Special Forces Ranger impostor

[U777]

It wasn't me who caught this guy, pulled it from a different forum. What a toolhead :nope:


This will be a brief rant about what happened in gizmo's life today:

So, I went to a gun show today with a friend of mine. We were in the mood for some deals, and in general just wanted to go play with some guns. When we get there we immediately notice an individual in ACU's. Since this is on Aug 7th, a Saturday, this came to us as being odd. So, my friend and I both being active duty NCO's start to eye ball this guy and notice his badges and awards. Before I list his extensive record let me describe this individual first. 30-40 yr old white male, approx 300 lbs, Blonde high and tight hair cut and a goofy overall appearance. He was wearing glasses on the back of his head, a belt on the outside of his ACU top full of gadgets and a radio with a hand mic wrapped around him self and clipped on his uniform.

I wanted a closer look at this guy so I told my buddy I would be right back and conducted some good ole fashion recon. He was at the polaris dealer talking to the sales rep about buying 4 quads "for his guys." I jumped in the conversation

Me: Jokingly "4! Can I have one!"
He chuckled and I asked him what unit he was in.

Him:"10th Special Forces."

Me: "Really? What are you guys doing up here?"

Him: "Oh Im just helping out some friends of mine"

I took note of all his uniform bits and pieces and walked away. He went about his business and I later confronted him again and asked him if I could talk to him outside. He and I walked out to the back of the gun show and I began to ask him a series of questions that only an individual with his experience would know. He failed miserably and I then decided to level with him. I produced my ID and asked for his. He told me it was in his car so I said lets go get it. Of course he did not have one and I began to lay into him. I yelled at him for a good 30 minutes and made him remove all the items he had never earned on his uniform. I called him plenty of names and said that he was wearing a uniform that my friends have died in, and that he didn't even deserve to touch one.

This guy began to apologize and back pedal, and asked me not to "tell on him." I began to tear into him and lower his self esteem even more hoping that he attempts suicide tonight.

All in all this is everything he lied about and what he was wearing:

Special Forces Qualification
Ranger Qualification
Airborne Qualification
Combat Infantryman Badge with 2 stars
Senior Parachutist Badge
Air Assault Badge
Military Police Badge
US ARMY Tape

and last but not least, Captain Rank.

Later people came up to me and told me what he had told others about himself:

He has served 20 yrs in the Army
He just came back from a 49 month deployment from Afganaland
He goes back and forth all of the time on "Special Missions"

His numbers (NOW DISCONNECTED) referring to himself as an SF officer:

William Clark AKA "Capt Clark" 760-974-6579
This number is a FT Bragg number, so he has wandered around SF land before to buy the phone
William Clark AKA "Maj Green" 910-705-2260

Here are some iphone pics I took:





Everything I made him take off of his uniform


EDITED TO CONSOLIDATE ALL INFO ON WILLIAM JAMES CLARK:
http://newsok.com/topic/PERSON/William%20Clark
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/350361_imposter07.html
http://www.sequoyahcountytimes.com/view ... used-again
http://www.jerrypippin.com/I40Bridge.htm
http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/InmateFinderSe ... &x=73&y=14
http://thisainthell.us/blog/?p=20049
http://newsok.com/man-accused-of-impers ... le/1025795
http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/for ... p?p=342822
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/727674/posts
http://www.tribemagazine.com/board/trib ... again.html
http://www.militarycorruption.com/captainbogus.htm
http://www.mugshots.com/Criminal/Impost ... +Clark.htm

I was angry, he was scared, and I got a good deal on some ammo at the show...

So, How did your day go?


http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l73/astar5/6.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l73/astar5/4.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l73/astar5/1.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l73/astar5/5.jpg

[Weiss Pinguin]

Just plain sad. Honestly, how anyone could've taken him to be an Army captain is beyond me :nope: Maybe retired, but it doesn't sound like he was trying to pass himself off as retired.

People like this do nothing but dishonor the service of our men and women in them armed forces.

[nikimcbee]

If he's gunna wear the badge, I say we make tubby go through the training:D

[Bubblehead1980]

what a freaking loser:damn:

[Castout]

I'd pity him :hmmm:

[Sledgehammer427]

I have a set of BDU's, if I go out wearing the full set, people ask me if I serve. I apologize, say no I don't, but I like wearing the stuff, and taht I have the greatest appreciation for our servicemen.
that guy got off easy.

but I agree with McBee, lets put him through some ranger training and see if he's up for it.

[darius359au]

He doesn't look like he could survive a basic recruit course let alone a SF course ,people like him piss me off - I was in the Army till I busted my back and I've got family and friends currently serving ,we earned qualifications through hard work and effort yet morons like him want to play at Soldiers and pretend to be something they'll never be :damn::damn:

[GoldenRivet]

The only BDUs I own I wear when hunting or playing paintball.

I've done neither in years.

Probably couldn't even find the darn things if I had to.

This guy is a tool, and should be charged to the maximum extent under stolen valor

[HunterICX]

This guy is a tool, and should be charged to the maximum extent under stolen valor

too bad guys like that don't walk into R. Lee Ermey...and having someone nearby with a camera, that would be a instant youtube hit.

HunterICX

[ETR3(SS)]

Here's my take on this guy. When he was younger, but not skinnier, he went to a recruiter to join and was denied for any myriad of reasons. My guess would be weight or medical reasons. So he decides that since he can't be a real G.I. Joe, he'll play one. I prescribe the Private Pyle treatment. We'll see how much he likes playing soldier then.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OZS6wem7OQ

[SteamWake]

How did he get the Travis AFB DoD pass?? :o

[UnderseaLcpl]

How did he get the Travis AFB DoD pass?? :o

I was going to ask the same thing, until I remembered that on-base staff get them, too. IIRC, though, only officers get blue stickers. That leads to other questions: Did the guy borrow the car from a relative? Is he real and the post is a fake? Would an obviously retired Army Special Forces Captain wear his bdu's to a gunshow? Where is August when you need him?

[Ducimus]

Wow, just wow. It amazes me how anyone do that **** and not expect to be caught. I guess asshats like that guy assume there arent any veterans or offduty personnel amongst the general populace.


And yeah, the Travis AFB sticker is odd. Spent my last year in active duty on the base. I wonder how he got it. They are controlled items, but I don't think they're always removed from vehicles if someone PCS's and sell's their car. (though they should).

My theory is he came by that base sticker one of three ways.

1.) PCS car, and prior owner goofed.
2.) Relative's car.
3.) He's a GS worker. Probably low on the pay scale. Although i dont remember what the deal was with officer stickers. If they got a special coloration or not.

One thing he probably isn't, is in the acutal military. Enlisted or otherwise. No freaking way would anyone be allowed to pack on that many pounds. The AF (Assuming he's affiliated somehow given the base sticker) would have him on the "fat boy program". He'd have to lose the weight or be given a medical discharge.

[krashkart]

I just read an article about the guy and it's even more disturbing. :-?

http://newsok.com/balleged-impostor-at-bridge-may-plead-guiltyb/article/1025514

[SteamWake]

I was being thanked by everybody. Everything was fine until they found out that I wasn't in the military.

Now why would that be?

Anyhow thats the same guy?

[krashkart]

Anyhow thats the same guy?

Good question. I'm still digging through those links in the first post. :hmmm:

[RickC Sniper]

Looks like the same guy.


This from the OP.
http://www.jerrypippin.com/I40Bridge.htm




I loathe morons like him.

[CptSimFreak]

That dude isn't bright. At all.

[TLAM Strike]

And yeah, the Travis AFB sticker is odd. Spent my last year in active duty on the base. I wonder how he got it. They are controlled items, but I don't think they're always removed from vehicles if someone PCS's and sell's their car. (though they should).

My theory is he came by that base sticker one of three ways.

1.) PCS car, and prior owner goofed.
2.) Relative's car.
3.) He's a GS worker. Probably low on the pay scale. Although i dont remember what the deal was with officer stickers. If they got a special coloration or not.

One thing he probably isn't, is in the acutal military. Enlisted or otherwise. No freaking way would anyone be allowed to pack on that many pounds. The AF (Assuming he's affiliated somehow given the base sticker) would have him on the "fat boy program". He'd have to lose the weight or be given a medical discharge.

Yea my dad is friends with a guy who was in the Air National Guard. He gave my dad his old pickup and it still had the sticker for Niagara AFB on it. Looked a lot like the one in the picture.

We ended up junking the truck, I wish I kept the sticker. :cry:

[Platapus]

When I was in, we either had to remove the sticker (almost impossible at times ) or take a picture of it after we scrubbed it clean with steel wool (which worked great). Some bases would not accept a picture but wanted the handful of tiny slivers.

[TLAM Strike]

When I was in, we either had to remove the sticker (almost impossible at times ) or take a picture of it after we scrubbed it clean with steel wool (which worked great). Some bases would not accept a picture but wanted the handful of tiny slivers.
Rubbing Alcohol and a razor blade works good for taking off stickers intact. :03:

[SteamWake]

Wow, just wow. It amazes me how anyone do that **** and not expect to be caught. I guess asshats like that guy assume there arent any veterans or offduty personnel amongst the general populace.


And yeah, the Travis AFB sticker is odd. Spent my last year in active duty on the base. I wonder how he got it. They are controlled items, but I don't think they're always removed from vehicles if someone PCS's and sell's their car. (though they should).

My theory is he came by that base sticker one of three ways.

1.) PCS car, and prior owner goofed.
2.) Relative's car.
3.) He's a GS worker. Probably low on the pay scale. Although i dont remember what the deal was with officer stickers. If they got a special coloration or not.

One thing he probably isn't, is in the acutal military. Enlisted or otherwise. No freaking way would anyone be allowed to pack on that many pounds. The AF (Assuming he's affiliated somehow given the base sticker) would have him on the "fat boy program". He'd have to lose the weight or be given a medical discharge.

One more possibility... he forged it.

My late father in law had a car with a sticker for Homestead AFB on it. While he was still alive (retired) he let us use it to access the base to visit the PX. I kind of felt guilty when the front gate saluted us, I pulled up explained we werent enlisted and just running errands for 'him', we thanked them for their service. We were curtiously waved on. But thats a different situation.

ps; This was like 15 years ago loooong before 911

[Platapus]

Rubbing Alcohol and a razor blade works good for taking off stickers intact. :03:

We had to put the stickers on the bumper and razor blades never did the bumper any good. If we were allowed to put it on glass, I would agree. :yeah:

[SteamWake]

Hrm and I thought Goo Gone was the weapon of choice for this little trick.

[TLAM Strike]

One more possibility... he forged it.

My late father in law had a car with a sticker for Homestead AFB on it. While he was still alive (retired) he let us use it to access the base to visit the PX. I kind of felt guilty when the front gate saluted us, I pulled up explained we werent enlisted and just running errands for 'him', we thanked them for their service. We were curtiously waved on. But thats a different situation.

ps; This was like 10 years ago loooong before 911

Defiantly before 911. :03:

But that's nothing. I lived right by a NY Army National Guard base during Middle and High School. As kids we would just walk under a hole in the fence where a storm drain ran on to the base and be in the motor pool. The Gunships (AH-1s) were fenced in totally but we probably could have driven off with a HUMVEE or Duce and Half if we were so inclined. (In retrospect why didn't we?) The front gate? When one of my buddies got his first car we just drove though- there was no guard or checkpoint, I don't think there was even a stop sign.

Right away after 911 they got a chain link fence gate and they put concertina wire in the storm drains.

@SteamWake: That was the system my dad the mechanic used for years. Goo Gone would work too, but Medical Alcohol is dirt cheap.

@Platapus: Yea it works on glass, the one my friend's truck and my buddy's (Fmr. Navy) car has is on the windshield.

[Takeda Shingen]

Good lord, if you are going to fake a story about being in Special Forces, you should at least look like there is a remote possibility that you could be in Special Forces, ie not being 70 pounds overweight.

Well, at least we have finally learned the name of the guy in this web classic:
http://www.misterjoke.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/fromtheinternet.jpg

[August]

One thing he probably isn't, is in the acutal military. Enlisted or otherwise. No freaking way would anyone be allowed to pack on that many pounds. The AF (Assuming he's affiliated somehow given the base sticker) would have him on the "fat boy program". He'd have to lose the weight or be given a medical discharge.

That Poser is definitely not military. His uniform is all wrong. For one thing SF officers wear their rank badge on their beret flash, SF enlisted wear their unit crest in that spot. You can clearly see the outline of a unit crest on the flash instead of a captains rail road tracks which should have been there instead.

Secondly there should be an Airborne tab between the SF arrowhead patch and the Special Forces tab and there ain't.

Thirdly US Army MP's don't wear their badges on their ACU's. They only wear an MP brassard on their left arm to identify them as a cop.

Which also brings up the fact that there is no such thing as a Special Forces MP either.

Oh and finally while the flash is SF (my old unit in fact) that beret looks black colored, not green like a "Green Beret" would be wearing.

[Ducimus]

That Poser is definitely not military. His uniform is all wrong. For one thing SF officers wear their rank badge on their beret flash, SF enlisted wear their unit crest in that spot. You can clearly see the outline of a unit crest on the flash instead of a captains rail road tracks which should have been there instead.

Secondly there should be an Airborne tab between the SF arrowhead patch and the Special Forces tab and there ain't.

Im not completely aware of army uniform reg's, so i stayed quiet in that regard. It did seem off, I just wasn't sure why.


Thirdly US Army MP's don't wear their badges on their ACU's. They only wear an MP brassard on their left arm to identify them as a cop.

Which also brings up the fact that there is no such thing as a Special Forces MP either.

This however, stuck out to me like a sore thumb. One is either an MP, or they are not, as far as i know. He's probably getting his branch's mixed up. Air force SP's (Security Police instead of Military Police), DO wear a badge device, on one of the breast pockets. I honestly forget which side (left maybe). The AF has a couple of badges that can be worn there. Command badges (ATC, AMC, ACC, etc) and specialty like prime beef, red horse, ICB missle, fireman, SP, etc, but the point being they do wear them.

However, they are cloth on BDU's (or whatever they're calling them now) and subdued. An actual metallic badge is only worn on blue's.

Another thing that is off, is the radio. An SP (and im guessing MP as well), would not be off base in uniform, with a brick still on them. If they had the brick, then they were on duty. I'm pretty sure SP's have to turn those at the end of the duty day. I had one issued to me every day while in base maintanence, and I had put it back in the charger every day before I left my shop. So i SERIOUSLY bout you'd see an MP/SP, at a gun show, off base in uniform, with a radio on them.

[SteamWake]

I know it is against the law to impersonate a Police officer, is it not illegal to impersonate a military police officer?

[CaptainHaplo]

Yes it is. 18 U.S.C. § 912

Max term is 3 years. There are some other things involved though.

[Platapus]

Yes it is. 18 U.S.C. § 912

Max term is 3 years. There are some other things involved though.

That might be a little tough to prosecute unless he demands something on the authority of the United States.

However, if you shift over to Title 18 U.S.C. Section 702, you will find


§ 702. Uniform of armed forces and Public Health Service


Whoever, in any place within the jurisdiction of the United States or in the Canal Zone, without authority, wears the uniform or a distinctive part thereof or anything similar to a distinctive part of the uniform of any of the armed forces of the United States, Public Health Service or any auxiliary of such, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.




http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/uscode18/usc_sec_18_00000702----000-.html

However, how would this affect people participating in recreations?

Unfortunately, I think it would be difficult to prosecute under section 702, unless someone is trying to "profit" from the impersionation

[Ducimus]

Impersonation. :hmmm:

I know. I'll impersonate an Airman. I'll look so cool, people will look up to me (*cough*) and the chick's will dig me in that cheap airliner suit. :haha: