Marines exaggerate deeds of war hero?

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

Marines deny it, but reporter who was there points to things contrary to the "official account" that led to Dakota Meyer's Congressional Medal of Honor.

http://news.yahoo.com/us-marines-deny-exaggerating-deeds-war-hero-070549889.html

Obama hailed Meyer for defying orders and rushing into the heart of an ambush to retrieve fallen comrades, save 13 fellow Americans, kill eight Taliban insurgents and leave his gun turret to rescue two dozen Afghans.
But the McClatchy report, written by Jonathan Landay, a journalist who was accompanying Meyer's unit and witnessed the 2009 battle in the Ganjgal Valley, said details of that account were untrue or unconfirmed.
It was not possible for Meyer to have saved 13 US troops, the article said, because 12 Americans were ambushed in the battle, including the McClatchy reporter, and four troopers were killed, it said.
And military documents indicated that the arrival of helicopters secured the survival of the remaining personnel, not Meyer's vehicle.
There are no statements from fellow troops confirming that Meyer, who has since left the military, killed eight Taliban as claimed on the Marine Corps website, the article said.
The driver of Meyer's vehicle, Staff Sergeant Juan Rodriguez-Chavez, reported seeing Meyer kill one insurgent.
There were also no sworn statements that backed up the portrayal of Meyer leaping out of his gun turret and pulling the 24 wounded Afghans into his truck, according to the report.
Meyer's driver described nine Afghan soldiers getting into the Humvee armored vehicle by themselves while Meyer remained in the turret, it said.
The article also said there was no evidence that supported the White House and Marine Corps account that Meyer defied orders by heading towards gunfire to help his comrades.

 

[Tarheel316]

Marines deny it, but reporter who was there points to things contrary to the "official account" that led to Dakota Meyer's Congressional Medal of Honor.

http://news.yahoo.com/us-marines-deny-exaggerating-deeds-war-hero-070549889.html

Evil, it's the Medal of Honor, not the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Obama hailed Meyer for defying orders and rushing into the heart of an ambush to retrieve fallen comrades, save 13 fellow Americans, kill eight Taliban insurgents and leave his gun turret to rescue two dozen Afghans.
But the McClatchy report, written by Jonathan Landay, a journalist who was accompanying Meyer's unit and witnessed the 2009 battle in the Ganjgal Valley, said details of that account were untrue or unconfirmed.
It was not possible for Meyer to have saved 13 US troops, the article said, because 12 Americans were ambushed in the battle, including the McClatchy reporter, and four troopers were killed, it said.
And military documents indicated that the arrival of helicopters secured the survival of the remaining personnel, not Meyer's vehicle.
There are no statements from fellow troops confirming that Meyer, who has since left the military, killed eight Taliban as claimed on the Marine Corps website, the article said.
The driver of Meyer's vehicle, Staff Sergeant Juan Rodriguez-Chavez, reported seeing Meyer kill one insurgent.
There were also no sworn statements that backed up the portrayal of Meyer leaping out of his gun turret and pulling the 24 wounded Afghans into his truck, according to the report.
Meyer's driver described nine Afghan soldiers getting into the Humvee armored vehicle by themselves while Meyer remained in the turret, it said.
The article also said there was no evidence that supported the White House and Marine Corps account that Meyer defied orders by heading towards gunfire to help his comrades.

 

[Stitch]

Marines deny it, but reporter who was there points to things contrary to the "official account" that led to Dakota Meyer's Congressional Medal of Honor.

http://news.yahoo.com/us-marines-deny-exaggerating-deeds-war-hero-070549889.html

Evil, it's the Medal of Honor, not the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Obama hailed Meyer for defying orders and rushing into the heart of an ambush to retrieve fallen comrades, save 13 fellow Americans, kill eight Taliban insurgents and leave his gun turret to rescue two dozen Afghans.
But the McClatchy report, written by Jonathan Landay, a journalist who was accompanying Meyer's unit and witnessed the 2009 battle in the Ganjgal Valley, said details of that account were untrue or unconfirmed.
It was not possible for Meyer to have saved 13 US troops, the article said, because 12 Americans were ambushed in the battle, including the McClatchy reporter, and four troopers were killed, it said.
And military documents indicated that the arrival of helicopters secured the survival of the remaining personnel, not Meyer's vehicle.
There are no statements from fellow troops confirming that Meyer, who has since left the military, killed eight Taliban as claimed on the Marine Corps website, the article said.
The driver of Meyer's vehicle, Staff Sergeant Juan Rodriguez-Chavez, reported seeing Meyer kill one insurgent.
There were also no sworn statements that backed up the portrayal of Meyer leaping out of his gun turret and pulling the 24 wounded Afghans into his truck, according to the report.
Meyer's driver described nine Afghan soldiers getting into the Humvee armored vehicle by themselves while Meyer remained in the turret, it said.
The article also said there was no evidence that supported the White House and Marine Corps account that Meyer defied orders by heading towards gunfire to help his comrades.

What does the formal name of the award have to do with the story Evil posted?

 

[armageddon]

Marines deny it, but reporter who was there points to things contrary to the "official account" that led to Dakota Meyer's Congressional Medal of Honor.

http://news.yahoo.com/us-marines-deny-exaggerating-deeds-war-hero-070549889.html

Evil, it's the Medal of Honor, not the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Obama hailed Meyer for defying orders and rushing into the heart of an ambush to retrieve fallen comrades, save 13 fellow Americans, kill eight Taliban insurgents and leave his gun turret to rescue two dozen Afghans.
But the McClatchy report, written by Jonathan Landay, a journalist who was accompanying Meyer's unit and witnessed the 2009 battle in the Ganjgal Valley, said details of that account were untrue or unconfirmed.
It was not possible for Meyer to have saved 13 US troops, the article said, because 12 Americans were ambushed in the battle, including the McClatchy reporter, and four troopers were killed, it said.
And military documents indicated that the arrival of helicopters secured the survival of the remaining personnel, not Meyer's vehicle.
There are no statements from fellow troops confirming that Meyer, who has since left the military, killed eight Taliban as claimed on the Marine Corps website, the article said.
The driver of Meyer's vehicle, Staff Sergeant Juan Rodriguez-Chavez, reported seeing Meyer kill one insurgent.
There were also no sworn statements that backed up the portrayal of Meyer leaping out of his gun turret and pulling the 24 wounded Afghans into his truck, according to the report.
Meyer's driver described nine Afghan soldiers getting into the Humvee armored vehicle by themselves while Meyer remained in the turret, it said.
The article also said there was no evidence that supported the White House and Marine Corps account that Meyer defied orders by heading towards gunfire to help his comrades.

What does the formal name of the award have to do with the story Evil posted?

No, it doesn't get to the crux of the story. But why does asking for accuracy bother you? Is this not a journalism board?

 

[Stitch]

Marines deny it, but reporter who was there points to things contrary to the "official account" that led to Dakota Meyer's Congressional Medal of Honor.

http://news.yahoo.com/us-marines-deny-exaggerating-deeds-war-hero-070549889.html

Evil, it's the Medal of Honor, not the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Obama hailed Meyer for defying orders and rushing into the heart of an ambush to retrieve fallen comrades, save 13 fellow Americans, kill eight Taliban insurgents and leave his gun turret to rescue two dozen Afghans.
But the McClatchy report, written by Jonathan Landay, a journalist who was accompanying Meyer's unit and witnessed the 2009 battle in the Ganjgal Valley, said details of that account were untrue or unconfirmed.
It was not possible for Meyer to have saved 13 US troops, the article said, because 12 Americans were ambushed in the battle, including the McClatchy reporter, and four troopers were killed, it said.
And military documents indicated that the arrival of helicopters secured the survival of the remaining personnel, not Meyer's vehicle.
There are no statements from fellow troops confirming that Meyer, who has since left the military, killed eight Taliban as claimed on the Marine Corps website, the article said.
The driver of Meyer's vehicle, Staff Sergeant Juan Rodriguez-Chavez, reported seeing Meyer kill one insurgent.
There were also no sworn statements that backed up the portrayal of Meyer leaping out of his gun turret and pulling the 24 wounded Afghans into his truck, according to the report.
Meyer's driver described nine Afghan soldiers getting into the Humvee armored vehicle by themselves while Meyer remained in the turret, it said.
The article also said there was no evidence that supported the White House and Marine Corps account that Meyer defied orders by heading towards gunfire to help his comrades.

What does the formal name of the award have to do with the story Evil posted?

No, it doesn't get to the crux of the story. But why does asking for accuracy bother you? Is this not a journalism board?

In this instance, it's a swerve from the crux of the story in asking if the military manufacturers heroes for good PR.

 

[Ace]

Marines deny it, but reporter who was there points to things contrary to the "official account" that led to Dakota Meyer's Congressional Medal of Honor.

http://news.yahoo.com/us-marines-deny-exaggerating-deeds-war-hero-070549889.html

Evil, it's the Medal of Honor, not the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Obama hailed Meyer for defying orders and rushing into the heart of an ambush to retrieve fallen comrades, save 13 fellow Americans, kill eight Taliban insurgents and leave his gun turret to rescue two dozen Afghans.
But the McClatchy report, written by Jonathan Landay, a journalist who was accompanying Meyer's unit and witnessed the 2009 battle in the Ganjgal Valley, said details of that account were untrue or unconfirmed.
It was not possible for Meyer to have saved 13 US troops, the article said, because 12 Americans were ambushed in the battle, including the McClatchy reporter, and four troopers were killed, it said.
And military documents indicated that the arrival of helicopters secured the survival of the remaining personnel, not Meyer's vehicle.
There are no statements from fellow troops confirming that Meyer, who has since left the military, killed eight Taliban as claimed on the Marine Corps website, the article said.
The driver of Meyer's vehicle, Staff Sergeant Juan Rodriguez-Chavez, reported seeing Meyer kill one insurgent.
There were also no sworn statements that backed up the portrayal of Meyer leaping out of his gun turret and pulling the 24 wounded Afghans into his truck, according to the report.
Meyer's driver described nine Afghan soldiers getting into the Humvee armored vehicle by themselves while Meyer remained in the turret, it said.
The article also said there was no evidence that supported the White House and Marine Corps account that Meyer defied orders by heading towards gunfire to help his comrades.

What does the formal name of the award have to do with the story Evil posted?

No, it doesn't get to the crux of the story. But why does asking for accuracy bother you? Is this not a journalism board?

In this instance, it's a swerve from the crux of the story in asking if the military manufacturers heroes for good PR.

Most definitely.

 

[armageddon]

Marines deny it, but reporter who was there points to things contrary to the "official account" that led to Dakota Meyer's Congressional Medal of Honor.

http://news.yahoo.com/us-marines-deny-exaggerating-deeds-war-hero-070549889.html

Evil, it's the Medal of Honor, not the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Obama hailed Meyer for defying orders and rushing into the heart of an ambush to retrieve fallen comrades, save 13 fellow Americans, kill eight Taliban insurgents and leave his gun turret to rescue two dozen Afghans.
But the McClatchy report, written by Jonathan Landay, a journalist who was accompanying Meyer's unit and witnessed the 2009 battle in the Ganjgal Valley, said details of that account were untrue or unconfirmed.
It was not possible for Meyer to have saved 13 US troops, the article said, because 12 Americans were ambushed in the battle, including the McClatchy reporter, and four troopers were killed, it said.
And military documents indicated that the arrival of helicopters secured the survival of the remaining personnel, not Meyer's vehicle.
There are no statements from fellow troops confirming that Meyer, who has since left the military, killed eight Taliban as claimed on the Marine Corps website, the article said.
The driver of Meyer's vehicle, Staff Sergeant Juan Rodriguez-Chavez, reported seeing Meyer kill one insurgent.
There were also no sworn statements that backed up the portrayal of Meyer leaping out of his gun turret and pulling the 24 wounded Afghans into his truck, according to the report.
Meyer's driver described nine Afghan soldiers getting into the Humvee armored vehicle by themselves while Meyer remained in the turret, it said.
The article also said there was no evidence that supported the White House and Marine Corps account that Meyer defied orders by heading towards gunfire to help his comrades.

What does the formal name of the award have to do with the story Evil posted?

No, it doesn't get to the crux of the story. But why does asking for accuracy bother you? Is this not a journalism board?

In this instance, it's a swerve from the crux of the story in asking if the military manufacturers heroes for good PR.

And I'm sure it's the first time in the history of the board that happened.

Fact is, the original poster screwed up the name of a prestigious honor. It's at a minimum worth noting.

Hell, had I seen it I would have noted it because the fact that people mess it up drives me batty.

And my noting it wouldn't have been an attempt to move the focus of the discussion. My intent would have been simply to remind that it's the medal of honor rather than the congressional medal of honor.

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

No problem.
No offense taken on my part from anyone...

Name of the medal aside... why does the military do this ****?

 

[buckweaver]

I posted this in July about Doug Sterner, who was quoted in the story above, and I think it's worth reposting here:

I agree - but I think a website that could call these fake heroes out would be more effective than another law. Isn't just posing as a member of the military a crime?

That site already exists: http://homeofheroes.com/

And I'll make this personal plug: I e-mailed Doug quite a few times whenever I was editing obituaries for a military-town newspaper, and I was able to make some important factual corrections on some of those stories over the years because of his help. Veterans -- and their families -- are notorious for inflating their military accomplishments (often innocently), especially after death. As stories get told over the years, details get lost. That's why you gotta check it out.

You can go to Home of Heroes and search Doug's database — and his is the best because the federal government doesn't make one available, unfortunately — any time you encounter a vet who claims to have earned a certain medal. It's searchable by medal, by war, and often by U.S. state.

For instance, here's an alphabetical list of all 398 winners of the Silver Star during the War on Terror: http://homeofheroes.com/valor/08_WOT/ss_GWOT/01_main.html#Alphabetical%20Index

The same database exists on the site for the Medal of Honor, the DSC, Brevet Medal and others. (Purple Hearts are too numerous to mention.)

Looks like the Military Times has started hosting his site in recent years, and they've now got an awards database, too: http://www.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/

Anyway, if you have any journalism duties relating to veterans in any capacity, it would serve you well to bookmark these invaluable sites.

Hollywood feels compelled to exaggerate stories even when the truth is sufficiently heroic/dramatic ... why should the military be any different? It's sad to see it from the Marines, but I'm glad it's getting exposed.

 

[KJIM]

In related news, Jessica Lynch graduates from college:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2074070/Jessica-Lynch-Iraq-POW-set-finally-fulfill-dream-teacher.html

 

[HanSenSE]

No problem.
No offense taken on my part from anyone...

Name of the medal aside... why does the military do this ****?

Pat Tillman's family would like to know why, too.

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

No problem.
No offense taken on my part from anyone...

Name of the medal aside... why does the military do this ****?

Pat Tillman's family would like to know why, too.

And Jessica Lynch.

 

[deskslave]

No problem.
No offense taken on my part from anyone...

Name of the medal aside... why does the military do this ****?

To keep people from getting any crazy ideas about actually taking a second look at what the military-industrial complex costs?

 

[Azrael]

Armies have been handing out tokens and exaggerating feats of bravery since the time of The Iliad. How you gonna get those kids to enlist otherwise?

 

[Johnny Dangerously]

You have to invent the narrative to save it.

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

No problem.
No offense taken on my part from anyone...

Name of the medal aside... why does the military do this ****?

To keep people from getting any crazy ideas about actually taking a second look at what the military-industrial complex costs?

"People" ain't the problem. It's the politicians.
Cuts to defense means base closures, factory scaledowns and job losses.
Ain't a politician on the Hill who will allow any significant defense cuts.

 

[Tarheel316]

Evil, you nailed with that last post. I agree completely.

 

[Azrael]

I'm afraid the blame does fall to we the, uh, people, since we're the ones supposed to hold the politicians to account.

We're also too selfish and frightened and short-sighted to let go of the postwar defense economy and build something else.

 

[Stitch]

In related news, Jessica Lynch graduates from college:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2074070/Jessica-Lynch-Iraq-POW-set-finally-fulfill-dream-teacher.html

And every story on her mentions she's an unwed mother.

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

I'm afraid the blame does fall to we the, uh, people, since we're the ones supposed to hold the politicians to account.

We're also too selfish and frightened and short-sighted to let go of the postwar defense economy and build something else.

Nope...
You elect a new official, he does the same thing as the old; fight to stay in office. To get reelected is priority 1. Period.
That's done by protecting your jobs and your slice of the economy.
See the Post Office situation. (hemorrhaging billions a year in losses but politicians want to fight tooth and nail to keep things open).
Most import: They have to keep the military humming. Close the base at Virginia Beach or Parris Island?
Shutter some of the defense contracts from Lockheed, Northrup or Honeywell.
****. No.
Scale down military recruiting - even though we need less infantry and personnel than ever before?
Um, no.
So we need to justify the M-I complex and we do that by constantly raising the spectre of a bad guy and interfering into the affairs of other nations.

The post-war defense economy has been growing since Eisenhower. That's more than 50 years! Ike warned of it in his farwell address. It continues to grow because it's an easy out for politicians to create and point to jobs and growth.

Rather than make tough decisions that will be better for the long-term health of the country, politicians bargain, creating half measures that solve nothing and appease almost no one, but maintain the status quo.

The secret is No One really wants change. Esp. the Baby Boomers (the aged) who outnumber us and vote. Most people are scared ****less of change, good, bad or indifferent as it may be. The rhetoric is a nice idea, but actual, real change? Whoa man. That's crazy talk.

We need leaders. Not politicians.
We need term limits and a better sharing of power within the Congressional structure.
Sorry man, but No vote - by the people anyway - is going to change that.


Sorry. Rant over.