Phony POW general
The good folks at POW Network sent us a link to a phony they busted recently by the name of Fermijon Marrero who was featured in an article in the New Rochelle Main Street Connect;
The native of Spain was a prisoner of war from Dec. 15, 1966 until May 1968. The Vietnamese forced him and his cellmate to work for 16 hours each day in the rice patties while up to his knees in cow dung. The enemy only fed him twice a week, and all he received was an ashtray sized dish of rice filled with maggots.
But Marrero said he had to eat the creatures because they were his only source of protein. He slept in a tiger cage that was far too small for him. One day, he and his cellmate ran when the guards turned their heads. He had contracted malaria, which he said he still has to this day, but he ran until he joined up with the 12th Cavalry in Laos.
Nice story except that he was a private with an abbreviated career well after the war in Vietnam ended;
So, journalist Andrew Meola was more interested in writing a story than doing his job and informing the public.
Category: Phony soldiers
Folks:
I uncovered this fraud last evening when the name of our organization – U.S. Army Cadet Corps – came up in the article regarding Mr. Marrero. I immediately contacted the reporter, Chuck and Mary Schantag of the POW Network, and sent an email to Mr. Marrero.
The reporter actually called me this morning to acknowledge the error in fact and to advise me that he was writing a new story, outlining the truth about Mr. Marrero. He was pleasant, professional and clearly taken by the fact that Mr. Marrero had portrayed himself as a GO, especially while attending the New Rochelle Veterans Day events.
For the record, Mr. Marrero has NO affiliation with the U.S. Army Cadet Corps whatsoever.
Respectfully,
OSEPH M. LAND, SR.
COL, GS, USAC
Chief of Staff
Headquarters, U.S. Army Cadet Corps
“ADVENTURE BEGINS HERE!”
*************************************************************Office: 859-484-2100 x16
Fax: 859-484-2105
General Info: http://www.goarmycadets.com
I am on a mission at present, but couldn’t resist responding to the reporter with this” ” Mr. Meola: Have you been educated in Journalism? Or do you just find writing and typing something that you are able to do? If it were the former, did you not learn to fact check your stories PRIOR to publication? Does your paper not have editors? Or do they spend their day in the lounge nearby. Have you never heard of the “Freedom Of Information Act”? It really is a very simple tool to use, and there are a plethora of “uneducated journalists” here on the Internet who use it regularly to fact check our work. It is no surprise to know that rag news is tanking, and for that matter that TV news programs are not gaining viewers. We of the blogosphere are continually brushed aside by the Academianuts as insignificant. I have found my friends in this venue to be much more diligent about fact finding than you, and yours. You people are the laughingstock of “our World”. As you read this, you may well find problems with semantics, punctuation, but I defy you to find inaccuracies. I would suggest that if you want to take a course in more truthful writing that you merely read a couple of our sites daily for a week, or two, or three; depending on your ability to absorb the facts and truths. Try my friends at “This Ain’t Hell”, Where we have some really great writers, and engage in some good commentary in the threads following each post. We are at: http://valorguardians.com/, and the post that caused me to write this e-mail is here: http://valorguardians.com/blog/?p=27916. You might also try “Blackfive”, a very good mil-blog, even an award winner. The writers there are equally as diligent in their factchecking. They are here: http://www.blackfive.net/main/. And if you are a visitor to our site, we would welcome your constructive commentary. No need to come in with any mudslinging, as we already have a staff of liberal trolls who do that and offer nothing but themselves as kicking… Read more »
I have messaged two of his friends. One claims to be in Colo Spngs, in 10th SFG. Is it based there? I don’t know. If he is legit he will be pissed that this turd claims SPECOPS service.
FO 10th group is at Ft. Carson, Colorado,My nephew is assigned to the 10th.
FO-
Two SF units in CO- 10th, an active duty unit based at Ft Carson, and a company of the 20th, National Guard, based at Front Range airport in Denver. So yeah, it’s there..
I first contacted the Schantags about this turd in January 2011. Mike McGrath and Mary Schantag were more than helpful in tracking down his story and ferreting out more details. I also forwarded the links, his service record, and my email trails to a contact in the FBI. I understand they’re busy, and with the number of posers being outed on here, I’m sure they’re dealing with even more jackasses in his line of work. His time will come and right soon, I hope.
Anyway, on a separate note, he must one badass mo-fo to go through CDQC as a retired G.O. He’s added his Combat Diver’s badge since January. Stud! But he seems to have lost his SF tab…. Guess his Aide de Camp slept in that morning? That’s a lot of bling to remember when you’re that old.
Frankly, I’d love to see a news crew stick a camera in the guy’s face while he’s wearing a CIA ballcap ala Ballduster.
If this guy ain’t a 1-seed in the next tournament, I’ll either be majorly surprised or there will have been some MAJOR assholes popping up between now and then.
Yesterday I sent the following to Dr. Burkett, the chair of the Joint Services Military and Maritime Charter High School from my conus.army.mil address w/signature block, just so he would know that I wasn’t some H-moe firing away from gmail: Dr. Burkett, I am not sure if you are aware, but several military blogs have indicated that Mr. Fermijon Marrero, identified in the Joint Services Military and Maritime Charter High School’s prospectus as the vice chair, is a fraud. Mr. Marrero, both in the prospectus, in on line social media, and in newspapers has identified himself as a brigadier general; a Viet Nam combat veteran; a former POW; a member of the Special Forces; and as having been awarded the combat infantryman badge, the Army aviator badge, the jumpmaster badge, the pathfinder badge, the special operations diver badge, and the air assault badge; the Special Forces tab; and an combat affiliation with the 75th Ranger Regiment (Airborne). These claims have been proven to be false. Freedom of information act requests for Mr. Marrero’s service records indicate that he served less than a year, from December 1975 until November 1976, in the Army and was discharged as a private. His records do not indicate any overseas or combat service, nor do they indicate the award of any badges, tabs, medals, or decorations. Additionally, his time of service precludes any service in Viet Nam, as the last American troops left in 1973. This document, and additional information refuting all of Mr. Marrero’s claims, can be found at http://valorguardians.com/blog/?p=27916, http://www.pownetwork.org/phonies/phonies1025.htm, and http://www.pownetwork.org/pownet.secure/marrero_fermin_nprc.pdf. As the husband of a professional educator, I fully support your attempt to increase the educational opportunities to at risk children, but, as a soldier, combat veteran, and awardee of the combat infantry badge, I find it repulsive that a man claiming such honors could hold the position of vice chair in the school. Additionally, I fear that his participation, particularly given the increased scrutiny that he will now endure, will harm the prospects for funding and support of the school. In your best interest, and the best interest of the… Read more »
Bobo: Good work. I was left wondering about the credentials of Dr. Burkett after I read their prospectus and saw his signature on the charter school application.
I am going to call the Board of Regents to see if this guy is legit.
They also have some guy on the Board who claims a military background, but it appears he was only affiliated with the Coast Guard Auxiliary and Civil Air Patrol.
The whole operation appears propped up from stem to stern.
Check out the slide show –
http://www.newrochelletalk.com/content/new-rochelle-memorial-day-2011
He’s not hard to find, speaking from up on the podium.
The whole school thing reeks of a scheme to defraud the state. I saw the doctor’s signature on the application, too, and it also started my wheels spinning. It’s also interesting that, while they want “to balance the Board with military veterans in addition to educators” the only military that I can see are the “general” and a National Guard lieutenant who doesn’t show up in AKO or JEDS.
I’d think that a phone call to the ARNG armory on 5th Ave. would get some response, particularly since there are a lot of ARNG Soldiers who are also educators and would probably be very interested. At least they’d get something better than a PV2 with less than a year of service.
Well, the slideshow is interesting. From what I can see on the pictures, the jackhole is wearing Class B with ribbons and badges. He’s claiming: CIB w/star, DSC, SS, LM, PH, AM, JSCM, AAM, JSAM, POW, NDSM, Vietnam service, Southwest Asia service, Kosovo service, Afghan service, Iraq service, three unknown, UN Medal, Multinational Force Observer, Kuwait Liberation Saudi Arabia, Kuwait Liberation Kuwait, senior aviator, jump master, and air assault. I guess that he didn’t have room for his pathfinder and SF diver badges.
All,
Thank you for your comments regarding this story. We are currently working on a follow up story and it should appear on our site sometime today.
Thank you for all your links and comments.
-AV
TheDailyNewRochelle.com
Aaaaaannnnndddddd….nuthin.
Still waiting, Andrew.
Ya gotta know that their legal dept, and perhaps an editor or two, is trying to figure out just how to ignore this and make it all go away. Not much room for saving face, but they will try.
Newsies more concerned with legalistic covering of their asses rather than uncovering the truth.
Shocked, I tell ya, just shocked.
Well, decided to leave a comment on that article on the DailyNewRochelle website…let’s see if they respond.
Does anyone fact check their work anymore before reporting on these Jackwagons????
@13 TSO – In the link you provided BGen Douche also claims to have attended VMI. A good friend of mine also graduated from VMI and had this to say …
Jim;
I read your note below and the first red flag I noticed was the BS in Forensics. If he has a BS in Forensics then it is not from VMI. I graduated in 1984 and there was no degree in Forensics and there is not one now or to my knowledge NEVER been one. I got on the VMI alumni page and there was NO ONE by that name for the class of 1965 or for that fact ANY CLASS. I further called the alumni agency and they HAVE NO RECORD of this guy. They have also not heard of a BS in Forensics from VMI.
This guy, in my humble opinion, is SCUM..
Jeffery B. xxxxxxxx
LTC(Ret)
U.S. Army
Virginia Military Institute Class of 1984
Just sent an e-mail query to MainStreet.com, the parent organization of TheNewRochelleDaily.com, enquiring about the status of the commitment to the publication of a retraction/correction as made by Mr. Andrew Vazzano. I’ll let you know if /when I get a response.
Received last night in response to my query:
______________________________________________________
Hello,
We are currently waiting for a response from the Army to confirm if anyone by that name – or a different name, as the man in question now claims – has served.
I will update the website in the comments when our story goes live.
Thank you for your time,
-AV
—
Andrew Vazzano
Social Media & Marketing Manager
Main Street Connect | @MainStConnect
_________________________________________________
So “BG” Fermijon Marrero is now claiming he had another name during his time of service? C’mon, talk about blowing smoke. Just think of all the supporting documentation already available. And now they’re worried abut fact-checking? Better late than never, I suppose, but this could take a while.
I got a follow up from Dr. Burkett this morning:
This is a follow-up to my previous email in which I said I would look into this matter. Several people informed me including yourself about this sad situation and I have spoken with some of my main contacts. I must thank you for the information and I am certainly outraged that something as this nature has occurred. It is especially troubling in these difficult times when education funding especially for Military Youth Programs become more difficult to obtain. Mr. Marrero is not associated with us in any capacity. You should note that there is no approved Joint Services Military and Maritime Charter High School as it was a past proposal to attempt a Military and Maritime type high school in New York City. You should also note that no person named in the proposal is or was paid. Even if the proposal was approved it would take a long time to get started.
If we do another School Proposal Mr. Marerro would not be involved in any capacity and we will look to have on the Board certified teachers and Naval Sea Cadet leaders involved with a Maritime project.
Again thank you Colonel for the information and for your service to the US Army and our Country.
Sincerely yours,
Lloyd Burkett, PhD
Yeah…guess he’s now claiming service as “Agent Orange” or something like that. Not that it would be very difficult to verify considering any background check would also list any used aliases.
This clown is just burying himself.
Sparky: I knew Agent Orange and he is no Agent Orange!
Honestly, how tough would it be for Vazzano to hand Marrero an SF-180, have him fill it out completely and sign it, and have the results sent directly to Vazzano from the NPRC. He’d have all the answers in a few weeks, and Marrero couldn’t use the “different name” or any other excuse.
Why not? If he’s seeking to form something related to DoD in any way, shape, or form, you’d think a 180 would be SOP.
Hey guys – you are being overly unrealistic here! You actually expect a “journalist” to know that an SF180 even exists? Don’t you know yet that they are not required to verify anything that they feel good about and WANT to publish??
If it turns out to be libelous, slanderous, or just a simple lie, who cares? They INTENDED for it to be a Pulitzer winning article, so the consequences of it being less than truthful is irrelevant.
(Don’t you just love the irony of these clowns whining about all the horrid things the military does – like hurting “innocent” bystanders when they don’t give a flip how many they injure on their path to whatever it is they seek?)
Now we’re gettin’ somewhere:
http://www.newrochelletalk.com/content/army-general-honored-vietnam-war-hero-new-rochelle-memorial-day-parade-labeled-phony
I guess using google and putting in “Verify Veteran Status” is just too much to ask.
Only took me..what….30 seconds?
Thanks, bobble, for posting that link. (#78) A VERY good read!
Thank you for the link.
We have continued to report out this story from our end here in New Rochelle but I have added some of the material from this site (with links back/credit). I especially wanted to make sure folks here and from POW Network saw the note at the bottom which we just added:
“EDITOR’S NOTE: I want to make clear that this story exposing Fermijon Marrero is due in very large part to the efforts of the folks at the This Ain’t Hell But You Can See It From Here blog and the POW Network and their various contributors who have worked together to advance this story with rigorous research and fact-checking. While Talk of the Sound did our own reporting and had support from various Veterans organizations in Westchester County and in New Rochelle, the real credit goes to the men and women of ‘This Ain’t Hell’ and ‘POW Network’.”
I have spoken to a number of the veterans here in New Rochelle. While recognizing they erred in not doing their own due diligence (they relied on Dr. Burkett for that) they have all agreed that they would like to “honor” General Marrero one more time at a “special” meeting so they can express their true feelings towards him in a way that he will remember.
I have Marrero’s cell phone number so perhaps you folks can help “invite” him to the meeting. For those who can’t make it feel free to express your own feelings towards him.
646-841-6933.
Finally, please know I have forwarded a link to our story (with links to yours) around to my friends at Hot Air, Instapundit and Fox News. Keep an eye out for that.
Robert Cox
Managing Editor
Talk of the Sound
Thank you, Mr. Cox.
Mr Cox wrote: “I have spoken to a number of the veterans here in New Rochelle. While recognizing they erred in not doing their own due diligence (they relied on Dr. Burkett for that) they have all agreed that they would like to “honor” General Marrero one more time at a “special” meeting so they can express their true feelings towards him in a way that he will remember.”
Sweet!!!
Thanks to the number supplied by Mr. Cox; I reached Marrero, addressed him as such, and he verified. He thinks this is all fun and games. Get him guys, especially,MCPO NYC USN (Ret.)
I want to see photos of his “going away” party.
FWIW, a county legislator contacted us yesterday to verify our reportage. He claimed that he was referring the case to the county prosecutor for charges against Marrero.
Fun and games, huh? Bet he wasn’t laughing when he had to pay restitution, or placed on probation, or got kicked out of subsidized housing. Something tells me he’s not aware that although the Ninth Circus says the SVA is unconstitutional, he’s 1–not under the jurisdiction of the 9th, 2–impersonating a general officer or high medal recipient (of which the DSC qualifies) is still a federal crime.
Get those pineapples warmed up, folks.
Well, an editor with a spine. That’s refreshing. And mucho kudos to the buttkickers at TAH. Helluva job.
Looks like this one will have an appropriate resolution. Thanks to each one who helped it move in that direction.
Still haven’t seen anything in the way of a retraction/correction from TheDailyNewRochelle.com (A.Vazzano/A. Meola). It will be interesting to see if/when they step up to the plate on this. Not to beat a dead horse, but the more times this gets mentioned on the intratubes the better, as far as I’m concerned. Just more hits on Google/Bing/Yahoo/… for whoever (maybe a reporter?) wants to check on Fermi in the future.
By the way, I also e-mailed Dr. Burkett on 12/15 regarding our buddy Fermi, just like Bob yet in article Mr. Cox has written and to which I linked (posting #78), it states that Dr. Luckett denied knowing anything about this issue when asked about it on 12/19.on
Sorry, hit the ‘submit button’ accidentally.
…just like Bobo, yet in the article Mr. Cox has written (which I linked to in posting #78), it states that Dr. Luckett denied knowing anything about this issue when asked about it on 12/19. I would like to give Dr. Luckett, a unit commander (Lt) of the Naval Sea Cadet Corps, the benefit of the doubt in this instance, knowing the time and effort he volunteers to assist and guide his cadets. He likely mispoke, or else I read the article incorrectly.
And I forgot to ID myself in #’s 89 and 90. Sheeesh.
I would love to attend the “special meeting”, I’m only about 40 miles from New Rochelle. More than willing to take some time off from work. Have a point of contact, Mr. Cox?
First let me mention that we will be discussing this topic at length on our radio show Thursday night at 7 PM. You can listen online via details below; you can also call in on the studio line with questions or comments. I have invited on Westchester County Legislator Jim Maisano (referenced above having referred the matter to prosecutors), United Veterans of New Rochelle President Peter Parente (AL, VFW) and former New York State Commissioner of Veterans Affairs Ron Tocci.
All three served. Jim and Peter in the Marines, Ron in the Airborne. Peter saw combat during Desert Storm.
I would also like to have John Lilyea come on an explain how this story was developed on this site if John could reach out to me via the contact info below.
My contact information is as follows…
Robert Cox
Managing Editor
New Rochelle’s Talk of the Sound
http://www.newrochelletalk.com
Host & Producer
Talk of the Sound Radio
Blog Talk Radio Thursday 7 – 9 PM & podcast
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/talkofthesound
Call-in Studio Line 805-830-8302
Phone: 914-500-8386
Email: robertcox@newrochelletalk.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/talkofthesound
All,
We have published a new story on Fermijon Marrero on The Daily New Rochelle.
Please see the story here: http://www.thedailynewrochelle.com/news/supposed-army-general-pow-exposed
It would be helpful to update the blog post above with our new info, if possible.
Thank you,
AV
TheDailyNewRochelle.com
Main Street Connect
Love this part of the story, classic:
“My response is they better get their facts straight,” Marrero said. “My name is not Fermin Ernesto Marrero. It’s Fermijon.”
Marrero said he has never had a middle name.
Marrero said he will take steps to defend himself and would gather facts and paperwork to discredit his accusers. He offered to fax his DD 214 to The Daily New Rochelle on Wednesday morning but had not sent it as of 3 p.m.
[…] Phony POW General December 22nd, 2011 We wrote about Fermijon Marrero, who was the honored guest at a New Rochelle, NY event celebrating Veterans’ Day last month […]
[…] me that he talked with phony Brig. General Fermijon Marrero and asked him some questions about the disparity between his narrative and mine. Marrero had an opportunity to come clean and blew it. He said he’s a Lt Col in the regular army […]
[…] to Talk of the Sound, this came to light based on information published on a blog called This Ain’t Hell and research done by the POW Network site. The POW Network specializes in outing phony claims on […]
FIRST OFF LET ME TELL U THIS I KNOW THIS MORON FOR MANY YEAHS AND ILL SAY THIS, HE SHOULD BE ARRESTED FOR PERSONATING A OFFICER OF THE US ARMY.
I JUST ASKED MY UNCLE WHICH WAS A GUNNY IN THE MARINES THAT IF HE EVER HEARD OFF MARRERO AND HE TOLD ME, WHO THE FUCK IS THIS DUDE, NEVER HEARD OF HIM.
HEY MARRERO STOP THIS CRAP BECAUSE U ARE RUINING ORGANIZATIONS.
I WILL NEVER WORK WITH THIS MAN AS LONG AS I LIVE
RETIRED MCPO FROM SOTS AND CADET CORPS FOR 40 YEARS
Anonymus#98 is right
[…] Fermijon “Maggots and Rice” Marrero […]