Another phony Vietnam vet politician
Republican Mayor John Spodofora is being investigated by his own party on whether he embellished his Vietnam-era service record according to the Ashbury Park Press. Here’s what his website says;
According to the APP, the “Medal of Valor” was awarded to Spodofora by a hunting club. Of course, there is no US military medal by that name.
There is no question Spodofora, 66, served in the Navy for seven years from 1966 to 1973, at the time of the Vietnam War.
A public record of his military service obtained from the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, indicates Spodofora was assigned to submarine duty and was in the Caribbean and Mediterranean seas, but there is no documented evidence he ever served in Vietnam.
Spodofora contends there is a good reason for that: He was a spy, a self-described “spook,” he said.
“There are two issues here,” Spodofora said. “One, I was in Naval intelligence. Two, I have Vietnam veteran status from the (Department of Defense) … I never said I was stationed in Vietnam.”
Yeah, we call it “Vietnam Era” service in order to differentiate ourselves from veterans who served in Vietnam so as not to confuse civilians. And he was in the Navy’s secret squirrel (or some other more aquatic rodent – otter, maybe?) battalion;
Spodofora declined to say whether he was ever in Vietnam. But even if he never stepped foot in Southeast Asia, Spodofora said he would still be permitted to call himself a Vietnam veteran based on the number of years he served and the fact that his service coincided with the war.
“I worked in a position while in the Navy that prohibits me from discussing any mission, ship, submarine, time or location I was in while serving,” Spodofora said. “I cannot violate classified information to give any specific information. … I only claim I was a Vietnam veteran, which I am, according to the government.”
Yeah, forty years after the war, his missions are still secret. Most classified information is de-classified after 25 years. I’m surprised his records didn’t burn up in a fire, or something, too.
Spodofora said he planned to contact Rep. Jon Runyan, R-N.J., in an effort to have his military record declassified.
Yeah, do that, especially since Congress doesn’t de-class secrets.
The record of Spodofora’s service indicates he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal. There is no Vietnam Service Medal listed.
Anyone who served at least one day in support of military operations, including aboard a Naval vessel off the Vietnamese coast, would be eligible for the Vietnam Service Medal, according to the Navy.
Yeah, well, his Vietnam Service Medal was classified, too, I’m sure, because we didn’t want the communists to know that there was one more guy in Vietnam.
Martha Kremer said she remembers Spodofora would commiserate with her husband about his Vietnam War service and his survivor’s guilt.
Fuckstick. I guess at this point, I should highlight the fact again that it’s the Republican Party calling the douchenozzle out – unlike when Blumenthal was caught calling himself a Vietnam veteran in the 2010 elections and the Democrats were making excuses for him.
Thanks to ROS for the link.
Category: Phony soldiers
I dont’ know what the W-1 means after his service number, unless it means he was a warrant officer, grade 1, but that is incorrect. It should be WO-1. W-1 is just the paygrade.
If it’s an after-service code, I can only provide these:
Naval Reserve Volunteer Code & Meaning
V-1 Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps member
V-2 Aviation branch
V-3 Communications branch
V-4 Intelligence branch
V-5 Naval Aviation Cadet
V-6 General Service & Specialists
V-7 Midshipman Officer Candidates
V-8 Aviation Pilot Training
V-9 WAVES Officer Candidates
V-10 WAVES Enlisted Personnel
V-11 Officer Candidates “O-Group” (Older candidates)
V-12 College Training Program
O-1 Organized Reserve (Seagoing)
O-2 Organized Reserve (Aviation)
LT Georgey Boy … I did not see you Monday night. Go “f” yourself. If you want to talk to me direct contact TAH World HQ and they have permission to give you my info. This subject is old bad news and everyone in the fed govt and mil in the area has his number. Again, did not see you on Monday night!
BTW your narrative above is shameful … no doubt if you did serve you were a village idiot then and by your own scribe, most certainly now!
Former NSW Support Tech
Ex-PH2: “WO1” is what I think he meant.
A FOIA request will tell if that’s legit, too.
One other thing Fu*k Stick LT (junior officer) Georgey Boy (sounds so girlish) …
Don’t ever call me People again … it is Master Chief!
Go “f” Yourself & KMRIA!
Georgie boy posted this same mess over on his firefighters club website as a blog post, linking back to here.
http://ffcountry.ning.com/profiles/blogs/if-you-can-not-do-then-criticize-those-who-did?xg_source=activity
and on Facebook.
Born in 1940, it isn’t often that I get referred to as: “this generation”……
Usually when someone goes into a gunfight, he first checks to be sure his gun is loaded, i.e. having correct information. “……. did have some of his records burned in the Indiana NAVPRS depot fire in 1973…….” is not only not a bullet, nor a blank, but a pre-chamber detonation. How does it feel to shoot yourself in the foot, Georgie?
And another thing!
I was raised by one of those Warrant Officer types who served prior to and during WWII, prior to and during Korea and for a while after that. He taught me to address female officers as ma’am. He didn’t specify that it might be different among the branches of service – and given the number of nits he was capable of picking I am fairly certain that he would have if it was an item for concern.
Only folks who got tongue tied or were trying to be derisive called women “Sir.”
Here’s the thing about Navy service numbers: the ‘B’ series was only for enlisted servicemembers from 1965 to 1971. The series ran 10,001 to 999,999. The ‘D’ series ran 1969 to 1971, 10,001 to 999,999. The six numbers after the prefix letter indicate approximately when someone enlisted.
Spencer Tracy’s service number was 104 52 73. He enlisted in the Navy when he was 18, but never went to sea because WWI ended while he was still a student at what is now the Navy’s only Recruit Training Command (RTC) Great Lakes. He achieved the rank of seaman second class and was discharged in 1919.
Hey, Master Chief: Happy Irish Day!!! Have a pipe and a pipe on me!
That should be ‘pipe and a pint’. Sorry about that!
People,
I willfully posted my remarks the way I did for effect. I wished to see how the “Google” generation would respond to these remarks.
You did not disappoint. Except for missing the obvious termination of the Warrant Officer 1 rank in the United States NAVY, you picked up on each inaccuracy by going on line to discover the facts.
As expected you mostly all resorted to name calling and vulgarity, the defense mechanism of those who can not or will not do the hard work so you criticize those who did.
Thank you for your support!
Fireman Fritz ( yes I was a Fireman too after I came home)
Fireman Fartz, you have yet to prove anything other than you have a big mouth and that you are an obnoxious, self-important, outgassing dweeb.
You are so wide of the mark, you may sail off the edge of the earth in your haste to spread insults.
We’ll see, Georges. FOIA request regarding you will go out on Monday. We’ll see if you were lying.
You also might want to do a little bit of that research (presumably the “hard work” you refer to above) yourself. Your first, and IMO rather inane, comment above explicitly referred to the Vietnam period. During Vietnam, the Navy still had WO1s. That rank wasn’t discontinued by the Navy until 1975 – after Vietnam. It was therefore plausible to think that you were referring to a Vietnam-era rank when using that abbreviation.
By the way, “Fireman Fritz” – I wanted to thank you for helping me figure out something I’ve been wondering about for a long time.
I always wondered what happened to that leather-clad biker dude from the Village People after the group broke up. After looking at the pictures you posted of yourself on your website, now I know.
Fireman Fartz came on here smelling like a turd, and continues to emit the noxious gas associated with one who has shit himself.
@63 – Hondo! Village People! Oh, gaaaa…dammit! Spilt tea again!
Actually, Hondo, I have doubts about everything he claims, especially since the Google generation is a reference to my sister’s grandchildren, not to very many of us, if any.
It appears that Fireman Fartz doesn’t have a timeline for the US involvement in Vietnam, either, which says that his only real reason for showing up here more than a year after the last post about Spodofora was one or more of the following: A) attention whore; B) insult combat-experienced real vets; D) all of the above.
(I left out C) on purpose, in re: the non-Beirut Marine.)
We aim to please, Ex-PH2. (smile)
I’ve seen elsewhere where he’s claimed to be a Vietnam Vet, and at least one other place he appears to have claimed to be a “retired WO1”. His “work experience” as a Volunteer Fireman also seems to start in 1969. That would be consistent with him serving in the Navy during Vietnam.
We’ll see what NPRC says about him. FOIA request will go out in Monday’s mail.
No offense meant to the other recent commenters, but I’m probably the youngest person to post here so far. I guess I could arguably be a part of the “‘Google’ generation” referred to above; many others my age are virtually dependent on their iCrap.
The title of Fireman Fritz’ blog post is ‘IF YOU CAN NOT “DO’ THEN CRITICIZE THOSE WHO ‘DID'”, which insinuates that all of those who commented on Mr. Spodofora are has-been critics looking to attack “real” veterans. It’s obvious that Fritz is not a regular here, as a majority of the responses have been made by people who “did” and some who continue to “do” in various manners. Despite my relative youth I’ll throw myself in the category of those who “do” and “have done”. Unless the “Google generation” is barred from joining such an exclusive club. Maybe in Fritz’ mind service after Vietnam is unworthy of mentioning…
I’ve stated elsewhere on this blog that I try to withhold judgement until all the facts are in. I have a great respect and admiration for those who came before me, and it takes more than a mere Google search for me to discount anyone’s service. That said, I think that things a person says and (to a lesser extent, due to third party influence) puts into print can go a long way towards discrediting that person.
Fred Georges:
Acting like an asshole will get you treated like an asshole. You seem surprised by this. I can assure you it is not a recent development in human behavior, nor is it unique to the patrons of this website.
Also:
“As expected you mostly all resorted to name calling and vulgarity, the defense mechanism of those who can not or will not do the hard work so you criticize those who did.”
Are you suggesting that you did “hard work” by making up a bunch of bullshit claims, and that we’re criticizing you because we can not or will not make up bullshit claims of our own? Or are you suggesting that Spodofora did “hard work” by falsifying aspects of his service record, and we criticized him because we can not or will not make false claims about our service records?
Reading Fireman Firtz’s first post, I find: ‘insubordination writ, court marshaled and set to the brig’ (sic), which is not what any of us said back in The Day, which was the 1960s.
If you were insubordinate, you were put on report with a report chit, and then, depending on the level of the offense, stood at captain’s mast, followed by EMI or NJP, or busted down a rating or two.
If your offense was so awful that it actually warranted time in the cooler, you were put in the brig until you were sent to courts-martial, after which you got your punishment.
Of course, if I REALLY go back far enough, we just made people walk the plank or keelhauled them before scraping the barnacles off the hull.
I think it’s kind of telling that our Village People Fireman guest can’t even spell courts martial correctly.
I have one question for my elders, being one of the ‘google generation’ that the great Lt Frederick Georges (all praise be upon him) is ranting about. Isn’t the following a little out of character unit designations for the time period?
SPECOPS/EOM-NSA IV CORPS Vietnam Support unit-Thailand
Were there any units that were actually entitled SPECOPS in the navy during the Vietnam War? I know there were SEALS and UDT’s. It was my impression that SPECOPS didn’t really become prevailent as a unit designator until SOCOM came about in the 80’s. Before that you were either a SEAL, SF, Ranger, PJ or nothing.
I’m not saying this definitely, I am honestly asking. I have no clue what happened back then, being a mere OIF V-VII vet who happens to be a dirt-dart (that would be a paratrooper Lt Frederick Georges (all praise be upon him)), and who is unworthy to bear the jock of his betters like Lt. Frederick Georges(all praise be upon him)[/sarc off]
Seriously? did this guy expect that this is what would happen when he posted this drivel?
Without accessing Google, I can definitively state that Fritz the Scat is a dick.
I say that as a Qualified Submariner, who also was a Firefighter/EMT when he got out of the Navy. You want to compare resumes Fritzie? By the way, Ned Flanders called and said he wants his mustache back.
@72 and 73- You guys must’ve missed his follow-up post. He was totally just laying out false information about himself in a pompous tone to see what people in the “google generation” would do. Jonn, a few Vietnam era vets, and some cold warriors informed him that he was full of shit, which just proved to the incredible Mr. Georges that the google generation was a bunch of rude kids.
It was all part of his master plan, see? Act like a dildo, get called a dildo, then shake his fist at the neighbor’s kids for being on his lawn. And we fell for it.
Curses!
teddy996: a part o’ ‘is Mahster plan? Yer thinkin’ ‘e has the sense t’have a Mahster plan?
Aren’t ye a wee bit auld t’be a believin’ in Leprechauns, laddie?
(well, it is St. Patrick’s Day – smile)
Wait! Is it possible — possible that the master plan was cockled up out of flat beer suds by that infernal fiend D.W.Whipitnflogit?
Georges, or is that Fireman Fuckstick–in the spirit of St. Paddy’s day, “Have ya a valediction, boyo?”
Failing that, get some fucking time on the pond, nub.
@49-Hondo–I just went through all three threads again, and nothing I’ve seen so far would lead me to indicate that he ever had any significant underway time on any submarine (by significant I mean your basic 45-90 day spec op.)
At best, he was assigned to Squadron (what used to be known as Flotilla) staff, and farmed out as needed. I’m sure he did repairs, etc, but very seriously doubt he rode much, if at all.
From talking to the older guys who served in the 60’s/70’s, most of the ops off Vietnam usually went out of PI or Guam. The spooks would come down from Japan, etc., (like ours did when I was in) and set up, the boat would head out to do their thing.
NOT CHARLESTON. NOT THE CANAL ZONE. NOT PUERTO RICO.
Again, guy’s so full of shit he could be, well, a politician.
NHSparky: question for ya – what do the “Reason” codes (P, M, etc . . . ) on the extract of his record of assignments mean? No Navy background, so I’m curious about those. I also looked at the chronology of Spodofora’s assignments. While he was indeed a crypto maintenance guy, from his assignments it looks like he was pretty much “mainstream” until Nov 1971. That’s when he moved over to NAVSECGRU. I’d guess pretty much any possible “secret squirrel” stuff he did or would have been while assigned there. The Intel community is pretty insular even today, and was even more so back in the 70s/early 80s and before. Two problems with that, though. First: all of his time with NAVSECGRU was in the Caribbean (Galeta Island is on the Caribbean side of Panama). As you noted, it’s not too damn likely they’d have deployed him individually literally halfway around the world to support an operation. He’d have to have been a proverbial “all time great” for that to happen; otherwise, they’d have used someone from that community in the Pacific. Second, the timing of his move to NAVSECGRU doesn’t leave too much time for getting (a) experience in the new community, then (b) going on any operational missions. He was only assigned to that community in PR and the CZ for a total of about 20 months; he got out in July 1973. I’m guessing that the folks sent on operational missions would have to prove themselves a bit in that community (as well as gain experience/credibility) before being sent to support their first operational mission. In short: I agree with you. Spodofora’s records pretty clearly indicate he was blowing smoke with that “Vietnam secret operations” claim. He probably did some stuff with NAVSECGRU and as a CT and/or CTM he still shouldn’t talk about openly. However, excepting the remote possibility of being involved in a bit of remote shore-based support, the stuff he did personally and can’t talk about almost certainly doesn’t involve secret operations in Vietnam. (He might have seen some classified messages about that stuff,… Read more »
P would be periodic, T would be transfer, and not sure what M would stand for. Looks like they might coincide with training or schools over a certain period of time. Keep in mind evals have changed a bit since then (looks like they did every six months back then, now we do annual evals.)
If he was temporarily assigned to a boat as a rider, that doesn’t mean he’d get an evaluation from that command–rather, his parent command would still give him his periodic evals with input from the OIC (Officer In Charge) of the detachment to the boat. We on the SSN wouldn’t have jack to do with the rider’s evals. That’s the only reason I have said FOR SURE that he isn’t a “rider”…however, being on an SSN, and riding boats, it’s highly unusual to go seven years and not get SOME sort of “I was there” sort of award, such as a Navy Expeditionary Medal, MUC, or NUC (Meritorious or Navy Unit Citation.) PUC would stand out too much–they just don’t hand those out very much (USS Nautilus was the first peacetime PUC ever awarded.)
NAVSECGRU, IIRC, would be Naval Security Group, but again, land based. Unlikely to impossible he was shipped out to a boat from there. They’ve since been renamed NSGA’s, IIRC.
http://panamaliving.com/GaletaIslandSecurityGroupActivityPhotoAlbum.html
http://www.navycthistory.com/galetaisland_intro.html
Basically, it was a communications station.
NHSparky: pretty sure NSGA was short for “Naval Security Group Activity”. They used a lot of comm, but did a few other things besides.
Shitbag.
CT’s generally never talk about there work. They are bound by the same rules that ANYONE would be. They are vunerlable marks for spies. If he was a CTM … that means his fixed and maintained equipment. If he was a CTA he made coffee and rubber-stamped documents. Now if he was a CTI, differenct story. I have worked with and lead CT’s … odd bunch but important work. This idiot from Jersey is a POS poser.
Why are you guys discussing Spodofora again? I thought you got that settled, didn’t you?
This Georges dork appeared out of nowhere and attacked with no warning over nothing.
However, if you look carefully, you’ll see something that gives a clue to who may have sent him:
SPECOPS/EOM-NSA IV CORPS Vietnam Support unit-Thailand
This sounds an awful lot like something that the inimitable Witlessgelding would persuade someone else to post, if you remember all that crap with Timmy Rammerman elsewhere and when.
SPECOPS? The Navy? The Navy sent the Seabees over there to turn Bien Hoa into an airbase. They turned it into a brothel in less time than it takes to talk about it. They also built bridges everywhere, even if the NVA had taken them out a day earlier. The Navy sent river rats throughout the Mekong Delta. The river rats also called themselves the Brownwater Navy. The guys I knew coming back from SEAsia talked about Subic Bay, Olongapo, Yokosuka, Tokyo and (occasionally) Guam.
There’s no reason to be rehashing all this crap, is there?
All I see here is a hidden agenda, and it looks suspiciously like the handiwork of that inflated ego, the Archslayer Warrior of God, Dipstick Whipitnflogit.
Spodofora’s records only show “CT” (pre Nov 1970) and “CTM” (starting Nov 1970), MCPO. An image of his redacted assignments/performance page from NPRC can be found at the link in comment 42 above.
Redacted Billet Description … yes. Secret Squirrel NO.
I see no evidence that he was stationed at a NSW command.
He can try all he wants … the Navy does not hide where anyone was stationed … Even if the President seals the records (wink).
One other thing … using his measure of who he worked with, I worked with the Soviet Submarine force during my North Atlantic cruise in 1980 – 1981. While onboard the USS Valdez (FF-1096) we tracked, followed and at one point corner a Soviet sub.
Yes … I worked with the Soviets!
I, Fireman Fritz, state for the record that service after my generation is anything but “unworthy of mentioning” as suggested by commenter #68 and I am lost as to how he has concluded that there is some sort of “club” that I represent. I have, like many others simply spoke my mind, me and me alone. There is no group or organization behind me. I have no need to be supported which is a condition that has evolved from decades of neglect and abuse from groups and organizations who have done little more for Veterans than ignore us. And finally, I did not make my statements to infer anyone who posted was guilty of anything. It was my opinion directed at whom ever was responsible for a certain behavior that is very common today. All who took my comments personally… took them personally!, what can I do? What could anyone do? Things happen in life, good and bad. How each of us reacts to it all is of our own making. There is nobody else to blame. It is “just the way you see it”.
For a long time I heard “baby killer” and “dope addict” directed squarely at Vietnam Vets and I never became hostile towards these people because I was not one who did these horrible things. I am therefore at a loss to understand why so many on this posting become personally offended. If you are not like the people I have outlined why then all the outrage?
I do so very much appreciate and respect this commenter #68 for having the level headedness to respect us, the “people who came before me” as he states it. Thank you sir for your strength, wisdom and human decency to be willing to brave the wrath of the crowd and speak your mind.
You sir will be the hope of your generation. You will become among the leaders of tomorrow who will make the sacrifices to guide Americans to a better place. Unfortunately this will cast your efforts before the flesh eaters for scrutiny too. Good luck with that.
Jesus, you’re a fucking froot loop, ya know that?
Navy SPECOPS … no such thing! It is Naval Special Warfare … always has been and always will be!
Did Georgy Boy admit to war crimes above?
Oh … this could be interesting …
Hey, I could be wrong but just looking at Spiffy’s pic, I’d guess he is wearing a training bra, nylons, and some panties under his street clothes. As for Lt. Fireplug, his pic favors Jerry Colonna and in no small way.
Just so you know Master Chief Petty Officer, FYI Buddy-
Special Operations
“SPECOPS”
The Special Operations Warfare (SPECOPS) insignia is earned by officers by virtue of training in the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), Mine Countermeasures (MCM), Operational Diving and Salvage (ODS), and Expendable Ordnance Management (EOM).
“Not to be confused with Special Warfare” (i.e. SEALs), Special Operations, in Navy parlance, refers to dive qualified EOD technicians.
Be careful, I understand you can choke on “crow” bones! Did you SEE the part about “NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH SPECIAL WARFARE”?
@90 – Master Chief, do not go up in smoke over what #92 said. Keep calm and carry on.
I dunno what 88 said, but there were a lot of I’s me’s and my’s in his post.
@#88,#92:
You insidious bitch! Dissenting opinions are welcomed here, as our resident trolls will agree. Pure diarrhea of the mouth is not! You, in the several comments above, have added nothing, zero, zilch, nada, to the conversation; and have done your best to denigrate others. Take a flippin’ walk, asshole.
LT Fredericks, I think you’re a bag of dicks…out
I didn’t see it in comments earlier, but shouldn’t he have TWO GCM’s if he served SEVEN years?
For those that are Viet Nam ERA Veterans, there is nothing wrong with that. You served, you just weren’t called to go to war. I’m not a fan of the “era” thing, as it doesn’t quite make a clear distinction in the minds of civilians, so FREAKIN’ make it clear to them. Like I said, there is NOTHING wrong with that, and plenty to be proud of, in that you served instead of fleeing to Canada or signing up for ROTC long enough to get a deferral, and then quitting and running off to Moscow, while smoking but not inhaling weed.
But I don’t give a s*** what political party, political beliefs, or what you drive around in the back of your semi-truck, if you are a FRAUD, you are a fraud, even if you otherwise served honorably.
Fact is, I’ve personally busted more JA’s that agreed with me politically, but were lying, than I have of the “other party.” Why? because I am more likely to listen to them longer, and because it peeves me off more.
WOTN: I believe the Navy version of the GCM required 4 years prior to 1996.
Hondo–correct.