cmyr
01-22-2007, 04:52 AM
Attention on deck: Lies about military service demean real heroes
by Scott “Doc” Chobot
Advocate correspondent January 19, 2007
A former member of the Marine Corps League in St. Louis was taken into custody last Nov. 10 by FBI agents after being photographed wearing the Navy Cross medal at the annual Marine Corps anniversary ball. Just eighteen days later, he was unceremoniously handcuffed and led away to be fitted for a rather different uniform.
At the ball, Michael Weilbacher wore not only a Navy Cross, but also two Silver Stars and four Bronze Stars on his puffed-up chest. His ego quickly inflated as he traded stories with genuine Marines about how he had earned our nation’s second highest valor award while supposedly doing drug interdiction in Columbia. Convinced of his own charade, Weilbacher became brazen enough to bend the ear of attendee Maj. George Dragan, a “Marine for Life” representative.
Big mistake!
A red flag went up when the conversation was shared with Doug Sterner, who maintains a comprehensive database of every Navy Cross awarded. In truth, no Navy Cross was ever awarded for actions in Columbia.
A subsequent search of personnel records at Marine Corps headquarters revealed nothing surprising. There was absolutely no record whatsoever of Weilbacher having served in the Corps at anytime. First Lt. Rob Dolan, who discovered the truth about Weilbacher’s hoax, concluded: “I have more time standing on yellow footprints than he does in the Marine Corps.”
Dolan referred to the stenciled yellow footprints, painted on parade grounds and points of assembly, to show recruits how and where to place their feet.
Under current law, Weilbacher faces a maximum penalty of up to a year in jail and $5,000 in fines if convicted of a misdemeanor charge of wearing unearned military decorations.
Pending legislation, known as the Stolen Valor Act, aims to make such detestable duplicity a felony and double the maximum penalty.
Personally, I would include one additional penalty. Maggots like Weilbacher should also answer to a squad of really “salty” Master Gunnys packing brand new hard bristled scrub brushes and ample turpentine to administer a “G.I. shower.” Guaranteed, memorable effectiveness!
Foolish decision
Because of the Pentagon’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy regarding gay service members, city officials decided to eliminate Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) programs from San Francisco high schools. JROTC will be phased out over the next two years, despite protestations by hundreds of students who rallied against the stupidity of the Board of Education vote.
The board resolution stated that the military ban on openly gay troops violated the school district equal rights policy. The question now is, “equal-rights” for whom?
About 1,600 San Francisco students participate in JROTC at seven schools in the district. The $1.6 million cost of the program is shared by the military and school district, and was previously seen as monies well spent by sponsors and taxpayers. JROTC cadets and their instructors, who had the gumption to stand up and be heard at the school board meeting, also rallied to argue that the program not only teaches leadership, organizational skills and personal responsibility, but also a myriad of important values.
“This is where kids feel safe, the one place they feel safe,” said instructor Robert Powell. “You’re going to take that away from them?”
Severing ties with JROTC was “a bad idea” that penalized students without having any practical effect on the Pentagon policy, said Mayor Gavin Newsom.
The Pentagon no longer classifies homosexuality as a mental disorder. It instead officially groups homosexuality under “conditions, circumstances and defects” not conducive to military service, a list that also includes bed-wetting, sleep-walking, dyslexia, stuttering and obesity.
www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200770119136
by Scott “Doc” Chobot
Advocate correspondent January 19, 2007
A former member of the Marine Corps League in St. Louis was taken into custody last Nov. 10 by FBI agents after being photographed wearing the Navy Cross medal at the annual Marine Corps anniversary ball. Just eighteen days later, he was unceremoniously handcuffed and led away to be fitted for a rather different uniform.
At the ball, Michael Weilbacher wore not only a Navy Cross, but also two Silver Stars and four Bronze Stars on his puffed-up chest. His ego quickly inflated as he traded stories with genuine Marines about how he had earned our nation’s second highest valor award while supposedly doing drug interdiction in Columbia. Convinced of his own charade, Weilbacher became brazen enough to bend the ear of attendee Maj. George Dragan, a “Marine for Life” representative.
Big mistake!
A red flag went up when the conversation was shared with Doug Sterner, who maintains a comprehensive database of every Navy Cross awarded. In truth, no Navy Cross was ever awarded for actions in Columbia.
A subsequent search of personnel records at Marine Corps headquarters revealed nothing surprising. There was absolutely no record whatsoever of Weilbacher having served in the Corps at anytime. First Lt. Rob Dolan, who discovered the truth about Weilbacher’s hoax, concluded: “I have more time standing on yellow footprints than he does in the Marine Corps.”
Dolan referred to the stenciled yellow footprints, painted on parade grounds and points of assembly, to show recruits how and where to place their feet.
Under current law, Weilbacher faces a maximum penalty of up to a year in jail and $5,000 in fines if convicted of a misdemeanor charge of wearing unearned military decorations.
Pending legislation, known as the Stolen Valor Act, aims to make such detestable duplicity a felony and double the maximum penalty.
Personally, I would include one additional penalty. Maggots like Weilbacher should also answer to a squad of really “salty” Master Gunnys packing brand new hard bristled scrub brushes and ample turpentine to administer a “G.I. shower.” Guaranteed, memorable effectiveness!
Foolish decision
Because of the Pentagon’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy regarding gay service members, city officials decided to eliminate Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) programs from San Francisco high schools. JROTC will be phased out over the next two years, despite protestations by hundreds of students who rallied against the stupidity of the Board of Education vote.
The board resolution stated that the military ban on openly gay troops violated the school district equal rights policy. The question now is, “equal-rights” for whom?
About 1,600 San Francisco students participate in JROTC at seven schools in the district. The $1.6 million cost of the program is shared by the military and school district, and was previously seen as monies well spent by sponsors and taxpayers. JROTC cadets and their instructors, who had the gumption to stand up and be heard at the school board meeting, also rallied to argue that the program not only teaches leadership, organizational skills and personal responsibility, but also a myriad of important values.
“This is where kids feel safe, the one place they feel safe,” said instructor Robert Powell. “You’re going to take that away from them?”
Severing ties with JROTC was “a bad idea” that penalized students without having any practical effect on the Pentagon policy, said Mayor Gavin Newsom.
The Pentagon no longer classifies homosexuality as a mental disorder. It instead officially groups homosexuality under “conditions, circumstances and defects” not conducive to military service, a list that also includes bed-wetting, sleep-walking, dyslexia, stuttering and obesity.
www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200770119136