DeAngelo Williams - Good Initiative, Bad Judgement

SGM Matthew Quick — Tue, 08 Jul 2014 23:04:37 -0400

Kudos to DeAngelo Williams for giving up his Business Class seat for this 'Marine'!

Another case of Stolen Valor!

http://guardianofvalor.com/deangelo-williams-carolina-panthers-running-back-duped-fake-marine/

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2014 4:13 AM

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 04:13:43 -0400

OMG!!! WTF!!! My brain just exploded. Nasty little thing this man is. He is jacked up all over the place. Weird devices on the medals, wearing devices not authorized in that configuration, wrong buckle, belts jacked, cover indoors but since he is wearing a cover those gloves should be on too, and nobody travels in dress blue alphas (which he is wearing a combo of alphas and bravos) because its not authorized. Yuck!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2014 6:57 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 06:57:29 -0400

I contacted TSA through official channels about a year ago suggesting that if a person appears in military dress, and cannot produce a military ID (edited from "CAC" I really meant just some form of military ID), he/she must NOT be allowed to pass through security. If I showed up at the airport in a TSA uniform and had no TSA credentials, would I be allowed to wander around the airport dressed like that? How is that not a security concern? I got no response.

Additionally, Soldiers are generally NOT authorized to wear uniforms to the airport (edited to add: because they are not flying on orders; I had a Soldier tell me once he had "leave orders," um, not official military business there, but nice try. Yes, per LTC Paul Labrador the ASU is authorized, but only on official travel). The latest version of 670-1 makes it more clear. I really wish the airlines would stop being complicit in this. If I show you military ID (<- not edited, got it right the first time and it's what I always meant), good enough; stop insisting I be in uniform. It would also stop clowns like this guy by removing the incentives to masquerade.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2014 7:20 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 07:20:29 -0400

Bad judgement?

How can we expect a non military member to see and immediately identify a case of "Stolen Valor"?

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Jul 9 at 2014 9:19 AM

SGT Ben Keen — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 09:19:18 -0400

This is why we can't have nice things everyone.

While I'm glad to see DeAngelo Williams try to do nice things, I'm sure he'll think twice before doing it again which is a shame. We live in a world where some idiot like this destroys the public's trust of not just the Marine Corps but in the entire military. I have no doubt that this is the first time this guy has benefited from his false claims.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2014 10:36 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 10:36:59 -0400

What DeAngelo Williams did was great, and I doubt that he will think twice when trying to help out another soldier in uniform. In fact, I am proud to see many athletes and celebrities being role models and showing the younger generation different acts of kindness towards those in and out of the service. Players all over the NFL, such as Larry Fitzgerald and Aaron Rodgers are always giving shout outs to those in the Military.

So while this was certainly an impostor. I don't think this will stop the American people from doing what they think is right. Thus, I agree it is our job to police these imposters.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2014 10:25 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 22:25:00 -0400

I saw this and was left speechless. I have not really seen much of this in person. I would fear for if I did I would ensure he would leave with not valor he would be trying to obtain. I have been in long enough I could spot a fake pretty easily.

I did run into this one when I was a cop. After I got back from Iraq in 04 I became a cop in a small town near Bragg. I was told that there was another army guy there in the department. I would later speak to him only to find that he was in Army ROTC and never actually served. But to him that was the real deal and he would tell everyone the like.

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made Jul 9 at 2014 10:25 PM

CPT Jacob Swartout — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 22:25:09 -0400

Its unfortunate that this happens as people savor the moments of recognition and enjoy the benefits of being in the uniform that they do not deserve to wear. I truly do not understand how they can live among themselves knowing they are not in the military. One would think that questions will be asked of them when a service member approaches and starts prying into you.

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Jul 10 at 2014 9:22 AM

CW5 Sam R. Baker — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 09:22:29 -0400

I have worn my ASU on the plane, no issue, but man the stares and looks, from both veterans and civilians. Due to the fact that we have allowed sub-par travel uniforms (ACU), we have taken the professionalism out of the public eye with regard to how we present ourselves to them these days. But frankly look at civilians now when they travel. Flip Flops, sneakers, shorts, cutoffs, robes, who knows what else, no one travels dressed up anymore like it was back in the day (pre 1990).

I agree with the CPT Wolfer, produce DoD identification active or blue card to the staff at the airport.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2014 7:37 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 07:37:41 -0400

The law needs to be changed back to allow judges to incarcerate these guys. It's illegal to impersonate a police officer, but if you impersonate a military member that's called "free speech" and you are exercising your rights.

I think it is up to us to police up these scumbags. My first tip off to this guy being a fake would of been his wearing of a cover indoors. As a Marine E-9 he would of known that was a no go. As a professional courtesy I would of started out very discrete (just to verify he was a fake) and turned it into a circus just to watch him sweat and tuck tail and run. These guys are tools and deserve public shaming. They don't learn and will continue impersonating in a new venue.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2014 1:44 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 13:44:31 -0400

I'm torn in this issue because I completely understand the drawing attention to oneself thing. As soon as you put that uniform on especially a dress uniform you are a beacon of attention and it's like drawing moths to the flame. On the other hand they are huge conversation starters and I think it is kind of depressing that the culture in the military has shifted so far away from wearing our uniforms outside of work. When you look back at pictures from WWI and WWII EVERYONE was proud to be seen in their uniform and they looked damn good. Back then if you were a military aged male and DIDNT have a uniform on you were ostracized. Now a days so few people serve and there is such a stigma amongst service members about that civilians have such little visible representation of service members in their midst.

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2014 10:26 PM

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 22:26:34 -0400

I will never understand why people do this type of nonsense. My head exploded just looking at the number of things wrong with this "soldier". The level of blatant disrespect boggles my mind...Kudos for D-Will for doing something he thought was the right thing, but it is people like this guy why people will think twice before doing things for soldiers who deserve it.

Response by CMDCM Gene Treants made Jul 22 at 2014 7:56 PM

CMDCM Gene Treants — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 19:56:22 -0400

I am not sure if he is a real marine or not. If his family says he is, then I believe they should know for sure. In either case Deangelo Williams did a very good thing giving away a First Class Seat to this gentleman. If he in fact has dementia, that explains a lot, but not why he was flying in full dress uniform. Or maybe it does.

Response by COL Randall C. made Jul 22 at 2014 8:39 PM

COL Randall C. — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 20:39:56 -0400

I can understand the backlash by current and former members of the military, but we all should take this as a cautionary tale as well.

I like the way that another fake was handled (such as the recent stolen valor case at a funeral - https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/stolen-valor-fake-army-sgm-busted-at-funeral). The Marines engaged the 'soldier' in a discussion first to learn more about his background. Only he failed to even answer some of the most basic information was he challenged on his authenticity.

Sometimes, there is no doubt about the person either being completely jacked-up or a fake that is just putting on a uniform (http://thisainthell.us/blog/?p=24149) - in those cases, call them out. If not, don't immediately jump to the conclusion that they are - as this showed, they could be genuine, but there could be other issues at play (like his dementia).

Regardless, I wouldn't take this situation as a full scale "don't question fakers" if that happens to be your style - after all, this is the first "we thought he was fake and he wasn't" story I've ever heard of.

Stolen Valor: Fake Army SGM busted at funeral | RallyPoint

A couple of Marines calls out a fake "SGM" at a funeral. http://guardianofvalor.com/fake-sgm-gets-called-marines-funeral/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56DGe-1zwj0

Response by MSG(P) Michael Warrick made Jul 22 at 2014 9:38 PM

MSG(P) Michael Warrick — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 21:38:24 -0400

Where is his DD Form 214 and Military Record?

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made Jul 22 at 2014 9:47 PM

CPT Jacob Swartout — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 21:47:20 -0400

Still no Marine wears his cover inside according to my friends who served in the USMC. Have him produce documentation that proves he served.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 22 at 2014 10:36 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 22:36:16 -0400

I think he was a legit Marine with legit problems. If someone from the Sheriff's Office defends him, then I'm sure they wouldn't want to look like idiots for praising a fake. Regardless, your boi Deangelo gets props!

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 22 at 2014 6:37 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 18:37:07 -0500

This guy is a clown. And probably a little off in the old noggin. lol