Posted on Nov 23, 2015
"Fallujah Marine veteran beaten over mistaken case of stolen valor"
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From: USMC Life
A Marine veteran who fought in Fallujah was attacked by an airman who believed he was lying about serving in the Corps. It happened over the weekend at The Long Shot, an Arden-area bar, according to CBS Sacramento.
The Marine veteran, Michael Delfin says he tried to show the airman his ID, but he believed he was looking for a fight.
“I noticed a guy had a fade and he asked me if I was in the service and he said, ‘Yeah, I’m in the Air Force,’ and I said, ‘Oh I was in the Corps,’” he said.
The airman was looking for an active duty CAC card, but since Delfin was a veteran, he only had this VA card – he was accused of lying about serving on the spot.
“So, I asked him to read my ID, and he was like nahh stolen valor, stolen valor; this guy’s a fake,” he said. “He’s ignorant. He needs to learn how to read an ID, plain and simple,” he said. “When a vet tells you he’s a vet and he’s obviously wearing a fallen brothers bracelet doesn’t even recognize that.”
Things started turning ugly and the Delfin tried leaving, but was jumped in the parking lot by the airman and one of his friends.
“And before I knew it I couldn’t get off the ground. My leg gave out; it was kind of a blur,” Delfin said.
Delfin’s tibia is broken, and his jaw might be too.
“I did over 12 years in the Marine Corps; I was a tracker and I was in combat in 2004 in Fallujah,” he said.
“Because everybody that’s in the service does their job, but when you go to combat it’s a different thing, so to claim on me I’m stolen valor, that’s a slap in every veteran’s face,” he said. “He needs to get caught. He needs to get made an example of, plain and simple.”
Sacramento Police have filed a report, Delfin has also heard from an Air Force investigator.
http://usmclife.com/2015/10/fallujah-marine-veteran-beaten-over-mistaken-case-of-stolen-valor/
A Marine veteran who fought in Fallujah was attacked by an airman who believed he was lying about serving in the Corps. It happened over the weekend at The Long Shot, an Arden-area bar, according to CBS Sacramento.
The Marine veteran, Michael Delfin says he tried to show the airman his ID, but he believed he was looking for a fight.
“I noticed a guy had a fade and he asked me if I was in the service and he said, ‘Yeah, I’m in the Air Force,’ and I said, ‘Oh I was in the Corps,’” he said.
The airman was looking for an active duty CAC card, but since Delfin was a veteran, he only had this VA card – he was accused of lying about serving on the spot.
“So, I asked him to read my ID, and he was like nahh stolen valor, stolen valor; this guy’s a fake,” he said. “He’s ignorant. He needs to learn how to read an ID, plain and simple,” he said. “When a vet tells you he’s a vet and he’s obviously wearing a fallen brothers bracelet doesn’t even recognize that.”
Things started turning ugly and the Delfin tried leaving, but was jumped in the parking lot by the airman and one of his friends.
“And before I knew it I couldn’t get off the ground. My leg gave out; it was kind of a blur,” Delfin said.
Delfin’s tibia is broken, and his jaw might be too.
“I did over 12 years in the Marine Corps; I was a tracker and I was in combat in 2004 in Fallujah,” he said.
“Because everybody that’s in the service does their job, but when you go to combat it’s a different thing, so to claim on me I’m stolen valor, that’s a slap in every veteran’s face,” he said. “He needs to get caught. He needs to get made an example of, plain and simple.”
Sacramento Police have filed a report, Delfin has also heard from an Air Force investigator.
http://usmclife.com/2015/10/fallujah-marine-veteran-beaten-over-mistaken-case-of-stolen-valor/
Stolen Valor
Air Force
Marine Corps
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 102
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That idiot Airman is piece of crap and finally, I am getting tired of this SV stuff because we have people ready to start a fight. Too much sensationlism...
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CMSgt Eric Turner
SGM Chris Cortazzo, the kid was an idiot, you're duplicating it by disparaging another service with a "one size fits all" remark. I'm an engineer and have been on and placed many of my members on Army deployments where they constructed, maintained outposts, cleared areas/roads of IEDs and lived for the most part outside the wire. I have also seen many Army folk deployed with no job hanging around on bases like Anaconda everyday wearing PT gear or at the swimming pool. That in no way disparages the soldiers overall efforts of the warriors that were there
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SMSgt James Yearsley
SGM Chris Cortazzo - Your ignorance of the roles of USAF security forces is showing SGM. Why not do a little research before showing your ass. SMSgt Jim Yearsley, USAF SP/SF, 1970 - 1991.
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SFC Familia Gonzalez
Maj Werner Saemmler-Hindrichs - I believe so... I didn't see it and probably a good thing I didn't...
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CSM Thomas McGarry
I have to pretty much agree with you SSG! Unless one have irrefutable evidence that someone is displaying stolen valor it probably best to give one the benefit of the doubt. Of course liquid courage and a two on one "fight" probably muddied the water here!
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Well, I hope that Airman can produce really good evidence in his defense at his court-martial. And before he steps in that court room, his higher NCO's need to take him to a visit to the woodshed.
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SGT Jerry Ericsson
The Air Man needs to see Running Bear for a trip to the Showers, Oh by the way, I ran into Running Bear, as it happens, he had been transfered to the 35th Engineers at Cam Rahn Bay, I was with the 18th Engineer Brigade at Dong Ba Thin, I took a trip over to the 35th, which was under the 18th, to fix their Switchboard for them, and there was Running Bear, I took him out and tried to buy him a beer at the service man's club, but he refused and paid for all the drinks, while we shot the shit about our times at Fort Lost In the Woods. It is one of my favorite memories of my time in Vietnam.
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
SGT Jerry Ericsson - No problem with a typo, until You pointed it out Yourself I never noticed. I was a Cam Ranh Bay Myself in 1968 until getting sent to DaNang where I spent the next 9 months to include the rest of 1968 into early 1969. Prior to Vietnam I was a Whiteman AFB, MO, not that far from Your Fort Lost in the Woods, MO. It sounds like Running Bear made His Counseling communication with that troop very clear and set Him on the correct path.
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William Barry
MSG (Join to see) - I honestly think there is way too much disrespect all the way around. My friends father was a Navy seal Chief in VietNam and my dad was a foundry worker pouring 300 pots of metal over his head into molds. God help you if you got into stupid nonsense like this. A lot of it comes from parents not really able to discipline kids when needed.
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Like the young Marine said, I hope they find the guy and make an example of him. Let's not make an intra-service "thing" out of this. It's one guy, acting stupid. Just regretful that it was one of our own.
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SSgt Darla Adams
Yes, very disturbing and very embarrassing that any airman would believe they had any rights to question a marine who would be more probable to have fought on the ground than that airman ever will.
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Cpl Michael Dean
A bit of an incomplete story, but it just sounds like the airman was looking for a fight.
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
Cpl Michael Dean - Its a shame It wasn't the Airman that got His ass beat, He would have deserved it. I'm Air Force Myself, but wrong is wrong and that so called Airmen, if He even was which I sort of doubt. He may actually be the one who is the phony. I have a lot of brothers and sisters in all the branches of the US Armed Forces and have the greatest respect for all of them for their service. There also is still a crime here also of assault and battery which is certainly not justified. That coward also had to enlist the aid of a friend to commit this crime, they both deserve to go to jail.
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If this NCO worked for me there would be wall to wall counseling. Totally unacceptable.
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GySgt Melissa Gravila
@Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth- Sir, I have to say I whole heartedly agree with you 150%. IMO that pissant airmen couldn't take on a Marine vet by himself, so he and his buddy jump him? He deserves an up close and personal look at every wall I can find! His cowardly actions deserve nothing less.
S/F
S/F
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
PFC Terry Kuehner - I'm neither a Marine DI or even a Marine but Air Force, I'd put my foot in His ass also, He disgraced Himself and the Air Force through His disgusting actions and assault on a Veteran of the US Armed Forces, a Marine to be specific. I have no tolerance for an ignorant POS like that so called Airman, that is if was even an Airman in the first place. His conduct sure didn't show He belonged in the Air Force or any other branch of the Armed Forces.
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Violence is never a way to defend "stolen valor" frankly because valor can never be stolen. It can be replicated and in some cases duplicated but it can never be stolen. Valor is not something someone or something gives you, valor is bestowed and if it never was bestowed upon you, it can never be stolen. One should never have to prove their service because if you served, it will be written all over your face, not a uniform.
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two things I have come to embrace 1. some of us are obsessed with genitalia measurement 2. if I ever say something, and you don't believe me...feel free to go F yourself.
that is all, carry on.
that is all, carry on.
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SrA Marcus Frey
Just have to say Maj. Steven, That was a funny comment. I have to agree with it though...
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Unsat! what is up with these Boots on a witch hunt....1st a Vietnam Vet, now a Fallujah Vet? Brig time and Big Chicken Dinner for all of them! Conduct Unbecoming!
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I wish people would use there darn heads. People get too upset about stolen valor and don't take time to get to know the person before they get upset or come to conclusions. If they would just take time to get to know some of them I actually find out what really happened and where they really served.
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SSgt (Join to see)
SSgt Alex Robinson I agree with land the one guy who probably stirred this up more than anyone else, was the Navy Seal but they are generally not Seals as the real seal gets. Thanks, Alex!
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SrA Marcus Frey
SSgt. Robinson,
100% agree! I wish not only our Service Members, but the General Public would just use their heads before acting... I mean as Military, aren't we taught to think before acting? My Father was a Col. who served in Vietnam for several tours. He taught us kids to always get every scrap of information about a situation or problem, before trying to solve it. If the Airman (and I use the term loosely) would have just taken a calmer level headed approach, talked to the Marine, this could have been resolved without incident. I do think the Marine who was attacked was correct, the Airman was itching for a fight...
I have to amend my statement, since he was probably drunk, and no matter what this Veteran Marine said or did would have talked the Airman out of wanting to stir up some crap... that Airman best get used to the Orange Jumpsuit (or whatever color they have) because he will probably be headed that way for a while... If not, there is something very wrong with the U.C.M.J.
100% agree! I wish not only our Service Members, but the General Public would just use their heads before acting... I mean as Military, aren't we taught to think before acting? My Father was a Col. who served in Vietnam for several tours. He taught us kids to always get every scrap of information about a situation or problem, before trying to solve it. If the Airman (and I use the term loosely) would have just taken a calmer level headed approach, talked to the Marine, this could have been resolved without incident. I do think the Marine who was attacked was correct, the Airman was itching for a fight...
I have to amend my statement, since he was probably drunk, and no matter what this Veteran Marine said or did would have talked the Airman out of wanting to stir up some crap... that Airman best get used to the Orange Jumpsuit (or whatever color they have) because he will probably be headed that way for a while... If not, there is something very wrong with the U.C.M.J.
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I do not draw attention to myself or my service. Every member of my family has served and I have nothing to prove to anyone. I will never, as in NOT EVER, pull out my ID or any other form of documentation to prove my service. I don't pull my ID to get discounts or free shit and I don't feel the need to flex nutts in front of civilians. I carry an ACU pattern laptop bag and that's only because I can rock it in and out of uniform without breaking any regs. I refuse to buy another. It will go badly for anyone that starts a confrontation with me over something like this.
And in case anyone doubted it, this stolen valor nonsense is assault. SM aren't law enforcement and we don't have the authority to stop and harrass anyone because *we think* someone's uniform looks funny. Mind your own business.
And in case anyone doubted it, this stolen valor nonsense is assault. SM aren't law enforcement and we don't have the authority to stop and harrass anyone because *we think* someone's uniform looks funny. Mind your own business.
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Sgt Hard Philips
USMC 1968-72. Veteran "advantages" were not the same as now. So, yeah, I carry my VA ID and when Home Depot gives me a 10% discount or reserves a veteran parking place, I take it. (I just wish that stores that have the VA discount as well as the over 65 senior discount would let me use them both at the same time!) $emper fi!
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SGT Jerry Ericsson
I was amazed last winter, we go south to avoid the snows of South Dakota, where our house resides, and live in our RV in a small Arizona town in the Mohave Desert. Well we were in Safeway getting groceries, when the teller asked me if I were a veteran, and I said yes, suddenly there was an additional 10% discount on my slip, and a thank you for your service from the lady behind the counter. Same thing happened at Taco Bell that afternoon, guess it was Fort Mohave's way of saying thanks or something. I was surprised, but it was nice and I did appreciate it. Sort of makes me want to go back to those stores and back to Fort Mohave, which is close to the little village where we spend the winter.
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