Roger Gagnon; “The VA is lying”
The folks at Military Phonies send us their work on this fellow, Roger Paul Gagnon who recently made a name for himself when he bought a billboard which declares that the “VA is lying”;
They say that Gagnon has been on several news programs because of the stunt. Gagnon was a Beirut veteran and he claims that the VA has forgotten about Beirut veterans. Himself included, of course. I’m not sure that the VA classifies veterans by their conflict, or that they’re even able to “forget” about certain engagements with our nation’s enemies, but then I’ve heard veterans claim that the VA has forgotten about Desert Storm veterans, too, so what do I know?
Anyway, while Gagnon would like you to believe that he was involved in the bombing of the Beirut barracks on October 23, 1983, he was actually on an extended vacation during that period;
It seems that Gagnon was a problem child during his Marine Corps service. He had one honorable discharge and then reenlisted. He was an auto mechanic, and became a security guard, until he started acting badly and they sent him back to being an auto mechanic. Then he went AWOL, did some time in the brig when he came back and then finally deserted and never came back, so The Corps discharged him.
Somehow or another, the VA is paying him for 100% disability, that’s where he got the money for the billboards, the back pay. Our VA OIG friends might want to look into his claim. He continued his bad behavior after he deserted from the Corps. Military Phonies have documented his criminal record. Here are some of his mugshots;
The Military Phonies link goes into greater detail about this fellow, you’ll want to click over and read about Gagnon over there. I don’t want to hijack their hard work.
Category: Phony soldiers, Valor Vultures
Shit bag!
The assclown is a cockgobbler and a connoisseur of the cockmeat sammich with a hearty serving of manmayo…
I think his last name is misspelled.
Shouldn’t it be ‘Gagme’? As in ‘gag me with a spoon’.
Oh, dear, just the way to start the day. Another attention warthog raises its tusked snout out of its garbage pile and squeals.
Here, piggy, piggy, piggy!
Hey, look, everyone! Jonn went boor hunting and got one without firing a shot!
I think his jail time helped him get rid of his gag reflex.
Lord I hope he’s not a relative of Renee’ Gagnon, one of the Iwo Jima Flag survivors. Here is a solution to this kind of problem, HONORABLE ONLY to obtain VA Benefits unless VERY special circumstance, of which Gagnon ain’t. I am so sick of shit birds getting tons of benefits when they couldn’t even do Honorable service. Not holding my breath the VA will do ANYTHING about this POS.
In regards to the statement about the VA forgetting certain groups of Veterans, I don’t know.
But you can take this for what it’s worth: I have an older buddy who I have hunted with and spent many hours around the campfire with. He never mentioned any prior service. So one day I see him and he is wearing a Vietnam Veteran ball cap. I told him I never realized he had served. He answered, “Yeah well I have been having some problems with my knee and someone told me I should go check out the VA, so I did, and when the gal down there told me they would get me all fixed up because I am a Vietnam Era Veteran and they are really focusing on helping Vietnam Era Veterans right now.” (paraphrased). He said they treated him like a “rock star”. I haven’t yet gotten the story about his military service but I will someday. I see this guy about once every 2 years on average.
Thanks’ we need more story’s like that out there. I have dealt with the VA myself and from my time they are trying to help. What I have fond is the MED staff is outstanding they put there hart into caring for the VETs’. Now the Admin side need’s some help. I am tired of guy’s like this gag a-hole trying to get over. They think because they served although not Honorable that the VA and us owe them something because of their down falls in life. They blame there criminal way of life and place in life on there time in service instead of being men and taking the blame them self’s like a true Honorable VET would do.
Strange that he’s so publicly slamming the VA. You’d think he’d be grateful and would want to keep a low profile, as it appears that the VA has given him a very generous, and quite possibly undeserved, gift.
Anyone willing to bet this guy is a drug user/alcoholic who went to the VA and claims PTSD based on his “combat” experiences? I hope the VA reviews his claims and someone desides to revoke his compensation. The billboard is just a smokescreen to help “prove” how traumatized he is.
Just another dirtbag who wants “my 100%” because of all the other dirtbags who are getting it. There are places all over the internet that tell you just what to say and do at a C&P exam to pull it off. In the end, this kind of thing is only going to hurt the Veterans who really need it.
Very well said.
Nice mugshots on the Military Phonies page, VOP/Robbery, huh? Yeah, he looks like a real outstanding pillar of the Veteran community. /SARC I wonder what other con games he’s been playing, it looks like he enjoys manipulating other people into pitying him!
I spent a little time on their facebook page (va is lying), and it appeared to be largely populated by every shitbum private, and barracks lawyer out there.
Not entirely shocked to find someone of his character behind a lot of it.
Birds of a feather…
Fuck together. Next week he’ll be claiming the women inside his mind and body all these years wants to come out and wants a sex change. Never ending bullshit.
OK, I just went there myself and YES, you’re right, it’s chock full of shithouse and barracks lawers! What’s more is that a lot of the crap they post there is about as literate and intelligible as the blither we see coming from members of The Dutch Rudder Gang!
What did he get the Expeditionary and Human Service Medal for? If he did not go to Beirut, where did he go?
The linked article says he was in Beirut, but for the AMEMB bombing – not the Marine Barracks Bombing.
At one time, he apparently was a damn good Marine – his records say he got sent to AMEMB Lagos as part of their security force in Dec 1980. However, he somehow managed to get sent home from that assignment for “admin discipline” after about 2 years; I’d love to know the “backstory” on that. He went to Beirut afterwards.
Word on the street is that Roger and Bill (Zippy the Pinhead) Blake were “bunkies” over in Beirut… majored in taint tickling and “manhole” inspections.
He did serve in Beirut…..twice. Fact. He was there early and during the first bombing of the Embassy.
That is why the man has been given so mush assistance from the Beirut community of veterans.
Sometimes there is an individual that just turns my stomach. GaggedOn has been at his victim claims for decades. He was in Beirut, twice. Too many have given him a pass on his behavior for too long because of it. I cannot tell you how many times a brother from the Beirut community has stepped up to help this guy.
He deserted his brothers at the very instant they needed him most . One would think that a guy with his record that gets a huge sum of money for back benefits and is given a 100% not employable disability decades after he was thrown out of the Marine Corps would be the poster child for how far the VA will go to help a veteran.
I have never seen any kind of an apology either publicly or privately from him. I have never seen an admission that he deserted his brothers.
IF A TWO TIME DESERTER WHO ABANDONED HIS OATH AS A MARINE CAN GET THE SAME IF NOT BETTER BENEFITS THAN THOSE WHO STOOD HONORABLY IN THE FACE OF TYRANNY, WHAT IS THE POINT OF HONORABLE SERVICE?
There are those that make comments about others being jealous because he gets better benefits than they do. To those that make it their profession to manipulate the system in a competition to bilk the VA out of the most benefits; you can all kiss my ass.
The VA has some serious issues. They are real problems that effect legitimate veterans with very real problems. Any effort to bring public awareness to it and get it fixed has my support. People like GaggedOn clog the system up with mountains of paperwork and processing time. The VA somehow determined he deserved benefits after he knowingly abandoned his oath and obligations. He is not the guy who should be making public appearances to criticize the very institution that saved him from a life of homeless despair.
I will refrain from being any more verbose on the issue. In my opinion the man is only capable of seeing himself as a victim. Of what?
OK, one of our mil lawyers here might be able to help out here.
Isn’t being pitched as a deserter a statutory ban on receiving any VA benefits?
Yes Hondo it is, well kinda, not always, probably not.
I believe what happened was his benefits were determined using his DD214 from his first enlistment. He came back from Beirut and reenlisted. Things went south quickly after that.
Maybe his benefits were determined without knowledge of his second DD214 that was Other Than Honorable. I have no idea but that is plausible.
Possible – especially if the VA never saw the 2nd DD214.
However, if being pitched for desertion is indeed an absolute ban, this may end up a case of “Roger, you got some ‘splainin’ to do!”
Kinda hope it does, actually.
OTH, BCD, or whatever can be set aside if the Veteran has a history of drug or alchohol abuse brought on by PTSD. Even if the person has a pre-existing history of it. The directive in the VA is to give compensation as much as possible and only reject if you can “prove” something doesn’t exist. If you can’t hold a job it also helps. It’s never about getting better, it’s all about “free” money.
What Old Sarge said… an OTH/BCD will not prevent you from obtaining benefits. Though Desertion is supposed to be an automatic No-Go… and that is probably why it took him years to get benefits, and having to fight with the VA all these years. it isn’t that the “VA Lied”, it is that he was a Deserter who was ineligible for benefits until he went through the entire appeals process to get them.
He wants to blow money claiming to be the victim, so be it… But honestly, so much of this is made up bull shit by folks being denied for claims that they did not rate to begin with.
Squeaky Wheel syndrome… and screw the vets with legitimate claims because they are plugging up the system.
I never said that an OTH or BCD was a bar to benefits. I’ve observed elsewhere that the VA has discretion in most such cases.
However, in such cases the VA is required to make a case-by-case determination. For discharges due to desertion or AWOL in excess of 180 continuous days, there is a statutory ban (e.g., ban mandated by Federal law) on his receiving VA benefits. See
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2011-title38/html/USCODE-2011-title38-partIV-chap53-sec5303.htm
The only way around that I see is for the VA to have determined he was insane at the time he deserted. I’m not buying that claim.
That is why I’m guessing the VA may never have seen his second DD214. That 2nd DD214 would list both an OTH discharge and a separation code corresponding to either AWOL or desertion.
He very well could have been granted Disability under his first enlistment, as that was an Honorable Discharge. In doing further reading, the VA can grant benefits based on an honorable period of service, but only for any disabilities incurred during that time period. Any disabilities incurred during the OTH Discharge would not be covered.
Agreed – unless the statutory ban on receipt of all VA bennies in 38 USC 5303 for those discharged for desertion or 180+ day AWOL takes precedence and prohibits that. We probably need a lawyer to give an answer on that point.
However, my guess is that he’s claiming he’s messed up due to the “bad stuff that happened in Beirut” – and that’s the basis for his receipt of VA benefits. If so, his time in Beirut was in his second enlistment – the one during which he deserted twice.
As he was awarded the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, and not the Armed Forced Expeditionary Medal; it looks like his time in Beirut was during his first enlistment.
Turns out he was in Beirut twice – I missed that earlier.
The first time was during his first enlistment (1982). The second appears to have been afterwards, since he reenlisted on 25 Jan 1983 and was in Beirut for the AMEMB bombing on 18 Apr 1983.
*APPLAUSE*
DITTO, Dave! Roger Gagnon (GH!) is a shining example of what I refer to as a PROFESSIONAL VICTIM.
Well someone is lying in this story, probably it’s not the VA…although it appears the VA is willing to believe lies…
There is much more to this guy. The people who are continuing to support and defend him have no idea what his actual history is.
I get it, they want to defend someone that is involved in their cause. They really need to back up for a moment and do some of their own research.
The picture gets worse, much worse. I hope this guy has turned a new leaf and continues on that path.
How the hell do these guys do this and get away with it?
I could never tell a lie with a straight face. I always started giggling.
Roger that Ex-PH2
From this document, it appears that you can get benefits with an OTH. However, page 2 states that the VA is “barred” from providing benefits if AWOL is more than 180 days:
http://www.benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/docs/COD_Factsheet.pdf
Federal law appears to say much the same. See para (a) of
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2011-title38/html/USCODE-2011-title38-partIV-chap53-sec5303.htm
Unless he convinced the VA he was “insane at the time”, it would appear he should be permanently barred from receipt of all VA benefits based on desertion/AWOL for a period of over 180 consecutive days. That is as it should be – but apparently isn’t the case for him today.
A discharge found by VA to have been issued under dishonorable conditions does not, in and of itself, bar an individual from receiving VA benefits based on a separate period of service which terminated under honorable conditions. In addition, the law provides for basic eligibility for benefits based on completion of the full term of an enlistment even if no discharge was issued at the completion of that period of service due to enlistment or reenlistment. For example, if an individual enlisted for three years, completed the three years and reenlisted for two more years, then received a discharge under other than honorable conditions during the second enlistment, VA benefits may be provided based on the first period of service, even if it is determined that the character of discharge of
the second period of service is a bar to benefits. However, disability compensation would be payable only for disabilities incurred during the first period of service, not for disabilities that were incurred during the second period of service.
According to the rules, his disability claim may very well be legit. Notwithstanding that, by putting himself in the public eye he has drawn attention to the content of his character.
The cause to expose problems within the VA is very real and very disturbing. If any of this would have come out during a live TV interview the damage would have been devastating to the cause.
I support the cause, not whom they choose to carry the message.
That is true, Dave. But the statutory ban on VA benefits when discharged for desertion or AWOL > 180 days during the later period of service may take precedence over the previous honorable service. The VA has some discretion determining whether to award benefits for those with OTHs and/or BCDs – but it appears Congress removed that discretion for those discharged for desertion and AWOL > 180 days in 38 USC 5303.
That’s why I asked one of our mil lawyers to weigh in; this situation is a bit more complicated than most. I personally think he’s getting fraudulent benefits barred by Federal law due to his discharge for desertion, but I could be wrong.
Further, it appears his Beirut time was all during his second enlistment – the one during which he deserted twice. If he’s claiming he’s unemployable due to “bad stuff in Beirut”, that’s during a period of service for which he’s banned from receiving benefits. If that’s what he’s claimed and is the basis for his receipt of benefits today, IMO he’s defrauding the US taxpayer – because all of that happened during a period of service for which he does NOT rate VA benfits due to desertion.
I guess it’s possible he could be claiming something bad happened in Lagos (that was during his first period of service). But I’m guessing he’s claiming Beirut was the basis of his problems.
Both times he was in Beirut were during his previous enlistment. It was after his reenlistment that the UA and Desertion began.
He may very well be a case where PTSD from Beirut is legit. I have never done an intake on him to render a tentative diagnosis.
I do not like the guy, however, he did serve in Beirut twice. It is plausible his VA benefits are legit. Time will tell I guess.
My bad, I missed the fact that he went twice.
However, are you sure about both times being during his first enlistment, Dave? The linked article from Military Phonies says his second trip to Beirut put him there during the AMEMB Beirut bombing.
Per his records above, he appears to have reenlisted on 25 Jan 1983. The AMEMB Beirut bombing was on 18 April 1983. If the reenlistment date of 25 Jan 1983 is correct, well, . . . .
Yes, he was TAD with 2/6 at the time of his reenlistment. He was on his second enlistment during the bombing of the US Embassy in April of 83.
If his claim with the VA came from that incident for PTSD it would indeed render it impossible for them to grant it.
Believe it or not there are those that claim PTSD from the PLO evacuation the year prior. Since I do not have access to the actual VA claim there is no real way of knowing.
As always HONDO, you have a keen eye. I am sure someone has or will file and investigation with the VA to find out.
Just one other note on that issue HONDO. If he had his discharge upgraded from OTH then the whole issue is mute.
I would be shocked if the Attorney doing his case did not file for that very thing to happen.
That’s an open question, actually. The statutory ban on receipt of VA benefits if discharged for desertion or extended AWOL/UA (>180 consecutive days) may still apply, even if his discharge was upgraded. Dunno. 38 USC 5303 implies that the ban on receipt of VA benefits is absolute if discharged for desertion or extended (>180 days consecutive) AWOL/UA, but it doesn’t say that outright.
It freaking should be an absolute ban, regardless of prior service or any other consideration short of insanity. Desertion in my book is akin to a man abandoning his family when they are facing hard times and need him around.
But when it comes to “corner cases” with the law you really need a lawyer – as well as a bag of knucklebones and a pentagram – to get the “correct” answer. And even then you’re never sure if another judge will see it differently. (smile)
Ya, I looked that up too. I agree it should be absolute ban.
This implies that an individual on their second enlistment and beyond can not loose VA benefits no matter what they do.
Word.
OTH = Shitbag.
My take:
1) Only used his first DD-214 with the VA
2) Got paid
3) Should have taken a big swig of STFU but instead got in front of cameras
4) Poster child for 15 minutes of fame
FWIW: I think you’re probably right. I could be wrong.
Hondo, I was not responding directly to your post and the research you dug up. I did a quick sweep of the military records and the comments and in an effort to just make a fast quip I believe that I missed the nuances of your post. I went back and reread and can see your point.
I’ve weighed this a little more deeply and now take the position that it could have been 1) that he either used his first enlistment 2) PTSD could have overruled the second discharge or 3) an attorney could have had his second discharge upgraded before proceeding with the VA claims. In the end, I really don’t know for sure.
mere days ago he was giddy with excitement over his newfound “fame”
He even trolled the VA is lying site for poontang describing himself as “a sexy gentleman on Fox News that is self-supporting and easy going”
Funny how fast things change.
He cancelled a radio appearance last night at the last minute after realizing not everyone saw him as a knight in shining armor. Especially those of us that know him.
Deserter them
Deserter now
Someone lit into this on the VA is lying page (since deleted and poster banned), and he came on saying he was taking a break for a while until he gets a handle on it.
That page is unreal. Bunch of whiners who probably got tossed out, or were Sick Call Commandos at best. All looking for their freebies, and damned if anyone calls them out on it.
Brake … brake… I think you guy’s know this but Don Shipley just posted a good one on his site. The reason I mention it is because he will probably be on here soon. This guy has an EOD crab and a CIB. He said he was a SEAL in NAM they pulled off a hard deck and placed on team for OJT. Then he got out went into the guard. He sates that he received his CIB Iraq with 29 Infantry or 19th Infantry he said he was a 11B didn’t even say that correctly and an MP. I think in that order so if any thing he may have a CAB. He did 40 NG got out 2010. Just thought I’d waste time and space thank you. OUT…..
OH YA another biker club guy they need to Vet these guy’s.
I first ran into and busted Gagnon on a Beirut F/B group page about six months ago. He was claiming to be a Marine Combat Engineer when actually he was a Motor T Marine assigned to a Combat Engineer’s Bn. He argued the point with me then. But when I told him to unfuck his info page or he would be listed on the Wall of Shame. He decided to block me instead. So a case file was opened on him and a request for his FOIA was submitted. That is also when a few Root Veterans picked up on his embellishment and conducted their own investigation. We then consolidated notes . And here we are today.
The clowns over at the F/B group page ” VA is lying ” seem to think that this is one big VA conspiracy directed at them and their cause. Far from it. Military Phonies does not represent the VA or any other Government agency. So the more they try defending this Marine deserter/Embellish-er. The more negative attention they will draw upon themselves. WISE UP RON NESLER !!
I will say this in closing.I have nothing but praise towards the VA. The Clinic’s I’ve attended have gone above and beyond to satisfy me. Straight down to my own VA Dr. will contact me by phone on the very same day that I leave a message for her. I know others have nightmarish experiences with them.But I haven’t.
I’ve been on the site VA is lying. It’s kind of funny how you have all these crybabies backing him and sending out threats that if you talk about him you will be banned forever. He is a complete piece of shit and anyone who stands behind him is incredibly stupid or naïve that they can’t see hard facts right in front of them. This has nothing to do with the VA trying to get back at him. Why the hell would they waste their time on one person. I just have to laugh every time I see when they say oh it’s a VA conspiracy. He is just a lowlife piece of shit that needs to go away and that entire group needs to go away because are just a bunch of whiny crybabies. Does the VA have its faults yes just like anything else. Does this group think they’re actually making a difference. If they think they can make a difference when one of their top people is a phony they’re not going to get very far and will eventually fade away.
I lasted about 15 minutes after I started posting in their group. I was even being nice about everything.
Kinda hurts a little when I do, usually gives me the shits later.
Ron Nesler aint wising up, he is supporting the deserter. They just announced anyone who questions the deserter will be banned. Cuz, you know as long as he is willing to spend his own money blaming the VA for his lot in life they are good with him.
Yep. Being banned from their site does a lot of good. We’ll just go elsewhere to talk shit about them.
Hey asshat, you’re not helping.
The guy was good enough to be selected to go to MSG duty. Only the best Marines got to go there and the school was a bitch.
It’s easy as hell to step on your dick there. In my first unit I had two Marines who were busted and sent back to the fleet. One had a negligent discharge with a Shotgun in Damascus< Syria and the other had an Alcohol related incident in Managua, Nicaragua. Both were busted in rank. We had another sgt who was failed out of school for his weight.
All three were outstanding Marines in the unit.
That Gagnon was allowed to reenlist after being relieved speaks to his ability as a Marine.
He also essentially "cross-decked" and did a back to back deployment with 2/8 then 2/6.
His major fuck-ups in conduct were AFTER his second deployment.
It could very well be that he was traumatized by his time in Beruit which led to him developing a substance abuse problem which the VA took into consideration in granting his pension.
Or he could have used his DD214 from his first Enlistment and the VA doesnt know about how he went apeshit on his second. It could be his Misbehavior had nothing to due with substance abuse.
Anyhow the VA IG needs to look into it, It could be his claim is 100% legit.
As for the Facebook Group, there are a few decent people in it and legit gripes. There are also a bunch of whining cunts who seem to be catching the PTSD 40 years after and others who are trying to get that magic 100% pension.
Not to mention the twats who think the VA is actively seeking to "get them" and shut them down.
Would like to offer up some things that have been asked about Roger Paul Gagnon Jr, whom I refer to as “RPG”:
MILITARY: RPG dismissed from MSG post in Nigeria for ATTEMPTED MURDER (no details)
CIVILIAN: (total 14 years jail/prison)
* HARRASSMENT | MISDEMEANOR CLASS B
* ARMED ROBBERY
* UNAUTH USE OF VEHICLE | STATE JAIL FELONY
* FRAUD USE/POSS IDENTIFYING INFO # OF ITEMS <5 | STATE JAIL FELONY
* PROBATION VIOLATION – ROBBERY
* UNAUTHORIZED USE OF MOTOR VEHICLE /FS 94
* F0686947 (TX CODE) | FELONY SECOND DEGREE
* DRUG PARAP
* FAIL ID FUG NOT CURRENT
Statements made by RPG state:
* Threat to kill widow of Beirut KIA
* Maintains firearm in secret hiding place in violation of convicted felon status
WARNING: RPG is an ambush predator, meaning he establishes friendships then manufactures an "emergency" where individuals are forced to help with money or huge favors. Courts friendship with individuals and extends quickly to members of the family. Quickly seeks personal information. Pleads situational emergency often. Becomes agitated when attempt is made to prune back or cut off relationship. Makes it known he is not opposed to physical violence. Creates fear-based respect from being unpredictable vs respect from being badass. Often intimidates women.
PTBH
[…] This Ain’t Hell: http://valorguardians.com/blog/?p=61854 […]
What a dxc. These fxcers actually exist….
An update in the News-Journal:
http://www.news-journalonline.com/article/20151027/NEWS/151029539/101040?Title=Local-veteran-behind-two-billboards-before-breaking-with-VA-IS-LYING-group
I was actually married to Roger Gagnon, and after the info that I have recently found, am very sorry that I was! I stayed with this joker for 3 years… luckily ONLY 3 years, but any time he took off to get drunk/high, he’d come crawling back BEGGING me to understand the trauma he was going through because of the Beirut bombing. I put myself through literal HELL just to show him that I would stand behind him and accept him for who he was – problems and all. ONLY to find out he was a DESERTER and that he admitted he was NOT at the bombing?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!!? His favorite saying was always baffle ’em with bullshit. Salute, dude. What just really warms the tip top bottom of my heartstrings is to here him say just how, when he’s standing before God, he wants to be able to say he’s done his part to get people what they deserve. ….. Yeah…. I’d like to be there when said God looks up over his glasses, looks at Roger like he’s week old diarrhea and flicks his finger at him for knowing better than to even knock at the doors. A pregnant wife that he punched in the stomach, 2 kids from that one that he hid for over 18 years of their lives in order to not have to pay one cent of child support. Then when said son borrows money from him, he’s absolutely livid that said son didn’t use the money for exactly what he said. Later on in life, another woman giving him a chance, sticking through so much insanity!! All on the basis that if I give up on this man after all he’s been through, what kind of woman does that make me? If I had known that he was a deserter, I would have done a little AWOL myself much earlier than I actually did. Thank goodness for him being as egotistical as he is and coming out in the public! There IS all that back child support for kiddo #3….. not to mention 1 &… Read more »
It’s a small consolation, but as any of those three kids drive by one of the billboards that Roger has purchased with the boatload of money he got from the VA, they can think “Gee, that could have been spent on my education.”
I’m trying to make light of a very depressing situation, but it shows that Roger has money but he prioritizes how he spends it.
Assclown.
I am surprised Rachael Maddow does not have him as a consultant on her sorry ass show. He would pair great with Dildoberto.