Waverley Reynar’s MOS was Professional Liar
Last week Jonn posted about Waverley “Wave” Reynar. We know much more about him now that we didn’t know then. We know that his deceit and lies go back decades. We know that exposing his lies has hurt many good people that only want to help injured veterans. We know that his lies have hurt the real Marines that he claimed a brotherhood with, those that he pretended to have shed blood with. Most of all he has hurt Marines that were injured in Afghanistan and Iraq, the guys who are desperately trying to find their path in a changed world. They looked up to him. They admired him. They saw in him an elder brother, one who had been where they were at and found his way out of the darkness. They saw in him a father figure, a mentor and, last but not least, someone who understood what it was like to be mortally wounded and survive. Someone who had endured and triumphed. Someone who had not only lived but had a full life after the suffering. He gave them hope.
I have gotten to know a few of the people affected by his lies in the last week. Some of these same people were mocked and ridiculed on this site for supporting Waverley. We have forgotten that these people were not just names on the internet. We forgot that these are the people that we have talked so often about. These are the real victims of Stolen Valor. These are not people who bought into a lie for financial gain like those friends of Phil Moncross or AJ Dikens. These are real people who are veterans or people who support veterans. These are the people who believed a lie out of love and devotion. They were hoodwinked and conned, and I know you can’t cheat an honest man, but I also now know lies are not the same as being cheated. What happened here is many honest people, some veterans, some not, were lied to. They believed those fantastic lies because they are honest. They have a deep integrity. They have a moral compass. Waverley used those very qualities against them. We attacked his victims because they were doing what real friends do. We attacked them for not believing us right away. We attacked them for defending a friend. We ridiculed a wounded Marine veteran for having the nerve to question us. Instead of educating him and showing him the truth, we scorned him. In many ways, this week members of this site were no better than Waverley. We can and must do better.
I wrote the two paragraphs above yesterday (Friday) morning. Things have come to light since then that need to be shared.
Hold on to your hat folks: Waverley C. Reynar was in fact a Marine. He served from 1963 until February of 1967. There is a problem with the FOIA request, and that is why we didn’t get a hit back. I am working on getting a correct FOIA requested. What I do know is this….he did not earn any personal awards in that time. No Silver Star. No Purple Hearts. No Bronze Star. He was not a diver. He was not shot in the head. He was never a Gunny. Our best information at this time indicates he was either a Corporal or Sargent. It is not believed that he served in Vietnam. HE did get stationed in Adak Alaska, that’s almost the same as Vietnam, RIght? He did enlist in the Navy as soon as he got out of the Marines. He served on several diesel subs as a cook. It would also seem the he retired from the Navy in the early ‘80s with the pay grade of E-5. What should have been good and honorable service has been ruined by lies that started almost 50 years ago.
So to Mr. Reynar, I offer my apology, I said you were not a Marine and you were. That simple fact makes everything else you have done deplorable. In my opinion, you are the worst case of Stolen Valor I have ever seen. You stole services and honors from real wounded Marines. You told your lies to them knowing that they were suffering far worse than you ever had. You took all expense paid trips and travel, given to you because of your tall tales. You deprived real Wounded Warriors of those trips. I have spoken to your victims. People who took you into their homes and hearts. Good people that made you a part of their families. You may have earned the Eagle Globe and Anchor at one time in your life, but you have disgraced it with your actions. You shit on your brothers. How long will you continue to dodge the phone calls from your victims, or your “friends”? How long will you continue to lie? All they are asking for is the truth, but then again that’s something you haven’t told in fifty years. You see Mr. Reynar, I have been witness to the pain and intense sorrow your lies have caused. Congratulations, you made Marines cry. You have continued those lies this week with your stories of injury and illness. I saw the pictures. I also decoded them. Most were taken over a year ago. You don’t even have on the same clothes for pictures that were supposed to have been taken back to back. Picture numbers are hundreds apart. Yet you still try to con those that defended you. You are worse than a street thug, you use the sympathy and compassion as your weapon, not a knife or gun.
This is a clear cut case of Stolen valor. He falsely claimed valor awards and profited from those claims. He was given all expense paid trips to several different states and cities. He was the guest of honor at many functions. He is a conman and a thief. I hope he is prosecuted for his crimes. There is more to this story, and I will find it all out.
Category: Marine Corps, Navy, Phony soldiers
E4U, thanks for all of your hard work on this. And thanks for the reminder that the defenders of con men are not necessarily co-conspirators.
Enigma,
What about that dude is one of his pictures? The African-American Marine that “claimed” he saved Waverly’s life?
Good article, by the way.
hat would be a big Negative, he never said that, it was a case of I think he said this. No one ever remembers him from Vietnam
Got it.
Thanks.
The guy’s name is Larry Brown, from Chicago. He looks like he is “blinged out” as well. There is some talk going around that he vouched `for Flava Wave and said He put him in a body bag.
It could be he is a Poser as well, but until there is more info on what Brown actually is claiming there is no telling. He is already being looked at with a fish-eye by some in his Association with Reynar.
Given Reynar’s history of innuendo and name dropping Brown could have been a pawn in his game as well.
So he was a Marine. But a lying, deceitful Marine. That makes it worse.
My apologies to his friends and defenders, but not to him. Having actually served makes his crap even worse because, unlike those posers with no time in service, he should have understood what Duty, Honor, and Commitment mean and he chose to spit on those words for self gratification.
I still say “screw him and his lies”.
Out.
Maybe I missed something so I am going to go back and read through the hundreds and hundreds of comments. My recollection is not that this clown’s supporters and defenders weren’t so viciously attacked as they were responded to in kind. Admittedly, I didn’t read nearly all of the comments but this persistent business about taking TAHers to task has my back up. This isn’t a garden party for the pinky-up set. It’s a blog, a military blog, and some of us aren’t as refined as others. But, I’ll go look at those comments.
You are correct, they did come off as abrasive, however we know that he lied, they are personally vested in it. They have offered apologies and the Young Marine Brandon has done so publicly.
We see it as just another case of a asshole telling a lie, we have become somewhat jaded and that is understandable. But for these others not only is it their first time hearing about stolen valor but its personal and in their face.
In his case this guy was was like a father figure to many people. They are grieving his loss just as they would a death. Its even worse than death in many ways because it was a breach of something sacred, almost like being cheated on in a relationship.
They reacted with anger and while it was directed at us it was not about us, it was coming to terms with his lies.
I am absolutely gobsmacked that Reynar was a Marine. Mr. Reynar, I apologize for stating there was no way in hell you were a Marine. I was incorrect. You actually were a Marine. I am now dead curious as to your career. As a First Sergeant, I should have known better than to look at a picture of you in uniform and assume there was no way a Marine would ever wear a uniform that jacked up. Never underestimate a Marine’s ability to step on his crank, right Wave? I guess by assuming I made an ass out of me, to paraphrase the saying. On the other hand, it seems you were not a Gunnery Sergeant, Force Reconnaissance, nor a Vietnam war hero, or even in Vietnam. Very curious. This story does not appear to be over, so I will not say any more to or about you until it is done. I will be watching for updates.
I am also in complete agreement with E4U concerning treatment of people defending Reynar on this and other sites. Granted, these people were combative, but they were emotionally invested in the defense of a friend and mentor they considered the real deal that was being publicly maligned. I agree that we treated them in a less than professional and civil manner because we did not see this from their point of view at that time. I agree that as a community on this site we need to do a self-examination. We need to understand the emotions involved, and be prepared to step back and not attack back. I am not on a high horse. I have done the same thing on other occasions, and apply the advice to myself as well.
Tank dude made some excellent points here.
I agree, those who defended Reynar were conned by him, and they were besmirched by that conman.
Tankboy,
I wasn’t really surprised so much, There was a few photos that were posted that were rather inconspicuious that showed him in uniform that was line with someone being in the Corps in the early 1960s.
Ive also said FOIAs AREN’T to be considered foolproof. As far as the blatant ass-hattery with his uniform pictures after: There are a lot of bonafide Marines whoi served long ago who make errors due toi the changing of regs and them simply forgetting attention to detail. Waverly went full PX commando and figured he could get away with it.
I work with a guy that had the same years of service, except he really was in Vietnam. I showed him the picture, his initial comment was “Holy Shit!” I’m withholding any more comments on my part until we see the rest of the story. With what we have so far, there IS a rest of the story. I think we may have a tourney winner this year with no tourney.
Wes, you’re normally very thorough. But provided the info they’re given is correct, so is the USMC when replying to a FOIA. I’ll withhold my final opinion until I see the FOIA reply verifying his USMC service.
If you don’t mind me asking – what was wrong with the initial FOIA?
Sending you an Email
E4U, I hope those links I sent you last week were of some help. If you send me the names of the other ships he’s supposed to have served on, I can probably get more info like that.
They did and i meant to tell you thanks 🙂
De nada!
OK, my turn. Waverly Reynar, you really did serve in the USMC and in the USN as a hash-slinger. What you did afterward is nothing short of DESPICABLE, you made up a tsunami of lies, pulled good, honest people into your con game, and made them besmirch their own names when you called on them to defend you. YOU NEVER even tried to utter a peep here on TAH, Reynar, you conned others into doing so and hid behind them. Have you even uttered a peep to Rhonda? Yeah her, you conned her into speaking up for you, and she got “dogpiled” as a result. Rhonda, I know what it’s like to get conned, it’s happened to me before, forgive yourself first(I wouldn’t blame you one bit if you didn’t forgive Reynar) and I apologize for my incendiary remarks to you.
Okay, that was fun. Not. Arrrgggh. I reviewed the comments. The post came out on 8 May and the first page of comments contained somewhere between 180 and 200 comments, none of which said anything about any of his supporters or defenders. It was not until someone who ID’ed herself as Rhonda Hall of Alabama arrived and posted a dozen or so comments that anyone other than Clownie took some heat. And as heat at TAH goes, it wasn’t much. Nevertheless, it was recognized and stated by me and others who knew Clownie for years that would naturally go to bat for him and be the ones most hurt in the end. “Looks like Rhonda, as well as a lot of other decent people, have been taken in by the guy.” Just an old Dog (11 May) “I wondered at first if she was a sockpuppet, but now I’m convinced that Waverly Reynar mudsucked Rhonda when he conned her into standing up for him and slinging mud on his behalf…” Reply of A Proud Infidel. So, that was pretty much that and Rhonda was heard from no more. Then, a repost of a writing NOT directed to TAH from a Brandon Johnson (“Do yourself a favor and back off before it costs you.”) who, Enigma says, later apologized when he caught some truth. It was the repost of Brandon’s writing that seems to have pissed of a few people. He came on strong and is a big boy so, in my view, that’s tough shit. But he did apologize so he’s cool and, in reading the replies to him, I truly didn’t see anything particularly nasty. That put me at about 600 comments or so and that’s enough. I am declaring TAH NOT GUILTY of the suggested charges. Nothing personal. Truly.
Correction. Changes the meaning of what was intended:
“Nevertheless, it was recognized and stated by me and others THAT THOSE who knew Clownie for years would naturally go to bat for him and be the ones most hurt in the end.”
I’ll be digging through storage boxes. I have a boat load of 3/9/3 Mike Co stuff I have archived over the years from researching my oldest brother’s tours in Nam. Someone sent me the 3/9/3 roster’s too, IIRC…
If I am not mistaken, Rhonda came here first with threats of “legal action”. When that did not work, she then threatened to sic a Marine Corps Brigadier General on TAH. Then everybody dog piles on her like we always do with these sock-puppets. Well BOO-FUCKING-HOO. Sorry E4U, I cannot agree with assessment that we went overboard.
If she came here to seek and clarify the truth, then that would have been a different matter. Instead she came here as a classic sock-puppet to defend this piece of shit. She received what she dished out.
OVER
I agree. Rhonda showed up acting like a snotty, toffeenosed cow and tried to give people what for, and it didn’t work. She then scurried back to her cave. If she had been less obnoxious, the response might have been more lowkey in return, but she wasn’t.
And frankly, I don’t give a flying fart in space what general she’s dating. Namedroppers are a dime a dozen.
I agree. What he did, there is no excuse.
Now, I’m still confused on how he retired from the Navy, 20 years, as an E-5??? I really don’t think that was honorable. Something had to happen. Never knew E-5s could stay for 20 years. In the 80’s I’m sure the retention for E-5s was 12 years. Now you have me wondering if he had a Captain’s Mast then forced to retire.
Advancement in his rating was probably slow, or he never took the time to study for the advancement exams – plus he was prior service. Also, at the time, retiring as an E-5 with 20 years was possible (saw a few MS/CS types do it before the changes in HYT).
We shall see, I admit I am a bit impressed by a career E-5.
In mid 70s there was a lot of stagnation in the Navy, many of the Ratings were closed to advancement for all but the very best. Then again he could have made E-5 a few times.
In the late 1960s, I met a Bosun’s Mate who had been busted to PO3 from PO2 so many times that he was forced to retire as PO2 in 1968. He was the poster child for what used to be called a bad actor, or bar bum. I don’t think he was ever sober and half the time he didn’t show up for work unless he was dragged in by the SPs. So 20 years as E-5 or below was possible then.
FWIW, most of the mess cooks who advanced were Filipinos. I knew a couple of them who worked at the Pentagon.
I always noticed a crapload of Filipinos who served as cooks on all the Amphibs I embarked on. They were always very tight-knit and seemed to shun others. I’d not be surprised if the “Good Ol’ Boy” network of Navy Mess-cooks was Filipinos.
Ive even heard recent Navy vets talk about the “Filipino Mafia” when it came to promotions, awards and work details.
Come to think about it, My last deployment on an LSD we had rice every fucking meal.
When I was in (1971-75) there was a rate called “Steward” that worked the wardroom (which is officers quarters on ships). It was almost exclusively Filipino, I remember there was supposedly some program that allowed Filipinos to join the Navy in that rate and eventually earn citizenship. At some point they abolished that rate, and most of them shifted over to CS commissary man. A few switched rates entirely, we had a Chief that was a Steward and became a MM Machinist Mate.
On the career E-5, we had a Second Class Radioman that was an instructor on Ford Island. He was a great instructor, the school was very hard and had a big washout rate except his classes. The only problem was he always went to the club for lunch and would be blotto for the afternoon session. Command tried making him a deal that if he could stay sober for 30 days, they’d give him meritorious 1st class. He made it two weeks. Retired a few years later as an E-5.
Before integration ( and for sure before WW2) minorities weren’t allowed to serve in any other rate other then Mess personel, I believe.
I think a lot of it has to do with tradition.
Actually, I read that the Navy tried to eliminate Blacks from serving in the Navy from the 1890s until WW1. They didn’t desegregate completely until 1975 (with the abolition of the Steward rate and the creation of the Food Services branch). The Navy didn’t accept new Black recruits from the 1900s until the 1930s except for a brief period in 1918 during WW1. Secretary of the Navy Stinson actually implemented a lot of changes during WW2 but they were quickly reversed after he left office.
Blacks were usually stuck as Stewards, which were either personal servants to officers (the original rate of Steward) or waiters and busboys in the mess (the former rate of Messman that was merged with it after WW2). They received absolutely no useful skill training at all and a manual wasn’t printed for their duties until the 1950s – and it covered proper uniform ironing and shoe shining techniques. The other trades were usually “heavy lifting” labor jobs like Stevedore and Ammo Handler. The Storekeepers and Cooks were all White and there were no Petty Officer Stewards. Black warrant officers and officers were either assigned to Communications or administration and could only supervise other Blacks.
Filipinos were also Stewards and Messmen but they were allowed into technical trades after WW2 like Communications and Operations if they passed a background check. There were once more Filipinos in the US Navy than in the Filipino Navy. They call the Filipinos in Food Preparation the “Manila Mafia” because of their lock on that trade. Annapolis had an all-Filipino and -Guamanian kitchen staff from the 1900s until the 1970s.
Wave Reynar served – as a Marine and as a Sailor. I will never understand why people like him (and we have seen more than a few here) crap all over their honorable service by embellishing it. What does it serve, except to hurt others when it is finally found out that you’ve lied? I think that what bothers me the most is that my family has a history of military service – a grandfather served in the Marine Corps and fought at Tarawa; my father served during the Cold War for 20 years in the Navy, and my 26 years of service. When our time in the service was done, we hung up the uniform and tried to “carry on smartly” in our civilian lives. To be honest, I’ve been asked to show up at the Veteran’s Day ceremonies at local schools, just to be recognized, and I’ve turned them down – I’m not a hero. I, like many others before me, stepped up and served my country in uniform. There are others who have served in the community that should be recognized before I am because I see them as real heroes. Wave, take some time and look at the damage you have created with your lies – lying for 30 years or longer. What did you really gain from it? Look at all of the people you’ve hurt in the process – was it worth it? I’ve seen what man has the capability to do to others – and I’ve never seen combat (walk into an ER and see what rolls in the doors every night). But, you had to make up stories about your time in the Sea Services… you couldn’t relate to others because they saw combat and you didn’t, so you had to lie to connect with them. You used those same lies to have civilians pity you for all of the stuff you saw “in combat”. Did you think that because you didn’t see combat that made you a lesser man? You had a title that so few are able to call themselves… Read more »
Hmmm. No more fond of the shotgun approach now than I was 40 years ago. If I am guilty of some infraction, a private notification of it is all it takes. Until then, I will continue to think myself not guilty of the charges, and, frankly, don’t really think anyone else is either – in this case.
Meanwhile, E4U, I have seen other instances of it with other posers, and am always uncomfortable with words which presumably would not be made to an individual’s face that are typed on line. It’s not nearly as bad here as it is other places.
We may have to agree to disagree on this one, E4U. Likely won’t be the last time. 😉
I was the first to call Wave out on his page. I stayed polite, and professional even with his defenders calling me names. With that said, I have tried the private call out on a poser, all it did was get me blocked and the lies continued. For the almost 5 years of helping to out posers public call out works best, no chance to cover lies, with lies, and just like in this case, lots of people saw it and questions started being asked. E4U and I were getting people messaging us and saying ‘you need to hear this also’. That one public posting not only stopped Wave, but opened a information flow to us, to help find out the truth.
The truth is an absolute defense to a claim of libel or slander. A person inflates his educational background to include a Harvard education, is called out, and threatens his accuser with a lawsuit. (By the way, why anyone would falsely claim a Harvard education is beyond me. It’s not a good thing, in my view.) Well, what if the person attended a seminar at Harvard for a week or two? Is that a Harvard education? My point is that when it comes to lawsuits, people claim and argue some very stupid stuff. Or how about the guy who claims he was a Marine, sports all sorts of valor awards on his chest, and tells tall tales for years about his combat experiences, including that he was bagged but later rose from the presumed dead? Well, maybe he sues the accuser because he was, in fact, a Marine. But that would be foolhardy of him. Assuming the case isn’t tossed on a preliminary motion because a retraction and an apology for the error were posted, all of the lies will come out. All of the lies. And you know who will be front and center to testify? Those he deceived with his bullshit. These clowns like to think that because a tentative reliance on a response from a government agency came back negative on something, that they will reap some sort of undeserved payday. They could be more wrong but, frankly, I don’t know how.
Adak Alaska had a Naval Station and a Marine Barracks during his time.
If I was to guess ol’ Flava Wave was an egg-slapper in the Corps as well. Would make sense. Boot Camp and Cook School in 63 then Stationed in Adak for the rest of his hitch. Since he was in a small Marine Detachment aboard a Naval instalation the chances are he worked in the same chow hall as part of a Navy Mess unit. The base had subs there as well. He could have made a pretty smooth interservice transfer.
So his records did not perish in the fire, the Ukrainian magazine article notwithstanding? Shocker.
SHOCKED TO DEATH, I still don’t believe it,I’m to understand that you did get a hit from the Marines about his DD214? or from the Navy? How do you serve for 20 yrs and only are a E5? So is he American or Canadian? or do we care? Did he go to sub school? It all sounds wicked shady, your still a huge piece 0 shit, do the honorable thing and purify yourself with fire, and because I am a huge ahole Rhonda and her twat pals can go suck it, do your diligence,come on 4 purple hearts blah blah blah.
Yep I agree you are a huge asshole.
Rhonda and hers pals have been huge contributors to finding the truth.
She devotes one hell of a lot of time and energy to taking care of wounded Marine vets. Just because its the right thing to do.
You Jarhead Pat are way the fuck out of line and need to shut and and listen, maybe you will learn something.
All the more reason Reynar is so despicable, The people that defended him so vigoriously did so based on him weaving a shit load of lies.
It’s a bit much to expect people who aren’t in the know to maintain their bearing when someone who they respected, befriended and trusted is so publically put on blast.
Perhaps it’s best to realize that we are the PROFESSIONALS at this, and need to conduct ourselves as such, even when people who are duped lose their cool.
We don’t need to be vulgar to those who are being duped, especially those that see the light.
Just Old Dog just wrote The Word! Esp in para 2 and 3!
http://www.thesandgram.com/
GW Sprayberry, RM3
This is why fuck him and fuck them, you wanna run some sort of outreach Vet help line gig, how about get your house in order and police yourself, they were soooo helpful? yeah once he was outed.
If he was stationed in Alaska, or traveled through parts of it on his way to Adak, that could explain the pine trees in the background of that photo of him with the GUN.
Yes Ex, that would, him being an egg-slapper would also explain why he was wearing his duece gear like a hobo.
“wearing his deuce gear like a hobo.”
Thanks Old Dog….just covered my iPhone in diet coke while cracking up!
Very nice! I will be sharing that one
Believe that’s his rifle he’s holding in that picture, Ex-PH2 – not his gun. (smile)
— break —
Just an Old Dog: OK, help out a non-Marine here. “Deuce gear” – USMC slang for LCE and web belt?
Hondo,
Correct,
At one time (before my time even) Marines filled out Form 782 for all their gear.
For years after it was refered to 782 gear or “duece” (2) gear.
Same reason we called the same gear in the Army “TA-50” for so many years. Because the authorizations and BOI came out of publication CTA-50
Hence “go get your TA-50” meant “go get your field gear”
FYI the contemporary term for TA-50 in the Army is “OCIE”
Believe that was CTA 50-900, actually – “Clothing and Individual Equipment”. It’s still in existence; last update seems to have been 20 Nov 2008.
http://armypubs.army.mil/doctrine/DR_pubs/dr_a/pdf/cta50_900.pdf
I think that update is when a lot of stuff that formerly was a CIF item issued on arrival at a duty station and turned in on departure became individual equipment maintained by the soldier and carried with them on a PCS, but I could be wrong about that.
You are correct on all accounts
Actually. What would be interesting is a thread where we toss out service specific terms where nobody has any clue where they were derived from and see if we can get answers
That would be something, I know that in the Corps a lot of times lingo changed about every 5 years, mostly due to uniform and equiptment changes and different areas of operations.
I will re-post my original statement.
“I take no joy in doing what needs to be done sometimes. This guy has been sporting around in his clown suite for years at Marine Corps functions.
As I often do, I would like to draw attention to the Gullible Fucks that sat around and did nothing about it. Fellow Marines sat on their ass and did nothing.
Well, excuse the fuck out of me devil pups, the whole damn lot of you should be lapping up your next drink from the urinal.
Sad to say, but some of the Few should’t be so Proud. It is humiliating to know they let it go on.”
I don’t know what the hell is going on with this post. I am not apologizing to any of them for shit. The Gullible Phuks should be ashamed of themselves.
They can all take their hurt feeling and go hang out with that pussy in Florida that let punks piss on him and his doggy.
JHFC crying Marines……..WTFITWCT. And, just for the record, I talk just like this in person. Call me sometime, I am still waiting for General Phuk Up to call and explain why he let this shit go on.
Semper Fi.
Dave,
I had a chance to communicate with someone who had seen Flava Wave at a function.
There were people that have been wondering about him for a while, but you have to realize a lot of these individual sightings are every year or so. The chances are that up until he was outed no one saw his entire collection of ass-hattery all in one place.
The places shitbag showed up were events where there is sort of a gentleman’s agreement is in place.
Marines there would give each other the benefil of the doubt that they were who they said.
Seeing a poser in public and reacting to it is a lot like getting propositioned by a nancy-boy in a public restroom. You always think you would go off on the guy and cuss him out,, but usually you are just too shocked,,, you justyt get the hell out of there/
I appreciate your post. Thing is, no I dont wonder around trying to figure out what to do. I can tell you with out a doubt, if he showed up once in a lifetime wearing that clusterfuck of a uniform I would be in his face.
I give people the benefit of doubt. There is no doubt he has no idea how to wear that uniform properly. I can and have talked with people at length trying to give them every opportunity to prove their case.
I have baited people that were too aggressive with their calling people posers. I hate the fact that I need to have my entire SRB on hand to prove my service. It is assholes like this idiot that have made that a requirement.
I know exactly how I react to these people in person. Done it too many times. Ever since I found sites like TAH and realized I was not the only one that was pissed off, it has actually calmed me down a lot.
TAH has made me a calm, cool, and collected guy that stops to smell the flowers and pass warm fuzzies to my fellow man while diligently working to spread world peace.
I am getting older, but I doubt I will ever get to the place where I would rather die in a puddle of my own piss than a pool of my own blood.
I think your answer is he never wore a uniform in the states. Always a couple of miniature medals or pins on a sports jacket. The four horsemen of the apocalypse dress blues were sported at a Canadian function for Canadian Soldiers in Edmonton. I think we here were the first group to see a montage of the full ass-hattery that was Reynar. He went forty years. He wasn’t a stupid liar. If it wasn’t for the internet, he’d still be going strong.
My bizarre military career path allowed me to become an Army Infantry officer who sported both a CIB and a basic enlisted submarine qualification badge on the uniform. I’d say that, at about 1 out of every 3 events that I attended in uniform, there would be some form of military butt sniffing, where someone would delicately asked me questions about my service (the typical line would go “Are those dolphins?” followed by “There must be a story there” quickly followed by “What as your rate”, “What boat were you on”, and “Where were you home ported?” Thankfully, I didn’t get the board famous “You’re a molecule of sea water. Light my bunk light.”
I found it kind of comical, but I understood the reasoning behind it and was never offended by it.
It is incumbent upon the leadership of veteran groups to ascertain the veracity of service claims.
When I start seeing these organizations outing their own membership for false claims I will give them some respect.
I too have events during my career that are not believable. If I didn’t live them, I would not believe it either. The mere mention of taking a shit in the coastal waters of Beirut is enough to raise suspicion.
There is a difference between some gullible fuck that does not know any better than to believe this asshole and a group of Marines that did serve who do and lack the testicular fortitude to do something about it.
It was their responsibility to police their own. No balls, no glory. They appear to have neither.
1967-81 would be 14 years, which at the time was about right for HYT for E-5. I don’t ever recall having been allowed to retire without being at least E-6 unless TAR or other reserve programs.
very few of the frauds that do real harm are exposed without someone close to them giving a tip.
In this case I have no doubt it was a tip that started this ball rolling.
What I do when I start looking into a person is start from nothing and verify everything, yes its true, no its not or its questionable.
In waves case many of the things that were thought to be lies turned out to be true. He was a Marine. He did go to Boot camp in SD. Those things were very hard to verify. Chris and I as well as others has hours of conversations off line. I blew up every source I have with questions,
Its easy to decide what you want the out come to be but to look with an open mind is not.
The one thing that made this one very difficult to follow up on is he did not tell the exact same story to any two people or groups. So its not like anyone had the entire story laid out in front of them.
I can see how real Marines were duped by him. I can also understand why no one wanted to believe he lied. He is a very charismatic person, his lies started before the Marines. I doubt his wife and family knew the truth. He has enough evidence to prove his claims to anyone that looked. It took close scrutiny to find any portion of the truth. I doubt we will ever know the whole story .
Waverley has cut communications with everyone, the same people that called him Dad for years, the same people that he called brother.
At some point soon I will be free to post everything I have and I promise you guys will be astounded at the depth and legwork he put into creating this false person.
Great work. Some of my encounters just made me sick, not everyone has the stomach for it. It is sad when other people are hurt. I take no joy in that. I don’t think any of us do.
He brought on the harsh criticism by being deceptive and having his service questioned. You did the right thing and the fact remains you should not have had to do it.
There were many Marines that should have confronted this guy over the years and didn’t. These people let their bullshit fester until someone has to lance their puss filled ego.
Semper Fi.
I’ve always gone by the acronym “W W W W H W”… “Who, What, When, Where, How and Why”. Very well done, E4U. Look forward to the finished report.
Hooah.
Waverley has cut communications with everyone, the same people that called him Dad for years, the same people that he called brother. And that, in itself, speaks volumes about his character.
Hope wave is satisfied. He destroyed the trust of a whole bunch of folks who looked up to and loved him, and he did it with a half century of lies and deceit.
Hope it was worth it to you, wave, because you did a LOT of damage to good honest people who took your word at face value and trusted you. This is very sad…
Not just that, he’ll NEVER AGAIN have the trust of anyone that knows him. Critters like that serve as excellent examples of why one should never tell lies about themselves.
My pet theory is that when Wave was slinging hash on the diesel boats, he got to visit with some Force Recon personnel and absorb their war stories, etc. At that time, he was already lying to his shipmates about having served in Vietnam. All those “golly gees” probably got him started down the path of living the lie of a Force Recon Gunnery Sergeant with a chest full of bling. Well, that and the “Inside Force Recon” book that he apparently bought and read (and “liked” on Facebook). I primarily hate the guy for not being able to properly spell Cape Hatteras.