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'Hero's welcome' backfires on Fort Lewis soldier Story Published: Mar 10, 2010 at 5:45 PM PST Story Updated: Mar 11, 2010 at 9:14 AM PST
Specialist Jordan Olson receives a hero's welcome in his home state of Wisconsin - much to his surprise.
JOINT BASE LEWIS MCCHORD, Wash. - A Fort Lewis soldier returning from Afghanistan got a hero's welcome in his home state of Wisconsin.
But as it turns out, that soldier's story and the truth aren't exactly on the same page.
The truth is that Jordan Olson really was in Afghanistan. He made patrols near Kandahar, serving in harm's way.
But he just wasn't everything he appeared to be.
When he returned home to Wisconsin, he got what every soldier expects - a family welcome - plus a little bit more that he did not expect.
There was a military honor guard. And that's not all - the local newspaper was there, too - along with representatives from the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.
"It was supposed to be my family there," says Olson. "I didn't know the news was going to be there."
If he had known, he might not have worn what he was wearing - a sergeant's stripes and a parachutist's badge. And he might have canned that fake limp.
You see he wasn't wounded in Afghanistan. He isn't a sergeant, and he never went to jump school.
And he may be in trouble.
Major Mike Garcia at Joint Base Lewis McChord says, "I have no explanation ... nor can I explain the rank and patches, badges he is wearing."
"This is something that his unit will look into upon his return," Garcia added.
So what was Specialist Olson thinking?
"Just wanted my family to be proud of me and over-stepped some boundaries I shouldn't have have over-stepped," he says.
And he may have one other problem - maybe a bigger one.
The local newspaper in his hometown, the Appleton Wisconsin Post Crescent, published some photos from Olson's return showing him with his mom and a young woman identified as his fiancee.
When he said "Just wanted my family to be proud of me and over-stepped some boundaries I shouldn't have have over-stepped," I didn't feel so bad, because I thought, the guy screwed up, he made a straight apology, at least he fessed up....
But the plot thickens... It is stories like that which make me shiver, don't know why....
The local newspaper in his hometown, the Appleton Wisconsin Post Crescent, published some photos from Olson's return showing him with his mom and a young woman identified as his fiancee.
Trouble is - he's got a wife at Fort Lewis.
I was going along thinking what a dumbass he was until I got to this part - and now I know he is totally screwed.
I hope he is punished to fullest extent of the UCMJ. He is no different that the other imposters out there that wear unauthorized milary rank and awards. Why should he be treated any more leniently? JMHO, but it is really a slap in the face to those that have earned those honors/titles legitimately, especially the Combat Action Badge...
I wouldn't be surprised if he gets busted back down to PVT Fuzzy among other things!
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