Earl L. Johnson; Baltimore phony Ranger revisited
We wrote about Earl L. Johnson nearly a year ago when the Baltimore Sun wrote about him. He was telling the story about being a Ranger and serving in Bosnia and Afghanistan. He later admitted to the Sun that he had served for about a year and mumbled something about Afghanistan. His real story is that he went AWOL after a few months in the Army, then he was arrested for an armed robbery, and dropped from the rolls while he waited for a year for the trial, which ended up going his way. Here’s his FOIA;
So, Johnson wasn’t in Afghanistan, he was in jail in Prince George’s County, Maryland. And he wouldn’t have been arrested in PG County, if he hadn’t been AWOL. Now, this Wes Moore guy is doing a documentary for PBS called “Coming Back” about veterans returning from war and making it in the real world, and they’re including Earl Johnson in the documentary.
Moore, also a veteran, has been made aware of Johnson’s misconduct and his lies about his military service, but he’s including Johnson in his documentary regardless, I guess because he couldn’t find a real war veteran, you know, because there are only a few hundred thousand. Or maybe it’s because phony stories are more compelling than real stories.
But now you know the whole story.
Category: Phony soldiers
Not surprised it’s going to be on PBS
Dude was padding his resume so that he could go to work for a company that rhymes with “ess aye eye see”. Military service (check), Jail Time (check), Lie about each of the above (check), Offer Letter (ka’ching!)
I went on the PBS site and sent there media folks a e-mail with link to this.
If this does air with Jackoff Johnson we should mount a PBS Supports Stolen Valor Campaign !!!
Awesome move on your part!
They know.
Maybe they plan to air a segment on him to demonstrate Stolen Valor???
(Well, it could happen. Not holding my breath.)
If they don’t, it’s just another example of very sloppy “journalism.” How can you make a “documentary” without checking the facts? Isn’t that the entire point of documentaries?
Meh. I’ll withhold bashing until it airs. The website and FB page says, “But Earl has a devastating secret about his service.”
My guess is he’ll admit he’s a phony but they will focus on his good works.
I saw the same thing. I’ll bet you’re right.
Earl will probably say that a meany back in basic gave him the PTS, which made him go AWOL, and led him into armed robbery and crime in general.
Finally a phony in my area! I hope to meet this fine gentlemen..
Nice to meet another 96B in the area.
Help spread the word about this liar.
https://www.facebook.com/ComeHomeBaltimore?fref=photo
Typical PBS reporter BS. No, don’t find some real vets who served. Let’s also find one we can spin into a PTS story somehow, someway. You know, the sympathy segment of poor Action Johnson here and how the bad Army was tough on him and he had to go AWOL for a candy bar or something. Cause, you know, those ruck sacks can be heavy and they don’t give you any Snickers or Three Musketeers for those long walking thingies.
I forgot…TURD!
How in the hell can the jack ass that is making the documentary put a poser AWOL thief on film?? Because he has an agenda and I am thinking it is probably not going to be too flattering towards the U.S. military. Probably along the lines of how fucktard Earl got a raw deal from the Army cause, you know, racism and all. PBS once again justifies getting all of their funding pulled. Idiots!
Let me give you a bit of true information from the interior of the ordeal. While we were filming my portion of the documentary, I was impressed with every step that Wes was taking to push the subject of reintegration into the mainstream media. He let me tell my story my way. And he was personally invested in this project. I am sure it hit him hard. But he included it to show the unbiased effect lies like this can have. I’m sure they have a pop up version for retired marines to read somewhere.
IN their defense, this is what it says about him on there:
Earl Johnson has wowed everyone in Baltimore, including his friend Wes Moore and wife, Zina, with tales of his service. Now, Earl is determined to remake his Baltimore neighborhood – the Oliver – which was the setting of HBO’s “The Wire.” It’s working. Crime is down. But Earl has a devastating secret about his service. Later in the series, we see how Earl manages the revelation of his complicated past and how he pushes forward with his mission.
My position is this: Good, tell his story. Tell about his Stolen Valor. Put a name and a face to it. Because I think this issue needs MORE press, not excising him from the story. Now, if they whitewash it, which I fully expect, then go red, but I want to see how they handle it first. If they do it right they will show how these liars manage to screw up everything around them. They destroy non-profits, families, social circles etc.
There are several ways that they can spin it into a positive – and could even be a very good object lesson for other posers. Could. We shall see if the do.
Once the show airs, he will have “proof” of his exploits. “Ya, Mon. Catch my documentary”.
These guys become tedious and bland after a while. AT least we do not need to hear tiger cage stories any more.
The Vietnam Press Syndrome is alive and well. Just like the hippy writers and assholes of the 60’s and 70’s were taken in by the frauds and flakes back then who spun bullshit tales, its happening again.
They are looking for soeone to validate their opinion, fraud or not.
With the internet, tons of information and FOIA there is no excuse for such shitty Journalism.
What’s next from the Partisan Broadcast System, a documentary on Dullass Whipitout’s exploits as a trail assassin? Phildo’s SEAL missions?
I had to chuckle when I watched the 4+ minute video segment featuring Earl. He and a couple of guys are going to change the inner city by growing vegetables on vacant land. Okie-dokie. Young and stupid I get. Not young and stupid, not so much. Earl the Con has a wife. She works every day and Earl leaves when she gets home. She isn’t happy. She is well spoken and, I’m guessing, is the family breadwinner. But Earl gets the spotlight and the accolades–while she works, takes care of the house, and cooks. Makes sense, I guess, just not to me.
He’s not listed under ‘The Veterans’ portion of the site, so I’m hoping that means he was removed.
Yup, he’s still there.
Maggot.
Happy Monday! Wow, years of lurking and 4 posts in same month. While I was in the county waiting on a relative (through marriage) who was a high-speed lawyer to decide if he was going to help me, a public defender came by to see me. I had wrote ‘none’ for legal representation while I was waiting and praying P.T. would help me out. He eventually did help and took care of me like a son. Heaven knows I didn’t deserve it. However at the time I didn’t know how he was going to react to me being in so much trouble. So anyhow, the public defender wanted me to blame the Army on all me woes, especially the drugs. I said I was a buzz hound since 13, and came from a long line of addicts or boozers. When he frowned, I added that the Army had plenty of decent, fun stuff to do via the MSA in Panama, and any other post I was at. It was no one’s fault but mine. By that time I had about 60 days clean, so some of the synapses were waking up. When my uncle finally said he would take care of me, I told him what the PD said. He exploded but I must say me not buying into it really tipped his decision to help me. Guess what? As luck would have it, I drew the one ‘conservative’ judge in Allegheny county, an old JAG guy from the USN decades before. Had I went with the “Army made me do it” defense, I would of been smoked like a hand-rolled Dominican (Cubans being highly over-rated IMHO). I would like to point out again that I expect no parade for acting like a grown up and veteran should, especially an infantryman. The point is that accepting responsibility for one’s actions is the first step toward mental and philosophical maturity. Second, the 3 spiritual principles that are a MUST to staying clean are honesty, open-mindedness, and willingness. As the basic text says “with these we are well on our way”. I… Read more »
ThommyMac,
Good for you. Keep fighting the good fight and the world will turn in your favor.
I have some experience with this type of “thing” in my family, so If you are OK with a little friendly advice:
make sure you have a good friend that is a “straight arrow” to lean on when the devil is on your back. Maybe at church, but doesn’t have to be. You can do it all by yourself, but it will be a lot easier to have someone to help get your mind focused on something else.
I’ll keep you in my prayers.
ThommyMac…good for you. One day at a time. You are in my prayers.
Hang in there ThommyMac, you’re in my prayers.
IS that someone on facebook actually trying to defend him or actually applaud TAH for outing him. I can’t tell what the hell this Tacita person is talking about.
Shit brother, the Baltimore Sun defended him.
That is true. Baltimore is a Bizzaro world settings. Praise and defend someone who lied. I guess these people think his good outweighs his bad.
She’s defending him, but she’s doing a poor job.
AND SHE CONTINUES TO DO IT! I just visited the fb page of this “so-called” business that he’s involved in and found that she posted this letter written by Earl supposedly: This is a letter I received form Earl…My mother had a saying “leave well enough alone” I never learned well enough because for me there is always more out there. I consider those who have moved into Oliver over the past few years family. The struggle has been real but the payoff is priceless. A clean safe community to call home. That last sentence is so short but it’s jam packed with meaning, and full of mission and has a long journey. My journey to help my community did not begin when I moved in. It started in the summer of 2010 when I found my wife face down on the ground as shots were fired near our house while she was walking dog. It wasn’t the first shooting we had heard that summer but it would be the last one I heard sitting down. I knew then, to protect home I had to do something uncomfortable, dangerous and probably fatal. Take on those who thought it was ok to murder,shoot and sell drugs in the community I just moved my wife in. My first mission was to protect home. I’m an avid reader and trained as an infantrymen with little to no experience in fixing such a complex issue as drugs and violence I drew from what I knew. My first question, was how do I make the price of killing me or my family higher than what it was ? If I started asking dealers not to deal here or confronting guys with guns asking them to get off my block or calling the police and leaving my name. What is going to make them think twice about killing me or my wife. The Romans and modern day special operations forces have been known to fight with such veracity that the enemy thought they were a bigger force than they were and retreated. In 2010 it was… Read more »
I’m about to have a fucking stroke! Tacita Hamilton says she’s a veteran. Wes Moore is supposedly a veteran. Earl Johnson is some half-trained 11B that thinks that in the ENTIRE YEAR that he was a soldier that he got enough training to run surveillance and counterdrug ops??? And this is acceptable to “vets” like Wes and Tacita? But he served right? I would bet my left nut that the other 9 vets involved in the documentary know noting about this.
Making friends with the cops? Hell I (white Active Duty Tsgt) moved to East Baltimore in 2008 and was HARASSED by the cops who thought I was there to buy dope. It got so bad that I made numerous trips to the precinct to let them know if the harassment didn’t end they would be hearing from my lawyer.
Found his twitter. @earljohnsonchb. Same with Wes Moore
@wesmoore1
I wish I could figure out an appropriate hashtag to go with this, but I’m thinking twitter would block #ValorStealingPhonyRangerFuck
I’d almost forgot about this priceless exchange between Congresswoman (LTC) Duckworth and a POS. Well worth the time to watch. She seems to have the same feelings towards fake wounded warriors as we do towards plain ole fake warriors…
http://video.pbs.org/video/2365212219/
Jesus. Watching that clip produced an instant wargasm. I’m seriously curious how she would react to Johnson and his inclusion in this special if a few concerned constituents reached out to her office. I think a couple of calls and emails should be made.
Anyone contacted Fox News about this Wes Moore shit? I’m thinking they’d love to jump down his throat for airing a phony veteran.
I mentioned it in response to nbcguy54’s post, but if anyone wants to call or email Rep. Duckworth’s office, here’s the link:
http://duckworth.house.gov/contact
I’m actually planning to send a line tonight…
This tagline is nothing less than absurd…
“Earl Johnson was looking to find new meaning in his life when he returned from oversees, so he poured all of his energy into revitalizing The Oliver, a drug and crime-ridden neighborhood in Baltimore. However, his efforts take a toll on his relationship with his wife as he dedicates more and more time on his new mission.”
So if it is true that Wes Moore and the producers of this documentary were aware of Johnson’s fraudulent claims, than that means that PBS and Wes Moore himself are being deliberately deceptive in leading us to believe that he *may* have served honorably. Siding with a phony? Smart move, Wes…
They removed his mugshot from online. They know.
Looks like his handlers forgot one:
http://www.georgia-mugshot-search.com/Counties/Gwinnett-County/Earl-Leon-Johnson-Jr.645605.html
Is it any wonder that Wes Moore chooses to validate this fake Ranger in spite of the evidence? I say it isn’t. After all, he’s on the board of IAVA and stayed mum when made aware of the fake Green Beret in his organization, ie, Paul Rieckhoff. These so called spokesmen for the veteran community are about as fraudulent in character as Earl Johnson is.
I would kill myself before I would back this piece of shit. There are true Army Rangers that have served and died. I can’t believe there are veterans out there being pimped by this guy. I can’t believe Wes Moore is being pimped by this guy. I volunteer in my community but don’t go telling people that I am a Ranger and served in every combat zone. Well, shit, maybe I will start telling people I am a Ranger. At least I know I can get on TV and have a bunch of suckers work for me.
If only I could believe that poor ol’ Wes Moore was being pimped by this wannabe. This dude ain’t smart enough for it. On the other hand, Wes Moore and the rest of his IAVA blowhards are no strangers to using someone else’s story, legit OR fake, in order to advance their own agenda. Everyone involved in supporting this turd is just as guilty in my book
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TODFutRGUoo
Fast forward to 2:03. You’ve got to be shitting me. If Wes Moore really believed in being honest and transparent with this documentary, then Earl Johnson would be nowhere to be seen in this film. The hypocrisy is unreal.
Also watch the first two minutes to hear him describe what the most difficult part of his “re-adjustment” to civilian life was. Colored lights?? Wow. The struggle is real, gents. TYFYS, Wes.
Eagle…I’ll be watching out for him in traffic! That whole, red, yellow, green business must be a real bitch for him.
LMAO! Baltimore was already dangerous enough without Wes behind the wheel flipping out because the streetlamps use white bulbs. I hope he’s getting some serious PTSD counseling before he does something regrettable like write a strongly worded letter to the gas and electric company.
They all know that he is a phony, even Wes Moore. They went as far as to remove his mug shot from the internet.
That’s probably what made him give the go ahead. Wes Moore has been known to partner with felons in order to help boost his own image. Think about it. The Other Wes Moore was written with input from a cop killer that had the same name as him. Now he gets with Earl Johnson an armed robber, to produce Coming Back with Wes Moore. Coincidence? Probably not.
Hell, boost his street cred maybe. Wes sure does love to attach his name to everything doesn’t he? Wes Moore presents The Autobiography of Wes Moore written by Wes Moore. What an assclown.
I am surprised that the Baltimore Sun is not getting this clown’s “tactical, operational and strategic observations” on the Ukraine…
I have an even better idea! Why don’t we airdrop EARL into Ukraine and have him take on the Russians himself? After all, he won the war on drugs in that Baltimore neighborhood all buy himself apparently. It looks like a lot of sheeple believe it too.
I think I’m becoming more interested in Wes Moore’s military record instead of Earl Johnson’s. Seriously, has anyone ever heard anybody refer to a deployment in Iraq or A-stan as a “remarkable experience”?
http://www.msnbc.com/weekends-alex-witt/watch/moore-on-his-remarkable-experience-in-afghanistan-47241283788
Translation…
Reporter: “What stands out about your tour in Afghanistan?”
Wes Moore: “Allow me to have 1 to 2 minutes in which I will recite generalized statements about deployments in general so that it gives you the impression that I have been in life-or-death combat situations.”
Reporter: “Really? You say that with a smile on your face.”
Wes Moore: “I do. Because I’m a lying fuck!”