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SF-TX · 12-23-2008, 09:34

But Culp's story didn't check out with other Rangers who were in the rescue mission made famous in the movie, “Black Hawk Down.” His references also failed him and there was no record of his being in Somalia.

“I have a copy of the joint meritorious unit award that was awarded to all the Rangers in Somalia in support of Operation Gothic Serpent, aka ‘Black Hawk Down,' and his name is not on it. I can state with 100 percent certainty, he was not there,” said former Ranger Raleigh Cash of Illinois, who participated in the Somali operation.

Cash said that when he confronted Culp by phone last year, the story changed. Culp said he had been deployed with a different Army unit that was sent in to help the Rangers. But this story didn't check out either.

“I'm in a unique position. I can say with 100 percent certainty that no one from our unit went to Mogadishu,” said Dan Gronke, a Ranger who was Culp's unit leader in Germany at the time of the Mogadishu episode.

“He was a pretty good soldier, and that's why all this surprises me. When I knew him, he served honorably and didn't make any grand claims, although he was a good story teller,” said Gronke, now of Alabama.

“What amazes me is someone would tell a story of this scale and think no one will ever call him on it,” he said.

For Culp, the long trail of fiction and perhaps delusion may have ended Dec. 4 when he pleaded guilty to three federal misdemeanor charges: falsely claiming to have earned a Purple Heart, falsely claiming to have earned a Bronze Star with valor, and creating a counterfeit military identification.

He will be sentenced Dec. 29 in San Antonio and faces up to one year in prison.

Sometime soon, Culp also finally will gain formal recognition from the brotherhood of Rangers he so desired to claim. A place of dubious honor awaits him on a Web site belonging to an association of former Army Rangers.

“He will, without a doubt, be posted on the Web site on the poseur ‘wall of shame,'” said Scott Billingslea, a former Ranger who is an administrator of the site, Armyranger.com.

“The reality is, he's an absolute liar. And our goal is to see to it that this guy gets what's coming to him.”

As originally published, this story contained an error.

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12-23-2008, 09:34	#8
SF-TX Quiet Professional Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 1,585	2 of 2 But Culp's story didn't check out with other Rangers who were in the rescue mission made famous in the movie, “Black Hawk Down.” His references also failed him and there was no record of his being in Somalia. “I have a copy of the joint meritorious unit award that was awarded to all the Rangers in Somalia in support of Operation Gothic Serpent, aka ‘Black Hawk Down,' and his name is not on it. I can state with 100 percent certainty, he was not there,” said former Ranger Raleigh Cash of Illinois, who participated in the Somali operation. Cash said that when he confronted Culp by phone last year, the story changed. Culp said he had been deployed with a different Army unit that was sent in to help the Rangers. But this story didn't check out either. “I'm in a unique position. I can say with 100 percent certainty that no one from our unit went to Mogadishu,” said Dan Gronke, a Ranger who was Culp's unit leader in Germany at the time of the Mogadishu episode. “He was a pretty good soldier, and that's why all this surprises me. When I knew him, he served honorably and didn't make any grand claims, although he was a good story teller,” said Gronke, now of Alabama. “What amazes me is someone would tell a story of this scale and think no one will ever call him on it,” he said. For Culp, the long trail of fiction and perhaps delusion may have ended Dec. 4 when he pleaded guilty to three federal misdemeanor charges: falsely claiming to have earned a Purple Heart, falsely claiming to have earned a Bronze Star with valor, and creating a counterfeit military identification. He will be sentenced Dec. 29 in San Antonio and faces up to one year in prison. Sometime soon, Culp also finally will gain formal recognition from the brotherhood of Rangers he so desired to claim. A place of dubious honor awaits him on a Web site belonging to an association of former Army Rangers. “He will, without a doubt, be posted on the Web site on the poseur ‘wall of shame,'” said Scott Billingslea, a former Ranger who is an administrator of the site, Armyranger.com. “The reality is, he's an absolute liar. And our goal is to see to it that this guy gets what's coming to him.” As originally published, this story contained an error. vet Find this article at: http://www.mysanantonio.com/military...s_service.html Click Here to Print SAVE THIS \| EMAIL THIS \| Close Check the box to include the list of links referenced in the article.
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