Kathryn Gates-Skipper; embellishing Trump-supporting WM
Someone sent us this article about Kathryn “Kat” Gates Skipper a Woman Marine (WM) who has been claiming around the internet that “she was the First Woman Marine (WM) to stay overnight in the field for combat training, and the first to stay aboard a Ship overnight. She was heavily involved in Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm and was the First WM in Combat Operations”. So we decided to check into her background. First, here is one of the articles where she made the claims;
The claims also show up in Florida local media and in at least one CNN article.
She also brings in Charles Skipper’s, her husband, service to her bio, we have his records, too, but according to the NPRC, he is indeed a Vietnam War veteran of the 1st Cavalry Division with one Purple Heart and a Combat Infantryman Badge. Sometimes she says that he has a bronze Star, but not according to his records – he does have two bronze service stars on his Vietnam Service Medal, though which may have caused some confusion, as it often does.
But, back to “Kat”; she was a clerk, she served 18 years in the active force and the Reserves combined. Four years active duty from 1975-1979. There was no combat for her to participate in during that period. Her records don’t indicate that she was on active duty for Desert Storm like she claims.
I also don’t see see where she’s been assigned to a ship, like she claims;
I don’t see any schools or training that would make her an asset in combat;
Another article calls her a “decorated veteran”. I guess that’s purely subjective, but I don’t think that a Good Conduct medal (known in veterans circles as “the Good Cookie”) makes her all that decorated, nor do I see her Marine Corps Distinguished Service Award, whatever that is, that the article refers to either.
UPDATE 7/14/2016: She’ll be a speaker at the Republican National Convention, still rocking the BS;
Category: Phony soldiers, Valor Vultures
A Frank Visconi Wannabee…female version that is…
Jeez, Frank Visconi in drag would look better than her, just sayin’.
“she was the First Woman Marine (WM) to stay overnight in the field for combat training, and the first to stay aboard a Ship overnight.”
Oh, goodie, a slumber party.
I don’t know about that claim of being the first Woman Marine to stay in the field overnight. I knew a few of them that were pretty popular keeping the troops morale, and junk, up.
WTF…… No NDSM !!!!!!!!
Nope. Based on her assignments, she doesn’t appear to rate one.
Based on her record of assignments, she served on active duty after the end of the Vietnam NDSM period (1 Jan 1961 to 14 Aug 1974). Also, based on her record of assignments she was not on active duty or in the SELRES during the Gulf War NDSM period (2 Aug 1990 to 30 Nov 1995) – she was in the IRR. Personnel who served solely in the IRR during the Gulf War and GWOT NDSM periods (11 Sep 2001 to present) must be recalled to active duty to rate the NDSM.
You mean – I’ve got something SHE doesn’t have??????
Well, that’s a first.
I got a medal she don’t have.
I got a medal she don’t have.
I got a medal she don’t have.
Nyaa-nyaa-nyaa-nyaa-nyaa-nyaa-nyaa!!
Sounds like she is going to screw up her husband who seems honorable and legit.
She needs to shut her yap before the press does some digger on both their backgrounds, and find this turdnugget’s lies.
Florida. Again.
Maybe all of those awards are Honorary.
Forgin’ Frank helped her with the citations… for the low, low price of $20/hr!!!
A name like Gates-Skipper is a godsend for us nerdy research types.
To wit:
https://womenmarines.wordpress.com/contact-us/#comment-478
You go girl. With that bag O chips.
She will be able to claim that she is the first woman in the DRC now too!
Buck Fernath…
She has 17 years, 5 months, and 17 days of combined active and reserve service. Since she claimed 20 years, she must’ve included honorary time. 🙄
Here’s more, from a FB post: “Hi Deneen, I am very impressed with your interviews and background and looking forward to your visit in Kissimmee, FL this Friday. Let me tell you a little about myself…My Name is Kathryn “Kat” Gates-Skipper. I live in Central Florida = Lake Wales – about 45 min south west of Kissimmee. I am a Retired Woman MARINE. The 1st Woman Marine in Combat Operations during Desert Storm & trained one of the 1st Woman Kuwaitt Soldiers. I am married to an ARMY Wounded Warrior/Purple Heart/Bronz Star Recepient of the Vietnam War. Our middle son, who is out now, enlisted in the NAVY after the attacks of 9/11 to, in his own words, “to carry on a family tradition of serving and to represent the younger generation of this country.” Our young son, who has been in the AIR FORCE for nearly 6 years, is currently serving in Afganisitan. I was born in Tripoli, Libya, North Africa on, what used to be, Wheelus Air Force Base. I was adopted by an Air Force Colonel and his wife on September 19, 1957 when I was 18 hours old. (That makes me a TRUE MARINE-born on the shores of Tripoli- and a TRUE AFRICIAN AMERICAN-LOL-all kidding aside, I am an Italian). Makes no difference…Africian American or Italian…I AM AN AMERICAN FIRST!! In December 2008, I located my biological Family, in Perugia, Italy. I met my Family-especially my Mom-for the first time in March 2009. No words can describe the joy of that meeting. This year, I decided it was time to get involved and do something more for my Country. I have been volunteering at our local Republican Headquarters in Lake Wales. I am NOT happy with the direction of our Country the past 4 years. And I am NOT better off now, then I was 4 years ago. And as to the comment made by Pres Obama that if you have a small business, YOU did not build it by yourself. Well, I hate to call anyone a liar, but, in this case, Me-Myself-and I- built… Read more »
So full of shit… and rocking the lie for years. DRG material, to say the least.
Yeah, and as someone who did a legit 20, as an admin, and had specific training in personnel records, I’m calling bullshit on her not knowing the difference between a BSM and a bronze service star.
That and she’s so ugly she has to put a pot roast in her lap to make the dog want to play with her!
More of her lies:
Kathryn “Kat” Gates-Skipper served 20 years in the U.S. Marine Corps and Reserves. During her two decades of service, she was the First Woman Marine (WM) to stay overnight in the field for combat training, and the first to stay aboard a Ship overnight. She was heavily involved in Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm and was the First WM in Combat Operations. Kat has received countless awards and recognition for her service including the Marine Corps Distinguished Service Award. A voice and advocate for Veterans, Kat is a life member of the American Legion, VFW and Marine Corps League-where she is the only female and youngest Marine at her local Detachment.
https://www.donaldjtrump.com/press-releases/donald-j.-trump-endorsed-by-kathryn-kat-gates-skipper-the-first-woman-marin
I’ve heard that her nickname is “Taco Bell” because after one look at her people run for the Border!!
Good find…
She was assigned to an Electronics Maintenance Company? Having been sentenced to 1st and 2nd ELMACO, I would not be bragging.
ELMACO is great for POGs to get out with MEUs.
18 and out? Wonder why she skipped on the last two.
Just short of 18, to be precise.
I’d love to know the reason for that. Since she appears to have been IRR at the time, I’m guessing a records review at USMCR found her unqualified for promotion or retention (my guess would be for not having done squat for years) and administratively discharged her.
Hondo. You are slipping. She got 2 years USMC credit for being born on the shores of Tripoli!
I was born in Philadelphia. Does my time in the womb count against my delayed entry time?
That’s a negative. Time before age 17 is not valid service, regardless of geographical location.
Frankly, at this point I’d have to see documentary evidence from a reliable 3rd-party source to believe she was born at Wheelus AB.
Honda,
That is not true about time not counting before age 17. It all depends on the era. For example their were folks that served during W.W. I, War War II, Korea and Vietnam as well. Of course some of them lied about their ages in order to get in, but their time did count. However you are right in today’s modern day service that is true….
I have not seen many Marines rock a CAV patch.
But I guess the times, they are a changin’.
GT…….that ain’t no Cav patch. It just looks like one. That horse head is actually her mug, photoshopped! Smile
As we have seen so many times before – the math is so far off that none of the story is believable.
Just another lying glory hound. She apparently served but that wasn’t good enough. She had to lie about it thus dishonoring herself and anyone she sucked into the lie.
Hey, Kat – you don’t look old enough to have been the first female Marine to have done anything. Women in military service have been doing all sorts of things for a very long time. Meanwhile, you are just another garden variety liar. Stop it.
Another leather vest clad, MC club wannabe, embellishing nitwit from Florida. What is in the water down there?
Trump supporter.
I ended my USMC career as a Capt Personnel Officer and I honestly have never seen such an unremarkable SRB. She appears to be the first female or male Marine to complete almost 18 years in complete defilade.
Guard Bum: you might enjoy this one, then. (smile)
http://valorguardians.com/blog/?p=35749
Wow, I had missed that one. In someways is almost a twisted accomplishment, spending an entire career without doing anything worthy of recognition but still getting a retirement.
This woman is so ugly…..she’s the kind they use in prison to treat sex offenders! Check out the dude over her left shoulder, he’s got an eye on her tits.
Her case is TYPICAL. Brag and brag about all they have accomplished, when in fact she is an accomplished LIAR. This woman is destined for politics…home of BIG TIME liars. Unless she gets de-railed off the tracks by the media. SOS, they always become larger with every story they tell and exaggerate. They eventually think they have EVERYBODY fooled and can go public with so many gullible souls on their side. Don’t know how Dave Hardin feels about this, but Semper Fi has a meaning which generally follows us throughout life. In this case, fuck you lady. Even a mime husband does not deserve to be faithful to you.
If a man has an erection for 4 or more hours the ER Doctors show him a picture of HER. She’s so ugly she makes “Hello Kitty” say “Good-bye” and run the hell away!!
One thought I had when I saw her picture was “SHOOT IT before it mates and lays eggs!!”.
We Irish are a bit more diplomatic, a Celtic gentleman might say, “she is as ugly as a bucket full of mortal sins”.
My personal favorite: “A face that could make a freight train take a dirt road.”
I alerted Ms. Gates-Skipper of this article. Here is her response to me:
“I understand based on the info that the blog posted why someone would misinterpret mine and my husbands record as being untrue, due to the fact that this blog did not post all the info/records–as I continued my service in the Active Reserves and my Husband was awarded his Bronze Star some 40 years later by a 3-star General who was his former Battalion Commander in Vietnam.
My Husband and I know what our records say.
We are not here to argue with anyone, and we both proudly served our country.
Thank you for your time…and thank you for your service.
Merry Christmas, and God Bless our Troops.
Kathryn & Charles Skipper”
Ah, the old “my offical records are in error and/or incomplete” claim.
Pardon me while I go find a box of rock salt. I think I’m gonna need a REALLY big chunk of NaCl in order to swallow that.
I think I’ll just accept what her official records say as reality, and mark that latest claim down as BS. Of course, if she wants to provide some supporting documentation for public review that indicates otherwise, I’m willing to reevaluate that position – AFTER I take a good, hard look at whatever she provides.
“Pardon me while I go find a box of rock salt. I think I’m gonna need a REALLY big chunk of NaCl in order to swallow that.”
I’d at least need a great big salt lick from a Farm Supply Store to even begin to assimilate something like that!! And speaking of salt licks, that’s what I’d put in front of her barstool so she wouldn’t eat all of the prtezels!
I could find nothing on the 5/7 CAV website about her husband receiving a Bronze Star 40 years later.
The jacket he wears says D, 5/7 CAV, 67-68.
I saw where some other veterans from 5/7 received the Silver Star and Bronze Star from a LTG some 40+ years late, but Charles Skipper was not listed as one of the recipients.
But it could have happened (maybe?)
UGH! MORE people taking the Cav patch through the mud.
Someone shoot them in the legs or at least confront them about their BS
The first females to stay aboard overnight … ah … NO!
The Navy has had female passengers since its inception on October 13th 1775.
As far as embarked female Marines … way before her time.
And finally, ships company female Sailors and or Marines have been the normal since the early 1980’s and institutionalized in mid to late 1980’s. So, I have no idea what she is talking about!
And during the 1980’s they were far better looking …
So if she wants to go all in on the first female thing on all male ships thing, she is flattering herself only … because she clearly is not all that!
What makes her believe that she is the first WM to do anything she claims? Bring an admin clerk with a reserve Electronic Maintenance Company is not exactly the tip of the spear.
She posted some photos of herself in uniform “in Combat” on her FB yesterday.
http://www.theledger.com/article/20160508/NEWS/160509461/1134?Title=Trailblazing-retired-Marine-from-Lake-Wales-is-on-a-mission-to-help-her-fellow-vets&tc=ar
At least she is consistent.
Note that in the Ledger article it says she has a degree from Harrington University
A well known diploma mill