Robert E. Brooks update
Thanks to our friends at the Quad-City Times for the photo
Our sources tell us that the NPRC big-wigs are looking at the records of this Robert Brooks fellow that we talked about earlier this week. Here are some of the records that I’ve seen which were created before the whole controversy began;
Our source tells us that the NPRC has requested that the Army and the Navy conduct an investigation. The NPRC has also sent us word that their old system of updating records in their care has changed since it looks like these records were altered. They guarantee us that they scrutinize records and awards more closely these days.
Someone scrutinized the order numbers that they were given by Brooks, and many of the documents don’t confirm that he was awarded all that he claims. For example, one DFC was the orders for the award for someone else, another was actually for an ARCOM and Brooks wasn’t listed and the same for one of his Silver Stars;
The NPRC also says that if the Army and Navy investigation concludes that Brooks altered his records, they’ll see to it that he’s prosecuted.
Category: Phony soldiers
Hmm. Interesting. Yeah, I think I can certainly see why he kept a rather low profile since 1986. Looking at his 1986 Navy DD-214 as an O-3E, we now know why his FOIA reply said “Discharged” vice saying “Retired”. Getting an OTH discharge with narrative reason “MISCONDUCT – COMMISSION OF A SERIOUS OFFENSE” would do that. Given the narrative reason on his DD214, I’m guessing that was the Navy equivalent of an Army Chapter 10 discharge for enlisted personnel – e.g., agreeing voluntarily to accept an OTH in lieu of court-martial. It also looks like he was already “rockin’ the lie” when the Navy pitched his ass – his OTH DD214 shows 3 Silver Stars, 4 DFCs (some of which don’t seem to check out), and 5 PHs are on it. So is his POW claim. I can’t help but wonder if those not-fully-documented decorations he’s claiming (3 SS’s, multiple DFCs – some of which are not documented, and 5 PHs) plus his specious claim of “POW less than 24 hrs” maybe had something to do with the Navy cutting him slack as a “war hero” and offering him an OTH vice tearing him a new flatus vent in a Court-Martial. The “POW Less than 24 Hours” claim is bull. Here are the lists of POW Escapees and POWs Returned Alive, respectively: http://www.dpaa.mil/portals/85/Documents/VietnamAccounting/pmsea_escapee.pdf http://www.dpaa.mil/portals/85/Documents/VietnamAccounting/pmsea_returnee.pdf There is no one with the last name “Brooks” on either list. And the list of POW Escapees includes several individuals who appear possibly to have been held less than 24 hours (e.g., captured one day, escaped the following day, possibly before 24 hours had passed) – including one who most definitely was held for less than 24 hours (the individual was captured and escaped during the same calendar day in 1967). So I’m not buying any “they didn’t record me as a POW because I wasn’t held 24 hours” claim – that’s nothing but BS. I also wonder if he’s been getting VA medical care and/or other bennies as a “Former POW”. An OTH is not a legal bar to receipt of VA benefits –… Read more »
A few things hat crossed my mind about his Navy info, based on my experience in an Navy FMF personnel office and working in administration at a training command:
1. His records were maintained by the Navy Personnel Office, 1st Marine Division (Hospital Corpsmen were responsible for maintaining Navy service records for Navy personnel assigned to Marine Corps units). He had to have been assigned to one of the Marine units on Camp Pendleton – my guess is one of the aviation units on the base at that time, possibly as a maintenance officer, based on his background.
2. More than likely, Bobby was rockin’ the lie around a few Marines, and someone called him out on it. He was probably investigated by the Marines on Bobby (and being a Navy guy at the time, it was probably pretty brutal) and someone pushed for him to be separated in lieu of Courts-Martial. The Navy Personnel office did all of the paperwork to make this happen as quickly and quietly as possible.
3. Bobby may have been caught doing a few things of a criminal nature that the Marines really frown on and pushed to have him separated. It was done to keep the Marines from, as one Marine general I once heard state “HAMMERIN’ THE DOGSHIT OUT OF YOU” (think a big dude with a heavy Brooklyn accent yelling that at you at a briefing…).
Dude screwed up then and has been rockin’ the lie ever since then.
I think you pretty much nailed it Chief. Its fairly rare in the Naval Service to discharge a commissioned officer with an OTH (I am a former Marine O3E myself)but I used to see a fair number of General characterizations when an O stepped on his crank and if they really FU they got a dismissal notice (the equivalent of a DD).
I am thinking that in a case like this it would likely be drug use or spousal abuse. I remember a LtCdr on one of the ships I was on who got caught with what would now be described as stolen valor (I don’t remember exactly what it was)and he got a CM and was fined and reduced in lineal numbers (meaning he would never see another promotion) but no OTH.
What do you think? An OTH for doctoring records or is it more likely this guy is more of a criminal than that?
I’d guess it was for something besides doctoring records. Otherwise, why is all the stuff that is not supported and/or questionable on his 1986 Navy DD214? You think that if that stuff was investigated and found to be fraudulent, they’d have removed it from his records vice putting it on his DD214.
Maybe it wasn’t HIS records.
Possible, I guess.
Guard Bum – I’m with Hondo on this one. Best guess is he was doing something that was bad and they booted him out as fast as possible.
I just looked at the MILPERSMAN that is current – Misconduct due to commission of a serious offense includes drug abuse and sexual misconduct.
Five would get you ten that he popped positive on a UA test… and a Sailor attached to a Marine unit popping hot would get no mercy in the sep process.
He wouldn’t have been with an aviation unit–the only aviation units at CAMPEN were with MAG-39, flying Hueys and Cobras at the time.
Possibly assigned to PERSUPPDET as the OIC. And that would neatly explain the tainted record.
He could have been at HMLAT-303. They activated in 82 and had a mix of Marines and Sailors up until 2006 or 2007.
Is his NDSM legit?
I hope that Bobbo will be “tossin’ some salad” for Bubba, Thor, Julio and “Tiny” sometime in his future – but he’ll cut some deal with the prosecuting attorney, cause he “caught” the PTSD
It looks like he conned someone when he went into the USNR in 1974. Up to then, the DD-214s are reasonable. Somewhere in the Navy he got a bunch of undocumented crap added to his records. It sounds a little but like my buddy, Gerald Green.
Also, on the continuation of the 1986 DD-214, the LCPODIVNAVPERSOFF (that’s leading chief petty officer in the personnel office for you non-Navy folks) who signed it is a hospital corpsman not a personnelman or yeoman who are admin specialists and who I would expect to see filling out a DD-214. I know that HMs are a whiz with medical records, but personnel records not so much. Maybe the good LT bamboozled the HMC with some fake documents to prove the award of medals that “didn’t make it” to his Army DD-214s and they magically showed up on his Navy DD-214. What the hell, if you’re walking out the door with an OTH discharge, you might as well make it look like something that will help you out in the future.
Reasonable except for the six campaigns on the VCM in a year and a half.
Based on his dates of arrival and departure from the RVN (3 Mar 69 to early Sep 70), at least 5 of the campaigns are legit.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_Service_Medal#Department_of_Defense_consolidated_campaign_periods
His records of assignment in Jonn’s earlier article seem to show some earlier Navy active duty time (1963-1966, if I recall correctly). The 6th VSM campaign could be from that time, it could be an admin error, or it could be BS.
I have been wondering why his FOIA said “N/A” under “Source of Commission”. Wondering how he got a commission … nowhere do I see evidence of a 4 year degree or service academy. His FOIA indicated he left the Army AD on SEP 9, 1970 and AD Navy service began on Sep 10, 1970. That’s sure is a quickturn.
I’m guessing LDO based on his time as an Army WO.
Um … Saw this coming.
Now a days, this can’t happen.
But back in the days of the SNAP 2 computer and all hand entries … Easy Day to doctor records.
From Jonn’s first post: “His records say that he earned the Army Overseas Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon and the the NCO Professional Development Ribbon (in the FOIA it mistakenly calls it the NCO Proficiency Ribbon) – none of those ribbons were in existence until 1981 – eleven years after Brooks left the Army.”
That seems to add credence to the theory that ass hat opened up a copy of the Army Officer’s Guide, or some such thing, as his Navy time was coming to an end in 1986 and just added whatever Army ribbons and medals looked cool and didn’t bother to figure out when they actually came into existence.
Bobo: the ASR and OSR may technically be legit. The ASR was made retroactive to anyone serving on active duty when it was created in 1981. The OSR was recently also made retroactive to Vietnam for those spending enough time there to qualify for short tour credit who were on active duty when it was created.
The guy was on active duty when both were created – though he was in the USN, not the Army. But he still might technically qualify, or one of the techs at NPRC might have erred. Or someone could have “slipstreamed” those into his records. Dunno.
Now, about that NCOPDR . . . I’d have to see some proof or get a ruling from HRC before I’d buy that one. I don’t think that the WOC course counts, but I might be wrong. And I’m relatively sure sister-service courses don’t generally count.
The NCODP ribbon does not transfer over from other services. When I went from USMC to Army I had done the SNCO course and WO Basic Course and none of that counted towards an NCODP ribbon. I did get credit for BNCOC PH II (took phase I so I could get ready to get promoted and was told day before graduation I didn’t need it naturally)and then I did ANCOC.
The Army seemed really confused that MCCDEC Quantico was the equivalent to TRADOC and they do not like to give credit for Marine schools. What I went through in BNCOC as a SSG was what they taught in the Cpls course in the Marine Corps.
So bottom line; no he would not have been able to wear the NCOPD ribbon for a prior service school.
Thanks, Guard Bum. Was pretty sure that was the case, but didn’t know for sure – that’s a “corner case” I never ran across personally.
I seam to remember seeing my DD214 being pounded out by some clerk at the ETS station. I bet a $20 bill could have gotten just about anything put on the form.
This dude is going to win!
What? You have not heard?
All-Points Logistics’ The Apprentice!!!
The winner gets a year contact/apprentice ship under Commander Phil Monkress, the CEO of All-Points Logistics.
Word has it that the competition was tough….but if you can fake the funk, Phildo wants to play with your junk!
In the 70’s and early 80’s I could have added or deleted anything I wanted to from my records. The Unit Diary entry would have been missing but most things could have been altered without notice.
In hind site I should have probably deleted my page 12 entries but I was proud of them. Still am. The way records were hand carried from command to command, I not surprised they got altered. Anyone with a typewriter and a basic understanding of an SRB could do it.
You’ve got that right. Things have changed today – at least on the input side. I was missing an active duty period on my retirement point worksheet and HRC (Army Personnel for you non-dogfaces)would not accept my DD-214 already in my electronic files as proof of service. I had to match everything up with my pay records which hadn’t synched up for whatever reason. The DFAS folks were actually very responsive, so big thanks to them. On the flip side of that it is even easier today to modify digital records externally to give to the organization of your choice. It would be nice to have some type of official gateway where a servicemember/veteran can provide instant access to certain official records. Would make things easier on NPRC. No authorization – no validation of your claim to fame. Hand-carried not proof of anything. Of course I choose to maintain all my personal info on my home server for convenience because accessing government systems is just too complicated. Couldn’t resist that last one.
Man he blew it. He could have made money on how to scam NPRC.
Man…TAH has only the very best in costume dressers.
damnit where’s my popcorn!?
Looks like he flunked out of WO flight school then became a super badass…on paper anyway.
Phoney phuck…forgery of a federal document and who knows what else.
Don’t think he flunked out of flight school, beretverde – his record of assignments in the earlier article shows 18 mo in RVN as a pilot, and his 1970 Army DD214 above shows Army Aviator Wings.
He may have been a tool, but he does appear to have flown rotary wing aircraft for the Army in Vietnam – and was awarded a DFC, a number of AMs (at least one w/V), and 2 BSMs for serving there.
Sad. Just freaking sad. He had a damn fine wartime record, then later apparently went rogue – getting caught a year or so before retirement.
Hondo…I think you maybe correct. I looked at the initial DD214 and it probably was a discharge from enlisted prior to WO appointment.
Wartime record blown by peacetime antic(s). Jump wings, Pathfinder, POW less than 24 hrs? Hmmm…
Rated comercial pilot/instrument as of 1994 as I recall. Fixed and rotary wing. No current medical on file. A&P Mech licences as well. All per FAA Airman Registry.
This cloww as in helo squadrons but does not mean he was a regular flying pilot. He was problably permanent duty or maintence officer. Being only allowed to fly his 4 hours for flight status. Given only mail runs type flights. I am sure our flying Es and Os have had someone like him in their squadrons before. Joe
C’mon guys, did you all miss the CIB listed on the attachment?
There’s no way he could have earned this if he was an Army aviator…
This guy is a real dirtbag!
Old 1SG: USARV had a bunch of exceptions to DA policy regarding award of the CIB, and some units appear to have taken liberties even beyond those exceptions. We’ve seen a number of non-Infantry folks whose records indicate they were awarded a CIB – including at least one cook.
No, Aviators weren’t eligible for the CIB – and I don’t think he legitimately got awarded one. But we’ve seen some strange stuff show up in the records of folks who served in Vietnam. You never know.
1SG, nope, we didn’t miss it. Nor did we miss the Parachutist or Pathfinder Badges, or the multitude of other undocumented medals and badges that he was able to inserted into his records.
What it looks like is this: He let his ego get the best of him in some type of a “my pecker is bigger than yours” contest and in the end he pissed 18 years, 2 months, and 16 days of service down the tubes.
I guess we’ll just have to wait for the NPRC investigation to run it’s course.
He pissed away 18 years, 2 months, and 16 days down the tubes when he did whatever got him the OTH discharge. Adding the extra crap on his 214 was just icing on the cake.
Slight pen and ink correction: that he was able to HAVE inserted into his records.
In regards to his supposed 37 or 57 Air Medals, I will put this forth. If his Flight Records Jacket (Trip Book) was maintained in the same manner that my Trip Book was, the daily entries for duration of flight times were entered with a #2 pencil.
Draw your own conclusions. But keep in mind that on at least two occasions he hand carried his records from station to station on PCS moves. Not saying he actually did pad the totals, but……..
Second fake POW story I’ve seen today. This one was posted on some local forums asking for free campers for homeless vets.
http://www.rockethub.com/projects/53167-helpwe
What is 3 week basic naval parachute school, then 3 weeks advanced naval parachute school? I always thought it was 3 weeks basic parachutist at Benning for everyone, then 5 more jumps in a Navy jump billet for the gold Navy wings. It all stinks. He was enlisted Army, then WO Army, enlisted Navy jet mechanic (AD) then Naval Aviator? Would it say “Attack Helo Pilot”? The verbiage sounds wrong.
Just ask Phildo.
His career path is quite telling….