...

quote:

3. Releasable Information. Under the provisions of the FOIA [Freedom of Information Act], as amended in 1974, only the following items can ROUTINELY BE RELEASED FROM THE RECORD to a member of the general public:

Amended in 1974...before the internet age and truly psycho people. This law should be changed. Just because Joe Asshat, on the next block over, has a chubby for me doesn't give him the right to know these things. This crap should be changed. Some things just aren't right.
Someone called the SAR line other day demanding to talk to so-n-so, who BTW wasn't stationed there. It was a 1-800 number and when I asked if he was some sort of collector he got pissy. I hung up on him. Screw the FOIA.

quote:

Originally posted by ThadsBoy:
I would suspect it would be criminal if this person used his phony record for his own advantage as far as getting a job, or securing some other tangible benefit (i.e., financial compensation, etc.).

Actually, personal advantage isn't a requirement to make it criminal. Technically, the mere act of putting a ribbon graphic for an unearned medal or decoration on a profile such as the ones here is against federal law.

Stolen Valor Act of 2005

False Claims About Receipt of Military Decorations or Medals- Whoever falsely represents himself or herself, verbally or in writing, to have been awarded any decoration or medal authorized by Congress for the Armed Forces of the United States, any of the service medals or badges awarded to the members of such forces, the ribbon, button, or rosette of any such badge, decoration, or medal, or any colorable imitation of such item shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than six months, or both.

(Emphasis added).

Military phony, proud service member or a sailor who told a “sea story” that grew larger than fact?

The subject member used as an example in this thread is interesting. Like some of you, I have been following this thread as it has evolved from the beginning. I too went to the member’s profile and noted some questionable items listed: TacLet South, USN Surface Warfare pin, as well as a few, well a lot of other qualification pins. As the day went on the subject profile was edited and items removed. As of this posting it’s now a Private Profile and TacLet South removed as a duty station. The actions taken by the subject member would lead a reader to question the authenticity of the profile or it could be a second thought of privacy. For whatever reason its very suspect.

Military service in itself is honorable duty. I too find hard to understand why some people have to appear larger than life. We could debate the reasons why; but it still makes me wonder why…

Of course a simple search of the web can also divulge additional information for review to help understand how a sea story grows:

ITEM #56 HCU-1 EVENTS IN 1967

How can you find out of someone actually has received a Purple Heart? I got a hunch this one guy I know of is lying about it but can't find out how to check it out. Do I just write a letter to the Army asking?

I have an inquiry in the VA OIG about whether someone is receiving VA benefits for alleged multiple Purple Hearts reception.

I'll let you know.

Tim,

Tim,

I agree with the sentiment, but I think it is very dangerous to start acting as a truth squad. Some time back there was group in Texas who engaged such action and wound in federal court. Even though they cited the aforementioned law it cost them over fifth thousand dollars in legal fees , and at the end of the day they were charged with deformation.

quote:

Originally posted by Seavet1:
Tim,

I agree with the sentiment, but I think it is very dangerous to start acting as a truth squad. Some time back there was group in Texas who engaged such action and wound in federal court. Even though they cited the aforementioned law it cost them over fifth thousand dollars in legal fees , and at the end of the day they were charged with deformation.

Indeed We are talking elements of defamation of character. I read that even if public criticism is true, it can be considered a defamation of character by the way it was carried out, such as by a vigilante type group.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: <ThadsBoy>,

quote:

Originally posted by Wray:
The info on this guy was e-mailed to me. It came from the National Records Center in St Louis. It was obtained when this imposter posted a Silver Star on his profile.

So did the National Records Center e-mail this information to you or did you get this third hand from someone else?

Too obtain a copy of your records, or mine for that matter, all you have to do is request them under the FOIA.. Click on the below link. (FYI.. I've never done it, so I'm not sure how long it takes, or if it costs anything..)

So if you have never done this then where did you get this information? The reason I ask this is just as this guy could have lied about his awards on his profile some one could have made up the information you have. Unless you got it from an Offical Source. It is very interesting that is states We Value Our Veteran's Privacy at the end. A DD-214 certainly has lot of private information on it and that is the document you cited earlier in your posts that did not match up with his profile. So much private information you took yours down after you realized posting it was here was not a bright idea.

http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/

Wray...

My main point here is that you are going after this guy but seem to be backtracking around what your sources are. Why not just come out and say where you got your information from instead of I got it from a guy who got it from another guy or some other source? Not very credible information. Just like a lot of post that get made around here and profiles that are posted.

quote:

My main point here is that you are going after this guy but seem to be backtracking around what your sources are. Why not just come out and say where you got your information from instead of I got it from a guy who got it from another guy or some other source? Not very credible information. Just like a lot of post that get made around here and profiles that are posted.

I agree CajunMK. I know I won't put on my profile the silver star or some combat awarded medal. That is really stooping low to do that, but is it criminal? No, it is just an act of juvenile behavior.

Gary,

quote:

For someone that will not tell us one thing about the number of members you claim

Take it to the correct thread Number of Retirees? ask any specific question you have and I'll answer it. But before you waste anymore of your time - and mine - I have stated that I cannot validate, certify or insure you or anyone that the numbers are correct. I can only count what members have entered into the database. I will repeat myself for you and anyone else that cannot accept "the count", "Fred's Place has a whole bunch of members, a lot of them are retirees.".

quote:

Keep having fun and making unfounded accusations!!

Please provide a quote where I have made an unfounded accusation against someone otherwise an apology is in order.

Keep havin' fun ...

Fred

quote:

Keep having fun and making unfounded accusations!!

fred, it was wray that made that accusation to you , right? i don't understand why wray continues to challenge your website's integrity. it is becoming a worn-out argument

respectfully, thad's boy

quote:

i don't understand why wray continues to challenge your website's integrity. it is becoming a worn-out argument

And that had what to do with this thread?

Can you please show me the last time & on this thread, where I "continued to challenge" Freds website integrity?

You, once again, continue to bring up old points hoping to "stir the pot"..

I hope those that let you back here are seeing all the good will you are spreading ... I doubt it will be long before you are gone again....

Any comments Fred?

Wray...

Thad's Boy says ...

quote:

Keep having fun and making unfounded accusations!!


fred, it was wray that made that accusation to you , right?

No it wasn't Wray

Then Wray asks ...

quote:

Any comments Fred?

No comment. I don't EVER want to be placed in the position of defending Thad's Boy.

Don't you two get me in between your conflicts. I'm not wearing a black & white stripped shirt.

Keep havin' fun but keep me outta da middle ...

Fred

Just another useless inaccurate post by TB... I have got to turn my IGNORE button on again...

I wasn't asking you to "defend" him.. in many cases that would be impossible to do.

Oh well, Ignore button is on for him again...

Sea ya.....

Wray...

Still waiting Wray. Are you going to attmept to answer where you got your information? My guess is you got it from a guy who got it from a source or perhaps from an Offical Source that could land you in a lot of hot water for violation of the privacy act.

quote:

I have an inquiry in the VA OIG about whether someone is receiving VA benefits for alleged multiple Purple Hearts reception.

I'll let you know.

Thanks. I would just ask him for a 214 but I get a feeling he would be accusing me of being a "scorner". Plus even if it comes back negative these lamos always have a story. Some of them even keep wikipedia updated with "facts?" like:

"During the Vietnam War, Korean War, and World War II, the Purple Heart was often awarded "on or at the spot," with occasional entries made into service records, but this was often not the case. In addition, during the mass demobilizations that followed each of America's major wars of the 20th century, it was a common occurrence for the Purple Heart to be omitted from service records, due to clerical errors, once the service record was closed upon discharge.

An added complication is that a number of field commanders would engage in "bedside presentations" of the Purple Heart which would typically entail a general entering a hospital with a box of Purple Hearts, pinning them on the pillows of wounded service members, and then departing with no official records kept of the visit or the award of the Purple Heart. Service members, themselves, could complicate the issue by leaving hospitals unofficially, returning to their units in haste to rejoin a battle or to not appear as a malingerer. In such cases, even if a service member had received actual wounds in combat, both the award of the Purple Heart, as well as the entire visit to the hospital which treated the enemy wound, would never be recorded in official records."

I know Ill get even more irked if it comes to that, and I got a big feeling it will.

Cajun --> Once again you are incorrect... All info was obtained properly & legally through the FOIA .. No hot water here...

Wray...

Thad's Boy: you're clearly not in the loop. Don't know if you even served, but it appears you're unfamiliar with even a modicum of information trails available to Wray ... I suggest you start with the "StarPackers Secret Convention", if someone will show you the secret salute ... otherwise, I think you should just stick to Google.

If a person filed his/her DD-214 in the county records ... anyone can obtain that information ... as the DD-214 for that person is public record. Many folks have recorded DD-214's in county records ...... you just need to know in which state/county the document was recorded.