Ramón Montijo was sent to
http://guardiansofthegreenberet.com after a family friend saw him wearing Captain's rank on a Green Beret at a wedding. He knew him as 1SG.
Boy did that open a can of worms...
The initial email contained 2 pictures, one with him wearing 1SG rank and the other showing him wearing Captain rank on his beret at a wedding. The individual had always known him as a 1SG so a red flag went off. He also noticed he wore a Special Forces tab on one uniform but saw it missing at the wedding.
We felt that was enough to request records.
When records got back, not only did we see he wasn't a Captain in the US Army. He didn't earn most of what you see him wearing on his ribbon rack.
We contacted him via a phone call and the first call went south very quickly with him cussing us out. After that call, we sent him a link to our website and the next day texted him asking if he'd consider a second phone call with the stipulation all parties remain professional.
During the second call, he said he was "Grandfathered" into being a Green Beret while he was in the 12th SFG(A) yet had no orders confirming that nor could he remember who told him he was "Grandfathered". He said he was told the same thing while with 19th SFG(A) yet again had to orders and couldn't remember who told him that either.
Both phone calls can be heard in this link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bk_aSFA7_VM
During the first call, he said he was in Vietnam. During the second call, he said he was "In a Country next door" that he can't talk about as they weren't supposed to be there. That's why he received no CIB or Purple Heart. (Those type MACV-SOG missions have been declassified for years and those guys all show a CIB and Purple Heart in their records if earned). Ramón added that he was told that they give out bronze Stars like candy nowadays so he could start wearing one.
He said he only wore it to a Special Forces Qualification Course Graduation Ceremony yet we also see him at a wedding and a Military ball in Saudi Arabia so we can only assume this has been done multiple times at a number of places over the decades.
He adds during the call @ the 17:40 mark that he felt he was entitled to wear the SF Tab, then at the 23:00 mark, he admits that had we not busted him, he'd still be wearing the fake uniforms in the future.
What he claims vs what was earned:
Captain (O-3):
False, Military Records do NOT support that.
Combat Infantry Badge:
False, Military Records do NOT support that.
Bronze Star:
False, Military Records do NOT support that.
Purple Heart:
False, Military Records do NOT support that.
Army Commendation Medal:
False, Military Records do NOT support that.
Army Achievement Medal w/ 4 oak Leaves:
False, Military Records do NOT support that.
Army Good Conduct Medal:
False, Military Records do NOT support that.
Reserve Components Achievement Medal:
False, Military Records do NOT support that.
Humanitarian Service Medal:
False, Military Records do NOT support that.
National Defense Medal: True
Vietnam Service Medal:
False, Military Records do NOT support that.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal:
False, Military Records do NOT support that.
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal:
False, Military Records do NOT support that.
Armed Forces Reserve Medal: True
NCO Professional Development Ribbon: True
Army Service Ribbon: True
Overseas Ribbon:
False, Military Records do NOT support that.
Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon: True
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal Ribbon:
False, Military Records do NOT support that.
Utah National Guard Emergency Service Ribbon:
False, Military Records do NOT support that.
Utah National Guard Achievement Ribbon:
False, Military Records do NOT support that.
New Mexico National Guard Medal of Merit:
False, Military Records do NOT support that.
Special Forces Tab:
False, Military Records do NOT support that.
Master Parachutists Badge: True
Pathfinder Badge:
False, Military Records do NOT support that.
Special Forces Combat Patch:
False, Military Records do NOT support that.
Mexican Master Parachutist Badge:
False, Military Records do NOT support that.
Presidential Unit Citation w/ 3 Oak Leaves:
False, Military Records do NOT support that.
Vietnam Gallantry Unit Citation w/ scroll:
False, Military Records do NOT support that.
Republic of Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation:
False, Military Records do NOT support that.
Air Assault Badge (During Phone call):
False, Military Records do NOT support that.
Jungle Warfare (During Phone call):
False, Military Records do NOT support that.
Expert Driver Badge: True
We have a standing offer to help Ramón correct his records and when/if this happens, we will edit the article immediately to reflect the corrected awards and decorations he was given credit for.
Ramón Montijo, you'll now be added to guardiansofthegreenberet.com hall of zeroes.
#RamónMontijo, #RamónVMontijo, #RamónVincenteMontijo