Protect the warriors; go after the phonies.
Rick Duncan was a Marine with a compelling story to tell, and tell it he did, to anyone who would listen. A graduate of the Naval Academy, Rick had been in the Pentagon when the plane hit on September 11, 2001. Volunteering for duty in Iraq, Duncan rose to the rank of Captain, and although openly gay, was assigned to lead a Marine Battalion in the battle of Fallujah. During the house to house battles there he had a finger shot off and suffered a severe head injury that required a plate be put in his head. He returned to the states disillusioned with the war and became executive director of the Colorado Veterans Alliance.
Partisan, MoveOn.com-ally VoteVets asked Duncan to be a blogger for them where he wrote under the handle of “USMCinCO.” The radical anti-war group “Iraq Veterans Against the War” (which does not require service in Iraq) asked Capt. Duncan to appear at several of their events to talk about his experiences. Various candidates for state and Federal offices in Colorado during the last election cycle asked Duncan to appear in their political commercials.
But Rick Duncan never existed. He was in fact Rick Strandlof, a man wanted on an outstanding warrant. In March and April of this year his story started to fall apart, with military bloggers chronicling every facet of his downfall. VoteVets and IVAW quickly scrubbed the internet of his presence, and the campaign ads featuring him speaking were removed from YouTube. Anderson Cooper of CNN delivered the coup de grace…
In July of 2005, Representative John Salazar, Democrat from Colorado introduced the “Stolen Valor Act.” Briefly summarized, the act provides that (among other things):
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, or any of the service medals or badges awarded to the members of such forces, or the ribbon, button, or rosette of any such badge, decoration or medal, or any colorable imitation thereof shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.
The bill passed both the House and the Senate (in a version sponsored by Kent Conrad of North Dakota) and was signed into law by the President on December 20, 2006. The Denver Post reported on the bill after it was signed into law:
Salazar, a Vietnam War [era] veteran, authored a bill he called the Stolen Valor Act at the urging of Colorado State University at Pueblo student Pam Sterner. She wrote a school paper about the lack of a law prohibiting anything other than the false wearing of a war medal.
Under the new law, anyone who falsely claims to be a decorated military veteran can be punished with up to six months in prison and a $5,000 fine. The penalties are double for a claim involving the Distinguished Service Cross, Air Force Cross, Navy Cross, Silver Star or Purple Heart.
Last week I began to hear rumors from people I knew in Colorado that the United States Attorney for the District of Colorado, David M. Gaouette, had decided against prosecuting Duncan/Strandlof. Perplexed by this, I contacted his office by email:
I know of a few relatively high profile instances of violations of the Stolen Valor Act in Colorado, most notably that of Rick Duncan/Strandlof. I have been informed by individuals I know that the US Attorney there in Colorado is not going to pursue those charges. I was wondering if you could let me know if that was in fact an accurate reflection of the situation, or if you would care to provide some context for that?
The response was a rather terse “Please contact FBI Special Agent [redacted] at 303-629-xxxx” And so I did.
I spoke with the Special Agent, who happens to be a former Marine. Now, let me interject that the FBI in Denver is a top notch outfit, as proven just this weekend by them arresting 3 men on terrorism related charges. The Agent that I spoke with knew exactly what I was calling about, and every minute reference I dropped about the Duncan Affair he knew off the top of his head. Now, I will not relate the entire conversation, since I am sure he would rather not be dragged into this, but he made it abundantly clear that it was the US Attorney’s decision alone to drop the case (which he seemed to disagree with) and that he was not authorized to tell me much more than that. He did inform me that the process is that the office of the US Attorney will send a letter to the FBI declining to prosecute on the charge, and generally contain the reasoning such a decision was made. He said he had not as yet received that letter, nor would he be at liberty to release it to me even if he had.
I once again contacted the US Attorney’s office, and the PR guy who had initially responded to my email replied to neither my follow up emails, nor to my phone message. I next contacted the office of Representative Salazar, however two voice messages have not been returned as of the time of publishing this post. If either the US Attorney or Representative Salazar responds, I will post that response in full.
Outing phony veterans has been a bit of a cottage industry for Military Bloggers. The most notorious was probably Jesse MacBeth, a man who claimed to have served in Iraq with the Rangers and having killed “hundreds” of Iraqis, some while they took refuge in a mosque. His story was debunked fairly easily, what with wearing his beret backwards, his sleeves rolled the wrong way, wearing the wrong color T-Shirt, and the fact his stories couldn’t pass even a rudimentary laugh test.
Earlier VoteVets had been burned by a guy named Josh Lansdale, whose tales of the horrors of war were debunked by his own first sergeant, and numerous members of the media who had embedded with his unit. Television Ads for VoteVets featuring Josh as well as one for a Senate candidate were quietly retired.
No case has been as abundantly clear as that of “General Baxter.”
Jonn Lilyea of This Ain’t Hell requested the military records of “General Baxter” through a Freedom of Information Act request to the National Personnel Records Center who confirmed that Baxter had been discharged as a PFC. The Baltimore office of the FBI declined to investigate, despite a picture of him wearing a Combat Infantryman’s Badge and a Silver Star (among other unearned awards.)
I truly don’t understand the logic of the US Attorney for Colorado and the FBI office in Baltimore. To those of us who served in combat, each of these phonies robs a little bit of the honor we earned through our military experiences. Duncan, MacBeth and Lansdale all used their phony war records to push a radical point of view, one which The American Legion and other veterans organizations spend a great deal of energy trying to refute. The service-member as blood-thirsty villain meme is one we actively must refute, whether it appears in a New York Times article using skewed statistics to show that service-members are more prone to violent criminal acts, or the now discredited DHS report that returning men and women are ripe for recruitment by radical fringe groups.
We will continue to debunk these individuals who do harm to the legacy of the warriors of today and yesterday, but it would be nice if we could count on the US Attorneys and FBI agents to uphold the law in order to help us.
After all, isn’t that why these laws are passed?
This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009 at 0831 and is filed under Uncategorized, the burner. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
I lived in Colorado for years, and my experience is that the state,( despite Fort Carson, Fitzpatrick, Air Force Academy, etc. )really is anti-military. They tend to support the rights of these liars and people like Churchill at CU Boulder. It is not surprising to me that they will not prosecute. Amazingly, Pueblo CO right down the road had 3 REAL MOH awardees from there. As an undecorated draftee of the Vietnam War, I wear my RVN Service Ribbon and National Defense Medal with pride!!
I am probably one of the few flaming liberals in the Legion, but if all of this article is true, these
people should be prosecuted. ALL organizations should check out the credentials of anyone they
allow to speak for them. Right or left, groups are too quick to take in anyone who sings their
praises.
It sounds to me like the Colorado US Attorney lacks the integrity that the office demands. Maybe he never served in the military. maybe he just doesn’t care about those that did serve. Just maybe, he doesn’t have the intestinal fortitude to stand up for what is right. Otherwise, he would prosecute first and foremost. He sounds to me like somebody that never needs to be re-elected….. even as dog catcher.
chuck rodgers
As a 4 year veteran, the son of a WW11 vet, and father of an active military daughter, I find it appalling, absolutely disgusting that these impersonating liars not be tried and convicted. To me these acts are akin to acts of treason. Myself, Dad, and daughter are not decorated members, however we all had friends killed in the act of duty with post humous decorations. How can these imposters possibly be allowed to go free to spread more of their lies ? It demeans the honor of true heroes and veterans.
As an undecorated V.N. ERA vet I have no war stories but fond and unforgetable memories of my military service. Proud to have served. The military will deside where you are needed and that in itself is an honor. Fraud is a crime that most people undestand needs to be prosecuted. The leftist connection has not been lost on this proud vet. Seems the embrace of these types always comes from the left.
They are all lacking selfesteem, and need to be recognized as idiots that served without any honor to thier country. I served 11 1/2, yrs. Proud of it too.
I pose one question, if these persons were falsely representing themselves as Law inforcement officers; Police, FBI, AFSOI, U.S. Customs Or NCIS would the offices of those incharge ignore that as well?
People who claim to be what they are not, are liars and criminals. They SHOULD be prosecuted, though they will probably not be as the liars we continue to elect want to protect their own lies. Rest assured. liars will be prosecuted in a Higher Court on Judgement day. There they will have no excuses. In the last thirty years we have glamorized liars, thieves, criminals, addicts and those who are just downright evil. We who served, served those who lie as well as the good citizens. Maybe if we ALL started standing up and saying NO to the media and Hollywood and their loveaffair with evil and false stories, we would change the this descent to the gutter. We who served can be proud of our dedication and service to our country. We defended and continue to defend the right to disagree and every citizen’s right to express their view.
Apparently those “in charge” feel that “honor” is not worthy of defending. Those who have served usually place “honor” on a high pedestal …Those who are truly patriotic usually feel honor is among those traits necessary to be called a “patriot”. In my view, politicians, as a group, usually show less character than a Walt Disney “bad” cartoon character. To expect them to chastise, much less prosecute those who embarass the rest of us by their lies and impersonations, is too much to expect.
I am never surprised by anything done by Colorado public officials or the voting populace of Colorado. The state, like too many other states, has a rampant record of disregard for individual liberties and property rights, so why should we be surprised that someone of Colorado descent and authority is equally not concerned about individual integrity? There surely must be some good people and yes, even some brave, patriotic heroes in Colorado, but on balance a Facist state places no value on individual valor, individual rights, or individual character.
As a retired United States Coast Guard veteran (E-8 23 yrs) I find this not so uncommon of telling tales and false truths of service. Unfortunately there are so many laws passed with the intent of protecting property, citizens, and the American way of life, but without the bite of the ones put into the prosecuting phase the law is for not. Do we really need to send the phonie to jail with a stiff fine or do we just make sure that they are humiliated in public and for the prosecutors let their record speak for themselves at re-election.
Isn’t it a felony to impersonate a member of the military? Then wouldn’t these imposters be guilty of a felony? If they want to impress someone, let them impress their fellow inmates at Levenworth.
The more disturbing aspect of all these stories is the message being sent that integrity breeches and outright lies are okay and to spew them will not be met with any punishment. These are amazingly dishonorable people regardless of their backgrounds and at a minimum should suffer from public scorn and humiliation. I have been proudly serving for more than 26 years now and feel disgusted when I hear of stories like this. We even see it inside our military ranks with seemingly more frequency! The difference is, when done by people within the military, there seems to be a standard of punishment. The question we should ask ourselves, is how do we increase our numbers and voices so that our mutual disgust with issues like this get met with something more than the responsible parties ignoring our calls of concern? Grow the numbers and they will hear your voices! God Bless each of you and the United States of America!
Enough is enough. I am sick and tired of these want to be’s getting away with this(I can’t use the right word just now) This guy used a vet or orther vets to get the glory that was earned by those of us that have served. Is there no way to protect our own for someone that use a mental illness as an excues. He used a veteran to build a story that was not his and to see that he will get away with it is not only morally worong, but leally worng. Ever since 9/11 these people have been coming out of the woodwork to help themselfs nothing more. This guy is one of those scumbags and he thinks that by helping a vet that could have gotten help at any American Legion or VFW post is bull. He never served so how did he know what to do or where to go. We in the Legion have some of the best service officers in the nation and they have been trained and certiferied in each state. The US Attorney has to go after this peice of trash and put him away. One last thing. All Army/Navy stores need to stop selling uniforms shirts that still have the rank on the sleeves too me this is just the way that some of these fools got started.
I meet these liars every day. Apparently the Navy Seals must have had battalions of members. i meet at least three Seals a week at the local taverns. Now that the the Air force Parajumpers has aired on TV I meet a lot of them also. The real service veterans rarely wear the T-shirts and tell the stories. The others need to get a life.
To All-
Mr. David Gaouette , the United States Attorney of Denver, Colorado called me this morning (28 Sept. 1048 a.m.). Mr. Gaouette was very professional and stated that his office was going to prosecute David Strandlof under the Stolen Valor Act.
Mr. Gaouette needed the FBI to tighten up a few loose ends before presenting the case. This is not uncommon.
It should be noted that Mr. Gaouette’s Office, under his direction along with the FBI, were working day and night in the recent past to arrest several terrorists. The office was (and probably still is) stretched thin due to this time sensitive case.
Thanks to guys like Mr. Gaouette, we can have a safer country, and veterans can sleep easier knowing that their honor isn’t being stolen by phonies who have their own crazy agendas!
Please feel free to pass this on to others!
Joe Masterson
3rd Generation Veteran of Foreign Wars
If that is true…..
1) Why has his staff not responded to 4 messages?
2) Why would his staff forward me to the FBI?
3) Why would the FBI state that they (the US Attorney’s office) were declining?
4) Why would they be working to arrest anyone? Don’t they try the case as opposed to arresting folks?
Trying to reach the FBI for confirmation, but nothing yet.
I’m upset just like everyone else here but not as much and for one very good reason: after serving for 7 years and being obligated for a total of 10 years I do not have one ribbon or service medal to my name. I do qualify for the good conduct medal as most everyone who serves does but I never received mine. Oh well. An honorable discharge I suppose will have to suffice. I guess being a Navy OT had it’s drawbacks, like not having to worry about having a chest full of fruit salad!
The urge to serve ones country is not as strong as the urge to say you served. I read a description of a battle during the TET offensive that was a compilation of the experiences of 1000 people. The writer seemed to want to take the credible and make it incredible. That one man, not 1000 experienced his story was incredible. His job in the Army, electronics technician!
I’m not a real sniper nor do I ever claim to be (there’s a long story to the name) but going by a nickname is a lot different than what these guys are doing. The best shot I ever made? A Prairie Fire at a bar. Longest shot? Bathroom, same bar. These guys are fluffing up their stories because they have no stories of their own. They have none because they didn’t have the stones to risk being part of a story in the first place. It’s really a psychological issue… but most crimes are and just like most crimes this type of fraud should be dealt with harshly by the justice system.
String em up.
[...] veterans across the country, and spawned spirited discussion in veterans communities online. A Sept. 23 entry on the American Legion’s Burn Pit blog, questioning why he has not been charged, generated more than 120 comments, and at least a dozen [...]
As bad as these morons are, what is worse is having serving military members fabricate events to get medals or combat awards. There are generals right now who have never fired a weapon in combat or engaged the enemy yet wear the combat action ribbon – and getting away with it. Everyone should be held accountable. Many had their subordinates write them up for combat awards and in turn put in their subordinates for medals. The whole process in bankrupt with careerists who pad their careers and try to look impressive – when in reality they are fruads – just like moron in the article.
What would be nice is a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s office regarding their intent to prosecute.
One of the key takeaways from this is a motto I live everyday “Trust, but verify” ~President R. We need to be vigilant in our verification of those who come forward (and often those seeking out the limelight are the fakers).
Whatever insignia or medals you wear or have worn they were earned and not given. Honor manufactured or stolen should be exposed, denounced, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law without exception…..and it seems the first two are up to us alone, vets and current active duty members.
What is the point of having laws if we have no intent to enforce them? Much like gun laws now on the books — sufficient to combat the gun problem but not used!! Shame on the toothless government and the spineless politicians.
Good news everyone…….
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_13475253
There are fakers in uniform as well.
Who fabricate events so they and others would get the CAR. His XO wrote up his award for the Bronze Star and submitted it to be approved. In turn he wrote his XO and others for their Bronze Stars – no wonder we are losing. While careerists advance up the flag pole.
Simple question how and where did he get his CAR – who did he shoot at and when was he directly under fire.
—————————————————————–
Brigadier General Kenneth F. McKenzie, Jr.
Deputy Chief of Staff for Stability, International Security Assistance Force, Afghanistan
——————————————————————————–
Upon graduation from The Citadel in 1979, BGen McKenzie was commissioned into the Marine Corps and trained as an infantry officer.
He commanded at the platoon, company, battalion, and Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) levels. As a LtCol, he commanded First Battalion, Sixth Marines. As the Commanding Officer of the 22d MEU(SOC), he led the MEU on combat deployments to Afghanistan in 2004 and Iraq in 2005-06.
In the operating forces, his staff assignments included service as an infantry battalion executive officer and as the G-3 Operations Officer of the 2d Marine Division.
His supporting establishment assignments included duty at Marine Barracks Charleston, S.C., and as the Marine Officer Instructor at the Virginia Military Institute.
His headquarters assignments included service as Director of the Commandant’s Staff Group for the 30th Commandant of the Marine Corps, lead action officer for the 2001 QDR effort within HQMC, and the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies, and Operations, HQMC. In 2006-07 he served as the Military Secretary to the 33rd and 34th Commandants of the Marine Corps.
In July 2007, upon promotion to BGen, he served on the Joint Staff as a Deputy Director of Operations within the National Military Command Center. In June 2008, he was selected by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to be the Director of the Chairman’s New Administration Transition Team (CNATT). In this capacity, he coordinated the efforts of the Joint Staff and the combatant commands in preparing for and executing a wartime transition of administrations. In June 2009, he reported to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Kabul, Afghanistan, to serve as the Deputy to the Deputy Chief of Staff (DCOS) for Stability.
BGen McKenzie is an honors graduate of the Armor Officer Advanced Course, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and the School of Advanced Warfighting. He has a Master’s in Teaching with a concentration in History. He was selected as a CMC Fellow in 1999, and served as a Senior Military Fellow within the Institute for National Strategic Studies at the National Defense University. While there, he wrote the book “The Revenge of the Melians: Asymmetric Threats and the 2001 QDR,” published by the National Defense University.
BGen McKenzie’s awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit w/ two gold stars, the Bronze Star, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal w/2 gold stars, the Navy Commendation Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon. Other awards include the Naval Institute’s Aster Prize for leadership writing, First Place in the Naval Institute’s Marine Corps Essay contest, the Marine Corps’ Association Chase Award for Boldness and Daring, the John A. Lejeune Award from Marine Corps Command and Staff College, the Clifton B. Cates Award from the School of Advanced Warfighting, and the Thomas Jefferson Distinguished Professor Award from the Virginia Military Institute.
There are several reasons why the US attorney is not bringing him to trial. First, he did not do it for personal gain. As a former mental patient, he is entitled up to $2000 a month tax free for SSI so he did not need to steal the money from those organizations. Also, as a former mental patient, the US Attorney knows he would be wasting his time bringing him to trial when he would just plead instanity. I notice that he was against the war so I think the conservatives are furious at him and want him punished. Good Luck.
[...] the veterans population has validity that others don’t.” Word of his deception spurred a flood of blog posts and even the creation of a Facebook page demanding that the Justice Department bring charges [...]
Strandlof has been found in California and arrested by the FBI.
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_13528099
A new case just was written about in a great story by the San Francisco Chronicle. A guy goes to a local high school reunion in full Marine regalia, with medals, when he’s actually a bank employe. The New York Times Bay Area blog just put up a post about it
http://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/stolen-valor-act/
including a former Marine’s comments. Thought your followers might want to know.
Sorry, bad link. The new post is at http://bayarea.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/13/high-school-reunion-bragging-a-step-too-far/
I have a family member who is a faker. You know the story – discharged right before the 1973 fire.
Claims to have replaced Randal Cunningham.
Funny thing is he gave himself a promotion a couple years ago.
I’ve seen his real records – discharged after an 18 day career (PLC training on June 12-30 1968).
He currently serves as a volunteer Blue and Gold Officer (regional coordinator) for the US Naval Academy.
Anyone have any contacts in the USNA who could have a chat with this bum. We’ve contacted them once – with full details, but they weren’t interested.
I KNOW A MAN THAT CLAIMS FULL DISABILITY FROM THE ARMY ON A MENTAL DISCHARGE. THIS COMBINED WITH HIS SOCIAL SECURITY IS ABOUT $3400.00 A MONTH. HE WAS BORN 1N 1940 AND CLAIMS TO HAVE BEEN THE VIETNAM WAR, PLUS A TOUR IN GERMANY. HE DOES NOT ACT LIKE AN EX ARMY SGT, SPEAKS POOR ENGLISH, AND HAS A LONG RAP SHEET. HE PAYS NO PROPERTY TAX AND GETS OTHER TAX AND LICENSE FREEBIES. MY POINT IS-IF HE IS NOT REALLY A VETERAN, LOOK AT THE MONEY HE IS COSTING TAXPAYERS.
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If the US Attorney wont do his job he should be prosecuted.