I Can't Decide If He's A Phony Or Not. Can you?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Jun 2015 15:10:04 -0400

We’ve discussed Robert E. Brooks back in March, here and here. For decades, some of his awards have been questioned by veterans, specifically, his three Distinguished Flying Crosses, his three Silver Star Medals and five Purple Hearts. His DD214 discharge reported that he had indeed earned those medals, but there was no supporting documentation anywhere.

Also questioned were his claims of being a POW and that he was tortured until he finally escaped, and that he had served in the Air Force and the Marine Corps.

Our friend, Barb Ickes at the Quad-City Times clears some of that up today;

Following the March story in the Times, a representative of the National Archives in St. Louis notified the reporter of an investigation into Brooks’ service record by the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy. The results of those reviews indicate Brooks did not earn any Silver Stars, nor was he awarded any Purple Hearts.

His DD214, which is the Department of Defense document that records all veterans’ military service, has since been corrected, Navy spokeswoman Katie Suich said.

Asked in an email how the mistakes occurred, Suich replied, “Original letter from Army indicated he was entitled to the erroneous awards. A second letter from Army did not have the majority of the erroneous awards listed (e.g. Silver Star) but did have some erroneous awards listed; both of these letters were from the 1970s.

“A third and final letter from Army removed the remaining erroneous medals/awards.”

Suich said she is not sure how Brooks’ DD214 came to reflect so many non-existent awards.

“We assume that the activity generating his DD214 did not have access to the second letter from Army that removed some of the erroneous medals/awards.”

Well, that doesn’t really explain how the erroneous awards ended up in his DD214, maybe Mr. Brooks can clear it up;

“I did not falsify my DD214,” [Robert Brooks] said Wednesday. “I’ve never had control of my 214. I’m going on what I was told I was awarded.”

“Bill (Albracht) wants me to man up and come clean, but I never falsified any records as far as I know,” Brooks said. “Many others (veterans) say their records are screwed up, too. The personnel people made this stuff up, not me, and it was based on my records.”

We’ve seen a few cases that involved folks altering their records while they hand-carried the old paper-based 201 file from station-to-station while they were still in the military and more than likely, that’s what happened here. It’s very unlikely that a clerk actually added awards to Brook’s records.

Brooks did have one Distinguished Flying Cross, so I have no idea why he thought that he needed all of that bling. He had an enviable war record, he could be proud that he survived it, and now it all turns to sewage because he got greedy.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jun 7 at 2015 3:38 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Sun, 07 Jun 2015 15:38:23 -0400

2 words, "Inside Job". Possibly a buddy in personnel or in St. Louis?

If you were awarded that much "fruit salad" more than likely you'd remember standing in front of a few GOs and formations receiving them.

If you don't then one has to ask, did the Lucky Charms Leprechaun simply tip-toe through your 201 waving his magic wand making your DD-214 look "magically delicious"?

Ok so you see your DD-214 with all these awards, do you assume its Ok to wear them if you personally have no recollection of earning them or know what action they were for? I was hesitant about the 2 campaign stars on my Iraqi campaign ribbon until some one showed me the reg that governed it. We were awarded the ribbon with no stars even though according to the reg we were "out of uniform" for not having 2 on it - based on our time in country.

The rotten cheese is smelling a bit fishy on this one.

Response by SGT Daniel Rocco Ames made Dec 30 at 2018 6:51 PM

SGT Daniel Rocco Ames — Sun, 30 Dec 2018 18:51:59 -0500

For the longest time my ERB had a Diver Badge on it. When I was getting out I had it corrected and my 214 accurately reflects the DRIVER'S Badge I was actually awarded. It's our responsibility to ensure our records are correct.

Response by CSM Thomas McGarry made Dec 30 at 2018 7:00 PM

CSM Thomas McGarry — Sun, 30 Dec 2018 19:00:05 -0500

One thing that might have been a red flag was his claim of being an escaped POW. If I'm not mistaken I believe no POWs successfully escaped from a POW camp during the Vietnam War