Shedrick Burgess the homeless SEAL (UPDATED)
AverageNCO sent a link yesterday about this poor homeless family headed by former Navy SEAL Shedrick Burgess;
Desiree Burgess, 38, has just finished removing a pan of bubbling lasagna from the oven on a recent Thursday afternoon. Her infant son, Desmond, is sleeping peacefully in his playpen while her husband, Shedrick, a veteran and former Navy Seal, greets guests with a smile when they come to the door.
This scene of domestic tranquility could easily be found in any town across the United States, as families gather to share dinner in the comfort of their warm homes.
But Ms. Burgess and her family are homeless.
As you’ve probably guessed by now, Shedrick isn’t a Navy SEAL, according to Captain Larry Bailey. So at this point I’m wondering if he’s even a veteran.
UPDATE: Amy writes to tell us that she contacted the folks at 27 East (dot com) and at her urging, they checked with poor Shedrick and he blamed his wife for the SEAL claim. He admits that he was in the Navy but not a SEAL. The “journalists” (and I use “journalists” in it’s loosest interpretation of the term) said they’ll be correcting the article.
Category: Media, Phony soldiers
Wait, I thought all homeless people and panhandlers are veterans. That’s what their hand-written cardboard signs always say! And Christian, too. I may never trust a guy in the median who just broke down on his way to Poughkeepsie and needs money for bus fare again.
What gets me is that the editorialist who is masquerading as a reporter states matter of factly that Burgess is a veteran and former SEAL. The statement isn’t even introduced with any qualifier which might would alert the reader that there is no verification for the claim, such as, “Mr. Burgess says that he is….” I’m sure the reporter would have served it up the same way had Burgess said that he holds a degree from the Columbia School of Journalism. Right.
@2 – “The statement isn’t even introduced with any qualifier which might would alert the reader that there is no verification for the claim”
Exactly. Such is the state of investigative journalism in this country.
Which one is Shedrick? The dude on the right or the left?
The editor forgot the standard qualifier– was loaned to CIA– Now that would have put a couple more marbles in the pile. The press just loves a fake with some Bull Shit story. Shedrick would score high with the OWS crowd Because he Claims to be a “veteran” he could stand in the front of the pack at marches!
That is one big SEAL! Must have been fun to have around during rock portage.
So, he screwed over his family, good going dick. Luckily his wife is a comely lass, and she will likely land on her hooves.
Arby: Shedrick is in the middle.
The one in the middle should be worried…he looks like a tasty snack.
Quick, throw the seal a fish, or the kid gets it.
Tough life. Homeless people in hotels in the Hamptons.
What an idiot I am. I have to pay $200 a night for the privilege and this Navy Seal along with the his gal, Rosey Grier, get to stay there for free.
Well, call me stupid and make me vote Democrat.
I once told one the of the ‘homeless veterans’ with a will work for food sign that I had some yard work that he could do and I would buy him some food. He flipped me off and just wanted money.
Back in ’03, the place I had worked in for over 5 years shut it’s doors unexpectedly,I was 3 days away from signing my mortgage on a condo at a fixed 3.65 APR that would have gone for 3 times the price,until my employers closing hit the news. HUD foreclosed on the condo, I was waiting on my unemployment when the Sheriff’s served me with an eviction notice. Not wanting to burden family or friends I spent a week living behind some bushes waiting for my first unemployment check, going to the library during the day to look for work both in the paper and online. When I got my first check, I bought a small tent and a Coleman stove and scouted a patch of woods behind a nearby office complex for access to water, trash disposal and electric outlets for charging my cell. I never begged or got near any other homeless encampment. I eventually added a camp shower, a cooler and a lantern for reading after dark. There was a laundromat about 1/2 mile away,where I could take a dump to keep my AO clean and do my laundry. I went on interviews,and kept looking for a job. I bought a 3 room tent fount some wood for a small deck and walkway outside the tent- It really wasn’t that bad-I was in much worse places in the Army! Nobody knew where I lived because I had Camoflaged the area using downed branches and local foliage and you couldn’t find it unless you knew which deer trail to follow. I was out there for 15 months, taking a job flippin’ burgers for 6 months while still looking for a job.
The bottom line is- spare me these whinin’ pussies who want everyone to feel sorry for them and give them somethin’ for free-ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY CLAIM TO BE SOMETHING THEY WEREN’T!!!
Anyone else notice after they “updated” the article, it is now on lockdown unless you pay?
Damn skank reporters not verifiying there “sources”. I am so G.D. sick of the media thinking all vets are homeless single-minded thugs…….
I guess there are two things you you can’t pose as or you’ll get busted every time. NAVY SEALS and Journalists are both occupations that are mercilessly posed on the internet by people who have no clue real NAVY SEALS and Journalists will call them out. Lame ass POSERS!
Filet and keel haul that SOB.
According to records, Shedrick Burgess Veteran E-3 – Served 1992 to 1996 with USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT….Worked as a machine operator for last five years until February,2011 when he lost his job. You guys are so compassionate. I’m sure your kicking him some more will teach him and his family a great lesson.
#18 AR: …and Fermijon Merrero is on the verge of being homeless, and Soupy has mental issues, and Snake Eyes is short, and Jasper Lake would like to make the Navajo Nation proud, and Albert John thinks he’s a sensei.
The common denominator here is, for WHATEVER reason, they have all decided to lie for their own benefit and aggrandizement. Meanwhile those of us who served honorably and claim no more than we earned, who may ALSO have problems, have not.
We should give them a pass? If they served at all they learned the precepts of Duty and Honor. Even if they did not serve, their parents, teachers, preachers, coaches, mentors, bosses, etc. taught them lying was wrong.
The only slack I am willing to cut THIS guy is IF it was his wife, not him, who lied about him being a SEAL, I can understand his hesitating to figure out the best way to correct that misconception. It would (perhaps) not be too cool if she made that claim for the first time with cameras rolling and he didn’t particularly want to embarrass her in the moment.
If, and only if, that is how it happened. Which is not very likely.
You know what’s sad about this situation? It’s that dumb assholes attack my family when it not called for. And for the fucking record, my wife did not mispeak. An incompentent reporter mispoke. I was a deck seaman aboard the theodore roosevelt. And if anybody has anything else to say about me or my family, just post your address. I will come to you. You sad sons of bitches.
Further more, kiss my ass. You m.f. that jack off and talk shit, but are scared to serve your damn country make my ass hurt. Racist bastards. Go f your mothers. You don’t have to question my vet status to a captain. You m.frs are going after the wrong one.
However controlv this sight. For my peace of mind, please take this down!
Well, isn’t this just too special for words!
What the hell are you talking about, son? If the reporter got it wrong, why in the world are you blasting us for reporting that?
Meanwhile, attacking veterans for the mistakes of others is ridiculous. You demand more than you are willing to give.
Whatever.
Shedrick, if that is you, why the hell did you draw attention to a two year old post?
No one questioned your vet status to a captain, they checked with Mr. Bailey to see if you were in the teams, as was suggested by the article. Cpt. Bailey has access to the appropriate database to make that confirmation. That is not a racist attack on you. That is checking to verify if a news story is accurate. It was not.
Whether it was the reporter or your wife who misspoke, it is on them. A claim that you were SEAL was made, TAH verified it was false, and told the reporter. That is the end of this website’s involvement.
What part of didn’t know till yesterday that has people confusse? Any rationally sane person that knew about something like this would have handled it. Like i said. I moved out of there right after that i did not look back. There was no reason for me to. I needed help, and i move on. My parents did not raise a deead beat. You know what? I have neitherr the time or energy for this nonsense. If any question about my vet status, check with the dod. Or checkk orlando sep of 1992 c155. Pretty sure a younger version of me is in there getting my shots. Plenty memories on the gridiron. Jackass!
I apologize. Its just that i am just seeng this for the first time honestly. And i am wondering if this posting has anything to do with some things that went wrong for me recently. I respect that, but when hit with news like this is crazy. I can’t believe after two years i haven’t seen this.
@26- Good. I’m glad you’re back on your feet, and I hope you and your family are doing well.
Thank you very much. But i’m just still rocked by this.
That is understandable, Shedrick. We do not attack folks just for grins and giggles. We protect each other, but call out anyone who makes unearned claims.
When you are able, please reread this article and all the comments. You will see that for yourself.
Great, another genius who resurrected a thread long buried under the hundreds and hundreds that followed it in time. And what’s really wonderful is how, amid the rank profanity, the race card is thrown out there. Yeah, that’s it. I’m sure that’s it. Why else would about 99% of the exposed posers be white?
To 2/17 air cav, how woul you react to something like this? As a matter of fact why are you responding? You know, between me and you, you, i’m not that guy that lies. Now, if you think i did then that’s your choice. Aand frankly , i don’t care what you think. A “deck seaman” is what i was. You guys make a 39 year old feel 18 again.
Well, if someone misrepresented my service so grossly and, say, wrote that I was a former Ranger, I would go ballistic–on the writer and the paper/website that reported it. I would raise holy hell–with the source that got it wrong–IF they got it wrong unilaterally and not by something I or a loved one told them. I would demand that the record be set straight and I would do so in writing so that I could share the written demand with anyone who repeated the falsity. But that’s me.
As for why I am responding, this is a mil blog and it’s open for comment–and I elected to comment.
Mr. Burgess, a word, if I may:
You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.
Further, sadly, when someone claims they are/were a Navy SEAL, it’s about 20-1 (if not longer) against them ever having been anywhere near NAB Coronado, let alone having ever attended BUD/S, let alone having ever graduated and been assigned to a Team. Nobody ever claims to have been a “deck ape” on a carrier. Sad, but nature of the poser.
Finally, if the reporter or your wife got the story mixed up, why are you so defensive? You figure prominently in the story–why did you make no effort to correct the claim? It’s inconsistencies like this which make those who have BTDT get rightfully upset.
@32 What would I do if I was in your situation? first I would contact the reporter and ask for a retraction, with CC to the admin of this page. I’m sorry stuff has been going bad on your side and I’m glad you are better, unfortunately journalists (and I use that term very loosely) miss quote horribly, but leaving the news there while knowing is false is a bit not shifty and neither dishonest but “lazy” and “irresponsable” would you agree?
I’m sure the news also appeared on a printed paper, and I would be amazed that you did not get a copy from anyone, thus I would have taken my DD-214 gone ape shit and demanded a retraction, but then again is just me maybe at that time you had so much stuff going on that you didn’t take care of it, well sir now is as good at a time as ever wouldn’t you agree?
Respectfully LostOnThemInterwebs
Shedrick,
First off I’m glad you got back on your feet. I know it had to be a kick in the teeth to find that you are mixed up in a false SEAL claim.
Secondly, this blog targets false CLAIMS, not just the individual. If the reporter was the one that pulled this out of their ass then they will be the ones held accountable.
If you come on here and can explain what happened and get the reporter of paper to retract their story or cite a source then the NEWS Article and reporter become the A-Holes.
People that read through the thread will see it wasn’t you that instigated this. The fact is that a false claim of being a SEAL was published. That crap is not acceptable.
This blog did not screw you over, whoever said you were a SEAL or the reporter who fabricated the lie are the ones who are to blame.
I’m just wondering… did you not read the story when it came out two years ago? It seems that if a paper was to put my name out there I would be adamant about making sure that the info was true. If the story had said that you were a cross-dresser who was making ends meet by doing gay pr0n would you have let that slide for two years?
Sorry, but the pattern as been for people to let these type of lies about them go on until they are called out, THEN they scream about it.
That you tried to play the race card doesn’t lend to your credibility either.
Hey listen guys. I was just glad to get out there. I did not look back nor did i think of the interview that we had. For someone to call me out for being a “deck ape”, i gotta laugh. As for the reportr, i have contacted the editor of the print a demaned a retraction long before i posted on this blog. Where i live now we do not get print of that publication.I have never claim nor will i claim to be what i am not. Not under any circumstance. I was proud to be a DECK SEAMAN, not “ape”. That’s funny. Frankly i don’t care if some of you guys don’t believe me. For the ones that do, you are greatly appreciated.
Shedrick,
I am pretty sure you are truthful about your service, good on you for getting a hold of the paper. The media needs to start being more accurate in their reporting. They seem to want to make things more dramatic by saying everyone was a Ranger, Force Recon, Sniper, SEAL or Special Forces.
By doing that they belittle those of us who served in “regular” MOSs and those that had to go through the harsh selection process to be members of elite units.
Again I’m glad you are doing better.