More Stolen Valor free speech
Doug Sterner sent us a series of links related to 42-year-old Kevin Grimsinger in Denver, CO who is a double amputee and advocate for medical marijuana. His credibilty is based on his story that he was injured in Afghanistan resulting from a land mine explosion while serving as a Special Forces medic. In the Denver Post’s words back in July, Grimsinger has “become the Colorado poster child for PTSD and medical marijuana”.
The 42-year-old former special-forces medic had served in Kosovo and Desert Storm before stepping on a land mine in Kandahar, Afghanistan, in 2001. He lost parts of both legs, broke his back in 13 places, shattered a shoulder and ribs and suffered injuries to several internal organs.
But by far, his toughest wounds are to his brain — textbook post-traumatic stress disorder.
That means flashbacks. It means struggling to sleep and thinking about suicide more often than he cares to admit. His nightmares are constant, he says. “They’re bloody, they’re noisy and they’re gory.”
After two years in hospitals, Grimsinger was released addicted “to every pain medication known to man,” he tells me. It wasn’t until turning to therapeutic cannabis, along with other prescriptions, that he says he has been able to function.
While playing this part, he helped launch “The Budding Group” a veterans outreach program for medical marijuana. He was appointed to the Denver Mayor’s special commission, the Commission for People with Disabilities, he testified at a hearing of the state legislators and he was the quartermaster at his local VFW post, Post 1.
Here’s a video Grimsinger telling his tale and advocating weed;
Anyway, the Denver Post, who seems to make a habit of having the wool pulled over their eyes, has finally checked on Grimsinger;
As it turns out, the double-amputee didn’t serve in Afghanistan and wasn’t injured by a land mine, as he claimed. Records show his military service ended a decade before he said he was hurt fighting in Kandahar in 2001.
He was, in fact, paralyzed as a civilian in a crash on a mountain road in Southern California where, as he now tells it, he was trying to kill himself.
“OK, so I claimed one tour that I wasn’t there for. I wasn’t in Kandahar. I didn’t trigger a land mine,” he admitted Friday. “I’m not laying no guilt trip or anything. But it’s just another nail in my coffin. I probably won’t make it through this if you write this.”
Poor baby makes a fool of the whole State of Colorado, but he might kill himself if you tell the truth about him.
What’s worse was hearing him twist his story when asked about military records that show he’s not a combat veteran and recipient of two purple hearts.
“I’m exactly who I said I am. Any man in green will stand right next to me and vouch for it,” he said at first.
“I’m highly offended that all this nonsense is in my face right now.”
Not as offended as the rest of us, Kev. I think any “man in green” that would stand next to you has an alternate reason for being there. Don’t turn your back on him, ya weasel.
The Denver Post writes;
…he hoodwinked medical-marijuana advocates who were all too eager to wheel him forward as a valorous poster guy…
Shades of Richard Strandlof, huh? Vote Vets and IVAW were more than willing to put Strandlof forward when he said the things they liked. I guess the hemp heads were happy to do the same with Grimsinger.
Grimsinger at first denied being related to his mother, father, brother, aunt and uncles. Then he said they’re all dead. Later he clarified that they’re dead to him.
I’m sure the feeling is mutual.
Category: General Whackos, Media, Phony soldiers
What do we know about his military background?
“He was, in fact, paralyzed as a civilian in a crash on a mountain road in Southern California where, as he now tells it, he was trying to kill himself.”
Not quite as heroic as stepping on a land mine in combat, but close!
“Grimsinger at first denied being related to his mother, father, brother, aunt and uncles. Then he said they’re all dead. Later he clarified that they’re dead to him.”
Pretty classy guy…for a liar!
This guy should be marketing himself as an emetic. He makes me want to puke!
But again, remember that this isn’t fraud, because people aren’t gaining anything from the lying, no one is harmed, and the founders of our country obviously wanted folks to be able to lie like this, and that is why they put it in the constitution.
Actually TSO, fraud is fraud and (it would seem) has little to do directly with Stolen Valor as the law is written. As a ‘soon to be’ member of the bar I would appreciate your observation in that specific context.
This particular shithead made SUCH egregious claims I’ll speculate that the fraud aspect would/should take precedence? Regardless, BTW, of any medals claimed, etc.
I think any “man in green” that would stand next to you has an alternate reason for being there
Like punching him in the hairy puss right below his nose???
TSO- I’m inclined to disagree. The groups ‘benefitted’ from his presence under the pretense he was a ‘hero’. He benefitted from whatever largesse he gained from such notoriety. Almost exactly like Strandlov.
I’d venture a guess that under examination, he received money or some compensation. I’m willing to bet it.
Think TSO’s comment was dripping with sarcasm.
MY comment was to ensure no one took TSO SERIOUSLY… /sarc or /sarc off……
Well said, Old Tanker well. I have to make the rounds this week, Bethesda NNMC, Andrews AFB and Ft. Myer/Henderson Hall. Maybe I’ll ask a few of our wonderful troops their opinion of Mr. Grimsinger.
I’m wondering with Spork, what is his actual military service?
We’re working on getting his records.
These impersonators seem to be able to get right inside and to the top of the organizations they infest. I wonder how and even more I wonder why. Why would some sack of sh_t work as hard as this guy has for Vet’s causes. (I’ve met him) It seems the easiest way to get called out if your hanging with Vets. In the end, the harm they cause is huge. Prosecute to the full extent!
#12 Noncombatent: The guy is a con artist, and like all con artists, he’s personable. No one checks his facts too closely, because they like the person. That’s how con artists operate. (Some better, some worse.)
I’ve always wondered about the medical marijuana thing. You always hear about smoking it, but never about it being used as an infusion — a TEA. An herbal remedy book I had for many years indicated it was good for several things, but only as a tea, not by smoking it. But using it as a tea is never mentioned in the media when medical marijuana is discussed.
[…] Hey, judges, no harm done, huh. Influencing legislation, being appointed to a government commission, misleading veterans in need of help, no big thing. How about impersonating judges? Would that count? H/T: JonnLilyea […]
Any word on Grimsinger’s actual service record?
[…] ears of Viet Cong in Germany during the war. Well the folks at Weapons Man found an article about Kevin Grimsinger, a guy we wrote about three years ago when the Denver Post caught him hoodwinking the pot-smokers there with his PTS […]