NYT: Stolen Valor: The U.S. Volunteers in Ukraine

James Vasquez

We recently wrote about James Vasquez, but the New York Times just featured a story about Vasquez and others – painting a picture of an epidemic of Stolen Valor U.S. wannabes going to Ukraine to fight *cough*.

Stolen Valor: The U.S. Volunteers in Ukraine Who Lie, Waste and Bicker
People who would not be allowed anywhere near the battlefield in a U.S.-led war are active on the Ukrainian front, with ready access to American weapons.
By Justin Scheck and Thomas Gibbons-Neff | March 25, 2023

They rushed to Ukraine by the thousands, many of them Americans who promised to bring military experience, money or supplies to the battleground of a righteous war. Hometown newspapers hailed their commitment, and donors backed them with millions of dollars.

Now, after a year of combat, many of these homespun groups of volunteers are fighting with themselves and undermining the war effort. Some have wasted money or stolen valor. Others have cloaked themselves in charity while also trying to profit off the war, records show.

One retired Marine lieutenant colonel from Virginia is the focus of a U.S. federal investigation into the potentially illegal export of military technology. A former Army soldier arrived in Ukraine only to turn traitor and defect to Russia. A Connecticut man who lied about his military service has posted live updates from the battlefield — including his exact location — and boasted about his easy access to American weapons. A former construction worker is hatching a plan to use fake passports to smuggle in fighters from Pakistan and Iran.

And in one of the more curious entanglements, one of the largest volunteer groups is embroiled in a power struggle involving an Ohio man who falsely claimed to have been both a U.S. Marine and a LongHorn Steakhouse assistant manager. The dispute also involves a years-old incident on Australian reality TV.

I can picture the interview at LongHorn Steakhouse – “I have a particular set of skills.”

“OK, what would you say to someone who claims that their steak was undercooked?

“If you don’t start no shyte, there won’t be no shyte.”

Here’s what we found on James Vasquez:

Vasquez – DoD Manpower Data Center / SCRA – US Army

Vasquez – DoD Manpower Data Center / SCRA – US Army Reserve

Category: Army Poser, Marine Corps Poser, Ukraine, Valor Vultures