Addendum to the Rieckhoff saga
Apparently, someone is interceding in this little battle between Paul Rieckhoff and reality, so I feel it’s incumbent on myself to provide this interloper with all of the facts. I tried to post as little of Paul’s file on the internet as possible because it seemed that he was not too receptive to that. I’m not a completely heartless being. But, Rieckhoff’s minions are bringing this down on him.
Here’s his citation for his Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM) for merit during his tour of Iraq. Notice the dates which span his service there; April 5, 2003 through January 28, 2004;
Now look at the dates on his DD214 for his service in Iraq in the last line in Block 18; April 4, 2003 through January 31, 2004;
Now, if you look at his letter, he says that his Bronze Star Medal (BSM) was awarded effective March 17, 2004. Since the Bronze Star is for merit and can only be awarded for service against an armed enemy, and since the ARCOM was already awarded for his entire service in Iraq, unless the BSM was awarded for the last three days of service in Iraq not covered by the ARCOM, it makes no sense that his unit would have given him the BSM for the same period for which they awarded the ARCOM, because a BSM for merit is just a super-ARCOM.
Now, the Army might have decided to upgrade the ARCOM to a BSM, but then the ARCOM wouldn’t be on his DD214, yet there it is and there’s the citation for the ARCOM. Rieckhoff admits that he’s never seen orders or a citation for the BSM.
And Michael Yon is going to defend Rieckhoff against my charges. Michael Yon doesn’t understand anything about awards, either. He spent only 4 years and 11 months in the Army (how much did you understand with a couple of years of service?) and none of it in combat and more than two years of that was as a student (yeah, I have Yon’s records, too). So when you read Yon’s defense of Rieckhoff tomorrow, remember that Yon’s experience in the matter is non-existent, since he’s never had to deal with combat awards.
But Yon is getting involved just so he can raise money again in a war against the Milkooks. But none of my fellow Milkooks so much as linked to the post I did on Rieckhoff. So, it’s just me, Mikey, all on my lonesome. Give me your worst. I guess he’s hoping for some of that IAVA money, because those Thai hookers ain’t comin’ cheap for a fat, old bald guy.
Category: Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
It isn’t like Yon is an integrity expert, so I’m not shocked. Birds, feathers, flocking- all that jazz………
Just checked his Facebook. He’s crying about some picture you sent him, claiming it was taken before a “secret squirrel”; mission while he was in 10th Group, bla bla bla.
Looks like you got him shook up. Fire for effect!
I figured something must be up because it’s been far too quiet on the Yawn front.
He’s probably blown through his reserves and now needs some sort of “affair” he can milk his Yawnsters for.
*munching popcorn waiting for the carnage to begin*
@3- Bingo. It’s either that or put another camera on ebay.
I posted on Yawn’s FB page that it looks like a mugshot, let’s see how long that comment lasts on there.
I don’t really get the Yawnian defense of Paul R. Is he saying that it is okay to sew patches on your uniform for units you never served in? I notice he also called it a “trivial error”.
This from the same guy that said CJ publicly ideated murder, but who is currently allowing some dude named Flint to threaten Jonn on 2 occasions.
“Since the Bronze Star is for merit and can only be awarded for service against an armed enemy…..”
The BSM can also be [and is given like candy] awarded for ‘Service’.
I can’t count the number given to undeserving Fobbits of a certain rank threshold.
Vance #4: Just checked and I’m out of popcorn. Damn it!
Disregard @8 – I wasn’t reading the post thoroughly. My last statement still stands.
@8 I’ve heard of a Lt. not getting a BSM, because his performance was awful on a deployment. Also he was the only Platoon Leader that I remember not having a Ranger tab.
These guys get on my nerves.
As an outsider looking in, here’s how I bet this will all play out to the average American.
1) Soldier is told is being assigned to Special Forces, sews on Tab, as is common practice, then is told assignment is off, so he takes the tab off. No big deal.
2) Soldier’s official document says he was awarded BSM, so he wears it, then takes it off when he starts to wonder “how did that get on my record.” Again no big deal.
3) Two vet groups, each trying to do good things, has some intramural squabble going on, and the lesser known one is getting really pissed about something that seems like no big deal.
4) The guy who is keeping his cool must be the guy to trust.
I know you don’t like that analysis, but seriously, to those outside the milblog universe (for whom I can not comment) this is an amusing but largely non-noteworthy pissing match. To the extent it is followed, those who doing the complaining will have the least credibility – and isn’t it always that way?
Best of luck hunting down the SV bastards – I genuinely mean that, you do good work!
I’m with you brother: http://militarygear.com/asp/2012/07/15/paul-reickhoffs-grand-misrepresentation/
Strange that the ones with the most “public credibility” and the biggest “Spotlight Rangers” did the bulk of their time in the NG?
However, I will say Amherst is one of the best LA schools around.
I’m not sure if you at completely right about he BSM and only being awarded for acting against an armed force. My LtCol was awarded for it for meritorious service as out Bn commander. The was also the stories recently about those female airman who were awarded the BSM. One was just for handling finace. Now if he says that he’s got it with a “V”, then that’s a different story.
@16, the action doesn’t have to be against an enemy force, but it does have to be in an actual warzone etc. Heroic finance in Astan of Iraq might get a BSM (as crap as that is) but you have to actually be in theater.
This has probably been said before but a Bronze Star sans ‘V’ device is essentially just a combat zone MSM.
Matt E: TSO and UnicornDick nailed it. Here’s the BSM criteria from AR 600-8-22 (Dec 2006):
The Bronze Star Medal is awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the Army of the United States after 6 December 1941, distinguished himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, in connection with military operations against an armed enemy; or while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. Title 10, United States Code, section 1133, (10 USC 1133) limits award of the Bronze Star Medal to service members receiving imminent danger pay.
Support roles count; no personal engagement in combat is required for award of the BSM for service or achievement. I know of instances where it was awarded to folks in Kuwait.
@19, Makes sense.
I have a question though. Beyond Rieckoff’s current explanation – what is he supposed to do make amends? I see him as an overzealous and goofy LT wanting to put his awards and patches on. His explanation for it all is plausible – some kind of clerical error for the BSM and some minor dooshbaggery for wearing the patch of a unit he wasn’t assigned to yet (and subsequently never went to). He doesn’t claim a BSM now or ever being SF.
I still want to know who he kissed to be King of Of IAVA?
Rieckhoff founded OpTruth which was a political organization established to fight President Bush, they had Ann Wright, the lunatic from Code Pink and Vets For Peace on their board. They then morphed into the more tame-appearing IAVA in order to subvert elections. Their history and the documentation is linked at the other Rieckhoff post.
I didn’t know Rieckhoff and IAVA were in league with the IVAW, VFP and socialist crowd… Thanks for getting the word out on his associations with some very unsavory and non-credible people. Kind of explains his lack of typical infantry officer credentials and general asshattery in uniform while publicly painting himself as something more.
Do the majority of vets who are subscribed to his mailing list know these facts? Shame that vets are being unwittingly used as a tool solely based on their numbers in order to promote this guy.
JAGC #24; Yeah, I wrote about IAVA and their ties to the Left three years ago. And where their money goes. You can pass the links around if you want.
JAQC – Rieckoff and IAVA receive operating money via TIDES Foundation and their little SF based financial arm….I’ll have to dig through my notes, screen caps and double check it though.
As much as I don’t want to defend him, what probably happened was he was deployed during the great awards watering down of the early GWOT. His unit (probably company or BN) was probably pretty conservative with the blanket awards so began to push them through prior to seeing what their peer units managed to push through at probably the BDE level (i.e. tons of bronze stars which only needs an O6’s approval (on paper it might be higher, but this was delegated in Iraq, much as the CIB/CMB require a star on paper, but were pushed down the BDE commanders, while ARCOMs require an O5). When the Os saw that the bronze stars were being handed out like candy, they probably went through and resubmitted all E7 and above with blanket bronze stars.
I only know this b/c I was OIF II and this is almost exactly what happened to my BN, only it was >E7 = bronze star, E5-6 (and a couple of LTs) = ARCOM, E4 and below = AAMs. If you didn’t get these awards you either made a major mistake or pissed someone off.
[…] a regular basis, you know that I’m a BIG fan of both Mark and Jonn. This week they went after Paul Rieckhoff for wearing a Special Forces Tab and a Bronze Star. You can’t get in trouble for that now so they post it […]
@13 a few items:
1) A soldier replaces his shoulder patch when he arrives at his gaining unit. But hey, he sure looked cool for the photo, huh?
2) Soldiers wear the awards they are–awarded. Bronze Stars are not handed out at the morning PT formation, they come with a ceremony, certificate and orders. Soldiers know these things.
3) IAVA is doing good things? Thats rather charitable.
4) “The guy who is keeping his cool must be the guy to trust”–inane.
all in all, your analysis from the perspective of an outsider looking in is not very strong–this is a MilBlog afterall.
is it just me or does Yon look like a fat bald Owen wilson?
Looks like an uncircumsized penis that lost 9 rounds of whac-a-mole to me.
@13: As an outsider looking in your opinion is valuable and it may well be what the average American thinks however, PR really needs to be more worried about what the Average Veteran thinks. I personally dont give a rats ass what his sorry lame ass excuses are for wearing a patch he didnt earn. Excuses are like assholes…….
1) I dont care if God himself told PR that he was going to possibly be assigned to an SF unit. Until you know for 100% sure, which it sure seems to me he didnt, than you dont go sewing anything on your uniform. This photo reminds me of the douchers that we had in AIT who would go home on leave and sew/pin things on to impress the home town girls. Eventually they get caught because someone sees the photo and busts em out for it.
2) I personally dont know any soldiers who would have physically signed their DD214 without reading it. Im sure there are some out there but I dont personally know any of them. If he cant remember being awarded a BSM and doesnt have any citation to prove it than he should have said something when he was out processing the Army. This goes back to that whole integrity thing.
3)This sort of thing is “no big deal” to those who havent worn the uniform. For those of us who have sworn the oath and signed the blank check that is payable for any amount up to and including our lives this is a big issue. The vast majority of us dont appreciate someone wearing things that they didnt earn or cant remember/prove that they earned.
4) The guy who is keeping his cool must be the one to trust… Really? Ive seen some pretty convincing liars in my day, the really good ones are so good at it that its scary. Would you trust a used car salesman? The good ones are capable of keeping their cool while they screw your socks off when you finance that clunker youre buying.
Ok, seriously ROS, if youre going to post something like that I am going to require a warning. I seriously almost committed alcohol abuse. Thankfully I am still sober enough to have not knocked the Dos Equis off the desk when I saw your comment.
I just go to clothing and sales to get whatever looks pretty…long tabs that say I’m special are a big hit with the ladies. This is awsome…..he’s such a douche.
Ya know guys, I, and other Jarheads, have lamented the fact that the Marine Corps is so stingy with awards but I would rather be denied an award than receive something for BS reasons. Anything you see on the uniform of a ‘real’ Marine you know was earned. There was an extensive investigation done before the award was issued. Not a knock, just an observation.
Yat Yas 1833: Each service thinks the others are out to lunch regarding awards. The USMC (and to a somewhat lesser extent the Navy) think the Army and USAF hand medals out like candy. The Army thinks the USAF is too loose and that the Navy and USMC are screwing their folks by being too strict. And the USAF probably thinks everyone else is being crazy strict, especially the Navy and USMC.
I personally think there should be more consistency between the services regarding awards. But that just ain’t gonna happen. Hell, we can’t even get everyone to do things that make eminent sense and would save money – like wear the same standard field uniform.
Just my opinion, picked up during over 21 years of working in joint/combined environments in and out of uniform. YMMV.
I just compared Rieckhoff’s Mar 2004 DD214 and his 2010 NGB separation docs and saw another discrepancy: his CIB isn’t on his NGB separation docs, either. Makes me wonder whether or not he’s got orders for that, too – or if, like his BSM, it’s only noted on his Mar 2004 DD214.
He probably rates his CIB, and I normally wouldn’t give this a second thought. But given the BSM issue, I have to wonder.
Hondo: That goes to my point from the other thread (just left you some comments there). Paperwork does not seem to be up to the magnificent and meticulous standards of the Regular Army in the RES/NG.
Like I said, I am waiting to see more evidence, and hear what the other side has to say, since I don’t know either side. (Though I will note, in the interest of full disclosure, that I was once at the same meal as Yon. Never talked to him, and don’t have personal contact with him, and don’t read his blog, but I have seen him, on one occasion, in Afghanistan.)
Bateman
Bateman: I saw your other comments. Not sure I’d slam the USAR regarding records – as I recall, they went digital before the Active Army did. I certainly didn’t have significant troubles getting things put into my records since the digital transition in the mid-1990s.
If it were only the BSM, my take would be Rieckhoff was just an overzealous LT who made a mistake and needs his hand slapped – albeit as a former enlisted soldier and someone with 5 1/2 years in service, a mistake he should have known better than to make. But it’s not just the BSM issue. It’s signing a DD214 he knew (or should have known) was inaccurate. Plus wearing a BSM without having orders or a certificate for same, and before it was presented to him. Plus wearing a prestigious unit patch for a public interview/photo op when he’s not actually assigned to that unit. Plus (possibly) wearing an AFSM he doesn’t appear to rate. And now it looks like his CIB could also be questionable.
Any one of those singly is a minor mistake or a non-issue. Collectively, they form a pattern that makes a reasonable man/woman wonder about the individual.
@39
No Hondo, two events don’t form a pattern, at least not as that terms is used in hard or social sciences.
It’s been a fun weekend reading through this material, and I’ve very impressed by the knowledge collectively displayed.
I note, however, that after reading everything I could, this still sounds like something more political than having anything remotely to do with Stolen Valor.
Many of you hate liberal vet organizations, and this seemed like a chance to go after one. Talk about marginalizing your own voice – this all seems so petty and political.
@ Jonn – given how you freely post the DD214 of others, offering to mail yours to anyone who asks strikes me as a double standard. I don’t doubt for a second that you served honorably and deserve the thanks of a grateful nation, but there is a reason you don’t want to post your DD214 and supporting material online. I think its because you know what a significant invasion of personal privacy it represents. It’s not illegal, but it’s something you don’t want to have done to you. What’s that Golden Rule …
Good luck on the real SV issues, you are genuinely doing good work.
Eh,don’t know about that one, most PII is redacted on the FOIA results he posts, so it’s really not much of an “invasion of privacy”.
TruConserv: Two events? You might want to recount them, amigo.
1. Signing a DD214 he knew or should have known was inaccurate.
2. Wearing a BSM for which he had no orders and which had not been formally presented to him (if it had, he’d have the orders and certificate).
3. Wearing the SF patch to an interview/photo op prior to being assigned to a SF unit.
4. Wearing what appears to be the AFSM, which is not in his records.
Even without considering the possible CIB issue, I get 4 discrete instances of questionable behavior – behavior one would not expect to see from a commissioned officer . Call it what you want. Most would consider that many discrete instances of questionable behavior a pattern.
@8 CI, You are correct in the fact that BSMs for service are handed out like candy to those of a certain rank. I recieved my BSM (without V) for my 2008-2009 Iraq tour. Anyone who served in Iraq during that time frame in the Diyala province can tell you pretty much nothing was going on. I feel like I did more to earn my ARCOM for my 2005-2006 tour than my BSM.
Yon is an idiot. Just popped over to his FB to check out his crying (I needed a laugh). He made the photo his profile picture, which is even funnier. Jackass!
@36 Hondo. I agree whole heartedly there needs to be more uniformity in the criteria for issuing awards. I also feel there needs to be more uniformity in the awards themselves. We, Army/Marines, issue ‘badges’ for marksmanship, the Navy/AF issue ribbons. We, Army/Navy/Marines use service stripes, the AF issues a ribbon. We, Navy/Marines don’t issue an award for completing the NCO Academy, the Army/AF does. I saw a “YouTube” video where an AF recruit training graduate had three ribbons. Honor Grad, Rifle Expert & AF Training. A basic airman has three ribbons after recruit training?!
Some Airmen out of BMT have 4; Honor Grad, AF Training Ribbon, NDSM, and Small Arms Expert Marksman. I only have 3 as I didn’t make Honor Grad.
There are basic questions that were not answered.
1) Did LT Rieckhoff receive a Bronze Star Medal? Why did he think he ever received one? — He is evasive here, but never says he did receive a BSM, only that he stopped wearing it.
2) If LT Rieckhoff does not have orders or any proof of having received a Bronze Star, then why did he wear it? — The response on this point is classic chicken-egg. He wore the BSM because it was on his DD214. But hello, we all know that’s NOT how it works. Usually, you wait to wear an award until after someone pins it on your chest and hands you the Award Certificate with orders.
3) If he didn’t put the BSM on the DD214 then why did he sign his DD214? — For an award to make it to a DD214, it usually has to be processed by the soldier.
4) Who put the BSM on the DD214?
This issue matters because stolen valor is a hot issue. There is likely a good explanation, but the one put forward so far doesn’t make sense.
Since when do candidates report to Group without SFAS, BAC and Q Course first???
And with the electric butterknife on their sleeve, no less.
Give me a fucking break.
And by “candidate” I meant Rieckhoff having not been through any of the above.
Reading This Ain’t Hell — is so much fun .
(PollyAnna comment — I know)
“I tried to track down a citation later, but I never received one. …… And I’ve been in contact with the Department of Defense, Army Review Boards Agency (ARBA) to seek further clarification. …. I did not have a presentation ceremony or other formal confirmation of the award. …. That day was the first and the last time I wore my Class A’s after coming home. …
I had the SF unit patch on in the same photo eight years ago because I was in the process of transferring over to an SF unit at that time. …. Later that spring, I was on national TV talking about the war and thrust into the public eye. .. I talked to the SF Commander, and given my new public profile and uncertain future, I could obviously no longer join that kind of a unit. … My life became pretty public from that point in 2004 on.” Paul Rieckhoff in an email to his new BFF, Michael Yon, as reported by Yon on 16 July 2012
Sounds to me as if THAT photo and THAT article did two things: got him disinvited in joining the SF unit, AND Launched his publicity/political career. Of course, the LAST time he had an OFFICIAL need to wear his Class A’s was BEFORE he left for Iraq.