Case of Stolen Valor?

Jake Lang — Fri, 14 Aug 2020 06:57:25 -0400

Hello Rallypoint, hope you are all doing well. I'm afraid I have come asking a favor, but I see it as a disservice if I didn't ask any of you this. Recently, a person of interest has gone on to become a bit of a celebrity among certain political causes. I won't go into detail, but the said person is claiming veteran status. Info thus far:

Name: John Jay Fitzgerald Johnson

Date of Birth: 12/1/1963

Date of Enlistment (self-claimed): 1988 - 2006

Badges: Airborne School, Air Assault School (both of which he earned during his time between an E-4 to E-5)

MOS/Job (some claim that they heard him state this): 92Y/Supply 'Clerk'?

Medals/Awards (quoted from his own website): 2 x Army Commendation Medals, Army Achievement Medal, 4 x Army Good Conduct Medals, Kuwait Liberation Medal, Southeast Asia Medal, US National Defense Service Medal, Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development Medal, Overseas Service Medal, and (one that I find odd since I've heard there's no medal for it, but an award) Army Equal Opportunity Leadership Medal

Some have also have quoted him stating that he was in USARAK EO Advisor of the year competition.

Whether you favor his views or not, my sole concern at this moment is to find out if this is a case of stolen valor or not. There are plenty of other bits of information that I have found that have been circulated and can be found quite easy. So far I've dug up only what I can with my current resources, if any of you can shed some light on this, it would either verify his claims (to an extent if not fully) or shed light on a shameful act.

Something just doesn't sit right with what he's said about his military career. I know I have yet to enlist and earn my place to speak of this, but from what I know from outside of the military, along with the knowledge many of my own veteran friends shared as well, what he's saying, showing, and what his record shows, a lot of it doesn't seem to add up, and sadly we don't have the resources to confirm his claims.

I leave it at that and hope that you are able to assist the rest of society in confirming his claims. My thanks and hope you all are still well.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2020 8:09 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 14 Aug 2020 08:09:05 -0400

Have you approached him?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2020 12:12 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 14 Aug 2020 12:12:26 -0400

John Jay Fitzgerald Johnson -

Not going to go down that path.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Not_Fucking_Around_Coalition

Not_Fucking_Around_Coalition

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Aug 14 at 2020 3:35 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Fri, 14 Aug 2020 15:35:43 -0400

I mean... could be. Nothing you listed is at all impressive or unusual. Not sure why someone would fake such a boring, unimpressive career...

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2020 5:09 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 14 Aug 2020 17:09:54 -0400

I don't see anything that seems like Stolen Valor. What do you mean what his record shows? Do you have his DD214? What doesn't add up? If he is lying about military service he picked some really boring stuff to lie about. Usually people will say they were SF or some craziness. That seems like what someone would get for medals and awards based on when he was in. In fact, for 18 years I'd expect more awards than that. And wondering why he didn't go 2 more to retire. Did he get medically chaptered?

If you really want to know you can submit a FOIA request to get someone's record. You can only get so much information but it's possible.

https://militarybenefits.info/check-military-service-records/

https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/ompf-access-public

The federal law applies only to certain medals and if they tried to get any benefit from it:

The Stolen Valor Act of 2013 amends the federal criminal code to rewrite provisions relating to fraudulent claims about military service to subject to a fine, imprisonment for not more than one year, or both for an individual who, with intent to obtain money, property, or other tangible benefit, fraudulently holds himself or herself out to be a recipient of:

Medal of Honor
Distinguished Service Cross,
Navy Cross,
Air Force Cross,
Silver Star,
Bronze Star,
Purple Heart,
Combat Action Ribbon,
Combat Infantryman's Badge,
Combat Action Badge,
Combat Medical Badge,
Combat Action Medal, or
any replacement or duplicate medal for such medal as authorized by law.

By state: it depends on the state.

How to Check Someone Else's Military Service Records

Figuring out how to check another individual's Official Military Personnel File is open to anyone who isn't the service member on file or the next of kin.

Response by Jake Lang made Aug 14 at 2020 7:08 PM

Jake Lang — Fri, 14 Aug 2020 19:08:38 -0400

Be advised, another source (a vet himself as well) has stated that on the DD214 form that John Jay Fitzgerald Johnson was an 11C10, he has also stated that only entry level privates have the 10 as an identifier. Could anyone please elaborate or further confirm this? Because he has been caught wearing stripes in his pictures.

Response by SP5 Brandon Joyce made Sep 29 at 2020 11:16 PM

SP5 Brandon Joyce — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 23:16:49 -0400

Response by MAJ Ronnie Reams made Dec 21 at 2021 10:58 AM

MAJ Ronnie Reams — Tue, 21 Dec 2021 10:58:36 -0500

Unless he claims V devices on the ACMs, no valor involved. Just been there, done that medals.

Response by SFC Jaysin Smith made Jan 29 at 2022 3:41 PM

SFC Jaysin Smith — Sat, 29 Jan 2022 15:41:32 -0500

Leave it alone civvie, and fuck a FIOA how many people on here can tell you that IPERMS or St. Louis have fucked up our records during digital conversion is beyond belief. He's not claiming to be a hero, and he's not claiming a lot of the stuff that people that chase valor and spot light do. Besides what the fuck does it really matter to you? We have enough of our own accusing people of this shit. You don't know enough if you haven't served to ask the questions and already know the right answers.

Response by SGT Daniel Merriman made May 8 at 2022 11:43 AM

SGT Daniel Merriman — Sun, 08 May 2022 11:43:38 -0400

PX war hero ?

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made May 8 at 2022 12:09 PM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Sun, 08 May 2022 12:09:01 -0400

From what I can see there are two things out of the norm. Both involve 18 years of service.

First, at 18 years, he would have gone to twenty. Unless he was kicked out or medically retired. Second, at 18 years of service, he should have more than 4 GCMs.

Not normally, but also not impossible. It could also easily be explained by a break in service which wasn't discussed, as you appear to be getting all your information second or third hand. A 5-6 year break in service makes a TON of sense with what is shown.

Response by PO3 Bobby Quisenberry made Oct 10 at 2022 11:06 PM

PO3 Bobby Quisenberry — Mon, 10 Oct 2022 23:06:52 -0400

I wouldn't waste my time over something so trivial. I remember Admiral Borda, the ex-CNO who was assassinated, was being raked over the coals at that time on whether a Combat V should have been on one of his ribbons or not. I personally don't care about trivial shit! It doesn't affect me! The accusers wound up being wrong and that was pretty insulting to him. Silly stuff is just not worth your time!