Shane Ladner may face charges
The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports this morning that Shane Ladner, the fellow who lied about his military service to get free a deer hunt and a ride on a float which cost his wife her leg, may be facing charges from Cherokee County.
Ball met Tuesday with Cherokee County District Attorney Shannon Wallace, who told the AJC she has requested that the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office launch an investigation into allegations that Ladner lied about his war record.
Wallace said it’s too early to tell what laws, if any, may have been broken.
Ladner, speaking through his attorney, Kevin Glasheen, insists he is not lying about his record but offered a revised version of his initial account of his military service.
“Shane was stationed in Honduras at the time he was wounded during a grenade attack while on patrol doing drug interdiction tactics in Central America,” Glasheen said in a statement. “Shane was instructed to say that he suffered his wounds during Operation Just Cause in Panama rather than when and where the events actually occurred because of the sensitive nature of the military’s involvement in drug interdiction in that region.”
We got a hold of Ladner’s DD214 which supposedly came from his lawyer. It looks forged to me;
For one thing, he lists a “Joint Service Commendation Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device “V””. The Joint Service Commendation Medal is for “merit” and the “V” device is for valor, not for combat service, I can’t find an example of a Joint Service Commendation Medal with a “V” device, or where it might be authorized. I think Ladner got confused while he was shopping for the medals he wanted on his DD214.
If the Sheriff is looking for charges to file against him, he might try getting him for those Purple Heart license plates as well as the forged DD214. It looks like his lawyer has joined Ladner in his deception, Christian Boone, the AJC reporter told me that his lawyer is former military, too, so he knows that there are no records at Fort Benning that would prove Ladner’s lies, and that there are no hospital records in Panama that would support his Purple Heart, but he’s just hoping that it will all blow over.
It won’t, since Ladner went on a hunting trip that a real wounded veteran could have used.
Category: Phony soldiers
OK, maybe I was wrong about the Joint Service Commendation Medal not having a valor device, but in my defense, the description of the medal from DoD says that it’s for “Merit” and says nothing about valor. And, only a nube would call it a “combat “V”” instead of “with “V” device”
Maybe that’s what he was “instructed” to say..
Have to admit, reading the AJC yesterday made me want to seek out other articles, which led me to this site. I had no idea that our military was running so many classified ops using low profile but important jobs like MP’s and pay clerks, or better yet denying the fact they ever served (double secret yankee white black op)…
I was wondering about that. My DD214 has (w/combat “V”)… I’ve never seen it spelled out like that when space is limited, unless someone types it in themselves.
Normally it is the name of medal, and then any distinguishing devices and subsequent awards in parenthesis. Or am I wrong on that?
I am in the guard as well, but in NY. I can count on one hand everyone I know in the Guard with an MSM, and on my left thumb the number of people under the rank of E-7 that have an MSM.
If you are going to lie, make your story believable. There is enough BS in this story to fertilize the entire Ft Drum training area, impact area included.
@14: I was thinking something similar. I have 5 (yes FIVE) DD-214s because I had 5 separate periods of AD (two regular enlistments and 3 Guard/Reserve mobilizations.) I can confirm that when demobing, it’s done in a rush and some of the clerks are less than scrupulous about documenting awards. I actually got a couple of awards after I ETS’d in 1996 that were not put on my 1996 DD-214, and when my USAR unit was mobilized for Bosnia in 1997, I made sure to take copies of the orders for those awards when I demobed so they would be on my 1998 DD-214. But I can easily see a harried clerk typing something on the 214 because the GI “swears” he got that PH or 5th ARCOM or Revolutionary War Service Medal or whatever. No, it’s not supposed to happen that way, but it does. Any of us who have been through the cluster-fawk of a mobilization/demobilization knows how easy it can be, and once it’s on a “legitimate” DD-214, as far as the military is concerned it’s engraved in stone. However, if he got a JCOM with a V device, then there would be a set of orders somewhere with a narrative of how he earned it. Given his changing stories, I’d be happy to call him a lying shitbag until he proves otherwise. Furthermore, I’ve never seen a V device described as “combat distinguishing device V” – that just seems like weird, stilted language that a harried clerk would not use. Final note, he claims an AFSM – Armed Forces Service Medal. That was a Clinton-era award that was designed for those conflicts that weren’t violent enough to rate an AFEM but not peaceful either. I had thought that the AFSM was only awarded for Bosnia (OJE/OJG.) At first, the Bosnia operation only rated the AFSM but then enough people complained that DOD authorized the AFEM as well, but AFAIK the AFSM was only authorized for Bosnia. Now, if he was in Bosnia, he would have rated both the AFEM and the AFSM, but he would also… Read more »
“I was involved in a firefight in Panama City. My squad was on patrol and we were ambushed by Panamanian Defense Forces. We were under heavy fire and pinned down. I was engaging the enemy when I heard an explosion behind me. I felt an intense burning sensation on my back as well as excruciating pain in my abdomen. The first person I saw in the hospital was my older brother, Chuck, who was serving with the 5th Infantry Division and had gotten word of my injury. Chuck told me that it had been shrapnel from a grenade that had wounded me and had killed my squad leader. The shrapnel had entered my lower back and had exited my stomach. I was lucky that it did not hit any major organs and I would make a full recovery.”
We should try and talk to “Chuck”…
“Four of the honorees died in the tragedy, while 15 more, including both Meg and her husband, medically retired Army Sgt. Shane Ladner, who is now a member of the Holly Springs, GA Police Dept., were injured. A few are more seriously injured than Meg.”
Found it here, on some lawyer’s page:
“Four of the honorees died in the tragedy, while 15 more, including both Meg and her husband, medically retired Army Sgt. Shane Ladner, who is now a member of the Holly Springs, GA Police Dept., were injured. A few are more seriously injured than Meg.”
I am sure he will explain it away as a typo, but if he was medically retired wouldn’t he be on AKO or something?
#48: I just perused the referenced newspaper page 1; there were three articles on page 1: about a politician dropping out of a race after he was busted for embellishing his military records; an article about a cop saving a bird and now the cop is under scrutiny for lies about his military records; and an article about a female meth head busted for impersonating a police officer. Not sure what the higher meaning of it all is, but whatever it is it ain’t good…
“The Ladners left on Tuesday for the event. Ladner, a veteran of the United States Army, was wounded twice in combat, which he was recognized with a Valor Award. His injuries eventually forced him to retire from active duty service in the Army. ”
http://canton-ga.patch.com/articles/holly-springs-officer-involved-in-texas-train-accident
Sorry, here is the law-firm page from #59:
http://www.pottroff.com/railroad-news/seriously-injured-midland-texas-parade-train-accident-victim-faces-long-recovery
He is defending one claim of the Purple Heart, but what about his claim of a second one? I have found no less than 5 different mentions of it…
@59.. It’s a sign he needs to come clean, perhaps. But, he won’t lol
EdUSMCleg: to answer your question, yes – if he were formally retired, he’d be on AKO. And no, he isn’t on AKO.
martinjmpr: good catch on the language. Looks to me like whoever typed this DD214 was looking at a Navy or USMC DD214 and used language there – or perhaps was looking in an old copy of DoDM 1348. Army DD214s normally just say “w/V Device”.
i see these high speed DD-214s, and it makes me feel like i didnt do enough in the army. i discharged after 4 years as an e-5, airborne school, Air Assault, and CIB, but i never got a MCM or silver star or any of the stuff these guys got. i really must have sucked at my job.
also, ive always wondered why these guys claim a purple heart. im pretty sure getting shot doesnt mean ya were a bad ass or super soldier, it means ya were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Like I said in #53 and #54:
My DD214 has (w/combat “V”)… I’ve never seen it spelled out like that when space is limited, unless someone types it in themselves.
Normally it is the name of medal, and then any distinguishing devices and subsequent awards in parenthesis.
I agree. It would normally be shortened and in parenthesis… Not as prominent and spelled out as he has it.
“a grenade that had wounded me and had killed my squad leader.”
The only SSG KIA was in 3/75.
Here is a new question.. if Shane was called to active duty in support of OEF, where is his GWOTEM or any information saying he was overseas on any dates?
The more I look at his DD214 here, the more it stinks of deer shit.
Piecing together the business about this DD-214, which is very obviously faked, the most logical thing that probably happened was Ladner made it himself using software meant for use at a legitimate separation station. Sources say he DID apparently mobilize around 2003-2004 but apparently never left the country. I suspect when he de-mobed he either had a separation clerk who just turned over the computer to him and said “put down what awards you have”, or Ladner went into a restricted area and typed up his own DD-214. I spoke to another source a few days ago who verified beyond any doubt that this mysterious DD-214 is NOT in Ladner’s official military file and that Ladner apparently went to some effort to make sure that his 2003/2004 mobilization was very scantily documented, perhaps even removing legitimate documents from his official file in order to do so. We haven’t heard the end of this…if he tried to alter his Army records, that opens up another big criminal door to go through.
Yep. And now the local PD is involved so the truth should come out. It will be interesting to watch lol
@68: My take is that his OEF mobilization was all stateside. The GWOTSM is awarded to pretty much anybody who got mobilized after 9/11 even if they never left the states. I was even awarded one even though my deployment didn’t rate one.
Here’s why: We were mobilized in early 2004 in support of OIF and deployed overseas to Kuwait, which meant we qualified for the Expeditionary Medal (GWOTEM.)
When the description of the Service Medal (GWOTSM) first came out, it specifically stated that it could not be awarded for the same period of service as the GWOTEM – it was one or the other.
I pointed this out to the COC in my unit but was basically told to STFU and that we would get the batch of awards everybody got for mobilizing, which included the GWOTSM as well as the GWOTEM. Most of the people in my unit had never deployed before (whereas it was mobilization no. 3 for me and “conflict” no. 4) so they wanted their badges. I didn’t figure it was worth falling on my sword for and in any case I was planning to retire a year later anyway.
Block 18 has overseas ribbons and expeditionary medals listed, but block 12 has zero time listed for overseas or foriegn service.
Pineywoods NCO: it’s possible to be mobilized for OEF or OIF support and never leave CONUS.
CBSenior: not sure if the block 12 is supposed to be cumulative or current tour only (I’ve seen both). What it does prove, however, is that Ladner did NOT serve overseas during his 2003-2004 tour. If he had, it would indeed be in block 12. The dates and countries of assignment in-theater would also be listed in blocks 13 and/or 18.
@65: I’m with you on the PH. Here’s another: POW status. Have you noticed how often these fakers claim they were POWs?
Now I never quite understood that, but I think it’s kind of like what psychiatrists call “Munchausen syndrome.” IOW, it’s a plea for pity by casting oneself as a “victim.” If you can combine “Hero” and “victim” together, you win the pity party and get the biggest pity prize.
Why do people seek pity? Maybe their self esteem is so low they figure that they can’t get recognition for anything they’ve actually accomplished (because they haven’t accomplished shit) so they think the only attention they can get is pity. At least that’s my never-took-any-psych-classes-in-college-but-I-sometimes-watch-Dr.-Phil opinion. 😉
Being a 31A, I immediately notice that he only has 95B listed as his MOS under Primary Specialty. That designation changed (I’m not certain when) but it had been changed by 2003 for enlisted personnel. He should have 31B time there too.
Next, for a guy who was deployed ‘overseas’, he has no foreign service time in his Record of Service. I had foreign service time for my tour at GTMO for 2004-2005. Where is his?
Lastly, in the remarks section, there is no notation of where his service was. Mine shows “Service in Cuba 20040629 to 20050423.
martinjmpr: if your unit did any pre-deployment training in CONUS prior to deploying (many mobilizing units spend 30 days or so in predeployment training and inprocessing), as I read it you probably rate the GWOTSM also. That would qualify as duty ISO GWOT but outside the GWOTEM area. Ditto any return demob and outprocessing time and/or terminal leave.
You can get a joint commendation medal with valor. You have to be in a joint command in a combat zone which is not uncommon. It’s typically individual augmentees.
Purple Heart means more than being in the wrong place at the wrong time to those of us who have earned one, but I digress.
I think it goes beyond pity. The Purple Heart Medal is one of the most recognized medals the military has, and it signifies sacrifice for the country. Sure, we all sacrifice, but the PH shows a different degree, if you will.
Having one myself, I am proud of it. I didn’t want it, but I’ll wear it. For me, I wear it for one individual specifically, and about 23 generally who I served with and cannot wear it themselves.
PH’s were pretty rare back when he served, so they were more prestigious when he was in, I imagine. Also, maybe he just wanted a free hunting trip and he needed a PH to do it. I can find no mention of him having a PH before that hunting trip.
@73 Hondo you are correct, just was looking at mine. Did not list block 12, but Block 18 definitely stated Combat Zone place and dates, as well as Operations participated in.
Whatever. I just rewatched the TV report on this guy and am reminded that nobody but nobody who is being publicly and unjustly called a liar and a fraud reacts the way Shame Ladner did. (And before I get hit with it, yes, it is in the universe of possibility that someone would react that way but, as a practical matter of common experience among reasonable people, such a reaction is not likely from an innocent person who is wrongly accused.)
I was in Operation Just Cause. I was in Panama City. There were no units from the 5th ID. So Chuck had to be in another unit.
@80… Agreed. If someone came at me like the reporter did, I would stand my ground, pull out my retirement ID and VA card that shows Purple Heart recipient, or at the very least tell him I would get back to him. I wouldn’t act the way he is at all.
I helped to demob me unit when they were returning from the Sandbox (I was already home and on title-10 orders at the time). I did such a good job, that Lewis extended my orders and kept me there for a couple of months to help demob and mob at least five other units (I wasn’t sure how to count them at the time, but there were five groups that came through in the couple of months).
I was an E-4 and was put in charge of records check and orders check. Not only did I have a huge stack of file folders, but I had a laptop. When the soldier came up to me, I would ask for their orders. I would cross check it with their orders in the records box and then check it online.
There were so many problems, that I actually lost count on my first day. For every problem, I would enter it into the system. Awards received, promotions, duty stations, one soldier even was listed as single when she had come into the Army married.
However, for every soldier demobing, they left my station with a copy of EVERYTHING they received overseas. If they didn’t have a copy of their promotion orders or their awards, I gave them a copy from their folder or a print out from the computer.
If there is one thing I know about the Army it is this: things don’t change. And, even if they do, it takes a star’s lifespan (as in a huge ball of gas, not a Hollywood celebrity–and I don’t mean Sally Struthers). So, why did this douche not keep even one little slip of paper that he was given before, during, or after his mob? You know, like EVERYONE ELSE IN THE MILITARY!
“Holly Springs PD say they had similar suspicions, so when Ladner stopped reporting in they decided it was best to part ways.”
Apparently, this may be the reason he quit reporting back to work. They had their suspicions, he quit reporting in, and bam- turns out he was lying.
@83: great question. I haven’t really even tried to be sure I have records from my time in, but if I looked 5 minutes I could find SOMETHING to verify my claims outside even a DD214.
Another red flag is the award of the plain Armed Forced Reserve Medal, sans “M” device for mobilization, which is for 10 years of continuous service in the reserves. You can get one for split, or “broken” reserve service that totals 10 good years, but it usually winds up taking 12 years with one break in service to combine for 10 continuous years.
@Charles W-actually a unit of the 5th ID – 4/6 INF – was involved in Just Cause.
Again… The only way his story can be true is if he fits into a very small window where few people were involved… Not likely.
SGT Ted: the AFRM for 10 years reserve service is theoretically feasible for this guy.
He entered active duty in Aug 1990. Let’s assume he served 3 years and got out, going immediately into the USAR or ARNG.
He can’t count his first 3 years of service in the Regular Army (1990-1993), but he can count any USAR or ARNG time thereafter provided the year in question is a “good year” for retirement. That includes any active duty performed while in the USAR or ARNG (AT, ADSW, schools, mobilization, or voluntary active duty).
If every one of his years in the USAR or ARNG were “good” years starting in Aug 1993 (e.g., 50 or more retirement points), he’d have had 10 qualifying years of reserve service by August 2003. That would qualify him for the AFRM w/Bronze Hourglass Device. He’d get the “M” Device for his 2003-2004 mobilization.
Another red flag is the lack of a GWOTEM. I served the same time he did and we received the GWOTEM, not the AFEM. This DD214 is missing lots of other language about serving in an imminent danger area and the lack of theater served in jumps out as well.
It looks like he took several DD214s and combined them and added his name and rank to it.
71,73: Looking back at my mounds of digital notes, you’re right. It’s very possible he may never had deployed outside CONUS.
However, as it has been since pointed out, he claims overseas service ribbons…but no time listed.
I smell deep deer shit.
And can someone confirm or correct my observation about his NCO Professional Development Ribbon (my earlier post @ 8)
Hondo. He shows 6 years, plus change, of active serve in a 13 year period. That makes it a No Go for the AFRM for longevity.
I think the block 18 is a copy/paste from someone else’s DD214.
SGT Ted: that’s a negative, amigo. All previous active duty served in either the Regular or Reserve component should appear in block 12 under the “previous active duty” category. However, any active duty time while in a Reserve Component (USAR or ARNG) – e.g., mobilization, short tours, schools, voluntary active duty as a Reservist – would be qualifying service for the AFRM. Only service in the Regular Army is excluded.
I served almost 1/2 of the 10 years for my Silver Hourglass on active duty. All of it was Reserve service (2-yr mob, 4 mo short tour, 2 1-yr tours of voluntary active duty, some “odds and ends”). It all counted.
Regarding no GWOTEM: he’d only have that if he deployed ISO OEF to the GWOTEM area in 2003-4. One can serve in support of OEF without leaving CONUS. One of my 1-year voluntary tours was OEF support in CONUS.
Pinewood NCO, My DD214 for a similar mobilization does not have my schools listed in block 14. What my MOB DD214 also lacks is all the peacetime awards and schools prior to mobilization. It does show other active duty periods for which I had orders or a DD214 for.
SGT Ted…respected…however, with regards to our “King of Deer Poop”…I still would insist to still see a 1059.
Why would he claim to be an Iraq war veteran without medals to back it up. Also, it would have had to be during this period on the DD214 and would have been noted.
So he claims he was medically retired, an Iraq War veteran… This dude is nothing more than a liar.
“Shane Ladner, a Holly Springs police officer and Iraq war veteran, was on the float with his wife. He said he knows how long and hard the recovery process will take.”
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/cop-hurt-parade-crash-focuses-wifes-recovery/nTFqr/
I imagine the Chief is pretty pissed off and will really be thorough when looking into this:
“At this point we just ask for prayer from the public,” Holly Springs Chief Ken Ball told Channel 2 Action News. “He’s a wounded war vet, served in Iraq, was wounded in Iraq and just faced those challenges from recovery from that incident. And now this.”
Ladner was recently chosen by a non-profit organization, Show of Support, out of Midland, to be recognized for his military service after being wounded in combat in Iraq.”
Hondo, if he did any title 10 orders in that 93-03 10 year period it shoots down the award.
But, yea maybe he was a guard bum and got some Title 32 orders in between 93-03 that amount to 3 extra years. Not impossible, especially for reserve MPs.
ADSW (Active Duty, Special Work)orders do not count for active service credit, and prior to 9/11, non-AGR active tours that counted for service were rare for EM. Most of the guard bums prior to that were on ADSW orders, which would make him eligible for the AFRM, but it wouldn’t count as active service.
My gut says he never rated the medal and that block 18 is a copy/paste from someone else’s DD214.
@96: Watch him come back now and say “no, I never said Iraq War, I said Iraq War ERA.” :rolleyes:
What I dont understand is if he were telling the truth why doesnt he just ask some of the folks the deployed with to step up and back his story. I know I can call no less than half a dozen people to back up our time in Iraq, seeing as how no one his backing his story up makes me think he is full of bantha poo doo.