View Full Version : Special Forces phony Richard McClanahan
The Army Times, 30 July 2007, has an article on Richard McClanahan and the new war on fakers.
He did earn 1 ARCOM, 2 AAMs, GCM, National Defense, ASR and a few more -
But decided he looked better with 1 MOH, 3 Silver Stars, 1 LOM, 3 Purple Hearts, 1 MSM, an additional ARCOM, Combat Action Ribbon and a few other odds and ends -
And then there is the Special Forces Tab and, I think the Times messed up, they listed a Navy FreeFall badge but it looks like HALO wings. The Cover photo also appears to have him with first class diver badge and something under his CMB - SEAL badge????
Man, this guy rolls it all into one chest.
Edited to add: His ex runs a blog with pictures of him in uniform
http://www.dramarillo.com
The Reaper
07-24-2007, 13:59
Today, as long as you are an E-4 or above, had PCSed to a new unit, and didn't wear it in your DA photo, you could probably get away with wearing an unauthorized CIB/CAR, a bogus combat patch, and even a fake Bronze Star. As soon as you go to a Silver Star, things are going to start getting sticky. LOMs are only going to be seen on E-8s and above, and on O-4s and above. You want an SF Tab, by the time you get to your unit PAC, you had better be able to explain how in your short career, you found time to go to an MOS producing school, and managed to reclass out of the 18 CMF. Less than 20% of SF soldiers are MFF or Dive qualed, much less both. Navy awards? I don't think so. The first cursory review of your records is going to bust you out.
So far, there are exactly two MOH winners for this war, and they are both dead. There are about a dozen DSC winners, and I would guess around a hundred Army Silver Stars.
I do not understand why people want to do this. If you want a CIB, branch transfer to infantry or SF. If you want a MOH, you are probably crazy, but try to earn one by doing your job, and then some a whole lot of times over. They say that the Marine recipient had asked what would happen if someone put their K-Pot on the grenade and covered it. Then he got a chance to find out. Even if it doesn't work out, you will be one wild soldier to watch.
Why do these people not just take pride in who they are and what they earned or were awarded?
Maybe he just wanted to get out?
TR
Team Sergeant
07-24-2007, 16:18
But decided he looked better with 1 MOH, 3 Silver Stars, 1 LOM, 3 Purple Hearts, 1 MSM, an additional ARCOM, Combat Action Ribbon and a few other odds and ends -
And then there is the Special Forces Tab and, I think the Times messed up, they listed a Navy FreeFall badge but it looks like HALO wings. The Cover photo also appears to have him with first class diver badge and something under his CMB - SEAL badge????
Man, this guy rolls it all into one chest.
Edited to add: His ex runs a blog with pictures of him in uniform
http://www.dramarillo.com
LOLOLOL, just reading about his medals had me rolling. He just had to put on the MoH, stupid is as stupid does.:rolleyes:
Why the hell do they have to be "Special Forces" imposters?
He ain't going to get off easy I'm guessing.
Team Sergeant
mswilliams
07-26-2007, 05:00
This guys claims the Medal of Honor, 3 silver stars, three PHs, 3 yes 3 CMBs and a combat action ribbon, His picture looks like he went shopping at Clothing Sales and couldnt stop himself.
Matta mile
07-26-2007, 05:29
No salvage diver badge??
No salvage diver badge??
From the picture in the Army Times, inlarged head/shoulders picture (center) from his ex's site he appears to be wearing a Navy Advanced Diver badge, not sure of it's class, not and Army one.
The Army has Salvage Diver, hardhat with an S on the chest plate; 2nd Class, just the hardhat; First Class, hardhat with Dolphins(?) and Master Diver, hardhat with dolphins and a trident (?) over the hardhat. SCUBA Diver badge is what us old timers wore.
He appears to be wearing a hardhat badge that has seahorse tails on the bottom of the left and right sides not dolphin heads as it would be for an Army badge. Anybody have a better view/take on the picture?
LongWire
07-28-2007, 12:53
You guys read her Blog at all........he had her believing all kinds of shit!!!!!
Like, he had clearances to tap phones???? WTF?????
The Reaper
07-28-2007, 15:22
I would take what ex'es say with a grain of salt.
That is what she claims.
Some of my divorced friends have told me that ex-wives will occasionally not tell the entire truth.:rolleyes:
Just because he is a lying little worm, doesn't mean that she is an angel.
TR
The Army Times, 30 July 2007, has an article on Richard McClanahan and the new war on fakers.
He did earn 1 ARCOM, 2 AAMs, GCM, National Defense, ASR and a few more -
But decided he looked better with 1 MOH, 3 Silver Stars, 1 LOM, 3 Purple Hearts, 1 MSM, an additional ARCOM, Combat Action Ribbon and a few other odds and ends -
And then there is the Special Forces Tab and, I think the Times messed up, they listed a Navy FreeFall badge but it looks like HALO wings. The Cover photo also appears to have him with first class diver badge and something under his CMB - SEAL badge????
Man, this guy rolls it all into one chest.
Edited to add: His ex runs a blog with pictures of him in uniform
http://www.dramarillo.com
You don't suppose he over did it just a little, do you?? :D :D :D
The picture isn't real clear, but I believe the badge under the CMB may be a Naval Special Warfare Combat Craft Crewman badge. The Special Boat Unit guys.
Ambush Master
08-12-2007, 06:47
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txn/PressRel07/mcclanahan_ple_pr.html
U.S. Department of Justice
United States Attorney Richard B. Roper
Northern District of Texas
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: KATHY COLVIN
FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2007
WWW.USDOJ.GOV/USAO/TXN PHONE: (214)659-8600
FAX: (214) 767-2898
MAN ADMITS MAKING FALSE STATEMENTS AND FALSE CLAIMS
ABOUT RECEIVING MILITARY MEDALS
Faces Up to 31 Years in Federal Prison
AMARILLO, Tx. — Richard David McClanahan, 29, appeared in federal court in Amarillo late yesterday afternoon and pled guilty to one count of making false statements and one count of making false claims about receipt of military medals, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. McClanahan, who now resides in Fort Worth, Texas, is a former resident of Boys Ranch, Texas. He faces a maximum statutory sentence of 31 years in prison and a $1.1 million fine. A sentencing date has not been set.
According to documents filed in Court, Richard David McClanahan graduated from Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch High School in 1997. On January 25, 1999, he joined the Navy and separated from service on May 31, 2001. He then joined the Army as a sergeant on June 1, 2001. His military evaluation, dated March 2005, found that he continually lied about civilian life, military career, education and experiences; that he lacked all seven of the Army values and attributes; that he displayed poor judgement by falsifying military documents; that he forged the Battalion Physician Assistant’s signature on his fitness test card after falsifying his score; that he lied about his participation in Operation Enduring Freedom; that he lied to his senior NCO’s, officers and commanders about his military service, combat injuries, decorations, and awards; and that he was incompetent and disregarded soldiers’ medical issues by writing and signing unauthorized medical profiles.
On April 11, 2005, McClanahan was found guilty by the Department of the Army of wearing unauthorized awards and badges. His rank was reduced and he was sentenced to 100 days confinement. On July 5, 2005, McClanahan was again charged by the Department of the Army with making a false official statement for lying about: earning a bachelor’s degree; scoring 300 points on the Army physical fitness test; earning the USMC sergeant leadership course certificate; earning the U.S. Army Special Forces qualification course certificate; earning a U.S. Army diploma for special operations combat medic course; earning the basic parachutist badge; earning the expert field medical badge; earning the U.S. Navy special warfare center (Navy Seal) certificate; and, graduating from the USMC amphibious reconnaissance school. On July 25, 2005, McClanahan’s request for discharge in lieu of trial by court martial was approved and he was discharged “under other than honorable conditions.”
After his discharge, McClanahan returned to the Amarillo area. He divorced his first wife in September, and three months later, in December 2006, he married Robin McClanahan. Prior to their marriage, in May 2006, McClanahan showed Robin McClanahan a letter from Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld recommending David McClanahan for the Congressional Medal of Honor. In March 2007, David McClanahan showed Robin McClanahan another Congressional Medal of Honor nomination letter, this one purportedly from President George W. Bush.
The McClanahan’s became acquainted with one of the co-chairs of the Amarillo Armed Forces Day banquet. McClanahan began speaking at local schools and on radio programs and was being considered to be the keynote speaker at the Armed Forces Day banquet in March 2007 that was sponsored by the organization “America Supports You.” During his speaking engagements, McClanahan represented that he had received numerous military awards and decorations, and that he was nominated to receive the Congressional Medal Honor.
McClanahan had not received those medals and was not nominated for the Congressional Medal of Honor. McClanahan falsely represented himself verbally and in writing to have been awarded certain decorations or medals; and he knew the representations were false when he made them. During the course of his misrepresentations, McClanahan received $9,500 in scholarship funds from Boys Ranch and $2,000 in donations from the “America Supports You” organization.
On March 28, 2007, McClanahan sent a letter to the John Chandler Ford car dealership in Amarillo, Texas, to convince the dealership to “donate” a vehicle to him because he had been nominated for the Congressional Medal of Honor. The dealership declined to donate a vehicle but agreed to assist him with financing. On April 10, 2007, McClanahan submitted a financial statement to Amarillo National Bank that detailed his income and assets. A review of the financial statement showed that McClanahan had grossly inflated his income. He admitted that he knew at the time he completed the financial statement that it was false and he did it to influence the financial institution to approve his loan.
U.S. Attorney Roper praised the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy L. Drake of the Amarillo, Texas, U.S. Attorney’s Office.
###
Why do these people not just take pride in who they are and what they earned or were awarded?
Because that would require them to actually work. IMO, the reason posers do what they do. It's easy and it pays off. People will believe anything these days. Joe public has no idea the Q-Course takes about a year. They never seem to take time or age into consideration when listening to these posers.
Archangel
11-02-2007, 14:29
http://www.amarillo.com/stories/110207/new_8811253.shtml
Fake hero gets real penalty
The Purple Heart is given to soldiers wounded or killed in battle. Richard David McClanahan claimed to have three of them.
Then there were the Silver Stars. He boasted to have three of those too, more than military legend Audie Murphy.
But it was all a lie.
Now, McClanahan will have to spend 34 months in federal prison.
McClanahan, 29, of Fort Worth, is one in a small-but-growing list of fake military heroes prosecuted nationally under the Stolen Valor Act of 2005.
The measure seeks to penalize people who either distribute phony medals or fraudulently claim to be decorated veterans.
At a sentencing hearing Thursday in Amarillo, McClanahan conceded he made "terrible choices" and acknowledged that he "disrespected this nation and the uniform I wore.
"I take full responsibility. It was wrong, and I knew it was wrong when I did it," he told U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson.
"I have no right to ask for forgiveness. I tainted this country with my irresponsible actions and for that I'm sorry.''
He was later led out of the courtroom and placed in immediate custody.
McClanahan pleaded guilty Aug. 9 to federal charges of lying about his military service record and making false statements for financial gains. Prosecutors also alleged McClanahan overstated his yearly income to get a Ford F-150 King Ranch edition financed through Amarillo National Bank.
Military records show McClanahan served nearly 2½ years in the Navy, and nearly four years in the Army.
His service ended in April 2005.
After that, McClanahan began taking license with his service record, prosecutors argued.
McClanahan made false claims that he received the Medal of Honor, three Silver Stars, three Purple Hearts and the Legion of Merit, court records show.
He boasted to have collected more honors than Murphy, the son of Celeste sharecroppers who received 33 medals during World War II.
An investigation determined McClanahan, a 1997 graduate of Cal Farley's Boys Ranch High School, did not receive any of those medals. He bought medals and certificates on eBay and passed them off as his own.
McClanahan also was given five years' probation on each count. Robinson admonished McClanahan for "a consistent pattern of lying."
"You lived a completely fictitious life for this period of time," she said.
"You have a long course of behavior that has hurt other people.''
McClanahan faced a maximum of up to 31 years in prison and $1.1 million in fines.
- Staff writer Jon Mark Beilue contributed to this report.
Click to view Court Documents
Phony awards
Awards McClanahan claimed to have received:
Medal of Honor
3 Silver Stars
Legion of Merit
3 Purple Hearts
Meritorious Service Medal
2 Army Commendation Medals
3 Army Achievement Medals
Iraq Campaign Medal
3 Combat Medic Badges
Special Forces Tab
Parachutist Badge
Foreign Jump Wings
National Defense Service Medal
2 Navy Achievement Medals
Navy Good Conduct Medal
Freefall badge
SF Dive Badge - properly called the Special Operations Diver Badge
POW Status
Navy SEAL status
Merits he actually received:
Navy
Meritorious Unit Commendation
Army
Army Commendation Medal
2 Army Achievement Medals
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Korea Defense Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Medal
Marksmanship Qualification
Aviation Badge
Was this jack-ass down in Katrina?
If he was...I believe this is the same SOB we were trying to catch!:mad:
Stay safe.
Snaquebite
11-06-2007, 10:29
U.S. Department of Justice
United States Attorney Richard B. Roper
Northern District of Texas
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: KATHY COLVIN
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2007
WWW.USDOJ.GOV/USAO/TXN PHONE: (214)659-8600
FAX: (214) 767-2898
MAN SENTENCED TO NEARLY THREE YEARS
IN FEDERAL PRISON, WITHOUT PAROLE, FOR MAKING FALSE STATEMENTS AND FALSE CLAIMS ABOUT RECEIVING MILITARY MEDALS
AMARILLO, Texas — Richard David McClanahan, 29, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson to a total of 34 months in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper. McClanahan pled guilty in August to one count of making false statements and one count of making false claims about receipt of military medals.
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txn/PressRel07/mcclanahan_sen_pr.html
The Breeze
07-12-2009, 02:15
So here's an interesting story. This joker treated me while at BAMC in San Antonio. In July of '04, I spent 4 months in a bed in BAMC. I was "graced" with this gentlemens presence as he was tasked to change my dressings one particular day. He had been informed that I was a three time purple heart recepient, and inquired the conditions in which I recieved them. I began to tell my story to someone I assumed was genuinely interested, and was abruptly interruted only so that he could tell me the conditions in which he recieved "his". He also made short reference to his "pow" status in Central America. Not knowing the requirments to wear the special forces tab (I was young and ignorant), I noticed he was wearing a special forces tab as a SPC. I asked if he was special forces, or in an sf unit (I didn't know better at the time), and he said he was an sf medic. I asked him about it, and he fed me a story about being prior service and the military not recognizing his NCOES schooling or some crap. I bought it. I bought just about anything anyone told me all hopped up on morphine :). Needless to say, he spent more time trying to "one up" me rather than treat me or listen to my responses to the questions he was asking.
It wasn't until the day that I got selected in July 07 that I realized he was a fraud. They segregated us into a building where I found my first piece of news correspondence in almost a month, and it was a copy of the Army times with this a$$hole on the front page. I was like "I know that guy!". He hadn't claimed the MOH when he ambushed me with his fantasy tales, and that's apparently what got him in his deep predicament. Rumor has it that he was discharged for similair reasons, the sf tab I assume, and continued to live his fantasy even in his civilian life as his lies grew more ridiculous. Anyway, since I personally experienced his shenenigans, I thought I would share.
Ryan
I remember the warstories favorites after RVN...every guy I met at the NCO club/wherever was in SF or a LRRP...everyone.
I even had a cook, in the NCO rod & bottle, wearing cook whites telling me tales of daring do as a LRRP in RVN....and the zooka's were zookin etc.
When he asked me about my RVN time I told him I was the ski boat driver at the incountry R&R center in Vung Tau.
Crap that sh&t gets old and it is older still.
Hey - I met all those guys - they all claimed to have been LRRPs or Tunnel Rats or Recon or such - you mean they were lying - what's this world coming to! :rolleyes:
One of my favorites is one of the awards clerks at 5th SFG HQs who added his name/ASN to some requests for orders for the CIB and valor prior to DEROS to Fort Bragg - was receiving the award for a BSM on Alamo Field during a 7th SFG payday formation - the Adjutant was reading the award and there was a stir in one of the company formations - an NCO who had been on the team involved in the action was back in the 7th and went ballistic when he heard the citation being read - the clerk got busted and sent packing. :D
Lesson to all the wannabes - you never know who you're talking to out here or who's listening.
Richard's $.02 :munchin
Team Sergeant
10-26-2012, 13:08
We won't. Your name will live on here forever.;)
Don’t overturn my conviction, faker says
The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Jul 13, 2012 8:33:57 EDT
FORT WORTH, Texas — Richard David McClanahan no longer considers himself a veteran. Convicted of embellishing his military record and claiming awards he never won, McClanahan says he doesn’t attend Veterans Day parades or Memorial Day events out of shame.
Congress passed the Stolen Valor Act in 2006 to try to prevent people from fabricating stories about battle or military honors. But the Supreme Court last month overturned the law, calling it a violation of the Constitution’s guarantee of the right to free speech.
Nonetheless, McClanahan, 34, says he doesn’t want his criminal record cleared.
“I have no desire to have my record expunged,” McClanahan told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “I’m not the victim here. The law was put into place for a very good reason.”
McClanahan did serve in the military. According to prosecutors, he joined the Navy in 1999 and entered the Army two years later.
But Army officials would demote him after a 2005 evaluation showed he lied repeatedly to his superiors about his achievements and his record. He was eventually discharged later that year “under other than honorable conditions” to avoid a court martial.
McClanahan returned to Amarillo, where he grew up. Prosecutors said he showed off fake letters from former President George W. Bush and then-Secretary Donald Rumsfeld that suggested he was being considered for the Medal of Honor — the highest military award.
He became a speaker at local schools and groups. His old high school gave him nearly $10,000 in scholarship money, according to authorities. And though a local dealership declined McClanahan’s request for a free car, the dealership helped him get financing. McClanahan was found to have lied on the paperwork about his income.
Other veterans eventually became suspicious and contacted the FBI. McClanahan was indicted and eventually pleaded guilty to making false statements and making false claims about the receipt of medals. He would serve 30 months of a 34-month sentence.
Now, McClanahan is living in Fort Worth and working as a salesman. His former wife and two children live in Amarillo.
His lies began when he wanted to measure up to other veterans, he said. They grew as he started to get more opportunities.
“Who wants to meet a guy who was a medic and deployed to Korea and then goes to college?” he said. “Those guys are a dime a dozen. My stories weren’t worth anything. I just thought, ‘What is going to set David apart?’ ”
The Pentagon is considering the creation of a searchable database of military honors, similar to Military Times’ Hall of Valor, to prevent frauds and some members of Congress say they’ll try to pass another law that meets the Supreme Court’s guidance.
“I wish more people could be brought down and exposed,” McClanahan told the newspaper. “I still have friends in the military. I disrespected them. I don’t believe that people should be able to get away with it, and this coming from the guy who was convicted and did time for it.”
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2012/07/ap-military-faker-says-dont-overturn-my-conviction-071312/
no-hertz
10-30-2012, 10:21
The Pentagon is considering the creation of a searchable database of military honors, similar to Military Times’ Hall of Valor, to prevent frauds and some members of Congress say they’ll try to pass another law that meets the Supreme Court’s guidance.
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2012/07/ap-military-faker-says-dont-overturn-my-conviction-071312/
They can make their database, all of these guys awards are classified if I recall properly, and would not be in the database. Awards given for JSOC super-duper secret squirrel units won't be on there.
Cool Breeze
10-31-2012, 12:47
Hey - I met all those guys - they all claimed to have been LRRPs or Tunnel Rats or Recon or such - you mean they were lying - what's this world coming to!
I met one of those guys too. A Vietnam vet who had been a "Special Forces MP" in the Nam.
Priceless.