Stolen Valor Happens on Twitter Too
I don’t really go on Twitter to find phonies at all. I just happened to see someone retweet (basically copy and republish what was said to the “twitter-uninitated”) something from a user with the name “FormerGrunt”. I thought, well.. let’s take a look at the Former Grunt.
Something I noticed right off the bat is the profile photo. I’ve seen that photo before. Quick search and found it: SFC Daniel Crabtree. He’s a Special Forces soldier that was killed in Iraq in 2006. Quick lineup and flip in Photoshop and we have an exact match.
So I decide to ask him about it… but since he’s a secret squirrel, he’s fuzzy on details.
So that’s not him in the photo (no shit) but don’t worry… he’s sent me a legit photo to prove himself:
My last tweet to him: “how do you know Daniel Crabtree exactly?” has yet to receive a response. And he was just so talkative. I’ll keep an eye on this fucktard and see where it goes.
UPDATE: Looks like we need to do a real-time Twitter play-by-play on this guy. I decided to send him a last ditch tweet… which then got his (most likely bulletproof) panties in a wad. Here’s the continued exchange:
UPDATE 2: He’s responded via tumblr.
I am writing this because some shit will not fit in 140 characters.
My previous avatar on Twitter that I have been using for quite a few months was a Photoshopped image of SFC Daniel Crabtree, a special forces soldier who was KIA in Iraq back in 2006.
I used his image because it fit what I wanted in an avatar, and I also used it to keep my account anonymous for work reasons. After being bombarded from an asshole from a military-parody website today, I have changed it back to one of my own images (although still one that shouldn’t be able to identify me).
For the record, no, I never knew SFC Crabtree. He was a hero who died serving his country, while I am just a grunt who managed to make it home relatively unscathed.
I’ll also point out that the only time this dispute got under my skin was when I saw the words “stolen-valor” come into play. That is an issue I take seriously. There is no more despicable form of human than one who will pretend to claim a military honor they never earned.
So, for those concerned for whatever reason, the avatar has changed (and i is my own image).
For those who want to continue fighting on the internet kindly go fuck yourself. I’ve already wasted enough of my morning with you.
With all the stolen valor fucks running around in this world… why would you get mad after being legitimately questioned about your service? But hell… he’s legit.
Category: Shitbags, Stolen Valor Act
@ 47. But The lobster was delicious! Well, as delicious as the itty bitty west coast lobsters can be.
And thanks John for removing me being accused. Horrible misunderstanding and all that. If you ever make it out to the JBLM area, I’ll buy you a beer or three.
Ditto, but the soul quandry remains.
@47 Also don’t let him set up your domain because he forgot to set up a back up system…thus the self flagellation with the lobster photo…penance perhaps…
Let me add, that I wasn’t really defending the guy. I should have expanded that there are lots of idiots on the planet that don’t understand. Like being angry at a retarded dude for eating his spork. He doesn’t know any better but it’s still ok to laugh at him a little. But try and correct his actions.
@51 (ROS)
Sadly, I just looked at my 214 (wife just emailed it to me) and it appears that I don’t have the “Soul” identifier. Redacting and emailing shortly.
Apologies again offered, pcr–but not for calling those pathetic little West Coast bugs “lobsters”. I’ve been here long enough to know better.
Totally agree and I will take corrective action for any “lobster” comments I make in the future. I lived in Maine for a bit and know what a lobster is supposed to look like.
NHSparky, apology accepted. 214 sent to John to prove I was really a nobody commo guy back in the late 90s.
PCR: If you are legit as Jonn thinks you are… I do apologize.
Strike, accepted, but no worries. Horrible misunderstanding. My appologies for sidetracking this whole thing with a half assed post that mislead a lot of people into thinking I was someone who I was not. Kinda ironic given the main topic of this post.
I offer as pennance, a picture I took yesterday at the JBLM airshow.
My son and SFC Petry, MOH earner:
http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo304/mmcternen/temporary-3.jpg
You should most certainly correct that, PCR. Our own resident ginger would frown upon such a malfeasance.
As for the Twitter moron, I’m convinced he’s a full-on window licker.
If he is/was a grunt he should know better than to use a KIA picture as an Avatar. I know if someone used one of my friend’s that were KIAs picture I would go ape shit (can I use that term or will Insipid call me a racist).
@63: Racist bastard!!!!
I wanted to be Instupid to the punch
Speaking of which, where is our Dupont Circle cage slap-fighter? Haven’t seen him around lately.
Aw, shit–now I went and fucked it all up.
@36…I guess the batting average went down a little bit, but I have no doubt that it will go back up significantly before it goes back down any
I just hope John really does get that asshat to start posting here, that would be a KILLER MONDAY!~ pardon the pun.
From his twitter feed today: “I did my time as an 11c and later as a 19D”. Now, I’ve only been a 19D in the Guard and on Active Duty, but I’ve never heard a 19D refer to themselves as a ‘grunt’. ‘Chucks’…well, they are Chucks. Pretty much everyone I’ve met that iet’d or reclassed to 19D refers to themselves as ‘scout’.
Ran this past a buddy who was an 11C and reclassed to 19K. He doesn’t wear the blue stuff on his uniform anymore and he damned sure doesn’t refer to himself as a grunt. Well, unless I start giving him shit about being a tanker, then he pulls the ‘Chuck with an EIB’ card.
Not really sure about ‘formergrunt’ other than something doesn’t smell right. Dates, places, numbers aren’t quite adding up.
@#65, Sparky, his white shoe “law firm” is busy doing “discovery” for the shit heel’s lawsuit that TSO referenced. Stupe is consoling mom that Kroger will, indeed, pay for the “wrongful death” of her son, who was just turning his life around.
If this guy is trying to protect his identity, he sure does a lousy job at it. In just a few seconds, I was able to find out that there are only a few folks with the Malcolm McTernen name in the U.S. This guy is listed on the MyLife website. He is 35 years old, lives in University Place, Washington. Apparently his name is a family favorite as it seems like his dad and grandpa have the same name. So there you wannabe Soldier. One thing I know is once a grunt always a grunt as even though I’m not in the military anymore I will still always be an Infantryman period. No other job is as good as it was and in no way will I refer to myself as a “former grunt”. WTF?!?
Okay, sorry, didn’t see PCR’s post’s up top. Okay, whoever FormerGrunt is should have his balls slit off slowly and then fed to him. To PCR, thanks for serving!
I just happened to see this running across the web. Dan was a 19th Group guy I think. I was in 10th at the time of his death.I used that exact picture in the memorial photo I did years ago in Iraq. What a disgrace. Thanks for calling this shithead out.