Stolen Valor! Veteran owns an impersonator

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bluecoconuts

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May 28, 2011
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Fat piece of shit probably gets tired just hearing about RASP, I'd have ripped that scroll right off him. My brothers bleed for the right to wear it, the only red this fuck head has ever gotten on him the the jelly from his doughnut.

A few years ago there was an epidemic of posers, shit was terrible. There was a video of a former Bat guy calling out another fake Ranger at a college, and people took the posers side. Awful.
 

Selassie I

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Haole
Lower than whale shit.

I read were this POS may be charged with a felony for this. Hopefully he'll be convicted.
 

fearsomefour

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Jan 15, 2013
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A very weird thing. What a weird mental state to go through life with.
The biggest tell is his reaction when the guy accused him of being a fake....reaction would have been very different if he was the real deal I would imagine.
A lot of videos online of this kind of thing....I guess it is not uncommon.
A lot of effort for what?....so someone can say thanks at the mall?
So weird.
If you want some kudos in life its not hard. Do something for someone else. Not for attention but because it is the right thing to do. I decided not to join the service. I was running a business at 19. Part of me wishes I would have served as my grandfather and father did.
Oh well, these are the choices in life.
First step to getting kudos in life....dont be a raging D-bag. Its not that hard.
 

rhinobean

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Jul 19, 2013
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2,152
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Bob
Never was in the service but respect those you have been! Nephew is a Ranger and my cousin was a Marine! Humble guys who saw a lot of crap while serving our country! Poser should spend time behind bars just for posing!
 

RamFan503

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Stu
Fucking piece of shit! I'm all fucking tense after that. Hope he goes away for a long stint.
 

fearsomefour

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freaking piece of crap! I'm all freaking tense after that. Hope he goes away for a long stint.
I can't imagine the sentencing is that tough, but, who knows?
Punishment would be going through life living in this guys dome.
 

bluecoconuts

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May 28, 2011
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13,073
A very weird thing. What a weird mental state to go through life with.
The biggest tell is his reaction when the guy accused him of being a fake....reaction would have been very different if he was the real deal I would imagine.
A lot of videos online of this kind of thing....I guess it is not uncommon.
A lot of effort for what?....so someone can say thanks at the mall?
So weird.
If you want some kudos in life its not hard. Do something for someone else. Not for attention but because it is the right thing to do. I decided not to join the service. I was running a business at 19. Part of me wishes I would have served as my grandfather and father did.
Oh well, these are the choices in life.
First step to getting kudos in life....dont be a raging D-bag. Its not that hard.

From my experience with posers, you essentially have two categories. The posers who want to get physical material things. Discounts, money, free drinks, meals, etc. Some try to get benefits from the DMV (PH recipients get free car registration) and stuff like that. If they attempt to cheat the government and get caught, then they're liable to fines and jail time. Otherwise it's "free speech".

Then there's the guys who just want kudos, and recognition. Maybe get chicks, feel better about themselves, etc. Some are veterans who are ashamed of their service because they felt they didn't do enough (in some cases they did, and it's a real shame they're not proud), those are the hardest to catch. The civilians who do this are usually easier to catch because they make too many mistakes, they want to do it all, and have way too much going on.

Some have different reasons for doing things. My boss is actually a poser, he was in the reserves, a cargo specialist or something, nothing to be ashamed of. However he tells people he was an active duty Ranger before going reserves. Problem is his stories are all screwy, easy for a vet to catch. A coworker was in the 82nd, he figured it out pretty fast too, I knew because I asked him about RIP (now RASP, its the selection program to get into the 75th Ranger Regiment) and he didn't go. So I knew he wasn't a Bat guy. Then he said he was at Lewis, but didn't know what unit he was in (2nd Bat is in Lewis). When I talked about Ranger school he didn't know much either. When me and the 82nd guy was talking about the new T11's (parachutes) he looked at us like we were speaking Chinese.

It wasn't hard to tell. We didn't call him out because we like our jobs, but he toned down all the talk pretty fast when I showed him some old pictures of me on deployment and told him I was in 3rd Bat.

Its just one of those lose lose situation. He told another person he just said stuff because we did cool stuff and he wanted to fit in. Which was ridiculous, because we didn't give a shit. Just kind of how it is.

I read for every real SEAL there is, there is something like 3 or 4 fake ones. Probably similar for Rangers, Special Forces, all that. Lot of people want to get the glory without putting in the work. Just the way it is I guess, I don't really get it, because the best part isn't any glory, its the pride you get when you finish the schools, the memories you have with your brothers in arms, that's what sticks with you. I've never gotten one free meal, turned them down in the airport before, don't have interest in getting any now during the Veterans day stuff. That's not what I care about.
 

RamFan503

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Stu
@bluecoconuts - so does it make you angry when these guys pose? Does it just make you sad for them? No feeling at all? I wonder if it maybe makes many of us who never served more pissed than you guys who went through it all. My cousin keeps re-upping (term?). He doesn't really talk about his service over there much except that his unit (just a few guys - so don't know if that is actually considered a unit) I guess goes out and hunts out insurgents and IEDs and always has a local (interpreter) with him (can never show the local's face in pictures). It's been a year or so since I heard from him last so I don't know if he is still over there in some capacity.

But I remember him purposely going over and sitting next to a guy in uniform once when we went to lunch. He never said a word to the guy and I found it really odd that the guy didn't say a word to him either but looked real uncomfortable. Afterward, he told me he knew the guy was a phony and just wanted him to sweat a bit. He just said it with a smirk. Funny thing was that I was obviously more pissed than he was. Maybe he's just used to it or something.

Anyway, here's a shot of he and his guys taken back in '11 - he's front right. Thought you might get a kick out of it. Notice the black square in front of his interpreters face.
 

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fearsomefour

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Jan 15, 2013
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From my experience with posers, you essentially have two categories. The posers who want to get physical material things. Discounts, money, free drinks, meals, etc. Some try to get benefits from the DMV (PH recipients get free car registration) and stuff like that. If they attempt to cheat the government and get caught, then they're liable to fines and jail time. Otherwise it's "free speech".

Then there's the guys who just want kudos, and recognition. Maybe get chicks, feel better about themselves, etc. Some are veterans who are ashamed of their service because they felt they didn't do enough (in some cases they did, and it's a real shame they're not proud), those are the hardest to catch. The civilians who do this are usually easier to catch because they make too many mistakes, they want to do it all, and have way too much going on.

Some have different reasons for doing things. My boss is actually a poser, he was in the reserves, a cargo specialist or something, nothing to be ashamed of. However he tells people he was an active duty Ranger before going reserves. Problem is his stories are all screwy, easy for a vet to catch. A coworker was in the 82nd, he figured it out pretty fast too, I knew because I asked him about RIP (now RASP, its the selection program to get into the 75th Ranger Regiment) and he didn't go. So I knew he wasn't a Bat guy. Then he said he was at Lewis, but didn't know what unit he was in (2nd Bat is in Lewis). When I talked about Ranger school he didn't know much either. When me and the 82nd guy was talking about the new T11's (parachutes) he looked at us like we were speaking Chinese.

It wasn't hard to tell. We didn't call him out because we like our jobs, but he toned down all the talk pretty fast when I showed him some old pictures of me on deployment and told him I was in 3rd Bat.

Its just one of those lose lose situation. He told another person he just said stuff because we did cool stuff and he wanted to fit in. Which was ridiculous, because we didn't give a crap. Just kind of how it is.

I read for every real SEAL there is, there is something like 3 or 4 fake ones. Probably similar for Rangers, Special Forces, all that. Lot of people want to get the glory without putting in the work. Just the way it is I guess, I don't really get it, because the best part isn't any glory, its the pride you get when you finish the schools, the memories you have with your brothers in arms, that's what sticks with you. I've never gotten one free meal, turned them down in the airport before, don't have interest in getting any now during the Veterans day stuff. That's not what I care about.
Wow.
Its just crazy. It never really occurred to me that this is something people do. I do believe that about 3 or 4 fakes for every real guy as it is such an exclusive group. My "wishing" to serve (in hindsight) has more to do with wishing I had the experience. I had NO illusions about being anything more than a run of the mill grunt or truck driver....I knew I did not have the fortitude to go for anything beyond that.
Alas, at 19, the opportunity to both run a business and tour around with a rock band won out. Those were good, albeit, very different experiences. Life choices.
I just cannot imagine someone faking this regardless of the reason. So bizarre to me.
Knowing vets in my family that have seen action and one ex co worker who was some sort of advance intel guy (sorry, don't know outfit) they were never about bragging or telling crazy stories. Party stories maybe. Around guys they served with it may have been different but they were never cocky or braggarts about it. When guys start going on about their great or heroic exploits it always raises a flag with me.
I never heard my grandfather talk about his war experience at all. One day when he was in his late 80s he went to a trunk in his bedroom closet and took out a few keepsakes from the European theatre. Told me a few stories....the stories themselves he sort of rushed through but mostly he talked about the guys he served with in France....mostly long passed away or guys he hadn't spoken to in decades. But, he spoke of those guys with such true affection and warmth. That sort of connection is what most guys that have not served perceive as something they are missing....but, there is a price to pay for it.
Anyway, sort of lost my train of thought....
 

raised_fisT

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Oct 3, 2011
Messages
3,502
Currently there is a show on Discovery called "Dual Survival." The new season has yet to be picked up for Season 5... and one of the members - Joe Teti- is being called out for embellishing his resume.

The funny thing is... Joe came in at Season 3, replacing some guy named Dave who was booted from the show for lying on HIS resume. Discovery never vetted him (or ANYONE on the show) Another ex-TV survival show host / ex-military dude, Mykel Hawke, is on record stating that Joe is a fraud and is not who he claims to be. Some pretty crazy stuff.
 

bluecoconuts

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@bluecoconuts - so does it make you angry when these guys pose? Does it just make you sad for them? No feeling at all? I wonder if it maybe makes many of us who never served more pissed than you guys who went through it all. My cousin keeps re-upping (term?). He doesn't really talk about his service over there much except that his unit (just a few guys - so don't know if that is actually considered a unit) I guess goes out and hunts out insurgents and IEDs and always has a local (interpreter) with him (can never show the local's face in pictures). It's been a year or so since I heard from him last so I don't know if he is still over there in some capacity.

But I remember him purposely going over and sitting next to a guy in uniform once when we went to lunch. He never said a word to the guy and I found it really odd that the guy didn't say a word to him either but looked real uncomfortable. Afterward, he told me he knew the guy was a phony and just wanted him to sweat a bit. He just said it with a smirk. Funny thing was that I was obviously more pissed than he was. Maybe he's just used to it or something.

Anyway, here's a shot of he and his guys taken back in '11 - he's front right. Thought you might get a kick out of it. Notice the black square in front of his interpreters face.

It depends on what they're doing. If its a guy with a really fucked up uniform I may say something, because it makes us all look like dog shit, other people who aren't in don't know, and just assume this POS is one of us. Sometimes I do something similar as your cousin, just make them sweat without making a scene.

However if they are trying to get stuff, money, etc then I'll call them out.

I've called two people out somewhat violently. One guy was a former solider, I'm not sure what he was, but I know he wasn't combat arms even though he claimed it. It was in a class and he would spend all day telling war stories that sounded like scenes from a movie. Finally he slipped with a technical error and I stood up, threw a hockey puck at him (don't ask why I had one) and went off. After class he apologized, and he never showed up again. That was just because after weeks of his bullshit at 7AM I was sick of it.

Other time was someone in mulicam uniform about 2 years back, had on my old unit patches so I took notice. However he was out at the store asking for money to head back home, said he was fresh from Afghanistan and was holding a PH, saying he was wounded in action, giving a big sob story. Now first the Army gets you home, so that was dumb, plus Rangers don't wear their combat uniform out and about, I've never seen it. I lingered for a while to confirm or deny, finally I was able to place him via a friend, said he went to high school with his younger brother, graduated about 3 months prior. So right as some old WWII vet was donating money I walked over took the money, handed it back to the old gentleman, and then hit the guy in the face. Ripped off the patches, and took the PH, and really laid into him. Damn near made the guy cry and stormed off.

Everyone was pretty shocked I guess, my friend informed them I served in the unit he was claiming to be in.

Honestly though, I don't like doing that, making a big scene and all. If someone is just being a tool, I may let him know, if he's trying to get stuff then I'll stop it.

In terms of my boss, I just feel bad. Otherwise I just kind of shake my head.

It used to really piss me off, but now its usually not even worth it.

If your cousin is an IED hunter (sapper maybe?) Then he's a damn brave man, those guys get blown up regularly by enemies you almost never see. Love me some clearance guys. Next time you talk to him, even though he probably never cleared any routes I went on, give him my thanks. Without IED hunters, it's damn hard to do anything. Those guys work a lot and don't get near the appreciation they deserve. I get what he means about not really talking much, other than basic stuff, I usually keep my stories to myself and a very select group of people. Its not something people need to know.


Wow.
Its just crazy. It never really occurred to me that this is something people do. I do believe that about 3 or 4 fakes for every real guy as it is such an exclusive group. My "wishing" to serve (in hindsight) has more to do with wishing I had the experience. I had NO illusions about being anything more than a run of the mill grunt or truck driver....I knew I did not have the fortitude to go for anything beyond that.
Alas, at 19, the opportunity to both run a business and tour around with a rock band won out. Those were good, albeit, very different experiences. Life choices.
I just cannot imagine someone faking this regardless of the reason. So bizarre to me.
Knowing vets in my family that have seen action and one ex co worker who was some sort of advance intel guy (sorry, don't know outfit) they were never about bragging or telling crazy stories. Party stories maybe. Around guys they served with it may have been different but they were never cocky or braggarts about it. When guys start going on about their great or heroic exploits it always raises a flag with me.
I never heard my grandfather talk about his war experience at all. One day when he was in his late 80s he went to a trunk in his bedroom closet and took out a few keepsakes from the European theatre. Told me a few stories....the stories themselves he sort of rushed through but mostly he talked about the guys he served with in France....mostly long passed away or guys he hadn't spoken to in decades. But, he spoke of those guys with such true affection and warmth. That sort of connection is what most guys that have not served perceive as something they are missing....but, there is a price to pay for it.
Anyway, sort of lost my train of thought....

I just wanted to have fun, be a grunt and enjoy it. I went Rangers because it sounded like fun (little did I know), and once you get there they send you to more schools. It was a blast though. Party or funny deployment stories are where it's at though, I love telling those. Or when a few guys and I went to Amsterdam for R&R.... That's what I mean, its about the memories you form with your brothers. What we do on the battlefield stays close to home, it annoys my girlfriend sometimes, but she understands.
 

LazyWinker

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Paul
Finally he slipped with a technical error and I stood up, threw a hockey puck at him (don't ask why I had one) and went off. After class he apologized, and he never showed up again. That was just because after weeks of his bullcrap at 7AM I was sick of it.
If I can't ask about the hockey puck... what about the teacher? How'd they react?

Thanks for your service @bluecoconuts it's much appreciated. Thanks to all that have served.

Some have different reasons for doing things. My boss is actually a poser, he was in the reserves, a cargo specialist or something, nothing to be ashamed of. However he tells people he was an active duty Ranger before going reserves. Problem is his stories are all screwy, easy for a vet to catch. A coworker was in the 82nd, he figured it out pretty fast too, I knew because I asked him about RIP (now RASP, its the selection program to get into the 75th Ranger Regiment) and he didn't go. So I knew he wasn't a Bat guy. Then he said he was at Lewis, but didn't know what unit he was in (2nd Bat is in Lewis). When I talked about Ranger school he didn't know much either. When me and the 82nd guy was talking about the new T11's (parachutes) he looked at us like we were speaking Chinese.

It wasn't hard to tell. We didn't call him out because we like our jobs, but he toned down all the talk pretty fast when I showed him some old pictures of me on deployment and told him I was in 3rd Bat.

Its just one of those lose lose situation. He told another person he just said stuff because we did cool stuff and he wanted to fit in. Which was ridiculous, because we didn't give a crap. Just kind of how it is.

I'm pretty sure most people realize that he's full of it. Being an army ranger probably isn't the only thing that he's said about his life that never happened. He may just be insecure with you and another being Rangers and himself only being in the reserves. It might be hard for him to think that he could be your supervisor if you did something he couldn't. Just don't throw a hockey puck,
since we know you have one on your person at all times, at him.
 

VegasRam

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Wow - never knew guys like that existed. Complimentary in a weird way to those served.
BC - The IED hunters, same as the Hurt Locker guys, or is there a separate bomb squad?
 

Zombie Slayer

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I always wondered how many people are walking around in uniforms that were never in the service. I especially think this anytime I'm at the airport. There are always guys traveling alone but are in uniform. There really is no reason at all to be in uniform at the airport unless you're going on a deployment or traveling with your unit. Whenever I was traveling alone I was never in my uniform. I guess people just like the recognition, even the guys who are actually in the service.
 

Thordaddy

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Never was a soldier but both parents were ,in fact the met at a USO dance during WWII , dad commanded first an infantry company and then an engineers company , mom was a nurse.
I was raised around soldiers and can't believe the guy doing the vid. didn't kick his ass, that an active duty ranger would be a tubagoo/ Stapuff body was a sure sign he was a wannabee but wasn't.

Probably the only way the guy could get attention, probably still a virgin and his left hand is jealous of his right.
 

bluecoconuts

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If I can't ask about the hockey puck... what about the teacher? How'd they react?

Thanks for your service @bluecoconuts it's much appreciated. Thanks to all that have served.

He was a former cop, and former JAG officer, he claimed he saw nothing and only looked up after the yelling started, and could neither confirm or deny a hockey puck being thrown. I didn't really get in trouble, he just said next time stick to yelling.

Wow - never knew guys like that existed. Complimentary in a weird way to those served.
BC - The IED hunters, same as the Hurt Locker guys, or is there a separate bomb squad?

Most guys who hunt IEDs are EOD (Explosive Ordinance Disposal) which would be similar to the Hurt Locker movie. However that movie is horribly hollywooded up, if you want a better idea, there was a mini series on National Geographic (I believe) about Navy EOD guys in Afghanistan, that'll give a much better idea of how they operate. They also had a show about PJ's, Para Rescue, it was very well done. Both of them use real guys doing their real jobs, just helmet cams and other stationary cameras in the vehicle. PJ's are the shit though, amazing guys.
 

LazyWinker

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Paul
I can't wait for today to be over and in trying not to work hard found that someone shared this on Facebook. It's the story about the man in the video.

http://crimefeed.com/2014/12/fake-a...ook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=IAGAWI

Earlier this week, we brought you the story of a man who was confronted by Army veteran Ryan Berk at the Oxford Valley Mall in Pennsylvania on Black Friday, and accused of posing as an Army vet. Was the man doing it for the military discounts? We can’t yet be sure. However, it appears that the poser has a history of pretending to be a man in uniform.


The man, identified as Sean Yetman, now 30, was arrested in 2003 for impersonating a public servant. In that case, it all started with a routine traffic stop. Yetman was busted while wearing the coat and displaying the badge of a Philadelphia police officer who’d died in the line of duty in 1995. When Yetman claimed to work out of Philly’s 26th District, but quickly changed his story saying he was in the police academy, officers quickly checked his identification. Yetman claimed that the coat and badge belonged to his uncle, which was also not the case.

Officers found that Yetman was driving with a suspended license, and could not produce a valid identification for the Philadelphia police. They also discovered that the widow of the officer who’d been killed in 1995 had apparently given the coat and badge to her son, who knew Yetman through a girlfriend. She had no idea how they’d managed to be in Yetman’s possession. He pleaded guilty to the second-degree misdemeanor of impersonating a public servant, and was sentenced to three months of probation for that as well as the charge of driving with a suspended license.

According to reporting from the Army Times, after Berk spotted Yetman in the mall on Black Friday, he went to the Walking Company, where Yetman had apparently purchased something. Berk spoke with the manager, and when he was told that the store offered a military discount, he warned the manager that it was quite likely that Yetman had been a fraud.

Adrienne Lally, who is reportedly Yetman’s fiancee, informed reporters that Yetman has apparently lost his job, received death threats, and had both contact information for him and pictures of his family posted to various online forums, especially those dedicated to highlighting people claiming to have been soldiers. The blowback has reportedly been ferocious. She also insisted to reporters that no military discounts were given to Yetman on Black Friday.

Retired Col. Richard Nurnberg, executive director of the National Infantry Association, told reporters that Sean Yetman’s name does not appear in the Army’s database, which includes active duty and retired personnel as well as reservists and Army Rangers. Nurnberg also stated that his name was not in any database of Army personnel who had been through Ranger training at the Fort Benning facility. By law, the misdemeanor conviction in 2003 would not have kept Yetman from serving.

In addition, according to Pennsylvania law, purchasing, selling, or offering any decoration granted for service in the military can be a third-degree misdemeanor if it was done within the state. We stress that Yetman has not yet had charges filed against him in this instance, but we would suspect they’ll be coming soon.