News, Fake veteran faces 'stolen valor' charge. (Iraq, FBI, Marines) - Politics and Other Controversies -Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, Conservatives, Liberals, Third Parties, Left-Wing, Right-Wing, Congress, President - City-Data Forum

JD59 · 10-12-2009, 02:32 PM

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.

None of it was true. On Friday, the FBI arrested him on the rare charge of "stolen valor."

Fake veteran faces 'stolen valor' charge - CNN.com

sailordave · 10-12-2009, 06:21 PM

Since he claimed to be a Marine, send him to Marine Bootcamp and then put him in the brig.

macsret · 03-01-2010, 01:29 AM

MILITARY STOLEN VALOR UPDATE 15: Michael P. McManus, a 44-year-old former Army private first class who served from 1984 to 1987 was arrested 5 FEB for stolen valor. His fraud was revealed when Mary Schantag learned of McManus when a friend’s brother sent her photos he took of McManus at the 12 DEC inauguration for Houston Mayor Annise Parker. The goateed man was decked out in a formal Army uniform with a dozen medals pinned to his jacket and a Commander of the British Empire medallion hanging around his neck. Schantag posted photos of the man to the P.O.W. Network site and sent them to This Ain’t Hell, where the photo was posted at the center of a mock “wanted” poster. To blogger Mark Seavey, the “general” was an obvious fraud. Seavey’s fellow bloggers at the conservative “This Ain’t Hell” posted a photo of the alleged faker online, dead set on smoking him out. “Wearing two Distinguished Service Crosses and a Combat Infantry Badge with two stars, is analogous to saying someone is a pitcher for the Red Sox and a quarterback for the Patriots,” said Seavey. “If that person existed, you would know about them.” The blog post led to tips, angry comments, media attention and ultimately the McManus arrest. It’s not a first for Seavey and the blog’s volunteer staff. Seavey said they have exposed about a dozen others who have claimed unearned medals or insignia, and publicized other cases. Seavey and his fellow bloggers are among a cadre of self-appointed stolen-valor police.

FULL STORY: http://post_119_gulfport_ms.tripod.com/rao1.html