Posted on 10/06/2007 6:45:59 AM PDT by SkyPilot
The way he told it, David McClanahan, of Fort Worth, Texas, had been wounded in combat three times in Iraq, awarded three Silver Stars and even nominated for the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Today, McClanahan, a nursing student at West Texas A&M, appeared in federal court in Amarillo, Texas, on charges he made up his hero's tale. McClanahan did not enter a plea and was released on bond after being advised of the charges against him. The arraignment is now scheduled for June 13.
His lawyer, Brooks Barfield, says McClanahan will enter a plea of not guilty.
A federal grand jury indicted McClanahan last week under the newly passed Stolen Valor Act, which makes any misrepresentation of military service awards a federal crime, punishable with up to a year in prison.
"This is quite an egregious offense that he held himself out as a war hero," Assistant United States Attorney Christy Drake told the Blotter on ABCNews.com.
Photos: Medals of Dishonor
The grand jury indictment grew out of the work of amateur Web sleuths Chuck and Mary Schantag, who run the Web site POWNetwork.org.
They were asked by a Texas veterans group to do a service record check on McClanahan before he was named guest speaker at the group's yearly banquet.
According to Jack Barnes, who heads up America Supports You in Amarillo, Texas, McClanahan told him he had been awarded three Silver Stars, three Purple Hearts, the Legion of Merit and a nomination for the Congressional Medal of Honor for combat bravery in Iraq.
"We just embraced this young man. His story was so real," recalled Barnes.
But the Web site sleuths, the Schantags, found McClanahan had served two years in the Navy and four years in the Army, from which he was discharged as a private with no medals of valor.
"His claims were too good to be true and turned out to be 100 percent false," said Mary Schantag. "Instead of his record being filled with heroism, there was no record of any of the accomplishments he had claimed."
She quickly passed along the findings to the FBI.
"We were shocked" by the Schantags' discovery, said Barnes. "We can't believe the young man would present himself as a war hero to our group when our nation is at war and we have men and women making the ultimate sacrifice for our country," Barnes, himself a Navy veteran, told ABCNews.com.
"He's gotten himself in a hell of a mess, and I'm disappointed by it," said Dan Adams, president and CEO of Cal Farley's Boys Ranch of Amarillo, Texas, where McClanahan attended.
Just last year, McClanahan was awarded a college scholarship worth $3,500 a semester by Cal Farley's, which is a home and school for troubled youth.
"He did pad himself as a war hero here and appeared before the scholarship committee in uniform and wearing medals," Adams told ABCNews.com. He added that McClanahan also showed off a letter he claimed was signed by President Bush, nominating McClanahan for the Congressional Medal of Honor.
In its indictment, the federal grand jury charged Richard "David" McClanahan with two misdemeanor counts of knowingly and intentionally falsely representing himself as having been awarded decorations or medals authorized by Congress, including the Congressional Medal of Honor. The grand jury also charged McClanahan with making a false financial statement in connection with the indictment, a felony.
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Phony Military Heroes: Medals of Dishonor Michael Weilbacher: Weilbacher pleaded guilty this past February to a federal charge of wearing military medals that were not awarded to him. He was sentenced to two years of probation, 120 hours of community service at a military organization and fined $3,000.00. (HomeOfHeroes.com)
Phony Military Heroes: Medals of Dishonor Michael Bramlett: In December 2006, Bramlett pleaded guilty to a federal charge of wearing a Marine Corps uniform as well as decorations, medals, badges and ribbons without authorization. He was sentenced to six months in federal prison without parole. (P.O.W. Network)
Phony Military Heroes: Medals of Dishonor Theodore Bantis: Bantis pleaded guilty in September 2006 to a federal charge of wearing military awards without authorization. He was sentenced to 30 days in federal prison and fined $5,000. (HomeOfHeroes.com)
Phony Military Heroes: Medals of Dishonor Louis Lowell McGuinn: Arrested in April of this year, McGuinn was federally charged with wearing unauthorized service medals and badges, including those for distinguished service: the Purple Heart and the Silver Star. (HomeOfHeroes.com)
Phony Military Heroes: Medals of Dishonor Raymond John Gauthier: After wearing medals to which he was not entitled, Gauthier pleaded guilty in April 2007. He was sentenced to five years of probation and had to issue a public apology. From now through the year 2011, Gauthier must report to work at a jail on every Memorial Day and Veterans Day. (Florida State Attroney's Office)
Phony Military Heroes: Medals of Dishonor David McClanahan: Wounded in Iraq three times, awarded three Silver Stars and nominated for the Congressional Medal of Honor was the story McClanahan liked to tell of his military service. But in reality, he had served two years in the Navy and four years in the Army, from which he was discharged as a private with no medals of valor. McClanahan was indicted in May on two federal misdemeanor counts of knowingly and intentionally falsely representing himself as having been awarded medals authorized by Congress and on a felony count of making a false financial statement in connection with the misdemeanor charges. (ABC News)
abc jsut taking their cues from c-bs....fake but accurate...NOT!!!
ArmyTimes did a piece on this chump. Claimed 2 Combat medic Badges and a Combat Action Badge.
Something not mentioned was his discharge was due to his wearing and claming of medals he did not receive.
just more phony soldiers.
Will the libs get mad if we call them “phony soldiers?”
“...which makes any misrepresentation of military service awards a federal crime, punishable with up to a year in prison. “
Well, there goes his nursing “career” In most states you cannot sit for the boards if you have ever been convicted of a felony..
You forgot to include Kerry’s picture. Just wishful thinking.
A bunch of John Kerry wanna-be’s.
What an awful person to want to be like. Almost as bad as muslims wanting to be like Mohammad.
I’m disappointed John Kerry’s picture isn’t in that gallery posted above. He is after all the ring leader of the group.
No doubt they all think if John Kerry can do it, and with helpful influence from the Kennedy’s, launch his political career, then so could they.
I wonder if Kerry offered legal services to any of these phonies.
forgot to include Kerry’s picture. Just wishful thinking.
NO KIDDING! Some of the guys are officers and a bit old. Appears one is a former Colonel in the USMC. Was he trying to impress his wife?!
Those who have been arrested and are serving terms, should push to have Kerry lucked up for lying. The BASS TERD wrote a book on his phoney heroism.
Guess because he is a senator, it does not count.
I wonder if ANYBODY can claim such a resume. This is just so totally improbable that you know with great certainty that it can't be true. What drives people to make such outrageous claims, anyway? Is there anyone who has 3 Silver Stars from this war? Mighty hard to believe.
At least he didn’t claim to be a Senator.
Maybe Murtha’s should be there, too? I sure would like to know the whole truth on that maggot’s military service.
Medals of Dishonor Michael Bramlett:
THAT one is a cinch.....I’ve never seen ribbons and iron in such haphazard/disorderly placement, e.g. even the other poseurs pictured here.
he was a REMF in Vn who weaseled some medals years later.
Phoney Soldier Hero, the Mayor of Atlantic City, is MISSING!!!! Some OTHER thug has taken over his duties even tho he isn’t eligible!!
Notice that the “Captain” is also an “Expert” with the rifle and pistol. Marksman? Of course not. You neved see one of those badges. Only expert badges.
Great story thanks for posting it.
“A federal grand jury indicted McClanahan last week under the newly passed Stolen Valor Act, which makes any misrepresentation of military service awards a federal crime, punishable with up to a year in prison.”
I wonder if this new law might put Kerry in the slammer and shut him up about his great war record.
Didn't know that. Good point. The guy screwed the pooch. Can the military change his discharge papers?
Hey, don’t be putting down REMFs. Ain’t nothing wrong with being a REMF as long as you don’t claim to be something you ain’t.
“;^)
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