Keith Chandler indicted

Our friends at Guardian of Valor send us a link to an update to the story that we did in July about this Keith Chandler dude who forged documents to get Purple Heart license plates for his vehicle in Ohio. From WKBN 27;

Keith Chandler, 33, was indicted Thursday on seven counts of tampering with records and one count of forgery, according to court records. He was not at the Trumbull County Jail as of Monday afternoon.

Prosecutors said he forged his DD214 papers, claiming he was injured in combat overseas in order to get Purple Heart license plates.

Local veterans, who were outraged by Chandler’s actions, have been in court for all of Chandler’s hearings, saying they plan to follow the case until it is resolved.

Last month, Chandler faced more than justice in the court room;

“A lot of our friends, they got the Purple Heart or they earned it. It was given to their mother because they did not survive and I guess we are here because they can’t be,” said Skip Cole, past commander of Military Order of the Purple Heart.

“It is unacceptable. I have been in combat and I have patched up and carried enough veterans that I am here fighting for the ones that could not fight for themselves,” Leo Connelly, commander for the Disabled Veterans organization. “It is unacceptable for you to dishonor my brothers and sisters that have given their life and made the sacrifice. I will fight until the last breath for that honor.”

His lawyer claims that Chandler was wounded in combat and deserves the Purple Heart even though the military thinks otherwise. So, if you think you earned something in the military, it perfectly acceptable to just forge a new record with whatever you think you deserve – that’s how the military recognition system works, I guess.

Category: Phony soldiers