Mike Shane Baker; Green Beret not so much
JD at Professional Soldiers sent us the documentation he got on one Michael Shane Baker, who claimed to be a retired Sergeant First Class who had been wounded four times during his four tours in the Global War On Terror with (who else) Special Forces, that got him a free motorcycle from some well-meaning Vietnam veterans;
It’s all true, well, if ten years means eight six years, wounded four times is the same as never being wounded, if four tours in the war means one tour, and if by Special Forces he means Military Police. And if a sergeant first class is pay grade E-4;
According to the newspaper article, which isn’t on line, Baker was the only member of his team to “come out” alive. I guess, given the rest of the story, that means they all made it out alive, which is good news. Another perfectly good career ruined by manufacturing lies. By the way, he’s in Breckenridge County, KY and the whole county pitched in to build his motorcycle. I think he owes them an apology and he needs to give up the bike so they can give it to real wounded veteran instead.
Category: Phony soldiers
Shit. I meant the .pdf copy of the newspaper acticle that’s on the above link is hard to read. Apparently the Breckinridge Herald doesn’t have an online copy of it’s paper. I was rage-typing. And yea, this is WAY more egregious than any fuck-tard civilian putting on a chest full of goddamn medals and an ill fitting uniform over a big fat belly.
No. 23:
I really was being sincere in my comment No. 27 —
I meant to write, that since there are already some stupid criminal shows, “America’s Got Posers” would fit right in .
(I did not mean there are too many such shows)
Gabby, Mike Baker also claims he played football for Penn State and graduated with degree in psycology. If you Google past football rosters for Penn State the name Mike Baker doesnt appear. I wont waste time looking for that Psyc. degree. All universities post their past rosters. Makes it easy to spot those sports posers among us.
Being associated with Penn State football not greatest thing to claim or boast about these days – so our ninja warrior Mikey Baker (if thats even his real name) should feel blessed that it was all a lie.
i was one of the guys that built the trike ,and gave it away however the trike has been returned ,and is in my garage now we don’t know what the hell to do with it ,this whole mess just makes me sick so many people are involved in this thing so much heart and soul put into this project and now means nothing i can hardly look at it now
i did talk to mike baker and he did tell me the truth ,thanks to every one out there that shed some light on this thing he gave the bike back and said he did not deserve it .this boy needs some help guys ,i hope he tries to do the right thing and get some help thank you all for your help
Jim–at least you got it back. My suggestion is to do what you originally intended to do with the bike–give it to a deserving service member, but this time, verify their service FIRST.
At least he came clean and returned the bike. That’s more than most ever do when outed.
Hopefully he’ll get whatever help he needs to stay on the up-and-up.
Donate the trike to the Wounded Warrior Battalion at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
And props to Mr. Baker for manning up and returning it.
This is for all the people I have hurt: My Name is Michael Baker and I have brought great shame to my military service in the war. I have never served with the elite Special Forces of this country. I have lied about being a member of these great men. I served as Military Police in Afghanistan & Europe. There is no excuse for what I have done and for this I am truly sorry. The anger and disappointment I have caused all of you is beyond measure. It is because of my actions of dishonor I have returned ownership of the motorcycle to Jim Soder for I am not befitting of such a great gift. I will live with the shame of the mistake that I have made for the rest of my life and pray everyday for god’s forgiveness. I have sought out help and extensive therapy into a veteran treatment facility where I shall remain in order to better myself. Upon my release I will make an in person formal apology to all those I have hurt and ask for forgiveness. I had served my country in the war with honor, however because of my action I will never look upon my time in war as honorable. This mistake has cost me so much and I have brought shame to my family and for this I am sorry. I will not allow myself to run and hide in shame I must do the honorable thing and admit my mistake and do all that I can to fix it. I beseech to any veteran please never dishonor your service with a lie. No matter what you have done in service of our country please be proud of it and I beg of you learn from my terrible mistake. We have all made mistakes in our lives; the only salvation is the truth and the strength to right the wrongs in our lives. I pray that someday you will all give me a second chance to right my mistake simply by my actions and not by my word. “A… Read more »
this letter was given to me from mike baker , as we had a long talk last night and he went off by himself and wrote it for me to post ,thank you everyone for all of your help in this endeavor. i hope we can all move forward as i really think mike baker has had a very soul searching experience that he will never forget thanks again jim……
I’m haunted by the part Mr. Baker put in quotes at the end of the letter. Appears to me he’s worth a second chance.
I seem to remember a great Teacher faced such a situation once. His words to the one who had erred were something along the lines of, “You are forgiven. Go forth and sin no more.”
Takes guts to admit a major error. If the guy stays on the up-and-up, I think we can do the same.
hondo thank you brother ,i feel the same way , i stayed up all night with the man and we talked and cried all night it was like a big weight lifted off of me and i thank mike baker for the heart to heart to me he is a wounded brother that needs help hopefully he will get the help he needs
Jim, that’s always the response we get from the good ones. Then there’s the other kind. Give Mike a pat on the shoulder from the rest of us.
It takes a big man to stand up and admit when he’s wrong. Glad he has acknowledged his err and is doing the right thing by seeking help. Good on you Jim for assisting him through this low point in his life.
Kudos to Mister Baker for doing what was surely a hard thing to do.
THAT, ladies and gentlemen, took courage.
I hope things look up for him now. It did take courage to admit his wrongdoing, and I hope he realizes that. Jim, you’ve done a good deed here.
BZ Mr. Baker,
You don’t have to beg, just ask, and good men will.
“I never measure a man by his mistakes, I measure him by how gets back in the game”.
The thing is that we never abandon our own. When they forget their honor, we still consider them “ours,” taking appropriate action against them when necessary. When they find their honor, we welcome them back among us.
It sounds like Michael may want to remain among us. If that is so, he will have plenty of help along the way.
The one statement with which I might take issue in his letter – if his behavior while serving was honorable, nothing he has done since changes that. His dishonorable behavior when he took that bike only speaks to his lack of honor on that day, and those leading to it.
Good luck, Michael.
Sometimes guys get a few beers in them, and embelish too much. Baker went beyond that when he took the effort to sew bogus patches on his biker vest, and FAR exceeded it by accepting the bike. But it seems his contrition is sincere, and he seems to have set an example for other posers to follow. His apology is so much more refreshing than threats of legal action. His apology is also so much more effective than Gunny Driveway’s simply because of his ability to use proper grammar. I propose that Baker be exempted from next year’s Stolen Valor tournament because of his genuine apology.
Agreed 72. I’m pleased with the responses that you professionals are writing. It speaks highly to the caliber of people who read this blog.
Move on.
As one of the builders of that trike and one who has spent countless days and nights with Mike Baker and his wife, all I can say and will say is that this pill is a hard one for me to swallow…I put friends and comrads in body bags in Vietnam…saw the results of a nation that could care less what sacrifices they made…and to have someone,anyone claim to have lost what Baker lost and that not be true…will take a long time for me to accept..if ever…
Understandable, Gabby. No one should expect you to feel otherwise.
This guy is a THIEF, nothing else. Firstly He has tarnished the image of the military. But also to his family, neighbors, society and the many people who had their precious money stolen to buy this faker his motorcycle.
Give it back. Give it to a genuine wounded warrior. This guy is sleaze, without social redeeming quality.
I am RVN vet, I am not surprised at VFW response. I have little respect, not member. Between tour (2) of RVN, told to leave VFW because they did not recognize RVN as a war. If I was not good enough for them then, they are not good enough for me now.
This piece of trash can apologize all he wants. He is a fraud and an oxygen thief. He is an embarrassment to all who served and to this country. Regardless of what the Supreme Court says this is not Free Speech. It should still be a Federal Offense. Even gang banging thugs have more honor than this slime. He should spend some time with them out in the yard, maybe he will learn something.
Okay we heard his words, lets see his actions.
@78.
Roger that.
So far no actions but avaidance.
avoidance. sorry.
Turd.