Alex Vanderheide; phony SF soldier

| March 14, 2017

Our friends at Green Beret Posers Exposed send us their work on this fellow, Alex Vanderheide, an amazing story of deceit and lies. I’ll let them tell it;

We present First Sergeant Arnout Alexander Vanderheide, Retired, who claims to be a Special Forces First Sergeant assigned to USASOC. He has made claims of being assigned to the 1/10 Special Forces Group in Bad Toelz, Germany, 1/7 Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg,NC, 3/7 Special Forces Group in Panama, and insinuated he served in SFOD-D. So we attempted to verify his service with a group of about 4500 Special Forces soldiers and not one had any knowledge of Vanderheide. On his entry on the VetFriends website, Vanderheide claims to have served from 1997-2014, listing his rank as 1SG E-8. He claims USASOC as his unit. Many of the photos in this post, show Vanderheide in military uniform and VFW garb displaying all of his unearned awards, decorations, and badges.

In an article published in the Wilkes County, NC newspaper, The Record, titled Veteran suicide awareness promoted, dated December 16, 2015, Vanderheide’s service is discussed as well as his being the state designated recruiter for VFW Post 1142. In the article, Vanderheide discusses the brotherhood. Vanderheide is quoted “Eventually it will catch up with you. It always does. You’ve probably heard that from others. And you never know when it’s gonna hit you.” The article then lists Vanderheide’s service in Afghanistan, Iraq, Desert Storm, Desert Shield, Somalia, Sarajevo, Bosnia, and Panama.

Like so many Posers, Vanderheide was able to join the Veterans of Foreign Wars, serving in Post 1142. I spoke to the commander of VFW Post 1142 located in North Wilkesboro, NC. He stated that Vanderheide was no longer a member of that post. I also spoke with the Commander of NC VFW District 15 and he told me Vanderheide had been accepted into VFW Post 7034 in Sparta, NC. I have been unable to ascertain how Vanderheide was verified for membership in the VFW. The District 15 commander also verified that Vanderheide is on the NC VFW color guard and serves as a state recruiter for the VFW. Pretty good for someone who never served in the military.

In his role as a member of the NC VFW Color Guard, he actually has a photo of him kneeling and presenting a folded flag to a real veteran’s next of kin. As a member of the color guard and bugler, Vanderheide most certainly represented the VFW at many funerals of true veterans. It is hard to believe anyone could present themselves as a highly decorated veteran in the time of grief for so many families.

As you look at the pictures and documents that are a part of this thread, you see his need to feel self important as he takes photos with politicians and celebrities as part of his duty as a member of the NC VFW Color Guard.

The photo of Vanderheide in his Class A dress greens makes it hard to view all of the badges, decorations, and awards but one can make out the ribbons for the Distinqished Service Medal, the Silver Star Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Master Parachtist Badge, Master Military Freefall Badge, Combat Divers Badge, Special Forces Tab, and Ranger Tab.

Our next step was to request Vanderheide’s military records under the auspices of the Freedom of Information Act from the National Personnel Records Center. We soon had our answer and there is no record of Vanderheide ever having served in the military.

On February 28, 2017, I spoke with Vanderheide. I identified myself as a retired Special Forces Officer and I wanted to discuss his service. I asked him about the information in his Vet Friends account which stated he had served from 1997-2014 and listed his rank as 1SG e-8 assigned to USASOC. As is often the case, he denied that was him. So I told him I had requested his military records under the Freedom of Information Act from the National Personnel Records Center and had the response in my hand. I then told him his DOB and last four of his Social Security Number and asked if that was his correct information. He verified it was correct. I told him there was no record of his ever serving in the military and also that I had a photo of him in the Army Dress Green uniform wearing as a minimum the Silver Star, the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Master Military Freefall Parachutist Badge, Combat Divers Badge, Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, USASOC unit patch. I asked him again and he admitted to the lie saying he made a big mistake. I also brought up the Stolen Valor Act of 2013 and his receiving a $50,000 scholarship from the University of Phoenix and Country Music Television.
In 2007, apparently Vanderheide and his wife submitted Vanderheide as an entrant for the University of Phoenix/Country Music Television contest to be named their volunteer of the year. Vanderheide won and the award came with a $50,000 scholarship. This was in the local newspaper.

In our conversation on March 1, 2017, Vanderheide stated that although he won the scholarship, he never accepted it.. So I contacted the University of Phoenix on March 1, 2017 about the scholarship and they statedI needed a signed and dated release from Vanderheide to obtain the information. I called Vanderheide and he agreed to sign a release, so I typed it up and mailed it to him. During this conversation, Vanderheide admitted he started taking course from the University of Phoenix using the scholarship. So now we wait for him to sign, date, and return the document to me. I will then fax it to the University and they will provide the documentation.

So he never served, let alone earned anything he displays on his uniform.

Some of his claims;

Here’s his FOIA;

Here’s the recording of his admissions;

Note: Update on the story. The Commander of NC VFW Post 7034 contacted us after the story was posted. While Vanderheide sought to transfer from NC VFW Post 1142 to NC VFW Post 7934, the transfer was not approved due to the fact that Vanderheide could not produce a valid DD 214 discharge document.

Category: Phony soldiers, Valor Vultures

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Cornholio

What a fuckstain.

PS – FIRST!

CB Senior

How truly big are these communities that these POSer idiots try to infiltrate. Like the SEALS and Green Berets.
Like a small town, everybody knows everybody else, and knows almost all the dirt.

Just another victimless crime

Hondo

Just another wannabe fantasizing about “Coulda woulda shoulda”.

Oh well, at least he’s not someone who actually served, then decided to p!ss all over that perfectly honorable service by lying about what they did.

Dave Hardin

I hope they are following up with criminal charges. Not a day, never an hour, no minute, absent a second of actual service.

http://the-record-newspaper.tumblr.com/post/135329379660/veteran-suicide-awareness-promoted

He seems to be very influential in the veteran community

https://www.rallypoint.com/influence/99799-18z-special-forces-senior-sergeant

68W58

From that same story:

Alex Vanderheide- Afghanistan, Iraq, Desert Storm, Desert Shield, Somalia, Sarajevo, Bosnia, Panama

Dude claimed to have been in every fight since 1989.

Hack Stone

Claims to have served from 1997 to 2014, and served in Desert Shield/Desert Storm. And not one person stopped and asked “What da fuq?”.

Mick

Good catch, Hack. I didn’t pick up on that Desert Shield/Desert Storm discrepancy on my first read-through of this sordid tale.

Also, he’s claiming to be a retired 1stSgt/E-8 after only 17 years of service? Is he also falsely claiming medical retirement?

Carlton G. Long

He’ll probably claim to have been “retired for the convenience of the Government” so that they could immediately commission him as the Army’s first-even 6 Star General (“Super General”); the records verifying this were retroactively lost in that fire from back in the 70’s.

mattinnc

6-Star Super General. 010+2 Eventually some asshat will show up stealing valor with 6 stars on his shoulders. Can’t wait to see what this crowd will do with that.

Claw

Check the photos on the TAH FB page. There’s a doofus wearing six stars posted there.

Ncat

Not to belabor the point, but the first time I read this, my immediate reaction was, “how’d he serve with 10th Group at Bad Tolz years after they’d moved to Stuttgart?”

Ex-PH2

He doesn’t explain how he made it to E-8 in 7 years. Must have had his head up someone’s backside.

Hondo

Unfortunately, his tangible benefits obtained due to his lies may all predate the current Stolen Valor Act (his 2007 scholarship certainly does). If so, the Constitution’s prohibition on ex post facto laws probably means he can’t be prosecuted under that law.

Dave Hardin

I don’t think ex post facto applies to someone that continues to break the law after it is passed.

Much of what he did was prior to the SV laws, he continued to use his false claims after they were passed.

These people can not stop themselves.

Hondo

True. But unless he received additional tangible financial benefits after the signature date of the new law, he didn’t break the new law.

Now, if he received additional financial benefits after the latest Stolen Valor Act was signed, he’s at risk.

Disclaimer: not a lawyer, so if I’m wrong I ask our regular lawyer commenters to correct me.

Martinjmpr

I don’t know what the statutes are in North Carolina but IIRC, the common-law definition of “fraud” is “obtaining something of value by making a material misrepresentation of fact.”

Most states have statutes that are something like “theft by deception” so even if he couldn’t be prosecuted under the SV law, the general fraud statute might apply.

But of course that would depend on having a DA that had an interest in prosecuting such a case.

Silentium Est Aureum

Which few, if any, do–not “sexy” enough.

Hack Stone

Maybe Phoenix can sue him for fraud?

Poetrooper

You’re right about his influence Dave but what bugs Ol’Poe more than anything is that bugle. All of us here know that sad, haunting sound of Taps played at a veteran’s funeral. Just imagine if you found out it had been played for someone you loved and respected by a dishonorable impostor like this jerk. It would demean the entire funeral service.

In more ways than one, the presence of that bugle gives new meaning to the expression, “Tooting his own horn.”

Dave Hardin

Exactly, can you even imagine? I would sell my soul to come back to life just long enough to choke that son of a bitch until he joined me in hell.

This shit makes me want to vomit most of the time.

IDC SARC

Makes it even more ironic that he uses the electronic insert to simulate actually being a bugler.

20thEB67

That does it! My last will and testament will require that every swingin dick on my interment detail be vetted.
Sickening son-of-a-bitch needs his ass handed to him.

Linda

Is this Dave Harden from DOC?

Instinct

That motherfucker needs to be curb stomped.

Presenting a flag to a REAL veterans family while doing his make believe bullshit. That make me livid.

OldManchu

This indeed stands out far beyond all his other typical stolen valor bullshit!

He should be taken for a “military freefall” jump. Toss him out at 12,000 feet AGL and toss out a freefall rig at the same time. If you can get it on and fit in time in freefall in time to deploy your canopy, main or reserve, you live. If not, you bounce! Shouldn’t be too difficult for such a badass mother fucker.

Fuck this guy.

Graybeard

Yes.
At least when no veterans were available for my father’s funeral, they used ROTC boys. I appreciated their service.

If this guy had done it, and I found out, I’m afraid he’d find my boot so far up his nether end his teeth would be loose.

Silentium Est Aureum

Yup. Shit like that is what makes my normally peaceful demeanor change into someone who wants to run into this guy in a parking garage with a sockful of quarters.

HMCS(FMF) ret

Here’s hoping that some DA/US Attorney takes interest in this fucking asshole and his wife committing FRAUD (lying about his “service” and winning at $50k scholarship). The boys at the local BTJT Deli will love to offer him a “twofer special” when he shows up!

Arnout Alexander Vanderheide = Special Feces Ballsack Worker!

COCKSUCKING ASS HAMSTER!!!

HMCS(FMF) ret

“Like so many Posers, Vanderheide was able to join the Veterans of Foreign Wars, serving in Post 1142. I spoke to the commander of VFW Post 1142 located in North Wilkesboro, NC. He stated that Vanderheide was no longer a member of that post. I also spoke with the Commander of NC VFW District 15 and he told me Vanderheide had been accepted into VFW Post 7034 in Sparta, NC. I have been unable to ascertain how Vanderheide was verified for membership in the VFW. The District 15 commander also verified that Vanderheide is on the NC VFW color guard and serves as a state recruiter for the VFW. Pretty good for someone who never served in the military.”

Another vetting failure by the local and STATE VFW! When the fuck will they ever learn?

Ex-PH2

Good reason to avoid them, isn’t it?

Graybeard

You mean that I, too, can join the VFW without ever serving?

Claw

Yes, as a Canteen Associate member. Same deal for the VFW as it is for the AL.

All you need is a current member to vouch for you and the money for the dues and you’re in like Flynn.

Silentium Est Aureum

Maybe we can get Kirjath Toney to vouch for us and get us into the IOOF?

Here’s hoping that geriatric phony fuck got/will get his, as well.

HMCS(FMF) ret

Is that wrinkled old nutsack still thieving oxygen? Thought that he’d be deep sixed by now…

Forest Green

Yes, you can be a member of the “Loyal Order of the Cooties” also.

A Proud Infidel®™

Another reason why I didn’t join the VFW.

just some feller

Yeah … I found out that I was “eligible” due to my 1.5 years in Korea!

Yeah, that was a tough war for me. Six months in TDC as the Dep. Ass. G5, then one year as the commander at Chejudo Training Center.

I certainly deserve the “foreign war” designation!

/sarc [just in case it was not obvious]

JSF

SFC D

Chejudo was probably the most fun I had in Korea with my clothes on. NOV 1988.

just some feller

SFC D,

I took command on 1 November — we served together!!

SFC D

I was PFC D at the time. Right around thanksgiving if my OB Beer soaked mind is correct

A Proud Infidel®™

OB? What no Jinro Soju?

Michael Moody

When were you at Chejudo, I attended back in Aug93, while turtle farming in Yongsan.

A Proud Infidel®™

I was in Korea 92-93 in the 2ID Western Corridor and half of that tour we were in the field where we heard the commies’ loudspeakers 24/7.

Thomas Owens Past Commander Post 7034

He was not accepted at Post 7034. He wanted to transfer but was told we had to have his DD-214 before it can be processed. The District 15 Commander was incorrect about that.

OWB

That would be great, if it is true. You can understand our hesitancy to accept claims contrary to what has been previously reported.

We will hope that your statement will soon be verified.

Thomas Owens

Please see the update below the picture. Vanderbeide did apply to Post 7034 but was never accepted because he didn’t have proof of service.

Thomas Owens

Please see update below the picture. Vanderbilt did apply to Post 7034 but was never accepted because he never produced proof of service.

Uh1av8r

This is why I quit going to any veteran or vfw meeting or events. You see this type of shot all of the time. When you call bullshit they don’t stop and just dig in harder. Just liars and damn liars.

Mick

KA-BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

TankBoy

My only question is, if I’m reading this here, to include fraudulent acceptance of a scholarship, why this piss stain is not already arrested and prosecuted.

The fact that he presented the flag to a grieving family takes this to another level. Every now and then one of these loser pieces of shit push my buttons. This turd just won.

HMC Ret

“The fact that he presented the flag to a grieving family takes this to another level.”

Doesn’t get much worse than that. Great job vetting. How tough can it be? Jonn does it routinely. Costs a few bucks, yes. To get around the cost to the organization, have the applicant pay the little it costs. Doing so would not be much of a burden if they wanted to join the VFW.

This guy is a special toad.

TankBoy

I agree. I am not and will not be a member of the VFW until they unscrew themselves as a national organization. Now I’m waiting to see if the Wilkes Record responds to my email about this turd. I would love for him to become famous locally. Kind of like Round Ranger.

A Proud Infidel®™

The VFW PAC’s 2010 Election Endorsements put me in a white hot state of anger toward them, it was basically a DNC endorsement where they even endorsed the opponent of Allen West (LTC, USA, Ret.).

Silentium Est Aureum

The VFW “PAC” endorsed virtually straight-ticket Dems.

The former state commander out of my post let them (and the Rep they “endorsed”) know in no uncertain terms that the rank and file in no way supported the candidate in this district that year.

Didn’t stop the Congressidiot from claiming we endorsed her. Needless to say, she got more than a few earfuls, and to my knowledge never set foot in a VFW or AL post that election season.

TankBoy

Just another reason I’ll not join the VFW. When Obama was cutting military and veteran funding, I was not surprised. We as a group are not natural supporters of the dems, so why give us sugar they could give to their natural constituencies. But to have the leadership of a veterans organization go that way is at best laughable.

Bobo

Actually, it costs nothing. I’m in an organization that recognizes military veterans and war veterans separately. One of my tasks is to verify service before the recognition is awarded. So far, for every one, I’ve asked for a redacted DD-214 that I’ll destroy after I verify the information. I get the DD-214, look for campaign awards to verify war service, and shred the document. It doesn’t cost anyone anything, and I get to know that some lying scum isn’t getting one of our awards.

Ex-PH2

Okay, he wants the glory? There’s a price that goes with ‘the glory’. It’s called putting your time in. So we know that he didn’t, but if he really wants it, let’s all give it to him… AFTER he comes back from a full tour in Iraq at the front lines, right in the line of fire with the real fighters – I think those are Iraqi forces – where he’s getting shot at, hit with rocket shrapnel, inhaling explosion debris – the whole kit and kaboodle, along with lousy, crappy MREs, no convenient bathroom facilities, and no chance to return until the fighting is OVER.

If he survives all of that intact, he can have his claims date-stamped ‘Good to go’ or something. We could roll that bloated behemoth Wall in there, too. He’d crush the competition.

Martinjmpr

He would be a great candidate for the Human Mine Detector Platoon.

Hack Stone

Have him pull targets on the Grenade Range. Then he can do a brass and trash call.

A Proud Infidel®™

Maybe have him manually work pop-up targets on the flamethrower range?

IDC SARC

Prostate exam practice subject for 18D/SOIDC students for a year straight.

Silentium Est Aureum

Keelhaul him.

On an aircraft carrier.

Graybeard

Why not on a unmanned sub while in the Marianas Trench?

Or are you just softhearted that way?

1610desig

As the term goes, a little “due diligence” by people in charge would have restricted him to social media, tacky hats, bumper stickers and maybe some over the top biker vest regalia…

Hondo

Yep. But that means they’d have missed out on his membership dues also.

Money talks, and it’s surprising how cheaply some organizations sell their integrity.

Martinjmpr

I don’t think it’s just the money. I think there are at least two other factors:

First, the “numbers” – VFW and AL posts are closing because their members are dying off and young veterans have little interest in joining. I don’t know what the “critical mass” number is to keep a post operating (I’m sure it varies from city to city and from post to post) but I’ll bet if a post is seeing it’s membership dwindle and getting close to that magic number they’d be more than willing to look the other way if a few questionable “veterans” who “lost their DD-214” wanted to sign up.

Second, these posers bring a lot of energy and enthusiasm with them, and they should – they’re engaged in a real-time role-playing fantasy, after all.

Let’s face it, a lot of us who served are kind of tired, especially by the time we get to VFW-joining age. Imagine a typical VFW post that is mostly staffed by VN vets in their 70’s just struggling to keep up with the various commitments that they have.

Then out of the blue you get some young hard charger who’s willing to sweep the floors, paint the walls, run the membership committee and put together funeral details, and do all the other grunt work that you’re tired of doing and, again, you might not be too picky about his credentials because you don’t want the guy to go and sell his services to the VFW chapter down the road. 😉

OWB

Some posts indeed do their due diligence. That does not excuse those that do not.

One thing that some of these posts forget is that it is required of them that a prospective member prove their eligibility to become a member. Period. No exceptions.

When I became a member of the VFW I had to prove my eligibility even while having members of the post who had known and served with me for years vouching for me. Didn’t offend me in the least. It was the rule and in lace for our own protection from leeches like this.

VFW posts that opt to ignore the rules on this are subject to being disbanded, aren’t they? Besides, if they let this slide, what else are they willing to do in violation of the rules? Every post needs to comply with the rules. Some will not until they are forced to do so, so let’s hold them accountable. We who are members should lead the charge to make it happen.

Mick

ex-OS2:

Please bring it ASAP. Phony SF soldier in the open.

You can probably expect to get multiple secondaries when this vast amount of toxic poser bullshit goes ‘high order’.

Cleared hot.

ex-OS2

Cocksucker.

Mick

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

Shack!

(followed by multiple secondaries)

Roh-Dog

Seen this quote here more than once, “everyone wants to be the cool guy until it’s time to do cool guy shit.”
This guy couldn’t even have been bothered to draw CIIF.
Fuck him and everything that he does.
(Snow makes me cranky(er))

M Bacon

These guys always over do it. Silver Star and DSC awards are not common and there are people who keep track of who received them. Also, it is unusual to be a Ranger and SF.

rgr769

Correct. And it is even more common now that it was back in the 70’s when I became an SF officer.

IDC SARC

Ranger is one of the follow-on options at the end of the SF pipeline if they haven’t previously earned it. It’s outlined in the second training link I posted.

Eden

Most officers going SF from Infantry have already completed Ranger School.

HMC Ret

I’m as pissed at that VFW chapter as I am this toad. Someone displaying that much finery begs to be researched.

I see he has a horn, probably for taps. If it’s determined he can be charged for illegal receipt of the $50K from University of Phoenix (see Hondo, above), he could go to prison. He’ll have something else to blow on while incarcerated in addition to the horn.

Come on, VFW, get it together. Great job. These guys so often play the PTSD or ‘the memories come at night’ story and associated BS. I’ve known some bad dudes, and not one, not one ever talked as do these posers. If I see/hear someone flaunting their ‘imagined’ heroism, I almost always figure it’s pure BS. Those who have been there and done that keep their mouth closed for the most part; they have nobody to impress, they are secure in who they are. This guy? Crap, pure crap. Thanks again, VFW.

A Proud Infidel®™

Fuckin’ skin flute-tootin’ pisspants shitheaded candyassed meat-gazing ballsack aficionado of a wino-blowing Sparkle Pony!! I wish the Influenza strain I’m currently fighting off on him just for the Flag Handler stunt he pulled, with the dizziness and disorientation from fever as well!

Claw

Another graduate of the Bob Neener Wallpaper Academy.

Toasty Coastie

Fecking Glitter Hippo……

Wouldn’t mind seeing a roman candle shoved up his 4th point of contact, then lit….

Take it away, Mick.

Mick

Aye; as requested.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

(accompanied by numerous bright, multi-colored flashes)

Atkron

Two things stand out for me.

1) The NOK Flag presentation

2) The creepy smirk on his face with the kids

I wonder what kind of time this fucker has done at the Con College? He obviously is trying to cover for some time lost in his resume.

Green Thumb

Yep.

And I bet he knows how to blow some horns.

Rb325th

By the grace of God I never earned membership in the VFW. I never earned more than my crossed rifles, my jump wings, and a few ribbons.
I did earn the right to talk shit, tell some stories, and a lifetime supply of motrin.
These fuckers who never served, creating these elaborate charades… I will never understand them.
I will never understand the ones who did step up, who embellish/outright lie about their service. What else are you hiding?
Fucking bottom feeders.

just some feller

If you pulled a tour in the ROK, then you “qualify.” Ain’t that a hoot?!! [Unless you took direct fire while on patrol.]

just some feller

Man, that was a tough tour! I had to make nightly patrols in Tong Du Chon to ensure the troops weren’t abusing the girls; meet with the People-to-People representatives almost weekly; pay solatia to the girls who were beat up by our sterling troops as well as to farmers whose fields-crops-or-property were damaged by the US military; advise the CG he really ought to make gifts of liquor to local officials even though he didn’t drink; etc. Man, I ought to qualify for the Combat Infantryman Badge as well.

Wilted Willy

The only thing first class about this ass hamster is his poser bullshit! If I were the family who got the flag from this cocksucker, I would fold it up his ass and burn it right there! This asshat really pisses me off! This is the same kind of shit my brother has pulled off for years and still no one will investigate his lying ass and take away the $3K a month he has been getting for years. It does no good to call the VA or the FBI they won’t even tell me if they are even doing an investigation on good old David “Doc” Shrum! Even the front page article in the local newspaper didn’t even get him a second look from any law enforcement. I wish I knew what it takes to get anyone to go after this cocksucker. Sure, you can get them exposed as the loser posers that they are, but how do you get the next step to happen? Why are there so few of them that actually get their free cash taken away from them and put in jail where they belong? I wish I knew someone that could make this happen? Keep up the great work Jonn and Dave! I love everyone one of these fuckers you expose!!!

Silentium Est Aureum

Tube one ready in all respects, outer door open and equalized. Muzzle door open

Match generated bearings and shoot. One away, running hot, straight, and true, time to impact…(BOOM!)…aw, fuck.

IDC SARC

D-Bag

Combat Historian

I am almost speechless on this one; this motherfucker has committed so
many transgressions against real vets and the families of those KIA that I can’t even think of an appropriate punishment for this maggot…

Deckie

If I put that uniform on and even stood outside my house I’d be scared shitless of getting called out. The fact these scumbags have no problem doing it time and time again in front of many people on more than one occasion just blows my mind.

Midnightguy

The phone interviewer did a great job bringing out his confession. Solid interview technique. Never lost his cool,presented facts and let the guy talk. Should be a detective if he isn’t already..