SPC Adam Spotanski awards himself Purple Heart for being a klutz
This is Adam Spotanski, he really was a paratrooper in the 2/503rd of the Herd (the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team), he really was injured in the war in Afghanistan, his records show a Purple Heart, but they don’t show a Bronze Star Medal;
There are also questions about how he was awarded the Purple Heart. Here’s the story he tells in public;
But, here’s what folks who were there say;
On August 22, 2007 in Aranas, Nuristan, Afghanistan; Our base was attacked by 70-100 enemy fighters. We had the advantage of being on the side of a mountain and after taking half of our base in 10 minutes we 20 soldiers fought for 3 violent hours to a a decisive American victory. At the time PFC Adam Spotanski was in the military and assigned to us in C Co. 2/503d, 173d ABCT. During the fire fight, at the plea of another soldier for help, PFC Spotanski cowered in a corner. Later, after the firing had stopped, we were at the highest post on our little COP. It had been at least 30 minutes-an hour of silence and I had PFC Spotanski and another soldier, SPC Langevin clear debris off the top of the 12 foot post. After turning my head PFC Spotanski “fell” off of the post and was impaled in his rear end by a stake that was used to support a HESCO barrier. He was evacuated and later discharged for nerve damage.
Now, after he was evacuated and re-stationed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center he complained about never receiving a Purple Heart and later was forced into silence by our chain of command because he was acting inappropriately. He was awarded the Purple Heart by Water Reed but it was later revoked because of the sworn statements provided.
I have those sworn statements from Spotanski’s leadership, but I’m not posting them because they contain PII, so I tend to believe this account rather than Spotanski’s. According to the statements, there was no incoming enemy fire when he fell from the tower, so he doesn’t qualify for the Purple Heart, but he made the POGs award him one at Water Reed once he got out of earshot of his unit.
The author of the above letter continues;
Four years later Spotanski contacted Operation First Response feeding them a false story about his “heroics” and even standing up in front of crowds speaking for the organization. In the picture attached you will notice that Spotanski is wearing the following awards that were not awarded to him”;
The Bronze Star Medal (possibly with “V” device)
The Purple Heart
The Army Commendation medal with V device[Spotanski] also claimed before our deployment that he had Lupus. We later found out that he was a compulsive liar.
The reason I am bringing this up is because I have recently found a video that was posted by Operation First Responder with him speaking for the organization. It has since been taken down.
This story is is highly infuriating to a number of soldiers. 2/503d became the one if not the most valorous unit in the Army [during] the OEF VIII deployment over 15 months between May 2007- August 2008.
Some of the soldiers who were at this fight received the following awards;
LT Matthew Ferrara (deceased) The Silver Star
SPC Sean Langevin (deceased) The Bronze Star with V device
ME SSG Jason Baldwin the Silver Star
Former SGT Kyle White- Arcom with V
Former SPC Kain Schilling- Purple Heart recipient Medically discharged for wounds sustained in a seperate engagement
So, even though Spotanski had an honorable career in the Army as a paratrooper, he felt it wasn’t enough and even scammed Walter Reed clerks into embellishing his records – so he awards himself a Purple Heart for being a klutz. And he lied to his parents who put this message in the local paper and arranged for the local Patriot Guard Riders to escort him home when he arrived from Walter Reed;
What is it with New Jersey?
Category: Phony soldiers
I’m confused at his picture… CIB,Herd patch… But no jump wings?
OK. Anyone have a line on getting a redacted copy of the revocation orders for this guy’s PH? Probably need those to get NPRC and/or US Army HRC to correct his records. Sounds like they never made it into his file before his discharge and the clerk at NPRC who answered the FOIA only looked at his DD214 – not the whole file.
And can someone please explain why this ass wasn’t court-martialed for misbehavior before the enemy? (Art 99).
http://www.ucmj.us/sub-chapter-10-punitive-articles/899-article-99-misbehavior-before-the-enemy
To answer your question, Beretverde: he seems to forget lots of things. Like what medals he’s earned. And how to do his duty as a soldier.
Yep…no jump wings is really odd for a Sky Soldier.
And it looks like a V on his BS…I’d think we’d see more blue in the center if the accouterment wasn’t attached.
Reminds me of some troopers from the 1/101 or 3/82nd (can’t remember which since was in both) who were wounded in a whore hootch grenade incident that got PH’s. On investigation it was found that it was an ARVN that did the grenade because he was PO’d that his girl was making some money on the side. The PH’s were revoked…most of us thought they should have never been awarded anyway but REMF’s at an aid station did the deed.
#1 and #5; As I understand it, even though it’s an Airborne BCT incoming Soldiers are no longer required to be jump qualified upon reporting. They just have to be willing to attend Airborne training sometime after arrival. They have a couple of them walking around here with no jump wings.
…just looked at his records though, he did earn wings, he’s just not wearing them. What a tool.
Does anyone know what will happen to this guy now that the truth is coming out?
My Thanks to the guys for exposing this.
It’s a lot harder to revoke an award once it is written and filed. Many people don’t go through the trouble because it is a pain to revoke.
Can an award like a Purple Heart be revoked after the fact?
My late brother-in-law, a Marine, walked into his assigned tent his first day in ‘Nam. He asked another guy which bunk he could use just as they were hit by a rocket attack. When they ran out of the tent, the other guy tripped over a foot locker and was later awarded a PH for cuts to his leg.
This jerk is worth whatever effort it takes. He has earned the ire of every vet who ever served. Even taking into account that each of us is capable of a momentary lapse of judgement upon occasion, this clown has gone above and beyond into never-never land.
The lessons he got about the meaning of HONOR didn’t take. Seems he is demanding to be force fed it now.
#13: Those were categorized as WWHA’s: Wounded While Hauling Ass. Tent stakes were the usual culprits.
Sorry I meant #12.
Thank you for posting this, a few of my friends who were with Chosen have been putting things together on FB and trying to get this little needledick’s attention. He did serve, he was with The Rock, once again why embelish your records?
What is it with New Jersey, you ask?
When I left my hometown, it was a bastion of Conservatism.
People always turned out in droves to vote Republican. But
in 2008, Obama got 52% of the votes in that town, and I’ve
heard that, despite his disasterous presidency, those fools
want to reelect him, attributable to big influxs of liberals
fleeing the 5 boros of NYC. Does that answer your question?
BTW, they’ve been replaced by an infestation of more libs.
So don’t get your hopes up that NYC will ever go Republican.
Need more clarification on what exactly happened. Where did Spotanski cower at, and for how long. Was it for the duration of the firefight? Still not clear how he was on top of the post and how he fell.
The insult is this POS-COWARD is going to a VA rating for his injury. I think my nerve just broke.
Tman, it sounds like he “cowered” for the duration of the incoming fire. And was detailed to clean the top of the “post” after the firefight, and managed to “fall” or throw his own ass off the top of the post. Just a guess, though.
“nerve damage” ?? !!
Is this a double entendre ??
(The LACK OF NERVE was created by the cower-er (or, “one who cowered” ??) — BEFORE the subsequent “nerve damage.”)
No. 9 Army Mom:
Thank you, Dear Lady, for commenting here, and, if you read me — please communicate to other Army Mothers you know, that I appreciate your distinguishing Real from phony .
He was apparently cowering in or under a guard tower for the duration of the firefight. From the few guys I know who were there who witnessed him crying and or screaming. I don’t know as much info as TSO but the guys had a field day reaming him on FB and called a few Veterans groups he was a member of. Operation First Response was called a month or 2 ago about him and the director (I cannot remember her name) claimed to be cutting him off of all aid.
That’s what I thought UpNorth, but reading SkySoldier’s response it seems that is what happened.
Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t claim to be a bad ass superman. Who knows, I myself could very well curl into a ball and cry for mommy in the middle of an intense firefight. But that’s why I am not a soldier.
However, for this guy to twist the truth and leave out his cowardice, in order to embellish his record and make himself out to be something he is not, is not cool at all. The Purple Heart, well I’m sure quite a few have received them under dubious circumstances. What bothers me most is him apparently lying to cover his own cowardice and make himself out to be heroic instead.
Tman, it sounds like he was doing that sort of thing long before his nerve damage.
Reminds me of the Purple Heart Frank Burns got on M*A*S*H for taking a shell fragment to eye……an EGG shell fragment in the DFAC.
As the one of the quasi regular AMEDD representatives here, I’d like to ask for a little more respect in the description of the staff at WRAMC. To refer to them as POGs and REMF is incredibly disrespectful to the guys and gals of the Army Medical Department who bust their balls day in and day out to take care of our wounded, physically, psychologically, and administratively. Their sole purpose is to take care of these guys, however they need it.
And as an aside note, a lot of them have had multiple tours in theater as well. They go from taking care of soldiers in theater, and then come home to WRAMC/NNMC to take care of wounded soldiers some more, until they deploy again, to take care of wounded soldiers some more, till they return to take care of more combat injured soldiers again. It’s a non ending cycle for them…their fight to save soldiers doesn’t stop when the wheels go up on the CCAT bird. Us ‘POGs’ in the AMEDD make mistakes too; This soldier above doesn’t deserve his PH, but that’s no reason to slam the staff at WRAMC. Keep the fires directed at the guy who’s claiming decorations he didn’t earn, not the exhausted, overworked Specialist who believed this guy’s crap.
This guy needs smoked; but don’t slander the staff at WRAMC who made the mistake of believing his crap. After all, isn’t one our core values ‘Honesty’? Why shouldn’t the admin staff believe him?
As you guys have probably noticed, I’m very protective of my AMEDD enlisted. Those are the guys and gals who make our medical department the finest in the world.
Somebody beat me to asking where his jump wings are. If you’re in a unit on jump status, you better be wearing them!
Well, Im very curious to see if this TDRL Commander can shed some light on this chump and have him charged under Article 134 for a Court Martial. While I myself am an E-4, and I dont understand the entire UCMJ, I do know that the 134 article can be used for just about anything (O6 discretion level though).
As an E-4, all I have is my crew member wings (all aviation MOS, 15 series, get awarded them now), an AAM, and the triple rack of a NDM, GWOT Service Ribbon, not expedition, and an ASR. I am damn proud of it as a mechanic, and yah, its not as extensive as the aforementioned chump, but I am not having to embellish anything since I am young and still in.
#27 ANCCPT: You’re right. I used the term REMF in a flippant way referring to admin at a battlefield aid station and that was in error. We all love medics and WRAMC has taken really good care of me. In my defense, in my era, REMF wasn’t necessarily a pejorative term – more of a statement of fact that is “relative”. If you are point man on a patrol, everyone behind you is a REMF. And so on back to the Pentagon. Good on you for defending your folks.
On the other hand, if indeed it was people at a military hospital who issued the order for the award, it is they who are responsible for the error. So, it is they who are to blame.
Fine to trust. Even better to verify.
I am going to call him up and get a statement. No use in guessing. Lets hear what he has to say. I will keep you posted.
Wings fell off on the way out of the tower apparently.
Slightly OT, yet relevant, but give an Old Soldier a break: In the White Name Tape Army (1963) if you were commissioned Regular Army from a place like I was (Citadel), you reported for duty the next day or so and went for basic course and Airborne School later. I found myself at Bragg in the 82nd as a Leg from June until late September when I then went to those schools and reported back to Bragg as a Cherry Jumper in Jan.
The June-Sept period was awesome and shaped my career. My name appeared on every manifest but lined through with the annotation “Leg”. When I was the OD and walked in the mess hall, the troopers would say to each other in stage whisper: “Hey man, what’s your favorite part of the chicken? (Response…louder) LEG!!!” When meeting a trooper he would salute and say: “All the…Good Morning Sir”. I responded to all this by volunteering for as many safety officer manifests as I could and then the troopers would always make a move to have me jump with them on exit.
None of these were disrespectful. It was a Esprit de Corps. I should also mention that the senior NCO’s were awesome teachers. Many had combat jump stars. My BN CO told me when I reported that I was getting “X” platoon but it really was S/Sgt Jones’ platoon…I was to listen to him. S/Sgt Jones would say: “would the LT like for me to have the troopers do….?” I wisely said, absolutely (even though I had never thought of that).
Sorry to get off track and geeze.
SJ I think you have apologized and explained enough. Go in peace my son.
SJ, I enjoyed reading what you posted because of the glimpse into the “inner rooms” of the military. As a civilian, it’s not something I would know existed, unless one of the vets on here talks about it.
We had a couple legs, but very few and mostly guys that came in while we were already deployed. I thought I had remember Spotanski being a leg but its been 4 years since any of this happened and the only time it would have come up would have been in the rear so a year before that. My guess is that he couldn’t find the right flash at WR so he just said screw it, obviously a correct uniform isn’t very important to him. I’ve heard rumors (god we love our rumors) that the Army is prosecuting him but I can’t say for certain. This guy is a piece of garbage and he has a knack for sounding believable so I absolutely wouldn’t blame WRAMC or OFR for buying it. I was at Walter Reed for awhile and I really only have positive things to say about everyone there, the process is a bitch but it’s not the fault of anyone there. I’ve talked to the people with OFR quite a bit since this whole fiasco began and they’re an amazing organization, I’m a little worried that pulling them into this may inadvertently hurt them and the soldiers that really do need help. All they have to go on is the persons word and a DD214, if there’s a Purple Heart on there they have no way of knowing.
No. 26 AverageNCO: Funny as possibly can be !!
No. 27 ANCCPT: Thanks, From a PROUD “POG-REMF”
(Radio-Electronic Military Forces)
Yes, I HAVE heard a different explanation of the initials .
Mr. SJ (82ND, 101ST AIRBORNE) —
I really appreciate your informative posts here, and I for one am Honored to have a Citadel Man here .
Much Thanks for protecting me in Vietnam !!
(even, though likely it was before I arrived)
#1 & #5…it is actually not uncommon practice to send brand new privates to the 173rd before BAC. The 173rd jumps so infrequently that most are sent back with slots on ATRRS (or whatever it’s called). Someone, somewhere decided that would be a better system than have them wait around Airborne School for a few weeks while waiting to get a slot.
Had a guy in Nan ran into a post during a night rocket attack, knocked out front tooth, he didn’t get PH.
For the sake of accuracy, his last name is spelled “Spotanski”, I would hate for the truth to get lost behind a simple mistake.
This is all very interesting. I went to highschool with him and I cannot say that I am surprised by all of this. It’s funny, as soon as I heard that he was “wounded in action” I immediately was sceptical of the story that was being circulated. The one thing I know for sure that was in this article that I can attest to is, he is and always will be a compulsive liar. I am ashamed to say that he is from my home state of Nebraska and I feel terrible for his parents/family when this all really comes out.
I know Adam, He lives in the same town that I do. I’m glad the truth came out. His bullshit stories go way beyond him just getting blown off the tower. I sat and talked with him on many occasions about his time over there and about this firefight. Man does he tell a completely different story. Which I knew most were lies, but didn’t know it went this far. If you talk to him, he has been to Pathfinder School, Halo School, Ranger School…etc. I always found it strange that I never seen a Picture of him in uniform with those badges/Tabs on. Total disrespect to all of the guys he served with and to the guys who have been awarded those awards for real heroism!
So out of everyone commenting on here…how many of you were there?? I bet this was put up by his crazy ass ex wife that has nothing better to do but lie! The man fought for our country and deserves to be respected like the rest of the men and women in uniform!! Grow up!!!
Iraq 2008-2009.
@46- The people that were there with him are the ones saying he’s full of shit. What say you to that? Were they “not there” either? Are they being made to do it by his machiavellian puppetmaster ex-wife as well? Is everyone else but Spotanski full of shit?
Most of us here have served. If I start claiming a silver star or victoria cross or Royal Order of the Congo, I expect these folks to call me an asshat as well, even though they weren’t “there”. But I’d doubly expect the people who were “there” to come forward about my asshattery. Making up war stories to get medals not only cheapens my own service, but theirs as well.
Dang! We’re going to have to be more careful about this sort of thing. We have apparently allowed ourselves to be controlled by persons masquarading as us who are in reality ex-wives of crazy people who falsely claim military honors they have not earned?
Wow! Those are some powerful women, with talents worthy of some ninja awards themselves.
Or not.
Ok to all the people asking about jump wings. I served with 1/503 MOD Company as a medic during OEFX and never went to Airborne School. It is very rare, I heard all about it the ENTIRE time I was there. However they sent my color blinded ass over to Italy assuming that I would eventually get to Airborne School. Loved being a Sky Soldier with out the sky as my 1SG said though. Wouldn’t trade it for the world.