Why would this Veteran present a fraudulent document to justify unearned medals? Why dig a deeper hole?

2015-07-13T13:53:12-04:00

Story From TAH

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2015-07-11/story/document-jacksonville-veteran-showed-first-coast-news-claiming-times

John James “J.J.” Lavoie could’ve simply taken off his fraudulent and unearned military medals and walked away.
But he didn’t.

In fact, he didn’t even have to take the medals off. Under the Stolen Valor Act of 2013, it isn’t a crime to simply wear unearned medals.

However, after Lavoie was featured in a Florida Times-Union June investigation, “Stolen Valor,” he approached the American Legion and at least one local news agency with a military discharge document he says proves he earned the awards.

A Times-Union investigation involving font experts and supervisors at the National Archives has determined that document to be fraudulent.

This is a photo, taken by Ken Amaro, of the DD 215 J.J. Lavoie showed him that he said proved he earned the Silver Star, Bronze Star with Valor, and three Purple Hearts. The document is fraudulent, according to a Times-Union investigation involving font specialists and supervisors at the National Archives.Problems: The font used for the dates 930228 and 93022, as well as lines 12b, 12c, 12f and 13 - which lists all the medals - is Calibri, which wasn't invented until 2004. The date box at the bottom left clearly shows the document was supposedly created on Feb. 25, 1993 - or in military terms, 930225.In addition tape marks can be seen clearly above each of the dates and lines listed above. There is also pencil shading around all the same areas, likely an attempt to either cover up what was on the form originally, or to recreate the shading which can be found on an original copy of this form - but is lacking here.

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2015-07-11/story/document-jacksonville-veteran-showed-first-coast-news-claiming-timeshttp://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2015-07-11/story/document-jacksonville-veteran-showed-first-coast-news-claiming-times
onal Archives.Problems:

Document Jacksonville veteran showed First Coast News, claiming Times-Union error, is fraudulent

John James "J.J." Lavoie could've simply taken off his fraudulent and unearned military medals and walked away. But he didn't.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Jul 13 at 2015 1:58 PM

2015-07-13T13:58:45-04:00

Thanks SGT Private RallyPoint Member. It is very sad when people can either make or get fraudulent military documents. I don't want to go through the watermark and embedded threads that currency goes through but I hope military service record documents will be protected.

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Jul 13 at 2015 2:01 PM

2015-07-13T14:01:48-04:00

Sucks for him!

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made Jul 13 at 2015 2:03 PM

2015-07-13T14:03:39-04:00

SGT Keith Bodine, this kind of nut does not bother me, because he is not out there killing people. I have met many guys like him and in the past prior to today's war no one cared. But I will let them buy me a beer or two.

Response by SFC Everett Oliver made Jul 13 at 2015 2:09 PM

2015-07-13T14:09:46-04:00

This clown couldn't be happy with just having done his job? I wear what I earned and tell very few stories, true or embellished. I was for the most part an average SFC.....

Response by SSG Keith Cashion made Jul 13 at 2015 2:33 PM

2015-07-13T14:33:35-04:00

Keith, It's a shame that people do this, and when you point them out, they get mad because you do. There was another articale after this one about not having to steal them, just order them on line. It's sad, but when I go to gun shows and things of that nature, I always see the medals guys out there trying to sell them. But in light of the fact of the fire at the National Archieves back in 1973, there are a lot of veterans, thatunless they kept their own copies, the rocords are gone forever.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jul 13 at 2015 5:31 PM

2015-07-13T17:31:48-04:00

I'll never understand people like this. Why can't they accept their service, why do they have to make up lies? It has never even occurred to me to lie about my own service.
A person who never deployed or left the continental United States but got an Honorable Discharge served just as much as a person who won the Medal Of Honor!

Response by SPC George Grimm made Jul 13 at 2015 10:37 PM

2015-07-13T22:37:42-04:00

I believe that their is a lack of integrity in much of the population these days and its sad that for some to admit they were lying involves being called out.

Response by SFC Carlos Cruz made Mar 18 at 2018 9:25 AM

2018-03-18T09:25:18-04:00

This guys was a complete moron & a idiot because back then they always used DD214 not DD 215 omg.