Charles Rood, the records of the WV phony SEAL
We talked about Charles Rood last month, a fellow who convinced the Huntington, WV Herald Dispatch that he was a Navy SEAL, and I suspect some of his mates in American Legion Post 93 believed him, too;
He really enjoyed working for Jim Tweel, owner of Jim’s Steak and Spaghetti Restaurant, but decided to join the U.S. Navy in December of 1959 and, this is where his story really begins to get interesting.
What a lot of his neighbors don’t know is, after boot training, he entered the Navy Seal Training Program. His Seal Training was done at the Navy Seal Training Center, in San Francisco. After completing training, he served on the USS Cincinnati SSN-693 until January 1970. As far as any missions he carried out as a Navy Seal, he won’t say.
I wonder why his neighbors wouldn’t know about that. Well except that he joined in December 1960 and he was discharged in January 1961. They probably never even missed him;
It is not clear whether a fire at a National Records Archive in 1973 had anything to do with a delay in him getting a deserved medal but he was tracked down last year and presented the Navy Seal’s Trident pin which he now wears on his Honor Guard uniform.
Yeah, there were no Navy records lost in that 1973 fire. And the Navy doesn’t hunt you down to pin a SEAL Trident on you sixty years after you earned it. He was probably lucky that his service was through the Christmas schedule or he would have served even less time.
Category: Phony soldiers
Excuse # 33: my records were lost/destroyed.
Check.
Next?
I hate these assholes…
Go through a life looking in the rear view mirror to see if someone is coming after you for your own lies and deception…
No way to live in my book…
These people are so damn stupid…
I’m surprised he didn’t say he served in Korea !!!
Unfortunately, I think these types are entirely to short sighted to consider the consequences of their actions past the momentary rush of having their ego stroked at the moment.
There’s no doubt about about his SEAL claim anymore, I wonder if he’ll spout off and try to defend his lie?
Is he even eligible to join the Legion?
See my reply below.
Eligibility Requirements for American Legion Membership
If you are currently on active duty, serving the United States honorably, anywhere in the world, or have served honorably during any of the following eligible war eras, we invite you to become a member of The American Legion. National Guard and Reservists having been Federally activated (including basic training) during these same war eras also meet the eligibility requirements.
Aug. 2, 1990 to today (Gulf War / War On Terrorism)
Dec. 20, 1989 to Jan. 31, 1990 (Panama)
Aug. 24, 1982 to July 31, 1984 (Lebanon / Grenada)
Feb. 28, 1961 to May 7, 1975 (Vietnam War)
June 25, 1950 to Jan. 31, 1955 (Korean War)
Dec. 7, 1941 to Dec. 31, 1946 (World War II)
April 6, 1917 to Nov. 11, 1918 (World War I)
Just wish to press a few sour grapes on the Legion membership issue. I am an honorably discharged US ARMY veteran, AUG 75 to AUG 78, and as such, not eligible for Legion membership. My local post is overrun with guys my age who never served a day, some who were draft dodger during the Vietnam war, but because their Dad’s are WWII or Korea vets they are Son’s of the American Legion. Most immediately buy a Harley and a leather vest they festoon with POW/MIA patches and become Legion Riders. Yeah, I am a little bitter about it, but my service was the best thing I ever did next to marrying my wife and I have no regrets with that. Thanks for the vent, Alan
Here in Canada to join the Royal Canadian Legion as a Ordinary Member is just have a minimum of 2 years service in either the Canadian Forces or Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Can members join for simply just being a Horses Ass American Wannabe?
No offense intended to legitimate members, only to the overflow of American Liars Frauds and Wannabe’s.
Alan, it’s because of circumstances such as you described that VSO’s/operating posts have declining memberships and are closing their doors. I believe if a person comes of age during peacetime and goes on to honorably serve/subsequently be honorably discharged,they should be eligible to join a VSO such as the AL. Regardless,you are more than welcome to sit down with me anytime and enjoy an adult beverage or even a cup of coffee. In my eyes you earned that privilege with peacetime service.
Well, Alan, if it’s any consolation, most Vets who are eligible don’t join. But if it’s service proud that you want to be, the Sons can’t truthfully wear an ARMY VETERAN ball cap but you can. Depending on your state, you may be able to obtain a Veteran tag for your vehicle and, at least, place a VETERAN sticker on your back glass or bumper. And, of course, when the great night falls, you will have a flag-draped coffin, a patch of ground, and a tombstone–if you so choose.
2/17: OT…you arent in Key West are you? Vehicle next to me with 2/17 tag on it.
No, but I am jealous knowing you’re there!
Dang…I was going to do a LRRP/SLURP over to the rig and get you to buy me an adult beverage.
It’s hot, but not too bad. Sea breeze makes it nice.
If you’ve never been, make sure you go to Mallory Square for sunset before leaving KW. It’s something worth doing at least once.
Could you please go to Sandy’s and have a Cuban mix and cafe con leche and tell me how good it is? I miss that place, that and the wings and beers at Finnegan’s Wake.
Wow. If had had stuck it out through boot camp, he would have been eligible. Anyone know if Legion Post 93 has given him the boot yet?
So, he doesn’t even qualify for membership in the Legion. Kick his ass out and do it in front of the membership. Word of mouth will then travel through the community he lives in and everyone will know what a fucking fraud he is.
Correct. For the American Legion, membership eligibility for the Vietnam War period began 28 February 1961 – or a month and a half after this guy left active duty.
http://www.legion.org/join
I’m not a AL member,but I think that you can join the Legion as a non-voting Associate member as long as you are willing to pay the dues and have a buddy/family member as a sponsor. Am I wrong? If so,please correct me. Thanks.
Not every post allows associate members. In fact, I’ve been a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars for years and years in many different states and only seen associate members in Ohio.
Gravel,thanks for the info. I thought it was an across the board kind of deal,not just an individual post/state allowance.
I was an associate member in PA when I first came off AD in 1984. My membership has lapsed, as has my VFW membership.
In PA Social membership depends on the by-laws of the post. Social members anywhere are not members of the American Legion (or VFW), but are members of the home association, ie: the bar. They cannot attend meetings or vote.
I assume that the Herald Dispatch is now in receipt of his massive file (not that they’d print a retraction) as well as AL Post 93?
And NO, he is not eligible to join the AL. Eligibility requires service during time of war, not necessarily in the war, and in 60-61 we appear to have been in between conflicts.
And even if it had been a qualifying period he has to be an honorably discharged vet. Yeah, didn’t happen.
He’s lucky to even have that National Defense Service Medal, it was authorized for Vietnam starting 1 January 1961, 12 days before he left the service.
I live in a very rural area. 10,000 residents. I have met 2 ‘Navy Seals’lately. One even gave me a business card with the trident on it. He’s a realtor. They both volunteered their Seal status during totally unrelated conversations. You can imagine my thoughts after reading TAH on a daily basis. Any suggestions on what I should do. I contacted Veriseal about the first but I didn’t have enough info. I Google both but nothing shows up.
Contact Senior Chief Shipley about the Realtor.
Well, if you’ve got (or can get through lawful means) the guy’s full name, DOB, POB, and rough dates of service (years are probably enough), I’ll be happy to file a FOIA on him. Or you could do that yourself – see the FOIA Process tab on the site. All but the exact DOB might be discoverable in the course of a few casual conversations, and maybe even DOB.
If he completed BUD/S, that will be in his records. The fact of graduating BUD/S is not classified, and is a prerequisite to being a SEAL.
As stated above, SCPO Shipley can probably give you a good idea of whether or not he’s ever completed BUD/S with just the guy’s full name.
I admit what I know of SEAL training, life and so forth would fit on my thumb nail. What I am pretty sure of though, is they don’t spend a career in SEAL duty assigned to a ship. THAT, I am positive of and that is just from following Senior Chief Shipley.
And kinda O/T…a steak and spaghetti restaurant?
I mean, I’m not Emeril Lagasse, but that just doesn’t strike me as a real good business plan. Pretty much guarantee that at least one and probably both of those end up sucking on ice.
Back in ’74, Texas Pete’s Chili Parlor in Palma, Mallorca, had the best steak and spaghetti you ever tasted. And there was a German/Russian waitress there named Katrina (Nina for short) who was so beautiful you’d cry – although she may have been a spy, I’m still not sure.
Stranger combinations seem to have made it though…Chicken and Waffles still baffle me but they are very popular now.
Then you’ve never had ChiliMac at Steak n Shake? You poor thing! And their onion rings! O.M.G.
No, but I have had Cincy chili (five ways, of course.)
At first glance you’d think, “WTF?” Spaghetti, chili, beans, onions, cheese? But it works.
Steak and spaghetti? Nuh-uh. I’m just a purist when it comes to steak. Better yet, just call me a steak snob.
Non military person here. I think any other non military folk here should join me in a group that travels and award these phonies with a specially tailored clown suit and a trophy in the shape of balloon circus animals. That would be sweet.
So he can’t talk about what he did….
but he can wear his ST6 shirt around.
I was an associate member after coming off AD in 1984. It has lapsed since then, as has my more recently gained VFW membership.
Stupid phone operator double post. Losiento.
We now have a confirmed bubblehead faker. I knew that it would happen eventually.
‘Bout freakin time!!! (G)
I think I’m going to have to use “the great fire of ’73” excuse too… Think it still applies since my BASD/ PBED is in 1990?
Just about as well as it does for others who use it as an excuse. 😉
Hey guys, I have an unrelated but serious question, I recently found out I could get my fathers dd-214, if I were to do this would anyone be able to help me figure out exactly what he did more than the basic’s I already know from growing up with him? He wasn’t one to talk about his work but I’ve always been curious to some degree.
William, sure. I’ll help you out if I can. My bona fides are US Army 1971-1991,Retired Sergeant First Class. I’m fairly well versed in S-1 Personnel matters and have time to help if needed.
I would greatly appreciate it, if you could email me at williamtemp10101@maildrop.cc I’ll can contact you from a real email address. I just requested the dd214 yesterday so it will probably be a while, but again I do appreciate it.
OK,E-Mail (with hopefully my E-Mail address)sent.
Anyone else notice where American Legion Post 93 is located (Kenova, WV) – and remember who else we “know and love” is there these days?
Please say hello to Nicole (AKA ObamaGirl) from all of us, “SR Charles the Mendacious”.
Maybe there’s something in the water there . . . .