Posted on 12/14/2001 7:48:00 PM PST by KingPin
This is an update regarding the story originally contained in this thread: Click Here
Channel Eight News regrets to report tonight that we must issue a retraction on what many considered a very touching and inspirational story we aired Wednesday night.
It was the story of Marine Sergeant Thomas Larez of Dallas who left behind his wife and newborn child to go serve his country, we were told in Afghanistan.
We quoted from what appeared to be a Marine advisory, of how the Sergeant was injured trying to rescue a fellow soldier. Of how he heroically killed and helped capture enemy soldiers. And finally we reported of his return to work and to his family.
We have now learned from his Marine commander that the story and document was contrived.
That Larez, in fact, never left the country and his whereabouts, for nearly two months were unknown.
Thomas Larez has been dismissed from his job for misleading his employer and his Marine commander says he faces possible disciplinary actions.
When contacted for a comment on this story, Larez declined to apologize and would say only that he couldn't believe that it went this far.
Since arriving at WFAA in 1995, Shipp has spent much of his time investigating former Dallas Independent School District Superintendent Bill Rojas, covering the presidential election recount story and exposing unhealthy conditions at Texas Stadium concession stands.
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Back to those concession stands, Shipp!
Seems they cut reporters from the same cloth nowadays.
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