Meet “General” Michael Patrick McManus, recipient of 2 DSCs, a purple heart, and any other medal he could get his hands on.
Photo Credit: The Incomparable Mrs. Greyhawk
This one is literally one of the more absurd cases of Stolen Valor, and that is saying an awful lot. The Milblogs joined together to take this guy down, and all that remains now is the courtroom drama. You might recall from my earlier post that the ACLU and others are arguing that the Stolen Valor law is unconstitutional. Which would mean that if they are right, McManus will be free to do this sort of thing again. Anyway, here is the video from ABC News in Houston.
There is a cautionary tale in here as well. It appears as if McManus may have actually served, but gotten out as a PFC, without any of the medals. But one Legion post actually bought into McManus hook, line and sinker. Enough so that they even did PR for him, and had him as the guest speaker at one of their events. Make sure when you do something like that that you vet the story, because this guys stories were simply unbelievable in the truest sense of the word.
This entry was posted on Monday, February 8th, 2010 at 0934 and is filed under 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.
Send him to where he’ll have the opportunity to earn the medals he stole.
That is just crazy! I wonder what he told people that one around his neck was for…I mean it looks like the one Dracula wears in all the old movies.
No, he doesn’t look like a soldier, not with that beard. We could have a mustache when I was a soldier, within guidelines, but not beards. I agree with John, give him the opportunity to earn the valor that he’s stolen.
Stealing valor is parrallel to stealing identity. The true meaning of these awards which is our county’s way of recognizing and partially thanking our heros for their combat deads,”the protection of this country and or one of their comrads-in-arms”. Tlhey are not for some coward to play holloween dress-up with and claim the valor of our troups in combat. Give him to the enemy and see how much valor he will try to claim.
Combat Vet, Vietnam, USN Retired
I am a Vietnam Vet and just at first glance of all the medals he was wearing could tell something was not right. This person should NOT GO TO PRISON, but be sent to Afganistan or Iraq for combat duty for the same number of years he would sit safely in prison.
There were plenty times I wished I was in prison instead of in fire fights, so let it be for him.
STAND UP FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE EVEN IF SOMETIMES YOU FIND YOURSELF STANDING ALONE……………………………