Yes. Check with some of our Massachusetts politicians to see how they choreographed their military careers.

This looser should have to spend at least 1 full year actually working with real soldiers either serving or at a VA hospital.

I think they should put him through boot camp, then ship him off to Iraq to prove his real valor for this country! What a worthless person....

These guys are simply pathetic.

Pathetic is too light of a word to be used for this guy and others like him. It appears that he may have actually been in the Military at one time. The best punishment for his CRIME of claiming to be an honorable veteran would be to just change his discharge status to "LESS THAN HONORABLE"!!! Russ

Wants to talk the talk but can't walk the walk. I say kiss him and ship him and let him EARN the medals he so convienently lies about! Semper Fi!!

I love to hear all of these people say how they real heros are in Iraq right now. The soilders in Iraq are not defending America, they're fighting someone elses civil war that we started. I don't blame the soldier because they're taking orders as they should but does that make them heros?

I knew a guy from College who used to dress up as a Helicopter Pilot and hang out at the local bars and try to pick up girls. (he was actually an enlisted man in my guard unit). Someone spotted him in uniform and asked him about his unit and who he knew from that unit. he dropped my name in desperation.I found out about it. I had this guy scared for two years that the Army CID (Criminal Investigatio Division) was after him.

95% of the people making comments here and judging others, have never been in a combat zone. 30% of the Vietnam Vets the VA treats were never in Vietnam.So before all the arm chair patriots here get a boner for hammering someone who images he is a hero. I say what have you done... Get a grip its sad but not a jail sentence.

Signed.. 22 year vet and I have been in several war Zones.

My husband served two tours in Vietnam, turned down a purple heart and a bronze star in his first week there because he believed it would be bad luck to recieve them at this time. Fortunately he came back alive and well when so many of his comrades did not. It is deplorable for someone to take on honors that do not belong to them.

Many people serve, few see combat. Facts are facts. Medals, as they used to say, "that plus $1.50 (increased due to inflation) will get you a cup of coffee".

Medals - got some, don't claim them, don't know where they are, don't care. The way things are today they give medals for going to the latrine. No wonder there are some many fakes.

All vets earn care under the veteran's administration. Thank goodness for that. Me, I'm subsidizing my own disability pay, thanks to the way the law is written.

It's a very low and underhanded thing to do but I don't know that it should be criminal. It's hard for me to say either way -- not being a vet -- but I hesitate to call it evil. Now, if the guy accepted any money (book deals, speaking fees, etc.) then he could easily be guilty of fraud. But in general, lying about one's past, so long as it isn't for personal monetary gain, a job application, etc., has never been considered illegal to my knowledge. Wrong, pathetic and totally lacking in honor, but not illegal. Sadly, anyone who would do such a thing is likely incapable of any sense of shame, so public humiliation probably won't work either.

Someone flipped the photo of Theodrore Bantis in the USMC uniform. As it is shown under medals of dishonor both his ribbons and his wedding ring are on his right hand. They both should be on his left.

As an A&M graduate and an ex-infantry officer, personally, I think he needs a beating. Just like those that wore a RANGER TAB and never went to the school, he should be given a chance to go earn his medals in combat---BUT no, he would only put legitimate soldiers lives at risks--clearly, he thinks only of himself.

They should sit this guy in front of a group of mothers,fathers,wives,and children,and let them tell him how their loved one earned their medals by giving the ultimate sacrifice.
Solon, Ohio

Put him back in the Army. Then prosecute him under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). The penaties are much more severe for the same offense. How bout a few years in Leavenworth !

Retired and Proud to have served.

Well, this guy should be shipped to Iraq and let him earn his medals. I might be in those 95% of judging people in here but I don't do that kind of stuff (bragging about being a hero when i'm far from being one). The only military experience that i have is on Playstation's Socom Navy Seals!! I'm pretty good at it!

What a dirtbag but he doesn't need to go to prison. I think public shaming can be effective for the people who aren't likely to re-offend. Maybe a billboard or two exposing him as a coward and a fraud and then a trip to his local VA hospital to apologize for his lies.

Put him back in the Army. Then prosecute him under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The penalties are more severe. A few years in Leavenworth is what he needs!

Retired and Proud to have served (and they can check my records!)

If it's illegal to impersonate a police officer, it should be to impersonate a military officer or even exaggerate one's service record. I vote for him to get jail time.

Instead of all the hand wringing about some slobs wearing medals they aren't entitled to, why doesn't anyone find out EXACTLY what Bush was doing when he should have been on reserve duty?

A guy who was AWOL sending young people off to be killed in a war based on lies is more offensive to me than some loser wearing a few medals he bought on eBay or his his local Army & Navy store!

Criminal ? Yes ! It is against the law. Be assured, not all Vetrans are not heros. I served two tours in Nam and I'm definately not a hero and not a baby killer as stated by Hanoi Jane. This guy should be sent to jail.

He is a fake military hero, but if he speaks out againts the war, and calls on our troops to surrender in Iraq, he will become a REAL democrat and liberal news media hero!

Don't know how old you are Kent but everyone knew the rich guys and only the rich guys went into the guard back in the '60s. That's all in the past and only W will have to worry about it. He worked his way to the White House, and hey, everyone knows only the rich guys get into the White House.

Want to right some wrongs? Elect someone who hasn't been in congress, hasn't been a governor, just a good guy.

OH MR. DEEDS, where are you?

"He is a fake military hero, but if he speaks out againts the war, and calls on our troops to surrender in Iraq, he will become a REAL democrat and liberal news media hero!"

Hey Steve, how's the "last throes" of that insurgency? Have they greeted us with flowers and chocolates yet? Put down the spineless Democrats all you want, but let's not try to whitewash the dishonest and totally incompetent and clueless Republicans and conservatives! Thanks for the quagmire, by the way. Hope they cut your vets benefits to pay for all the new ones coming out of this mess! Bush won't lose a night's sleep if you or they have benefits or not. Semper fool!

The righteous man who kills in self defense want no glory or reconition for his killing.

The Democrat party is in its "last throes" of being an american party, it about 6 months away from being the new "Vichy party" of France in WWII. You unpatriotic and underminning and totally without values democrats keep fighting for defeat at any price, and full benefits for illeagal aliens. My benefits keep going up, despite you useful idiots like Melanie the Jane Fonda wannebe.

I think that he should be jailed a year for each medal he claimed to have been awarded. If not more ! My father died due to exposure from Atomic Testing, he didn't win any awards but he should have.

So Steve, do you think you should do jail time for falsely have "LtCol USMC ret" in your name to give credence to your post?

I think all democrats should due jail time in internment camps (like democrats did with americans during WWII) for falsely claiming to support our troops as they try to bring about defeat at any price. Starting with Roy of course

Remember John Kerry? Three Purple Hearts in three months in Vietnam, but wouldn't released his military records for it to be verified? Plus his discharge Honorable of Dishonorable? Still couldn't be verified because he would not release his records. This David McClanahan has a future in the Democratic Party.

I have read through all of the comments and the one Thomas posted hit home with me. I have an older brother who served in the Navy. I have a younger brother who served with the Marines. He did one tour of duty in Viet Nam and ultimately wound up serving as a body escort, bringing sometimes unrecognizable sons, fathers, etc. back to their families to be laid to rest. He joined the Marines in 1965 and went off to Vietnam at the age of 18 years old. My older brother never left the US...was stationed in San Diego. He believes with all his heart that he served in Vietnam. He has prisoner of war stickers as well as a multitude of other stickers specific to the Vietnam war plastered all over his car. He has medals framed on the wall. He has pictures of what he calls and believes to be his Vietnam brothers. This has upset me for a long time but I have come to the conclusion that he wants to be my "younger brother", the one that served in Vietnam. He doesn't belong in prison. He is flat out mentally not all there. He is 62 yrs old and started imagining/believing all of this about 10 years ago. And, he receives a monthly benefit from the military for post tramatic syndrome. My younger brother does not receive nor has ever asked for any assistance from the military. He has never talked about his experiences. If anyone needs help he does as he is a lonely and angry person who suffers from black outs, etc. I have never challenged my older brother when he talks about his Vietnam buddies, etc. because I know that mentally he is not all there and it would serve no purpose. He is very much involved with Vietnam veterans. I'm not sure what kind of a point I'm trying to get across here other then sometimes there is more to the picture then you can see.
Gwen

It is AMAZING how many of these phonies are out there!
http://www.pownetwork.org/phonies/phonies1045.htm
I met one at a party several years ago and he was SO SINCERE --hah! he's listed on the phonies list. TOo bad he can't be prosecuted, too.

Gwen, I think your point is clear - mental illness, effects of war, etc. doesn't only affect those who were there, it can affect their families too. My guess is that your brother's problems stem from some sort of deep sense of guilt for having not gone to Vietnam. I have seen this in lesser degrees living in post 9/11 New York City. I have one friend who was down at Ground Zero and worked the pile as a rescue worker for the first 5 days after the towers fell and I know others who were nearby or even in the towers. Still others who have known as many as severl doezn people who died there. Some are affected a little, some greatly and some have been driven 1/2 mad by the experience. One who was in the towers, got out, then went back in to find a pregnant friend and got her out too is among the least affected by it, IMO. Others I've encountered who have no direct connection other than seeing them burn from a distance are among the most affected. One can never know with such things.

Steve LtCol USMC ret you're crazy if you thinking sending all democrats to prison is the right answer. It's not that democrats don't support the troops, it's that they don't support fighting in Iraq's civil war, which our Commander in chief decided to start in the first place.

I see alot of comments regarding what is going on in Iraq. I dont' know what the solution is, and I hate as much as the next person to hear of more people dying over there. But I believe in my mind, I try to keep it simple by supporting the war by the same ideology I teach my children regarding their rooms.

"If you go in there and make a mess, then it is your responsibility to clean it up."

I don't know how to do it, but I believe that may be what is in their minds. Now, whether it can be cleaned....according to some it can, according to others it can't.

I'm glad Saddam is gone, but man o man..what a mess it is now. Not sure what is right to do...I trust our President to make them hard decisions based on the information he's given.

What else can we do?

Please keep in mind that this guy has already spent about 100 days in the brig for the same offense...he also has an Other Than Honorable Discharge in lieu of court martial...

He needs to be sentenced! This is a chronically ill individual!

"I think all democrats should due jail time in internment camps (like democrats did with americans during WWII)"

Having written nonsense like this, you prove yourself to not only be unAmerican yourself, but also treasonous to what America itself stands for. Thanks for the phoney Marine act, though. The only thing you ever served was "fries with that." I doubt they'd let a looney like you in so much as Civil Air Patrol!

>Check with some of our Massachusetts politicians to see how they choreographed their military careers.

At least some of them are only (if it is true) "embellishing" their service as compared the current crop of chimps who never served.

What irony? An average Texan boasts military service and when unmasked he is hauled before a grand jury. One of the Bush sons does it and the GOP nominates him as a candidate for the presidency. But then, the "combat aviator" and consumate phony, George Jr., has made capons of the US Attorneys in Texas.

this guys shoudl stop by Mass. pick up Kerry suit up and both head for Iraq maybe both would have a chance to earn the medals they claim.

He has disgraced himself. He should ship off, serve in Iraq with the real heros and try to redeem himself.

He should apply for French citizenship

Oh, give me a break. This guy was obviously worhless in the military, and putting him back in to fight would seriously endanger other troops. He needs to be locked up.

As for the detractors about the President's Vietnam service, may I remind you that the Democrats embraced and elected a Vietnam War draft dodger to the White House, a one Bill 'devil in a blue dress, where's my cigar' Clinton.

Oh, give me a break. Stop with the spamming already!

It's interesting that sending someone to Iraq is viewed as a punishment. What kind of message is that?

I really suprised people are still bringing up John Kerry and the swiftboat crap. If a few disgruntle veterans can call in to question a persons military service awards then all these prestigious awards are devalued. And if you devalue them David Clanahan's case should be dismissed.

Ron Paul 2008

>As for the detractors about the President's Vietnam service, may I remind you that the Democrats embraced and elected a Vietnam War draft dodger to the White House, a one Bill 'devil in a blue dress, where's my cigar' Clinton.

So, two wrongs make a right?

What kind of family values is that?!?

Then why not charge Bush/Cheney with making false statements (lying) about being honest, competent, leaders?

For the person that wonders if the troops "just doing their jobs" make then heroes, yes it does. Because they're doing above and beyond what is asked of them. Many of them not too long ago were high school students. Now they are fighting in a war. That's says alot about someone. To endure things that the average person couldn't even imagine. Never question the sacrifice of our troops or if what they do makes them heroes. Every military member of this antion are heroes because they don't think twice about what they can do for their country. Would you do the same?

wearing medals for legalized murder is nothing to be proud of.
we've just had it jammed down our throats that there's something special about going to war. those who fight in wars are never those who started the wars. aren't you tired of having the wool pulled over your eyes?

Now this guy is getting into trouble for lying - most probably he was not hurting anyone. while politiician get away with their lies which are costing lives.

3 silver stars and 3 purple hearts and a nomination for one of the highest honors in the military? How did anyone believe him to begin with? Have none of these people smelled bs before? I have met tons of people who are full of it, so I tend not to believe insane outrageous things like this at first glance. He might as well have said that he was the one who killed Darth Vader.

I have one comment to throw in the pot.
I know this guy and believe me, if he ever gets into the medical field, it might not be long before he has all kinds of forged documents purtaining to medicine. He has the ability to obtain a nursing degree legally then become a doctor with forged papers. Then just hope that he never treats you.
This is his MO and has been for a long time. Theft of Honor is the tip of the iceburg.

When he drives around with Purple Heart license plate, it was pretty hard NOT to believe him..

He got POW plates for my car - he is very smooth. Please don't undersetimate this guy.

He didn't just fool me and my family, but our TxDOT too..

I know David personally and have for many years. He has the capability to smooth talk and convince just about anyone. He served in the navy for about three years and then went Blue to Green and joined the army. He falsified documents, and did it really good too. I sawl them and have got to say, they were very convincing. He purchased medals online. He wore these medals while he was in the service of the army and that is why he did Brig time (at Fort Bragg I beleive). He was busted down to an E1 at his next command and they kicked him out with an other than honorable discharge in leu (spelled right?) of court martial. Then his first wife left him because of his dishonesty and lies. He found anawesome girl and started dating her, but that was full of lies and she was really taken advantage of and used. He misled her and she and her family had no idea. He conviced her to marry him and she, beleiving he was this great war hero, said yes. Just to find out later that he started dating her and they were engaged while he was still married to his first wife. Their divorce wasn't final until less than three months before they were married. She had no idea about this until last week. She was horrified and felt so bad that she had dated a married man. David represented several groups as a "War Hero" and accepted donations for "Operation Home Front", among others. He basically frauded caring people out of donations and money. He forged a letter from the white house, claiming he had been nominated for the Congressional Medal of Honor and showed it to tons of people. I personally never dreamed it was fake, it looked completley authentic. He said he had spoken to the President and the Secretary of Defense. All LIES! He entertained in his home many highly repected and highly powered individuals making "game plans" for his nomination and acceptance. Then when it came down to the wire, he told everyone that he declined the nomination because it was tearing apart his family. Which was the complete opposit of the truth. He was covering his butt. He destroyed all evidence he had including fake certificates and medals. Pictures with him in his uniform with his supposed medals, ribbons, and pens. He had claimed to be an E-8. I have a picture of him in his uniform wearing all of these things with and E-8 patch on his uniform. I obtained this recently. He lies constantly and is incredibly deceitfull. He did lie on a car loan appl. through Amarillo National Bank. He basically trippled his actual income in order to receive a loan, which he did not actually receive. He should be punished to the max of the law. He has hurt many. His current wife is fieling for Annulment. She was completley deceived and he basically racked multi-thousands in debt in her name. She is a victim here. Faced with all of this information and knowledge David still lies to our faces and claims he is inasant.

JULIAN- Yes it does make them heroes. I don't see you defending our freedom. So until you serve and are faced with the possibility of death to protect freedom, you really shouldn't judge!

I knew David growing up, and let me tell you, this is no shocker! His whole life, he told lies and deceived people who cared alot about him. That is why I was somewhat glad to see this happen, to see his lies finally catch up to him!!
David, if you were half the man you pretended to be, you would not have done this to your (former) wife and precious children!

Sounds like at the very least this guy is guilty of fraud if the stories those here who say they know him are true. Sounds like a lot more than an otherwise harmless (if honorless) fib. He was defrauding people out of money, using the lie for personal gain.

SARAH: I dont know who you are but wishing something on someone else will only come back to bite YOU IN THE BUTT! As for his preciouse children, neither of the boys even know about any of it. And V left him way before this so it isn't happening to her PERIOD!

Since everyone else that knows David is posting on here, I thought I would too. He can smooth talk anyone, sell ice to an Eskimo and make him wildly grateful to have it. David is smart, persuasive, handsome and if you make him mad he can be scary as well. He neither honors or respects those people that try to care for him. Instead he finds some way to gain an advantage by using them. I'm thrilled that Retrac put everything out on the table, because so many of the posts from yesterday kept down-talking the severity of the situation. For someone to be sly and manipulative enough to fake the medals (whether you honor medal winners or not) means that the person has the skill to fake other things in their life. David did not just fake the medals and then act like a wonderful upstanding citizen in the rest of his life. I hope he gets prison time, in part, because he burned me and I'm still very upset about that. But, I also want him to get prison time so he will not be available to continue taking advantage of people.
And to dumper, I congratulate you on your ability to smell a bs-er. This guy will give you a run for your money.
3 cheers for the Federal Justice System!!!!!!

My appolgogies Julian, I meant that for Maximus

I've built a website that has links to all the media that have reported on him.
www.dramarillo.com

something that botherw me personally is that i was in nam several times barely swueeked by friendly fire and had quite a few close calls ...put out a fire on the conn etc etc not even a mention nor do i care except that i have ptsd and can not get anything out of it ...but oh well that's the way it goes sometimes . i don't envy andy one that survived ..so many of my friends and aquaintances did not ...sounds like a lot of frustration in these words too bad love and light to you all !!

most of the morons who call in to talk raido shows. saying they are Veterns, yet never mention where, what city, and what troop, what service ie Army Navy airforce, are just as phoney, and most are Rush Limbaugh ditto Heads.
taking their bi-polar medication, drinking beer in their mobile home, that their ex-wife left them, when she left with the kids.

In response to David concerning this person not taking money. In a way he has, he was awarded a scholarship for college! That is a round about way of taking money. I am sure if it wasn't caught, he would have used it to obtain a job using his "hero" status. He should not be given any military benefits, eg: medical, housing, etc since he has lied about his "hero" status. He is a disgrace.

Im a vet and still carry bits and pieces of one thing or another along with the scars. I have several gongs all for underfire and none for being a choir boy. If you ask any vet that has seen the elephant you have 75% boredom 20% excitement and the rest is sheer terror. alot of us dont have to make stories. 6 years in one service or another and still a private. He should be tarred and feathered on national tv then court-martial and sent to leavenworth for nothing else than being a scumbag.

As a Vietnam combat veteran,door gunner/crewchief,who continues to morn lost friends, this guy is the lowest.Stolen valor reflects on the honor,steals honor, from those that most deserve recognition,if from no one else,their brothers.Most of you that havent been there,find this hard to understand.Its about HONOR,Trust duty and having your brothers back.Many who have earned these medals,lay in a cold dark grave,with no hug to welcome them home.All they have is honor.And this piece of crap tries to steal it.Go to Jail and rot there.Vietnam,71/72,2corp,gunner on slicks.Oh,the VA? they say we(helicopter crewmen) didnt have combat jobs.May they rot in hell as well.

Sure wish Brian Ross would get it right -- it's not the Congressional Medal of Honor but Medal of Honor.

Sounds like he has a promosing career in politics in his future, and if the treasonous libs get their way, having a criminal record will not matter, as long as he's a democrat ( demonrat ) Personally I would like to force all those who claim to be proud Americans but don't support this global war on terror to serve at least 6 months in the Military. As a proud father and father-in-law of 2 Air Force Captains, both in Iraq, I hate what the libs are doing to my country

The world is full of wannabee's at least this one did not murder anyone, yet.

Well, according to personal stories told to me by my father's war bodies, we had approximately a million men storm the beaches of Normandy in WWII, and my uncle, who was Tuskegee airmen, saved practically every bomber that ever flew.

Look, this guy is no doubt the loser, but we really can't go around arresting people and putting them in jail for lying about their wartime experiences.

What are we going to do next, write a law that says weekend fishermen have to tell the truth, or all old high-school football tales of daring do, have to be factually correct.

I'm more incensed that they actually made a law such as the one used to nail this guy.

I'm out

Ok we get it what he did was wrong, and stupid, now he has to live with everyone knowing he's a liar, and a fake. In my opinion that's enough, the cost of a trial, the waste of media, jail, and court time as well as the time wasted by those who came up with wrote, voted on and singed in to law such a law is much worse than what this young, dumb young person has done.
Who we really need to be seeking convictions of is those who created this Iraq mess, Lied to the American people, wasted the lives of all those truely brave young people, and stole and missused the Billions of dollars the next three generations of Americans will have to work to pay-off.
Yea like that will happen.

"Sure wish Brian Ross would get it right -- it's not the Congressional Medal of Honor but Medal of Honor.

Posted by: Martin | Jun 4, 2007 9:58:10 AM"

FYI, The Medal of Honor, because it is generally presented to its recipient by the President of the United States of America in the name of Congress, it is often called the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Okay, "Me", how you like to have somebody posing as a doctor, working on you. According to your statements, "Look, this guy is no doubt the loser, but we really can't go around arresting people and putting them in jail for lying about their wartime experiences.

What are we going to do next, write a law that says weekend fishermen have to tell the truth, or all old high-school football tales of daring do, have to be factually correct.

I'm more incensed that they actually made a law such as the one used to nail this guy." lying about his past is okay. Good luck with your heart surgery, tho...

Paul, the problem comes when he one day decides that being a nurse isn't good enough and makes his own MD degree and hangs it on the wall.

I have no doubt that would happen if he is not conviced of a felony which would bar him from any medical field.

Paul,

I'm sure you can tell the difference between someone actually "ACTING OUT A FRAUD" and some one lying.

If yer on a plane and someone talks up his Dr. skills, that's one thing. . .
if someone ACTUALLY TRIES to fraudulently practice medicine on ya. . ..that's quite another.

C'mon man!!! stay with me now!!!

You're saying that our nation needs to remove the present administration because they lied; how far down the line of elected & appointed officials of our government do you plan on removing. Remember, while Patton was against Nazism, he put several Nazis to work for the new Germany.

Who do you plan to replace in the vacuum?

What makes you think that the D.N.C. isn't corrupted?

The Clintons have "Whitewater skeletons" that they DON'T want exposed. Had anybody else(with less $$$ & family connections) been with Mary Jo that night, they would have gone to jail.

I remember a case while in the Navy of a sailor who said he had been a Vietnam theater POW. He had (in his mine) been awared various