Edward Richards; Colonel Sergeant phony
Someone sent us a conversation that he had on Facebook with this Edward Richards fellow;
The Chosin Reservoir was in Korea, the battle that began at Chosin, had no parachute component. The only parachute jumps during the Korean War were made by the 187th Regiment. At the time of the Korean War, the 173rd Airborne Brigade was designated as the 87th Reconnaissance Troop and it was in Alabama as an Army Reserve unit. So the fellow who wrote that Facebook post was thoroughly confused.
This was his Facebook profile at the time;
And some of the pictures that he had there at the time;
Someone must have warned him that we were onto him, because all but one of those photos are gone, or hidden, now.
He has trouble deciding what his rank is – either a colonel or a Sergeant First Class. He’s pretty consistent about his awards, though. He thinks that he earned a 3rd award of the Combat Infantryman badge, a Silver Star, a couple of Purple Hearts and two awards of the National Defense Service Medal. I also see a Glider badge. Mr. Richards was born in 1932. In order for him to have three CIBs, he would have had to serve in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam – the only three conflicts for which the 3rd Award of the CIB has been awarded.. When WWII ended, he was 13, so it’s just not possible. The Glider Badge was last awarded when the school closed in 1947, when Mr Richards was 15 years old.
And, oh, yeah, the National Personnel Records Center says “Who?”
The form that the NPRC wanted us to fill out was in case his records had been lost in the 1973 fire, but, if you’ve read Hondo’s post about the records fire, since Mr. Richards is claiming Vietnam service, it’s not likely his records were lost in the fire, you know, because he has Vietnam Service Medals which would mean that he had to serve after 1959, and in order to have a 3rd Award of the CIB, he would need that service after 1959, too. Of course, if he is lying about all of that service, you know, World War II, Korea and Vietnam, then he might have had his records lost in the fire. One way or the other, he’s lying.
Category: Phony soldiers, Valor Vultures
Be nice if you could give us a location on these clowns. Being outside of Fort Jackson, I’m sure we have a few.
Per his Facebook page:
Lives in Westminster, Colorado
From Allen Park, Michigan
Looks like he has spent some coin on the tats.
Because you know full sleeves are totally legit with Bird Col’s.
Could be prison tats
And one of them says “Born to Squeal”
Roger that Jonn. As you know, when we have a location or specifics such as a VFW Post or in this case a Lodge #, I love to forward the post to the parent organization or newspaper and ask what they plan to do about the phony. I understand there may be legal reasons but receiving a shit load of e-mails tends to get their attention.
To paraphrase Rear Admiral Tarrant’s comment in the movie “The Bridges at Toko-Ri”….
“Where do we get such dipshits?”
To paraphrase Dan O’Day’s “Chickenman” intro: “They’re everywhere! They’re everywhere!”
So, it looks like he’s a Shriner. As it has been explained to me, he must also be a Mason. As one of our other posers, Mr. Banks, knows, the Masons aren’t particularly happy when a member is caught lying to them.
If he’s lying about his military service, then odds are he’s lying about being a Freemason as well.
If he really is a Mason and a member of the Shrine,then he’s about to be in a world of social hurt.
That is putting it lightly.
James “Manse” Towery, the Georgia Shit-sack, was also an officer in a Mason Lodge in Roswell, Georgia.
I mass messaged all the members of their facebook page and he was outta there in about a day.
They (the Masons) are very tight lipped about what they do in-house, but they definitly don’t put up with shit sacks.
It looks like I might have to renew my interest in the Masons. I just need to find the time to actually get the process rolling.
If his Fez is accurate,then he belongs to El Jebel Shrine #202 out of Denver, Co.
The stuff below, along the bottom should read Commander, Legion of Honor. That’s a group within each shrine for members who are honorably discharged veterans.
El Jebel FB page here:
https://www.facebook.com/eljebelshriners
Legion of Honor info here:
http://ialoh.org/
Thanks for posting the info AW1. I went to their web site. The Office Director for that outfit is: director@eljebel.org
I just forwarded the info and invite all to smoke the phony.
We seem to have another sighting of the regrettably all-too-common anus maximus antiqua.
Done seen it all now…a Colonel Sergeant! Is this the guy that came up with role playing war games by chance? lol.
He was promoted from Corporal Captain (h/t MASH)!!
That episode was my first thought when I saw the title. “I don’t like it, I don’t like it at all!”
Last year on a message board (I think) someone posted a photo of an office door from a USAF installation in Alaska in the 1950’s, back when names were “hand lettered” on doors. This one was the private office of a commander who’s last name happened to be “Sargent.” So the door read, from top to bottom:
COMMANDER
LIEUTENANT
COLONEL
SARGENT
PRIVATE
I wish I had captured that photo when I saw it, I’ve looked for it now to no avail. 😀
Ha! 😀
ah, he was promoted since I first heard the story of Major Sargent and Sargent Major Majors
served with SGT/E-5 Terry Major in the early ’80s. Yeah, he took a little grief
I served with Major Heidi Fury. She married an Army officer named Savage.
Major Savage-Fury.
#Winning!
“Ask and ye shall receive.”
Photo:
http://i.imgur.com/XSXvXQb.jpg
http://imgur.com/XSXvXQb
Joseph Heller had a MAJOR Major Major Major character in his great work, Catch 22. MAJOR Major’s claim to fame was “…a sickly resemblance to Henry Fonda.”
“After his promotion to squadron commander by Colonel Cathcart, people who had hardly noticed his resemblance to Henry Fonda before now never ceased discussing it, and there were even those who hinted sinisterly that Major Major had been elevated to squadron commander because he resembled Henry Fonda. Captain Black, who had aspired to the position himself, maintained that Major Major really was Henry Fonda but was too chickenshit to admit it.”[
Everybody knows Sergeant Colonel is the next rank up from Sergeant Major.
Maybe next he’ll claim to be a Major general like THIS:
Erhummmm …. allow me: I am the very model of a modern Major-General, I’ve information: unethical, fraudical, and criminal, I know the kings of fraud, and I read their fantasies hysterical From Androsky to McManus, in order scatological; I’m very well acquainted, too, with matters pathological, I understand their ramblings, both the simple and fanatical, About our actions I’m teeming with a lot o’ news, With many cheerful facts about the tightening of the noose. I’m very good at intel and different machines; I know the military missions — including the Marines: In short, to bust the most unethical, fraudical, and criminal, I am the very model of a modern Major-General. I know their mythic “history”, to be blunt, it’s such a crock. I laugh hard at their excuses, they’ve the intellect of a rock, I quote in modern prose all the wrongs of braggadocios , These rascals know no shame! A peculiar bunch of Bolos; I can tell undoubted Heroes from the fakers and pretenders, I know the croaking chorus of the deceptive counterfeiters. Then I can read a 214 despatched from NARA way before , And decipher all the truth from that infernal attention-whore. Then I can write so clearly using proper English form, And tell you ev’ry detail of a jumped-up uniform: In short, to bust the most unethical, fraudical, and criminal, I am the very model of a modern Major-General. In fact, when I know what is meant by “fraud” and “valor stolen”, When I can tell at sight a poser and a felon, When such affairs as death threats and surprises I’m more wary at, And when I know precisely what is meant by “washed-up water rat”. When I have learnt what progress has been made in their skulduggery, When I know more of Law than a “30-year catastrophe”, In short, when I’ve a smattering of elemental gallantry — You’ll say a better Major-General has never sat a Harley. For my military knowledge, though I’m plucky and adventury, Has only been brought down to the beginning of the century; But still, in matters most-unethical, fraudical,… Read more »
It looks like he’s wearing good conduct medals from the Army, USMC, and USAF. He’s also got a Berlin Airlift device on his occupation medal, and he’s claiming 6 PHs. Also, no WW II ribbons. I have no idea what any of that is after the Korean War Service Medal, but based on their placement, they would be either National Guard state awards or awards from a non-federal organization.
I missed the BSM w/”V” device and ARCOM w/”V” device in the photo that I was using (the one taken at Target). His Shrine photo has them pretty clearly shown.
Speaking of that “Target photo”, what is that shiny brass pin uppermost on his right breast? Looks like one component of it is an anchor maybe?
I think that it’s an RVN Ranger badge. Actually quite coveted and difficult to obtain if earned and not purchased. Some of the Vietnam Vets might be able to correct or add informantion.
Looks like a good match, I bet you are right. Thanks!
http://www.nchsinc.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=0165
Slap me upside the head and call me a dipshit if I’m wrong, but isn’t he wearing a 3rd Award CIB in his SFC Pic?
Yeah – just like Jonn said in the article. (smile)
I claim NECY – Not Enough Coffee Yet! 😀
To expand a bit on what Jonn said above: there’s no way ALL of this individual’s military records were lost in the 1973 NPRC fire if he’s telling the truth about having a 2nd NDSM. Brief explanation follows.
The 1st NDSM eligility period was the Korean War (27 Jun 1950 to 27 Jul 1954). The Vietnam War NDSM period was the 2nd NDSM period; it began on 1 Jan 1961. He would have to have served during both periods to rate the NDSM with one star.
Army records affected by the NPRC fire were those for personnel discharged between 1 Nov 1912 and 1 Jan 1960 – a full year before the start of the Vietnam NDSM period. If this bozo served in Vietnam during the Vietnam NDSM period, that means he has active-duty service on/after 1 Jan 1961. Ergo, his records for that second period of service WERE NOT AFFECTED BY the NPRC records fire; they’d be on-file at NPRC today. And those records for his later service would contain at a minimum a summary of his prior service during Korea – and possibly the entire prior record.
There is one peculiar “corner case” scenario where he could rate the VSM for service ending prior to 1 Jan 1961 (Service in Vietnam qualifying for the AFEM prior to that date, followed by a request to exchange that AFEM for the VSM). But in that rare case, he’d not rate a second NDSM because he would have no service on/after 1 Jan 1961.
Either way, as Jonn notes above he’s lying about something. My money’s on “lying about it all”.
By the way Not all the records at the NPRC were destroyed during the fire. I was stationed there and know for a fact that there were some backup copy’s stored in Salt lake city With morman at there storage facility! And like I said in my comment about this guy! If he were SF I’ll eat my beret! I was the first Branch Chief for the SF Branch when SF became it’s own MOS not just a SQI of S
True. Even for the records from the period affected – personnel discharged between 1 Nov 1912 and 1 Jan 1960 – only approx 80% are believed to have destroyed; the rest survived. Records for those discharged before or after that time were not affected.
http://www.eljebelshrine.org/category/front-page/
The site doesn’t list if he is still the president.
Looks like he’s wearing a USAF shirt and Colonel’s insignia. And what are those collar devices he’s wearing ? Did he go to the Androvsky school of military uniforms ?
Why not? He’s got the Air Force Good Conduct… along with the Army and Marines Good Conduct.
Yeah.
And I love the tattoos.
Silver Star? Check.
Purple Heart? Check.
Master Parachutist Badge? Check.
Special Forces DUI? Check.
3rd award CIB? Claro que sí.
He’s hit all the markers, folks. He’s fully legit.
The Glider badge is what seals it.
Yeah but no scuba bubbles and no stories about being kept in a tiger cage while POW. I’d like to see what he has tattooed on those arms though.
You’re right, I forgot all about the claims to POW status.
No SEAL Trident, either.
FAIL.
Im no expert but I think that he has a Berlin Airlift Debice on the Army of Occupation medal, and I think that is also incorrect.
Right?
Absolutely correct. That was given for 92 days service in Germany in support of the Berlin Airlift between June 26, 1948 to September 30, 1949. If this guy was born in 1932, there’s virtually no chance he’d have finished training and gotten there in time, even if he was born early in the year and enlisted at age 17.
OK, maybe this uniform suffers from Schizophrenia and Edward is just an innocent victim, an unwilling albeit helpless prisoner of fashion?
I love it when it looks like they rolled around in a pile of ribbons and badges and just kept whatever stuck.
Please tell me this is not the same guy:
http://www.purpleheart.org/members/national/ChapterOfficers.aspx?Chapter=1041-CO-5
Chapter Junior Vice Commander:
Edward W Richards
Sure ’tis, per FB:
“ABOUT EDWARD
I am the Adjutant for our Purple Heart Chapter #1041 and Past Commander of the Legion of Honor.”
Thanks, BNG.
Another village has lost an idiot.
I know all those ribbons are so pretty, aren’t they?
What I really want to know is how he avoided the draft in the 1950s and 1960s. There was a period of time during which someone who did not want to get drafted could avoid it by getting married, but it was prior to 1961. When LBJ ramped up the military presence in Vietnam, you either ran away to Canadialand or became a protester and burned your draft card if you didn’t want to serve. Otherwise, you got called to AD. Since I know someone who ran off to Canada – an MD with a specialty in pathology – to avoid the draft, I really want to know how this load of dicksnot managed to avoid the draft.
And if any of you ever run into a by-now retired MD in pathology by the last name of Survis, let me know. I do remember what he looked like. I would like to return his 4z5 negs to him in person.
While his Silver Star, 3 Bronze Stars and 7 Purple Hearts are impressive on their own, I’m most impressed by his 12 commemorative medals on the bottom of the rack. It’s not as if you can just buy those things. This man is a true hero.
Looks like the petrified sack of guano has been rocking the lie for quite a while… maybe it’s time some of the groups he’s associated with (Shriners, Masons, MOPH) need to be aware of his “military service”.
Go Big or Go Home.
Why do people think veterans go around wearing their old uniforms? The most I’ve ever done was use my Quartermaster Corps pin as a lapel pin because I couldn’t find my normal pin. The worst I might do is wear my mini-ribbon rack on my suit jacket to my class reunion later this year… but that’s what all of the vets in the class are planning.
The only thing I wear is my 172nd SBCT lapel pin on my work hat.
Miniature Naval Aircrew wings and a gold First Class Petty Officer crow on my boonie hat, normally worn while fishing.
Mess dress medals with correct sized CIB and enlisted submarine qualification badge when at formal events of a military nature. Other than that, never.
ACU pants, wear them around the house. great work pants. The awards, are in the bottom drawer of the beaureau ( I think….she might have moved them)
The rest, I gave away to my freinds kid who is into airsoft.
Just another old, gnarly tattooed shitbag.
Loser.
Damn, at first glance I thought maybe a case of dementia but he has no problem proudly displaying his douchebaggery on social media. Not just a shitbag but in the words of the Greaseman. “he’s a massive, gassive, far from passive, gnarled and twisted, double fisted, room clearing, bowl smearing, tissue tearing, cussing and swearing, cheeks flapping, toe tapping shitstain”! He’s about to find out “deleting ain’t cheating”.
Greaseman? He till around? Remember when he was on big in DC and much later he was broadcasting out of a closet somewhere.
The GreaseMan, DC101.
Still have a tape cassette of one of his radio programs from the early 1980s.
He was better than a cup of coffee in the morning.
I used to have a bunch of cassette recordings of the Greaseman. The Boss got rid of them when our boy’s started humming along. That was right about the same time she overheard the 12 year old tell the 10 year old, “we’re in the truck now we can say shit and damn”! Not a good day for all the males in our household.
wasn’t the Greaseman the one who earned his station a stiff fine on the first official Martin Luther King Day by saying “and all ou Federal workers get the day off – just think, if they’da shot 4 more you could have had the whole week?” Man had NO control over his mouth…
He was Anti-PC before Anti-PC became PC.
Seems to be still out there and kicking:
https://www.facebook.com/greaseman
http://www.greaseman.org/
Thanks for the links, Hondo.
For years, wondered what happened to him and for a while, thought he was Howard Stern.
He was “brutal” in the early 80s via Radio FM. Utterly enjoyable.
They don’t make em’ like they use to.
If you can have a Sergeant Major, why not a Colonel Sergeant? I wonder if he can produce a retired military ID? Or at least a VA ID card.
There is an Edward W. Richards from Colorado listed here – no info about him such as the conflict in which he received the PH –
http://www.thepurpleheart.com/recipient/
Unfortunately, that organization accepts documentation provided by the individual as verification.
http://www.thepurpleheart.com/docs/Enrollment.pdf
Who knows if they have and use “well calibrated eyeballs” in recognizing fake certs and phony/altered discharge certificates?
Love the picture in the Target store. “Honey, I’m going shopping, could you make sure my ribbons and finery are on straight?”
WHA-DA-FUDD? Soup Sandwich’s Granddaddy? He’s more 8UP than a giant chocolate dildo in a crowded gay bar with all that shit, and a Shriner? Yeah, one has to become a Freemason before going to the Shrine, methinks he gots a lot of ‘splainin’ to do to some folks real soon!
I wonder if he has ever taken the motorcycle off the high dive?
DAMIFINO GT, IMHO all he’s missing are some squeaky clown shoes and a unicycle!
I stand corrected.
A village did not lose an idiot.
A circus lost a clown.
He looks more blinged-up than a South American North Korean Generalissimo.
I wonder how many innocent people this assclown is about to embarrass?
I wonder how long we have to wait until this guy’s grandson shows up defending him?
That ribbon at the bottom left – is that the one for surfing? Because I got that one too! 😀
I lost my eye in a paper clip fight.
YEAH, WELL I GOT A HANGNAIL while filing paperwork, SO THERE!!!
Papercut while updating charts! HA!
This turd never even served a day and he’s been passing these lies off to whoever would believe his crap.
Are these organizations really hurting so badly for members they don’t check anything anyone says ever? Are there no requirements for membership beyond saying you got 3 CIBs and a Purple Heart along with service in two different branches?
I realize I’m not a fucking superstar, but I can prove where and when I was at any place I spent time while serving. I can produce a very old ID card, and I can produce records from the US Army and CT National Guard, it’s not really rocket science to check this shit out.
I hate to say it but I’m getting pretty jaded with a lot of these organizations because it appears they just aren’t trying to find the liars at all, in fact with piss poor entrance standards it almost encourages shit bags to step in and fill the void with a pile of lies.
Geez, the Shriners operate some of the best children’s hospitals in the country to help those who need it the most. They depend on charity for a lot of their funding, having liars as representatives won’t do much to aid those efforts. I give the local hospital here in Springfield Massachusetts donations on a regular basis.
This guy is a clown in a Shriner’s Fez, but the worst kind of clown, the lying sack of shit dishonest clown.
If there was an ounce of character left in this shit bag he’d come clean and apologize to everyone in all of these organizations and resign immediately and never darken the doors of these places again.
It’s possible he served pre-1960 and his records were lost in the NPRC fire, VOV. But however you slice it, some of his claims appear to be bullsh!t.
I hope you are right that some were possibly lost, otherwise Hondo this guy is a total and complete sack of shit fabricator…
Although, to be fair, I’m not certain being a partial fabricator makes it any better…it might even make it worse because someone who did serve should know better…
Nork generals don’t have this much bling.
What is that award hanging around his neck?
That is the Shriner’s Legion Of Honor medal that is worn by all veterans of the Shriner’s. Something tell me he won’t be able to wear it anymore.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think non-military awards are allowed on the uniform. Not that it matters with this joker.
In this case it is allowed. The uniform he’s wearing is not as a member of the armed forces but as a member of a military fraternal organization (The Legion of Honor unit of Shriners International). To become a member of that unit, you are supposed to provide a DD-214. You may also wear a military society’s medals on your uniform when attending events of a society (think Audie Murphy, St. Barbara, etc.)
Dear fucking jebus, what kind of a soup-salad-sandwitch is this character?
No one yet mention the Drill Sergeant Badge he’s wearing on the left pocket flap of his blues?
AND … Pathfinder!
Someone should tell these posers, just because there is a title and rank of Sergeant Major, there IS NOT a title or rank of Colonel Sergeant!
That is all!
I rather enjoy what they ad lib, no need to tutor them in becoming better at perpetrating the fraud.
That big hat.
One of this “Grand Poohbah’s” titles is, “Public BSing Officer” of the “Phony Veterans of Phony Wars organization”. 
Jonn writes:
Slight correction: The glider badge was still being awarded as part of jump school as late as MAR 25, 1948 per my father’s jump cert.
His graduation was delayed a few days due to inclement weather and the gliders were grounded.
Is it normal for honorably retired service members who are also Masons or Shriners to wear military rank when in costume? Anyone know?
Yes, and the answer is no.
looks like that dude went shopping online and had no idea what he was buying. we used to call them guys *PX soldiers*
In my AD Army days we referred to that breed as “PX Rangers” (Early 90’s).
I don’t think there’s anything normal about this turd.
I posted the Shriners photo on their club page, and got a reply. It addresses the uniform and the Colonel’s Bird, but not the awards:
“You are mistaken about the Shrine Unit uniform. Each Shrine unit or club defines the uniform for its members. Our Legion of Honor is reserved for veterans and uses the Air Force type insignia. This includes club officers designated within the club. The Commander or club president is awarded the colonel’s eagle and Past Commanders retain that designation, once again for purposes of the club. The blue uniform is not intended to claim Air Force service. As a veterans unit they are allowed and encouraged to display their military decorations on their club uniform.”
I take it they didnt want to address all the unearned medals.
They haven’t replied to me yet about that.
Like many of the poser’s wives and girlfriends, they are defending him.
It seems like they’re clinging to him like he’s a pole in the sand while a tsunami approaches.
Wow.. I thought they would be pretty thorough about vetting someone into their organization. Seems like they have the same problem as a few other groups.
Randy Newman said it best years ago when it comes to most social groups and their membership, HMCS(FMF) ret.:
Ooops, clicked report button when reading.
If you’re a poser, at least do some actual research before spouting off BS historical incidents and vignettes, to include gems like “the 173rd jumping at Chosin”, and “I served with the Big Red One on Guadalcanal”…
You forgot “I served with the 82nd Airborne at Iwo Jima”.
Or, “I served on the USS Monitor at Little Big Horn”…
I was with Hondo at Gettysburg.
I am deeply saddened by the comments posted on this website about a decorated war veteran. I know Mr. Richards personally and am the Director whose email address is posted in this thread. Brother Richards is a Purple Heart award winner as verified by the State of Colorado via his DD-214 by the license plates on his car. I also know that he served in Korea and Vietnam. I have passed the concern of the embellishment of his ribbons to the former Regional Commander of the Shrine Legion of Honor. He will verify the medals he is wearing on his Shrine Uniform. Make no mistake about it, the blue uniform he is wearing is a Shrine unit uniform and is not a military uniform. Brother Richards has served the Shriners multiple times as Commander of the El Jebel Legion of Honor. The Shrine unit wears bars, leafs, and birds as ranks in their unit only. Brother Richards earned the birds by being the Commander of the local unit. He is entitled to wear them on his Shrine uniform for the rest of his life. You all should be ashamed of yourselves and the way you have accosted this war hero on this website. I am a retired and disabled veteran of the US Navy myself and take this stuff seriously. My name is Bill Schwartz and you can look me up on the El Jebel website. I am the person who received the “phony” email and the current Treasurer for the organization. I am not here to hide behind a screen name and perform keyboard karate on anyone. I understand the accusation of the embellishment on the service medals and we are looking into that. If proven correct, are all of you willing to personally apologize to a decorated war veteran or will you hide behind your keyboard and attack someone else? My email address and name are out there if you would like to speak with me in person. Do me a favor as a Brother in Arms, do your research before you destroy a man’s character. I am… Read more »
Bill: the research has ALREADY been done. Look at the documents at the top of this page (I’m surprised you haven’t already. Why?). And please explain all the inconsistencies and outright falsehoods that completely contradict Richards’ outlandish claims. Why is he wearing awards and badges that he clearly could NOT have been given?
By the way, Jonn, Hondo, and many others who are involved with this blog are subject matter experts on military personnel records. You should take their research and comments seriously.
Also, the mere possession of Purple Heart license plates is NOT proof that it has been awarded. Where’s the DD-214 that was submitted to justify it?
It’s not us who you need to be ashamed of. Richards is flat-out lying about too many things to be considered a credible source. Open your eyes to the documentation and the many inconsistencies and contradictions in his stories and on his uniforms.
You are retired Navy? If that is the case, then you should be ashamed of yourself stating that Richards is a Purple Heart ” winner.” Also, if you know anything about U.S
Navy history, then remember the men who lost their lives on the U.S.S
Indianopolis. I’m sure their families were “proud” their lost/deceased Husband, Son, Brother, Uncle, “won” the Purple Heart. Last, you mentioned you wanted TAH to apologize….what about Richards apologizing?
Amen to that. I am just a civilian that never served, but even I know there is no “winning” when it comes to the PHM or any other medal. This guy is an asshat.
I admit my poor use of words. I should have used “recipient” and did not intend to imply that it is a good thing to win. I am also man enough to admit this. I am retired Navy and was retired disabled with a service connected disability at age 23. I do not regularly come to these sites and post but was drawn here on a call to action for us to terminate Mr. Richards membership in our organization. When I arrived, I found some awful things being said that were not substantiated with fact or were mis-construed due to lack of information.
I hate to see those of us who served be called names and ridiculed for what we post as substantiated by fact. I know Mr. Richards personally. This goes to the systemic problem of us not coming together as Americans but rather tearing each other down. We wonder why our beloved nation is crumbling under our feet, and then we go online and attack each other our of jest.
I admire the work of those who expose phony soldiers with substantiated evidence, but this is a case where I do not believe Mr. Richards to be a phony. I will reserve judgement on his awards and badges until I receive more substantial evidence. This is also a case where a costume or fraternal organization “uniform” is being used as evidence against this man from an uninformed standpoint. Mr. Richards has not ever claimed to be a Colonel. His birds on his Shriner uniform actually stand for Commander, which is his position in the Legion of Honor.
If Mr. Richards is embellishing his service awards and badges he will handled appropriately by our organization internally. We are working on our end.
Thanks,
Bill
Easy solution here, Mr. Schwartz. Have Mr. Richards give you a copy of his “documentation”; redact his SSN, if present; scan that documentation; and send it to the site owner (his email contact info is listed under “Contact Us”). The site owner publishes corrections on those rare occasions when necessary. Be advised, however, that the site owner also has access to some bona fide experts in spotting faked military documents. Known historical facts and the photos above would seem to indicate that Mr. Richards is not being truthful. On example: the awards he’s wearing above show he claims to have served in Vietnam and qualified for both the VSM w/3 campaign stars and a second NDSM (he’s wearing both in one of the photos above). The second NDSM means he has active-duty service after 1 January 1961. The 3 campaign stars on the VSM means he claims to have served on active duty, though possibly not continuously, from at least 15 November 1961 until sometime after Christmas Day 1965 (the earliest date at which someone with 3 campaign stars on their VSM could have qualified for that 3rd campaign star). NPRC cannot find his records. The NPRC fire did not affect the records of Army personnel discharged after 1 January 1960 – a full year earlier than the start date for the 2nd NDSM period. For USAF personnel, the latest records affected by the fire were for personnel discharged prior to 1 January 1964. For Mr. Richards awards above to be legit, he must have served on active duty for a minimum of approximately two years after that date. Ergo, his records relating to his claimed Vietnam service would not have been affected by that fire. Additionally, Mr. Richards appears to be wearing the USMC, USAF, and USA Good Conduct Medals above. For this to be legit, this means he had qualifying enlisted service in each of those branches of service. No USMC records were affected by the NPRC records fire. So those records would be present at NPRC today. There are numerous other issues with the awards and decorations… Read more »
“I am not here to hide behind a screen name and perform keyboard karate on anyone.”
You know, I have about had it with every swinging dick that shows up on this site and takes a swipe at those of us that choose post anonymously.
Bill Schwartz, let me do you a favor and explain it to you. The only reason you showed up at this site is to defend your dipshit buddy who was seeking fame and notoriety by posting his “I love me” pictures on the interwebs. Well, he got what he was seeking. So, just because your dumbass friend was effective in his mission (becoming internet famous)and required you to come here and defend him, whether we post anonymously or not is completely irrelevant. Edward Richards claims to be a decorated wounded combat veteran. The NPRC cannot confirm that he even served. Done.
Thank you,
GDC
Real name: GFY
First off it takes an intelligent man to name call. I did not come on here to defend my friend. Your “friends” drug me into this by sending an email to my email address that your “friends” posted on this website. That email called for internal charges be brought against this man and that his membership in our organization be revoked. With this claim and call for action, I as an officer of the organization had to investigate the claims. I have taken action on my end and have done some research and am getting the SF-180 signed by Mr. Richards so that I can either substantiate the awards on his chest piece or rectify the situation internally of what he wears on our organizations uniform.
You are a chicken shit if you post anonymously and then insult and call names the person who steps up to the plate. I do have military service and am a retired disabled veteran with a service connected disability. To jump on me for putting “winner” rather than “recipient” is big tough guy stuff right? I served and I have moved on with my life and do not get bent out of shape over something so trivial.
Furthermore, do some research on the NPRC and you will see that the letter posted is due to insufficient information given to them. It is virtually impossible to have all of the correct information to request Mr. Richards records without his authorization. The Privacy Act of 1974 limits the information you can request and requires more information to get access to the records than what is available on the “interwebs.” The Freedom of Information Act does not include personal records and therefore would not qualify under this scenario.
Take a minute to do your own research before believing everything you read on the old “interweb.”
Sorry my friends drug you here, the chickenshits.
Again, you would not be here had your friend not posted pictures of himself in costume on the internet. My (our) anonymity is irrelevant.
Actually, Schwartz – some of us are quite familiar with the FOIA process. The letter above indicates that a SSN was provided as part of the FOIA request – that’s what the line “SSN/SN: ******993 / Unknown” provided as part of the subject line on that letter means. Specifically, that generally means that a SSN was indeed provided (thus the “******993” before the slash), but that the older Service Number or Serial Number was not provided (thus the “Unknown” following the slash). Either number alone is sufficient, along with FirstName/MI/LastName. Often, NPRC can find a legitimate vet’s records with neither if Full Name, DOB, POB, branch of service, and approximate dates of service are available. And no, I am not the individual who filed the FOIA above. However, I’ve filed on the order of 100 others. Now, about Mr. Richards here. Here’s what the guy is wearing, decoration-wise. Analysis is based on this photo: http://valorguardians.com/blog/?attachment_id=63631 In that photo, he’s not wearing most of his claimed qualification badges, so I’m limiting discussion to his ribbon rack. All rows are described from the viewer’s left to right (inboard to outboard): Top Row – Silver Star 2nd Row – BSM w/Devices (min 1 OLC, maybe also V device), Purple Heart w/Silver and Bronze OLC, ARCOM w/OLC 3rd Row – Army GCM w/3 knots, USMC GCM, USAF GCM 4th Row – Army of Occupation Medal w/Berlin Airlift Device, NSDM w/1 star, Korea Service Medal w/4 campaign stars 5th Row – AFEM, VSM w/3 campaign stars, RVN Gallantry Cross w/Palm 6th Row – UN Medal (Korea), UN Medal (UNTSO-Palestine/UNOG-Lebanon), RVN VCM 7th Row – ROK Korean War Service Medal; remaining awards on this and subsequent rows appear to be non-Federal awards or unofficial commemorative ribbons Here are a few red flags: 1. The PH w/Silver and Bronze OLC signifies 7th award. Not impossible, but I’d want to see proof. Surviving being WIA on that many different occasions is fairly rare. 2. Army GCM w/3 knots, USMC GCM, USAF GCM – implies service in an enlisted capacity with all 3 services. In addition, the USAF GCM… Read more »
Mr Richards, based on wearing all his bling, doesn’t strike me as someone who would forget to put all his service stripes on his blues.
Thanks for posting that. I hadn’t seen that version. It is curious that he would wear only two service stripes, indicating 6 years of service, when he has GCMs indicating much more than that. Also, the lack of overseas service bars, despite ribbons for service in Korea and Vietnam is also interesting. If I were going to spend all the cash for a set of blues with attached accoutrements, I’d go ahead and get the correct number of service stripes and OSBs also.
I also didn’t notice any blue disks. They might be there with the picture quality, but I can’t see them.
Went back to before the blues replaced the greens (AR 670-1 1981) and only service stripes were authorized on the blues. No OSBs, but 6 GCMs while showing 2 stripes is problematic for someone that needed to have served in Germany in June 49 to get the airlift device and Christmas Day 65 in VN to have 3 campaign stars on their VNSM.
Indeed. Even if the 1st Army GCM was for a “short tour” that ended early and was followed by a break-in-service (the Army GCM may be awarded for as little as 1 year of service for the 1st award if the individual was released early, and for even less service if discharged for disability), based on the other 3 Army GCMs he should have an absolute minimum of 10 years of active Army service. That means he should be wearing at least 3 service stripes on those Blues, and probably more – not 2.
Hondo,
The awards following the ROK Korean War Service Medal are all commemorative medals (not awards), available from everybody’s target of rage, Medals of America. In descending order on his rack:
Combat Service Commemorative Medal
Presidential Unit Citation Commemorative Medal
American Defense Service Commemorative Medal
Korean Defense 50th Anniv Commemorative Medal
UN Military Service Commemorative Medal
Gallantry Cross Unit Citation Commemorative Medal
Vietnam Defense Commemorative Medal
Cold War Victory Commemorative Medal
Special Operations Medal – Commemorative
Airborne and Air Assault Commemorative Medal
Overseas Service Medal – Commemorative
I am reasonably certain that they should not be mixed with Federally authorized awards on the same rack.
I’ll be more than willing to apologize to Mr. Richards if he did, in fact, earn all of the awards and badges that he is wearing. I’m even willing to concede that he might have military service that the NPRC researcher didn’t find. Even with that concession, I’m guessing that there will be no apology based on a few factors:
1) The glider badge that he is wearing was last awarded circa 1948, making him about 16 when it would have been awarded to him.
2) He is wearing a CIB with two stars (3 awards) but is not on the National Infantry Museum list of three time CIB awardees. It’s a short list of 324 infantrymen as of 2012 and tracked closely by the Infantry Association.
There are plenty of other things on the uniform that are questionable, but without a DD-214 from the NPRC, they are at best suspicious. As far as your using the Colorado DMV as a reputable source of validation, I’d be careful. If you look through the pages here, you’ll find plenty of people with PH plates who provided forged DD-214s to the DVMs. Honestly, the low level DMV employee probably hasn’t seen enough DD-214s to spot a forgery and probably doesn’t care enough to check. As long as the guy behind the counter gets the piece of paper to put the check mark on the plate application, he’s happy.
Honestly, if you want to get all of this cleared up without the possibility of shenanigans, have Mr. Richards fill out an SF-180 (http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/standard-form-180.html)with his service information in section I, DD-214 or equivalent checked in section II block 1, your name and address in section III block 3, and his signature in section III block 4. When you get the honest DD-214 from the NPRC that didn’t go through Mr. Richards’ hands, you’ll know the truth.
I am working on getting the form you mention completed. Please at least take the time to look for yourself at the pictures. He only has 1 star above his CIB and not 2. This is consistent with his service in Korea and Vietnam. The claim on this blog of 3 CIBs is not consistent with the pictures posted on this blog. Furthermore, the information of him wearing the Col. Insignia is uninformed based on the pictures. I understand the confusion with the blue shirt, however, that is a Shriner uniform and not a military uniform. Mr. Richards has never claimed to be anything other than an enlisted man who did a life sentence in the US Army. Lastly, Ed claims that he received glider training in England in 1948. I have asked him to substantiate this because of his age.
I am taking the time to research this matter and hope that the name calling and public shaming of this man will stop until the questions can be answered. These pictures are mis-representing this mans military service since they are not military uniforms other than his Sgt.FC picture.
Thanks,
Bill
Mr. Schwartz: your attention is directed to the last photo in the article above – the photo of Mr. Richards wearing what appear to be Army
GreensBlues and SFC rank stripes. That photo rather clearly shows him wearing what appears to be a CIB with 2 stars – not one. Click on the copy in the article to see a larger copy of the same photo.A CIB with 2 stars requires the individual to have served as an infantryman in combat in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. If Mr. Richards was born in 1932, he was no older than 13 when World War II ended.
Hondo,I do not dispute the claim that if he is wearing the 3 CIBs that would not be accurate since he is not listed amongst the members published that have achieved this lofty accomplishment.
I do not see the 3 CIB’s you reference in the picture and have saved the picture off and blown it up as large as possible and still make out what it is. I see the very blurry picture that you do and I see the two leafs protruding up and 1 star being in the middle. I am making this observation based on open space and lines of the badge since it is very difficult to determine. I looked at a picture of the 2 CIB badge and the 3 CIB badge and the lines and spaces are more consistent with the 2 CIB badge. I then used the other pictures for verification of what he wore in them. Since the other pictures show 2 CIBs, I use deductive reasoning to come to the conclusion that he is consistent in his other awards and would assume he would do the same with the Combat Infantryman Badge as well.
I also have serious concern for the letter from the NPRC regarding the lack of records because with a little research you will find that you need the Veteran’s authorization to request the information that is needed to verify these pictures. Without the Veteran’s authorization you need the following (straight from the NPRC website): Name as used in the Service, Service Number or Social Security Number, Branch of Service, Dates of Service, Date and Place of Birth. I have serious doubt on the ability of the person who posted this to obtain all of that information accurately to ask for Mr. Richard’s records without his permission.
There are too many things I see wrong with these accusations to find them creditable. I also see the other side and am researching the proper method of obtaining the records to substantiate the awards and badges he is wearing in his Shriner uniform.
There’s also that pesky claim, made by his own hand, that he jumped with the 173rd at the Chosin Reservoir.
I know you were limiting your comment to his ribbon rack only, but…
Sorry, meant this as a reply to Hondo, a few comments up the tree.
Mr. Schwartz, what is his claim to service in an Army SF Unit? He IS wearing SF DUI in more than one photo, and WHY does he sport COL rank on both his shoulders and collar at the same time, and which shirt is the Shriners’ uniform, the blue or the white one?
As stated several times before, the Shriners unit wears bars, leafs, and birds depending on their position inside the Shriners unit. They as a unit decided to use the rank structure of the Air Force. Each local chapter of the Legion of Honor gets to choose their uniform. The local unit chose the Air Force because of the proximity of Buckley Air Force Base and the ability to get the uniform pants and shirts they need. Both the white and blue shirts are used by our Legion of Honor with the blue being the uniform they wear most often. The reverse side of the uniform shirt has a full back piece that is embroidered that is looks exactly like the three color ribbon and medal he is wearing around his neck. These guys wear their Shrine uniform when carrying the flags in a parade and when posting the flags at our Shrine meeting.
I do not know his duty record regarding special forces and hope to clear that up when I get a copy of his DD-214. As stated above, we are handling the review of his chest piece to his DD-214. We do not want our members to portray themselves as something they are not and take ethics violations seriously.
On the other hand, I do not like to see the very awful things said about this man in a public smear campaign when those who are saying them are not completely informed about the rank insignia and what uniform he is actually wearing. I understand the arguments regarding the awards and have not defended the validity of them. I am holding my opinion on these until I can get further clarification.
It’s apparent to me that you’ve known him for some time and you want him to be proven correct about his claims. On the other hand, I’m an Army Vet with three overseas tours, I’ve been there, done that and paid my dues and there’s little that bugs me more than someone parading ficticious or embellished Military Service for their own gain. Shrine Uniform? Okay, I won’t debate that, but what about his parading around a store in it wearing a PH ball cap? The PH is a medal that was posthumously awarded to some of the guys I served with in the ME that came home in flag-draped coffins, this someone falsely claiming one makes my blood boil. The higher echelon of TAH does not take things lightly and they do NOT post about someone until after they’ve done their homework. I wish you luck in your research, but by the time someone is featured on TAH they’ve already been checked!
Bill,
Any word on that DD-214 yet? I honestly hope that you will do the right thing and let us know, one way or another, if the DD-214 that you get from St. Louis looks like the one that he is claiming.
If it does, there are a number of people who would like to talk to him to make sure that he gets the recognition that he deserves. I’m guessing that Doug Sterner would like to get his story published, for one, since he seems to have no record of the Silver Star or POW anywhere in his archives.
Bobo, as I said before – I wouldn’t hold my breath while waiting for an answer.
Bill,
I appreciate you taking time to look into this. There are other organizations that do not take these things seriously. The 3 award CIB assumption is based on the photo of him in his Army dress blue uniform. It is blurry, but it looks like 2 stars on that CIB. If I am wrong, I’m sorry.
I’d appreciate it if, when this resolved at your level, you let us know if he is in fact wearing awards that he did not earn. I don’t think that anyone here is particularly interested in any punitive actions that your organization might take.
I am also a member of a fraternal organization with military esthetics, so I understand the nuances. There is also an assumption that the ribbons worn after Mr. Richards’ Korea War Service Medal are commemorative medals, but I’m guessing that they might be medals awarded my the Shrine. If they are commemorative medals, one would have to ask why someone with a silver star, service in three military branches, and 6 rows of federal awards and decorations would buy and wear meaningless commemorative medals?
Ditto here, Bobo – if the guy can document his claims, I’ll also offer a public apology. But based on what we’ve seen above, I’m not holding my breath waiting for valid proof. The claims are simply implausible – and the apparent 3rd CIB claim is NOT possible based on his year of birth.
I’d also appreciate it, Mr. Schwartz, if you’d find out which airframe Richards qualified on in England. There were 6 glider airframes used in England flying into Europe during WWII, and 11 used in the United States.
I took lessons in an old Schweizer. I do know a little something about gliders.
There is no harm in asking him this question, or what the nickname was for those powerless machines.
My parents worked at Schweizer Aircraft in Elmira NY.
It’s been 30-some years, but I think it was an S2-33. It was a two-seater trainer.
It was fun to do that, so quiet up there.
My Bro used to talk about finding thermal updrafts by flying with the buzzards (civ glider). He said it was so quiet he’d tuck in right beside them and they’d just look at him quizzically and keep climbing with him.
I still want to see this guy take the motorcycle off of the high dive!
I’m still holding my ticket to see him perform the Triple Lindy again.
Mr. Schwartz……….I have no doubt, when your formal discovery is over. You are going to be very disappointed in your friend. When that time comes you will wonder, every time you see another veteran, wearing bling of your friends magnitude, is he a phony?
Good luck!
That Glider Badge needs to be given to someone who has really earned it. That’s right, I am talking about everyone’s favorite Not An Honorary Chief Petty Officer, Daniel Bernath, the master of non-powered flight.
Just occurred to me…civilians can wear military clothing that doesn’t have rank or other military-related items on them…but wearing them WITH? Something just doesn’t seem kosher about that.
In the dark ages you couldn’t buy uniform items at the PX without an active duty ID. I’ve had to get an AD guy buy me a field jacket I wanted for hunting. But, that was a long time ago.
Still standing by for an update, Mr. Schwartz.
I presume Richards signed the authorization for a copy of his complete official military personnel records to be sent directly to you for your review?
A word of advice: if he hasn’t signed it by now . . . I wouldn’t recommend you hold your breath waiting for him to sign.
Something still doesn’t sound quite right with me about the Shriners buying uniforms and wearing military rank insignia on them. I dropped the Buckley AFB PAO a polite note bringing Schwartz’ comments to their attention.
Hurry up and drive the damn motorcycle off of the high dive!
Well Mr Schwartz, we are still waiting for the results of your “investigation”..Hurry Up!