Poser? U B Da Judge

[SixTGunr]

This was posted at my forum by one of our members ....

What do you think?

I saw this on Sgt Grit website, it caught my eyes because of two things, 1: hes only 39 yrs old and 2: he is wearing a Navy Cross. Now he may be ligit, but at the Home of Heroes website they dont list him by his name of having a NC. I hope I am wrong about this and will apologize, but I have a gut feeling something is wrong with this picture. Plus he starts his letter off with Hey Sarge.



This is the letter he wrote in Sgt Grit:

Why I'd Stopped
Hey there Sarge,

I wanted to take a moment to write and thank you first for your service to the Corps, and second for the work you do now, including putting this newsletter together.

While I'm younger then most of the Marines that write in, I love reading the stories from the past generations of Marines. I'm a 39yo Master Gunny that has traveled a lot and seen more then I would have cared to. I've served one tour in Afghanistan and 4 tours in Iraq (including the battle for Fallujah). I'm very proud to follow in the steps of the men and women that have proceeded me in the Corps and to all the "Docs" that have patched us up despite us saying its only a scratch.

I was out on Coronado Island in San Diego recently to have my picture taken. For the photo shoot, I had to be in my class A's. While I got lots of Ohh's and Aww's from people passing by, what really got to me was seeing two couples walking past wearing a Vietnam Marine Vet's cover. Much to the dislike of the photographer, I walked up to the men and ask if I could shake their hand and thanked then for what they went through. One of the men shed a few tears and their wives ask if they could take my picture with their husbands. After chatting for about 20 minutes and fielding multiple questions about the various medals I was wearing, they went on their way. The photographer ask me why I'd stopped the shoot to go talk to strangers and all I could say was, "they weren't strangers, they were Marines."

MGySgt Burton
1st Division, USMC

This is the Navy Cross receipiants list:

Navy Cross:
*Axelson, Matthew G. (USN- Afghanistan)
*Adlesperger, Christopher S. (USMC- Iraq)
Bass, Stephen (US Navy- Afghanistan)
Chontosh, Brian R. (USMC- Iraq)
Clairday, Jason S. (USMC- Iraq)
Copeland, Willie L., III (USMC- Iraq)
Corbin, Todd (USMC- Iraq)
*Dietz, Danny P. (USN- Afghanistan)
Esquibel, Dominic (USMC- Iraq)
Fonseca, Luis E. (US Navy- Iraq)
Kasal, Bradley A. (USMC- Iraq)
Kraft, Jarrett A. (USMC- Iraq)
Lehew, Justin D. (USMC)(Iraq)
Luttrel, Marcus (USN- Afghanistan)
Martinez, Marco A. (USMC)(Iraq)
McDade, Aubrey L., Jr. (USMC)(Iraq)
Mitchell, Robert J., Jr. (USMC- Iraq)
Montoya, Scott C. (USMC- Iraq)
*Morel, Brent (USMC)(Iraq)
Perez, Joseph B. (USMC)(Iraq)
Slabinski, Britt (US Navy)(Afghanistan)
Viggiani, Anthony L. (USMC- Afghanistan)
Workman, Jeremiah W. (USMC- Iraq)

Six Out

[marine1955]

hey gunr, can you look him up and ask him or is there any other way to check him out from head quarters marine Corps Washington D.C.. . There should be someway to check him out.

[danno2621]

One thing that kinda sticks out to me is that he said he was in "class a's". Marines don't refer to being in Dress Blue Alphas as "class a's". That's an army/air force term. Maybe they did many moons ago but certainly not while I was in, 81-2001.

[GunnySan]

Originally Posted by danno2621

One thing that kinda sticks out to me is that he said he was in "class a's". Marines don't refer to being in Dress Blue Alphas as "class a's". That's an army/air force term. Maybe they did many moons ago but certainly not while I was in, 81-2001.

Not in my day, and I go back from the 40s to the late 60s. We used the terms 'Blues, with Ribbons and Badges or '...,with Medals. Officially it was, as I recall (it was a long time ago), Blues, Dress 'A' or 'B'. There was no 'C'. There were other Blues designations also.

[danno2621]

I didn't think so GySan. Thanks for the clarification as to terms regarding the uniform during that era. I find it hard to believe a legit Marine would use such a term. Anywhoo this is the scoop as best I remember:


Dress blue alpha = dress blue uniform with medals and badges. Ribbons that don't rate a medal worn over right breast....not a liberty uniform. It's meant for ceremonies etc.

Dress blue bravo = ribbons and badges, a liberty full dress uniform.

Dress blue charlies = dress blue trousers with long sleeve shirt and tie, ribbons and badges.

Dress blue Deltas = dress blue trousers and short sleeve shirt, ribbons and badges (mostly what recruiters wear)

The Corps actually has a dress blue woolly pully which is crew neck and must be worn over the long sleeve shirt and tie. Would be considered part of the dress blue charlie uniform.

Regardless, Marines don't call any uniform "class a's" and they damned sure don't use the nasty army term "sarge"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

S/F
Gunny Dan

[GunnySan]

We even had a Blues uniform with Blue Cap Cover and blue belt. This was worn as a Winter uniform. Horrible, we were often mistaken for the Salvation Army around Xmas time.

[GunnySan]

Any idea what those two badges he's wearing are?

[devildog-64012]

Originally Posted by GunnySan

Any idea what those two badges he's wearing are?

Off hand I would guess the one on the wear's Right pocket is some type of Presidential Service assignment Badge, as such only to be worn while on that assignment.

[jbr9029537]

The right pocket is the Presidential Service Badge. The left pocket I think is the Vice Presidential Service Badge.
Another thing that stands out to me is the unit, 1st Division, USMC. To me, that is a pretty big error. I can understand not trying to explain it to a civilian with no military background, but if I am talking to a Marine, it will always be the 1st Marine Division or the 5th Marine Regiment.
Sgt Grit is geared towards Marines, so I can't see why he would sign off like that.

[GunnySan]

Originally Posted by jbr9029537

Another thing that stands out to me is the unit, 1st Division, USMC. To me, that is a pretty big error. I can understand not trying to explain it to a civilian with no military background, but if I am talking to a Marine, it will always be the 1st Marine Division or the 5th Marine Regiment.
Sgt Grit is geared towards Marines, so I can't see why he would sign off like that.

Well, not always. Normally when I'm asked what Division (s) I served in, I'll just say 'First, Third and Fifth'. I usually include 'Marine Division' when speaking with someone from the other services. However, I agree that the proper sign off would have included the Division sub-unit.

[danno2621]

That's another good point. This guy is well on the road to being proven a fraud. Here's the scoop on the Presidential Support Badges he's wearing.

Agreed the one on the right pocket is the Presidential Service Badge.

The one on the left pocket "appears" to be the Vice Presidential Service Badge.

Both of these badges are to be worn on the right breast pocket ONLY. If your rate both, then the PSB is worn above the VPSB on the right breast pocket.

These badges are serialized and "assigned" and awarded to one individual permanently. They may both be worn after assignment to that duty. You must do one year of this duty prior to rating the badge. The likelihood that someone pulled both these duties is slim.

The other service badges are:

Office of the Secretary of Defense

Worn on the LEFT breast pocket. Not a permanent award. To be worn only while serving in that billet.

Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Worn on the LEFT breast pocket. Is awarded permanently after one year service in that billet and may be worn after service in that billet.

Supposedly there is a service badge for duty with the Secretary of Homeland Security. Its award and wearing regulations are not yet published in MCO P1020

[GunnySan]

Solely in recognition of the Navy Cross. I hope he's for real. If not, then it would appear that he's been bracketed and is about to receive 'Fire for Effect".

[SixTGunr]

I have not heard anyhting back as of yet but I will keep you posted when I find out any info ...

There are several on my forum who have far more elbow rubbing than I and they have feelers out with their connections, so we'll see.

I do not want to say anything one way or another until such time I have some "solid" evidence as opposed to simple hearsay ....

So I will patiently wait ...

As Arnie said .... "I will be bach"

Six

[SixTGunr]

One of my members who had a feeler out just posted this info this morning ...

Just this morning, I received a reply back from the P.O.W. network and Office of Heroes that the subject matter had been turned over to the F.B.I.

Six

[msgth]

listed as being in the 1st Marine Division. Looking at the threads and pic there are what we can consider descrepancies.

Guy is pic is also wearing Legion of Merit which is rare for an enlisted however senior.

MSgt H

[CharlesH]

Got an e-mail message from Don Whitton (Sgt Grit) last evening to the effect that he had contacted this fella and questioned him. This fella responded and Don sent him a second mail with specific questions...no response.
He's on top of this.
The 'rack' also shows: Defense Superior Service Medal (ribbon) over the right breast pocket, along with 5 other ribbons (PUC, CAR and three others).
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Bronze Star
Navy Achievement Medal
Purple Heart
Navy/Marine Corps Medal

[JITB]

From Don's newsletter:

I need to apologize. I let a poser, fake, wannabe into my last newsletter. A few have gotten through over the years, but not as easy to spot as this last one. And some have been questionable, but upon a follow up email it is faulty memory or honest mistakes on the writer's part.

I contacted "THE" MGySgt and got a less than convincing reply, and no reply to my follow up email. I am in the process of handing over what I know to an organization that should be very good at this.

I understand that the some of you have been working with the POW network. If I can be of any help to them please have them contact me at info@grunt.com

Again, I apologize. There were so many red flags in his picture it is embarrassing that it got past me.

Semper Fi
Sgt Grit

[CharlesH]

It was posted on TWS (Together We Served) yesterday, that this character, identified as a John Paul Burton, age 39, of Oklahoma City, is being held by Arizona authorities.

This info was posted on the "Open Marine Forum" thread: "This Poser...(from the thread "Poser or Legit).

All indicators point to him.