Stolen valor a victimless nuisance? A soldier's war lie unravels 8 years later, opening old wounds.

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 09:26:55 -0400

“Really, bro? I hope the lie was worth it … I know for a fact that you were not there when Wilson died, I know that you didn’t hold him, and I know that he did not even have a [expletive] stomach wound!”

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Sgt. Christopher Wilson’s mother had no reason to distrust the soldier and his vivid story of her son’s death in Afghanistan.

Spc. Brandon Garrison found her in the dark days afterward and provided the details — the details a mother fears but needs — of Wilson’s last moments after a Taliban attack in Korengal Valley in March 2007.

The futile attempt to save Wilson, the blood, the coldness of imminent death. It was all there in Garrison’s account, and he provided the memories she clung to for years.

“I just needed to know. It is a knife wound so deep you just have to know every aspect or you can’t breathe,” Wilson’s mother, Ilka Halliday said.

Except none of it was true.

Garrison’s war lies are unraveling, eight years later, after soldiers who were with Wilson when he died came forward.

Garrison was not by Wilson’s side when he died, and had instead spent his Afghanistan deployment inside the wire as a vehicle parts clerk.

The false story of the infantry soldier’s death has exposed the pain such deceit can cause for survivors. For Wilson’s mother and his family, the sting of lies and loss has not been diminished by the passing of years.

But the lie has also unearthed questions about Garrison’s other war claims and cast a shadow over the well-meaning support he has received as a wounded veteran.

In Kansas, where he lives, 29-year-old Garrison is well-known as a combat vet who walks with a cane and has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury and other health problems he says are related to burn-pit exposure. He recently received a donated home based on his status as an honorably discharged veteran and was given a service dog.

To some who served with him in Afghanistan, he was a lackluster soldier who lied about his Army war record and embellished his combat injuries.

His supervisor in Korengal Valley called him a "compulsive liar."

--------> Full story at
http://www.stripes.com/news/special-reports/features/a-soldier-s-war-lie-unravels-8-years-later-opening-old-wounds-1.365955

A soldier's war lie unravels 8 years later, opening old wounds

The false story of the infantry soldier’s death has exposed the pain such deceit can cause for survivors. For the mother of fallen Sgt. Christopher Wilson and her family, the sting of lies and loss has not been diminished by the passing of years.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 4 at 2015 9:41 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 09:41:56 -0400

Oh oh oh. I want to meet this "Vet" and have a nice little chat with him and do certain things with his cane.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Sep 4 at 2015 9:49 AM

SGT Ben Keen — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 09:49:44 -0400

It took me a while to read the full story, a few times I had to look away because I could feel my blood pressure rising. Do you know why there is a VA Backlog? Because of guys like this and others that fill the claim center with claim after claim after claim for things that they make up. Do you want to know why a lot of great support organizations for Veterans are having a hard time raising funds to provide the critical and necessary support? Because of guys like this one taking large gifts based on lies. Want to know why so many Veterans do not want to go to the VA for treatment for PTSD? Because of guys like this one that make it seem that PTSD is just one of those things you come back with. Want to know why Stolen Valor is not a victimless crime? Because of this guy telling this fallen Soldier's mother lies and putting images of her dying son in her mind that never happened.

Come on bro, you served. You deployed. You did a critical mission to allow others the chance to hunt and kill the bad guys. Without your work, their HMMWVs would not have been running. Be proud of that! No need to go around making yourself look like GI Joe!

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Sep 4 at 2015 11:27 AM

SSG Warren Swan — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 11:27:05 -0400

No mother should have to suffer through a blatant lie like this.

Response by SGT David T. made Sep 4 at 2015 11:58 AM

SGT David T. — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 11:58:18 -0400

I never understood why people feel the need to do this. I generally don't talk about my deployment experiences as a general rule. Had I heard this story, my BS alert meter would have been pinging because I have a hard time believing stories that sound like they came out of a war movie. This is sad because if I hear the story from someone legit, I probably would not be inclined to believe them.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 4 at 2015 12:59 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 12:59:47 -0400

This "man" needs to pay for everything that was donated to him. The $30k dog, the house and anything else he might have received because of his story. He also needs to brought up on charges for fraud, Representing yourself as something you're not to benefit is illegal, I believe. This guy needs to be made an example to all other folks out there that want to take advantage of those that support veterans.

* I put man in parenthesis because I have trouble seeing him as one after reading the entire story. If this story proves true, I have trouble seeing him as a anything other than a fraud and a fake.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 4 at 2015 3:46 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 15:46:11 -0400

Fvcker hurt everyone around him.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Sep 5 at 2015 2:53 AM

PO1 John Miller — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 02:53:03 -0400

I read this story earlier and yeah it pissed me off. BIG time. I hope he ends up having to give his dog and house back, and pay the VA back for disabilities he may not even have. I'll leave it at that and let you use your imagination for what I THINK should happen to him.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Sep 8 at 2015 9:55 AM

LTC Jason Mackay — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 09:55:44 -0400

Duplicate thread

https://www.rallypoint.com/locations/afghanistan/answers/stolen-valor-a-victimless-nuisance-a-soldier-s-war-lie-unravels-8-years-later-opening-old-wounds

Stolen valor a victimless nuisance? A soldier's war lie unravels 8 years later, opening old...

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Sep 8 at 2015 9:58 AM

SCPO David Lockwood — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 09:58:36 -0400

Man this guy needs to do time. Wouldn't this me along the same lines a Stolen Valor?

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2015 11:34 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 11:34:37 -0400

Hmmm.....something wrong with that young man.....at best survivors guilt.......at worst he is a deceitful POS.....more than likely somewhere in between.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2015 11:54 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 11:54:21 -0400

He may indeed have medical issues... presumably the VA did testing in order to make the disability ratings he has.
Lying to that fallen Soldier's mother is unconscionable, though. He needs to face her and apologize.

Response by SGT Charles Tittl made Sep 8 at 2015 3:16 PM

SGT Charles Tittl — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 15:16:30 -0400

He needs socks & locks in his future

Response by SrA Scott Harris made Sep 8 at 2015 4:06 PM

SrA Scott Harris — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 16:06:07 -0400

Prison. End of story, and the only free housing he deserves.

Response by SGT Tommy Silvas made Sep 8 at 2015 9:09 PM

SGT Tommy Silvas — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 21:09:52 -0400

WHAT A PIECE