Stolen Valor Happens on Twitter Too
I don’t really go on Twitter to find phonies at all. I just happened to see someone retweet (basically copy and republish what was said to the “twitter-uninitated”) something from a user with the name “FormerGrunt”. I thought, well.. let’s take a look at the Former Grunt.
Something I noticed right off the bat is the profile photo. I’ve seen that photo before. Quick search and found it: SFC Daniel Crabtree. He’s a Special Forces soldier that was killed in Iraq in 2006. Quick lineup and flip in Photoshop and we have an exact match.
So I decide to ask him about it… but since he’s a secret squirrel, he’s fuzzy on details.
So that’s not him in the photo (no shit) but don’t worry… he’s sent me a legit photo to prove himself:
My last tweet to him: “how do you know Daniel Crabtree exactly?” has yet to receive a response. And he was just so talkative. I’ll keep an eye on this fucktard and see where it goes.
UPDATE: Looks like we need to do a real-time Twitter play-by-play on this guy. I decided to send him a last ditch tweet… which then got his (most likely bulletproof) panties in a wad. Here’s the continued exchange:
UPDATE 2: He’s responded via tumblr.
I am writing this because some shit will not fit in 140 characters.
My previous avatar on Twitter that I have been using for quite a few months was a Photoshopped image of SFC Daniel Crabtree, a special forces soldier who was KIA in Iraq back in 2006.
I used his image because it fit what I wanted in an avatar, and I also used it to keep my account anonymous for work reasons. After being bombarded from an asshole from a military-parody website today, I have changed it back to one of my own images (although still one that shouldn’t be able to identify me).
For the record, no, I never knew SFC Crabtree. He was a hero who died serving his country, while I am just a grunt who managed to make it home relatively unscathed.
I’ll also point out that the only time this dispute got under my skin was when I saw the words “stolen-valor” come into play. That is an issue I take seriously. There is no more despicable form of human than one who will pretend to claim a military honor they never earned.
So, for those concerned for whatever reason, the avatar has changed (and i is my own image).
For those who want to continue fighting on the internet kindly go fuck yourself. I’ve already wasted enough of my morning with you.
With all the stolen valor fucks running around in this world… why would you get mad after being legitimately questioned about your service? But hell… he’s legit.
Category: Shitbags, Stolen Valor Act
Damnit! I hate Stolen Valor in all its forms, but I knew SFC Crabtree, his Det. is across the street from my unit. Stealing this is… damn, I need a drink.
Oh he responded alright, you got his panties in a wad now.
Watching the back and forth on twitter live. Give it to him!
Seems like a fair post, clearing things up.
Meant to link this: http://formergrunt.tumblr.com/post/27835785117/clarification
1MarDiv changes it’s logo?! Blasphemy!!! FUCKING BRONIES!!!!!
Awwwww…he be butthurt and shit.
And no, still don’t buy it. The only “grunt” he’s done is growing a tail.
Yeah, “I’m so squirreled-up, that I have mention it in every post”. In-flight missile repairman. Yeah, I’m lookin’ at you PCR.
Lets get a FOIA going on him to find out what the real truth is
This is the same thing I never understood with the Poe nonsense either…..who the hell uses pictures of other people to represent themselves? And I don’t mean like using Abe Lincoln or something, I mean, who uses a person that is clearly another person without clarifiying? If I just started up things using Sniper’s face, I would hope someone would be like WTF?
StrikeFO tracked him through his website. His name is Malcolm McTernen and there’s no one in AKO by that name.
Mouthcum McTurden, you say?
Interesting how he still has SFC Crabtree’s picture up on his website. Grab this guy an e-tool, he’s diggin a hole pretty fast.
secret my ass. By mentioning who/what he does he has no idea how to handle Classified information.
A new internet past time, out the phony in a dozen posts. I like it.
Memo to McTurden–you COULD have cleared this up in 140 characters…
“I fucked up, I’m sorry. Never happen again.”
See how easy that would have been?
Just so you guys know… comment #4 and 5 “PCR” … that’s him.
“You lookin’ at me? There’s nobody behind me, so you must be lookin’ at me”
Wait, what’d I do? Saw that he posted it, thought I’d pass it on. Not saying the guy isn’t a turd, but it seemed to honestly claim that he wasn’t trying to BE Crabtree. Or he’s trying his best to backpedel.
@10, I completely understand. I have used a friends’ picture from his deployment for my facebook picture before, but not for the reasons this asswad has. It was after he died from an IED and it was clearly identified as him.
Please get a FOIA on this douchenozzel. Then, be sure to post the link to the twitter account so he can try to explain that away without dropping his secret squirrel nuts out of his mouth.
Did a JEDS/GDS Search for the joker and he is not listed under any branch of the military. Another poser wannabe punk that needs an ass whooping!
His IP address is coming from Microsoft HQs in Redmond, WA.
I wonder why anybody who claims to have been a real grunt would use a pic of somebody else. I use my own pics and black out my face because I’m an ugly fuck.
Holy shit guys. NONONONONOO. I am NOT that poser fuck.
What an utterly vile thing to do.
Using the pic of someone you actually know, with the permission of the surviving family, as a tribute to them is one thing. Posting bogus pics of people you do not know is reprehensible. May not be illegal, but it certainly without ethical merit.
WA lines up with the Mouthcum McTurden I just found via the interwebs.
I think there might be ONE pic of me back aft in six years on two boats. Probably because it was a no-no to have cameras back aft and by the time I left my last boat, cell phones were just becoming popular.
#22: Whatever you say Malcolm.
Guys, really, you’re barking up the wrong tree. Trying to out me, You’re just outing a commo guy from back in the 90’s. got out in 2000 and I am NOT formergrunt. You’re just posting personal information about me that is unrelated.
Interesting story. Funny how there is no record of you in the Army. I guess your records were “burned in a fire” or “they didn’t keep records of my service… etc etc.”
PCR. 140 characters. Or an e-mail to Jonn with a scanned copy of 214 with SSN or other Privacy Act info redacted.
Seems like a pretty simple choice, no?
sent an email to Admin@ this blog. Wow, guys. I’m up early, read the post today and decide to comment here that the dude had posted up that letter and…holy crap.
As for no record of me in the military, no idea about that. I definately burned 4 years of my life as a 31U, 1 in Korea and the remainder at FT Lewis (555 CBT ENG GRP) I’ve got a scanned copy of my 214 around here somewhere. As for emailing it, I’m sorry but I don’t know who “John” is.
Wow, the picture had what he wanted in an avatar? Why didn’t he just take a picture of himself with an M4 and blur out his own face? His argument makes no sense at all.
“Up early?” Dude, it’s 9 am on the West Coast. If you consider that early, put down the fucking bong.
I don’t think I’ve slept until 9 am since I was 17 years old.
But, pcr, let’s just say for the sake of argument that you are in fact the gent in the twitter account. How do you know SFC Crabtree, and how did you get his picture/permission from his family to post it?
Better yet, if this ISN’T your Twitter account, how the fuck did you hear about this place so fast?
Curious minds and all that.
It was at about 7 am here when I posted the link (It’s 9am now, BTW).
For the sake of argument that I AM him? I don’t even know how to respond to that, I’m not that dude. I couldn’t tell you why he’s using SFC Crabtree’s photo other than to try and represent himself as something he’s not.
How did I hear about this place? It’s been linked a few times on LF (Look for me, Im there), been following it for a while now via facebook updates.
You’ll find I’m not going to get pissy or defensive here, other than stating the same fact over and over again. You’ve got the wrong guy.
I’m assuming you e-mailed Jonn with your name at least so you can be verified on AKO? I mean, if this is in fact a huge misunderstanding, I’ll be the first to apologize.
However, given the .995-plus batting average of the posters here, I’m guessing something stinks.
Post updated
@8 here is a post from his tumblr
“”First post…new place for me to rant.
I tend not to rant or complain using my more public face, so with this added degree of anonymity I may finally break loose. I created this tumblr and my twitter handle so I could speak without my current stalkers/co-workers/family hearing what I say about them. Much of what I say is probably lies, but that’s what the internet is for.
What I will tell you is I am a 30 something former Army Infantryman who has deployed numerous times to horrible places. I like Zombies, sexy women, and anything with an engine and wheels.
Sometimes I’m funny, most of the time I’m an asshole. I don’t troll, and I don’t insult people who don’t deserve it. If you are interested, go ahead and follow me on Twitter @FormerGrunt.
‘till next time,
FG””
I’ve replied to him with my CELL and WORK number. If you can search AKO, or whatever the computer system is that you guys use back to the 2000’s you can find me. I’m at work and don’t have the scanned copy of my 214 here, I’ll have to take care of this when I get home if that is indeed required.
Seems I’m proving two things now? One that I’m not him and two that I was in fact in the army. As for the website I used in my initial post… That was an attempt to post the link up, hence the second post with the link in it.
The worst thing here is that I’ve taken this whole thing sideways away from the focus on who FormerGrunt is. He is who should be getting dumped all over the internet. Not my goofy assed pictures.
@38…whoops. He dun fucked up.
Does AKO list everyone? I thought it was just active and retired?
Burn this punk. Burn him to the ground.
This could be one of the most epic posts and comment sections ever; although one would have to be incredibly stupid to be a phony on twitter and then post your real web domain here. And even dumber would be not knowing the IP would be captured with the comment. Then again, the phony twitterer doesn’t come off as being too brilliant…hmmm
Just spoke with John on the phone. Hopefully we can get this cleared up.
Yes, you got me, I am Malcolm McTernen. McTernen.com is my domain, the goofy assed pictures posted above are in fact me.
The twitter account and the tumblr account, however, are not me.
Again, if that is in fact the case, you have my apology.
http://formergrunt.tumblr.com/post/27835785117/clarification
This asshat is now posting that he used SFC Crabtree’s photo becuase it fit his ideal of an avatar…but reverted to his own after pushed.
He also wants everyone to know he takes stolen valor seriously….but…he won’t reveal anything. though he can mention all day is a supa dupa sekrit ninja.
Maybe he worked is Sensei Johns?
I think the big lesson here is NEVER LET ANYONE TAKE A GOOFY PICTURE OF YOU WHILE EATING LOBSTER!
beat me to it.
@44 My post quoting the tumblr account is attributed to FG (former grunt) not to PCR….I make no claim to who you are or are not, the point of my post is to use FGs own written word to point out he has no qualms about lying on the internet as his own words explain his thinking that is what the internet is for….so him using someone else’s photo because it fits his avatar ideal is indeed not surprising in light of the idea that the internet is for lying according to his first post…
This post erupted quickly enough that when I hit submit instead of being the 9th poster I was the 38th….
Not sure if this is the same guy but he has a protected MySpace page. Used to go by the screen name TeflonGrunt http://www.myspace.com/teflongrunt
I’m so glad you think that proving your claims to Jonn are all it takes to get you of the hook, Mr. McTernen. Au contraire mon frere…………..
As a ginger, you must now prove that you have a soul.
For the record, McTernen only seems guilty of wading into a shit storm and defending a SV dude. He’s mailing me his DD214, but I’m fairly convinced that he isn’t the FormerGrunt dude.