Don Marostica is not a Vietnam veteran

| April 11, 2018

Someone sent us their work on this fellow, Don Marostica who was a legislator in Colorado’s House of Representatives. He resigned that position and became the director of the state’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade. You’ll notice in the caption of the picture above, someone thought that Marostica is a Vietnam veteran. His name is also memorialized in Veteran’s Park in the City of Loveland as a Vietnam veteran.

According to his Wiki, Marostica graduated from Colorado State University in 1970, then he began his pursuit of a Masters program at University of Northern Colorado, graduating in 1975. His military records say that he spent three months on active duty in 1971, the remainder of his service was spent in the National Guard and the Reserves.

There was no service in Vietnam.

I’m not calling this stolen valor because I can find nothing where Marostica directly claims that he is a Vietnam veteran, I’m just correcting the record – he is not a Vietnam veteran.

From Loveland Politics;

According to the blog, “thisAintHell” which obtained Marostica’s military service records
through a FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) request, Marostica only served on active
duty for three months in Fort Knox, Kentucky in the early 70’s. Following his 90 days of
active duty, Marostica remained either in the Army Reserve or National Guard
eventually achieving the rank of 1st Lt but not Captain as he claims according to the
records published online. According to the same records reviewed by LovelandPolitics,
they show he was never in Vietnam during his three months of active duty but instead
served his country for 90 days in Kentucky.

Loveland Mayor Demands Brick Be Removed

Loveland Mayor Jacki Marsh, a critic of Marostica’s influential LBP group in city affairs,
is demanding the brick commemorating Don Marostica’s service in “Vietnam” be
removed from the city owned park before Memorial Day celebrations. However,
Lovelandpolitics has learned the parks department and several members of the city
council are claiming the brick is not a violation of any city policy so fighting the mayor’s
request. Sponsors who contribute donations are allowed to place a brick in the city’s
veteran’s memorial park with an inscription of their choice.

Category: National Guard

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Daisy Cutter

Although technically speaking – he is a Vietnam-era Veteran.

rgr1480

^^^^ THIS!! ^^^^

Li Right

Good on you, Jonn. We would expect nothing less of you.

God Bless!

Jeff LPH 3, 63-66

Same here Jonn. Got out before the Lady of the Seas switched home ports.

Marine 0331

Jonn,
This asshat didn’t seem to have a problem with that patio block stating that he is a VNV. I call Stolen Valor

OWB

Yep. A lot of us served during that era. In fact, most people who served then got nowhere near Viet Nam. Some of us even spent a few decades not claiming to have served. Speaking only for myself – I didn’t mention it again after twice having people misunderstand when I said I served then. Having them turn around to tell someone I was there just took too long to explain. Much easier to avoid talking about it at all.

QMC

I’m a We Killed Bin Laden-era Veteran, but I don’t have any claim or stake in the actions that took place in Abottabad.

Daisy Cutter

Yeah, it is similar to the term “survivor.” I survived 9-11 but was 200 miles away. In fact, I survived the Parkland School shooting but was much farther away than that.

I could be wrong, but I think the “Vietnam-era” veteran term was used heavily to apply to the GI Bill. It was functional for that distinction but may have been overused/abused.

IDC SARC

The VA now considers anybody in the military during the Gulf War a “Gulf War Veteran”, I’ve run into a few never left the country types that have seized onto that label like a dog with a bone. SMH

2/17 Air Cav

And there’s always my favorite, Vietnam Veterans of America. If the check clears and you served DURING the official VN War years, you’re in and get to wear a “Vietnam Veteran” ball cap.

RCAF-CHAIRBORNE

I was born in Stanley during March of ’82.
Does that make me a Falkland’s vet ?? 😉
Im sure my diapers would have been considered Bio warfare and therefor kept the Argies at bay.

SFC D

One of my co-workers’ used to joke that he was a Vietnam vet because he was conceived while his dad was on R&R in 1970.

thebesig

Originally posted by IDC SARC:

The VA now considers anybody in the military during the Gulf War a “Gulf War Veteran”, I’ve run into a few never left the country types that have seized onto that label like a dog with a bone. SMH

I had this rodeo with the VA while applying for compensation. When they summarized a part of my claim, they claimed that I identified as a Gulf War Veteran. I kept correcting them by insisting that I’m an Iraq War Veteran. They kept coming back with, “So you’re claiming to be a veteran of the Gulf War…”

Apparently, they consider service from August 2, 1990, till a date to be determined, “Gulf War” for VA benefits purposes.

There’s one guy that I know of that decided to run with this definition… And has gone further. Youtube user 155millimeter not only identifies as a Gulf War Veteran, but he also claims that Saddam hit him and his unit with chemical weapons. This was during his period he calls “the secret war with Iraq” that happened after Desert Storm and Desert Shield.

If he served, it was sometime after Desert Shield/Storm.

He claims to be a hostile fire pay veteran, an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Veteran, a “red leg combat team member”, etc. 🙄

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKgzpJTPwx8

Cris

By the same reasoning, I landed on the moon since I was alive during that time. 🙂

Ex-PH2

Never mentioned it at all for many years.
Now, I usually say ‘during Vietnam’ and let it go at that.

Someone did ask me what ship I was stationed on, which gave me the giggles, but I did explain ‘not back then’.

Thunderstixx

I tell people I was a ski instructor for the 9’Th Infantry Division and they don’t have skiing in Vietnam so I obviously didn’t go there…
Ski Vietnam ???? Doubtful…….

SFC D

Charlie don’t ski. But Chef did.

Mason

Like when I was in the air force and people asked if I fly. I told them I get air sick so they wouldn’t let me. Most people thought I was joking.

Wilted Willy

He certainly has enough poser bling going on his vest, has the motorcycle, sunglasses and the 100 yard stare going? Where is the PTSD dog?

Ex-PH2

That’s the 10-yard stare. He probably needs glasses.

Carlton G. Long

He’s only missing the bandana.

HMCS(FMF) ret

And the assless chaps…

SFC D

If chaps had asses, they wouldn’t be chaps. They’d be pants 😉.

Daisy Cutter

Those are Magic Mike male stripper tear-away chaps.

Brown Neck Gaitor

Sorry, I will call SV.

His Wikipedia says he got out as a Captain in 79, when his docs look like he was just on the list from 73 on and StL lists him as an 2Lt.

Then this interview:

https://www.denverpost.com/2009/04/18/qa-with-gop-rep-don-marostica/

Q. You rarely sit. You don’t even have a chair on the House floor. What’s that all about?

A. It started in the military. I was teaching jungle training to guys going to Vietnam, and for eight months you were on your feet all day.

Maybe 8 days during AT, but I don’t see where he had 8 months of AD time or 8 months in his dash 2 where he was in one post long enough.

And when I think jungle, I always think of Colorado…

2/17 Air Cav

The 19th SF Group included NG from CO and his DD214 lists it. The red brick pictured above was purchased by someone, to be sure, but the thing is that service during the VN era may have prompted the Park to p[ut Vietnam on it. So, I wouldn’t go to far with this.

MrBill

The 2-1 shows him promoted to 1LT in ’74, so it’s conceivable that he made CPT by 1979.

Slick Goodlin

Considering the usual high standard of Special Forces training…wouldn’t it be preferable to have jungle training taught by some one that had actually been to a jungle?

rgr769

His Form 66 pages above show he never went to any active duty course other than jump school and possibly the Armor officer basic course. He managed to get an XO slot with an A-team with the 19th SFGA but he was never SF qualified. The SF officers course, at that time, required 12 weeks of active duty at Fort Bragg. His comment about 8 months of “jungle training” is a lie. He was also never promoted beyond 1LT.

rgr769

Correction: In theory, he could have been automatically promoted to CPT in the IRR. That promotion may not have been entered on his officer’s Form 66, since he was no longer with the 19th SFGA as NG.

26Limabeans

I don’t recall seeing him there.
The bikes, vest and bling confirm he wasn’t.

2/17 Air Cav

Hey. Look at that sign behind him in the pic. Maybe I’m wrong, but I think it odd to use a hyphen in “Viet-Nam” and to refer to the Fallen as those who “gave the supreme sacrifice.” In my book, it’s Vietnam or Viet Nam and “gave their lives” or “made the supreme sacrifice.” Yeah. It’s picky-picky Tuesday. I know. At least they have a memorial park there…

Ex-PH2

Oh, go ahead and be picky. It’s your privilege to have that provenance.

2/17 Air Cav

Shit. It’s Wednesday.

Green Thumb

Yep.

IDC SARC

shit indeed…tick tock

Ex-PH2

It’s Wednesday?

Durnburnit, I thought it was Tuesday. Daylight Saving Time is really the pits at times like this.

MK75Gunner

Hmmm, there’s a vest, a motorcycle, cool guy sunglasses and a whole lot of bling. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

HMCS(FMF) ret

Looks like Donny-boi has the same affliction as Rick “THE DICK” Blewmenthal has… LongDucDongitis.

COCKSUCKER

Ex-PH2

Okay, this brings up that stone issue. You know: the headstone when you get buried issued.

The VA asks ‘what war’ and they don’t have an option for Vietnam Era, so what does one do? I wasn’t over there, I was here, so what is one supposed to do about this?

Cris

Cold War?

Hondo

It’s the VA. Do you really expect them to “get it right” on their own? (smile)

Seriously, the VA usesthe wartime indictor on the tombstone to show service to show service during a war, not to show in-theater service. It’s much like the NDSM.

I wouldn’t worry about it.

OWB

The question really is about “what war qualifies you to be here?” The headstone refers to when you served not where you were assigned. Just like it did for WWI and WWII vets.

The spousal unit and I opted to list only the one where we actually received hazardous duty pay even though we served in more than one era. I kinda wish there was an option to list my NDSM plus 2 – that accurately reflects my service dates. (Guess it could go in the optional comments section.)

You could list only US Navy, then put “NDSM” under it to reflect having served during an armed conflict. Some of us would figure out the distinction.

Point being that if you want specific information on your headstone, put it in writing directly with the cemetery now.

Hack Stone

Hack’s tombstone will read “Employee Of The Month For A Proud But Humble Woman Owned Business”.

Ex-PH2

Thank you, all of you.

Doc Savage

My father had the option of Vietnam being placed on his marker; He opted for his Ships name…USS Enterprise.

Always makes me smile a bit when I visit him at the Fort Snelling national Cemetery.

Atkron

There is a real special relationship between a ship and a sailor.

I served aboard three, USS Enterprise included; but USS Forrestal will forever be my Mistress.

Maybe, because she was my first…you always have a soft spot for your first. 😉

Ex-PH2

I don’t have a ship. (Sniff.)

Atkron

He was in a SF group, and was XO of a Det?

I don’t see a, what do you guys call it, Q course?

I’m just trying to understand, this Army stuff is sooo confusing to a Squid. 😉

rgr769

He was given a slot as an XO in a SF ODA (A-team), a job he was clearly not trained to do. His Form 66 (officer’s qualification record) shows a duty MOS of 31542, which is special forces infantry small unit leader. He had none of the training to do that job other than 3 weeks at jump school. I am familiar with that MOS as it was my primary MOS for over 6 years (1972-1978). Bottom line, he was never actually an SF qualified officer; and except for Armor Officer basic (8 or 9 weeks) and jump school (3 weeks), he never served on active duty.

SFAlphaGeek

To be clear, active duty guys go to the Q course and then get assigned to an SF unit. In the Guard, you have to already be slotted against a billet in an SF unit in order to be sent to the training. He was in the slot as an NQP (non-qualified personnel) but never went to the Q course. The reality is that there are probably as many Guard guys who were “on a team” in the sense that they were slotted against a vacancy but never qualified, as there are QPs. So the right question for someone claiming Guard SF isn’t “what team were you on,” but “when did you graduate the Q course”?

Perry Gaskill

Marostica’s DD-214 seems to have one or more errors. The main one being, unless I’m missing something, the listed active duty dates of 8/21/1971 to 11/18/1971. The record of assignments paints a different picture, and puts Marostica as a likely OCS student at Ft. Knox from 8/31/71 to 3/1/1972.

Further confusion is that Marostica’s MOS for his first duty station at Aurora, Colorado lists him as a “31542.” According to a look-up of MOS codes for that era, that would have made him a jump-qualified peripheral vascular surgeon. Something unlikely considering he apparently had only a bachelor’s degree from Colorado State at the time. The airborne qualifier is also misleading in that he didn’t attend jump school until he’d been at Aurora for six months.

RGR 4-78

The 1st line in Record of Assignments list,

“4Jun71 Comm USAR fr Sr. ROTC”

I don’t think he did OCS.

rgr769

Correct, his Form 66 shows he was commissioned through ROTC. The 31542 is the duty MOS for the slot he was filling in the 19th SFGA. He was never awarded or qualified in that MOS. He went to Ft Knox apparently to attend Armor Officer basic course. Graduation from that school is not listed on his Form 66 for some reason; perhaps, he didn’t complete the course for some reason. Although, he was assigned an Armor officer MOS as a 2LT. As I served in the 19th SFGA shortly after this guy quit the unit, I can confirm we had officers who had not attended the SF officer course. They could join the unit and would have to wait until the Group had an allocation to send them to SF Officers’ Course. I suspect we had some officers who never went because they couldn’t leave their jobs for over three months. Also, there are quite a few officer jobs in an SF Group that are admin and logistic positions that don’t require the knowledge and skill sets of an SF operator.

Perry Gaskill

Duh. In my own defense, I can only say the thing reads like Sanskrit, and I’m still not clear on where the 11/18/1971 active duty end date came from.

rgr769

31542 is special force infantry small unit leader. Since that was my MOS, I am familiar with it. That entry in his record is merely the duty MOS for the slot he was filling. He was neither SF qualified nor infantry trained; he was an Armor officer filling an SF slot with that MOS.

NormanS

I was carried as a 13B30 at one point; though I was not qualified in that MOS. I was filling a vacant slot, but working alongside the official unit 31G30; an MOS I WAS qualified as. When the unit 31G30 took a comm slot at Battalion HQ, I moved into the battery 31G30 slot.

2/17 Air Cav

So, I emailed the contact listed at the Loveland Veterans’ Park and asked the following:

“If the veteran served during the official Vietnam years but did not serve in Vietnam, is “Vietnam” put on the brick or is this something the purchaser selects? Thanks.”

Here’s the reply, in full:

“My opinion … Any one who served during Vietnam is a Vietnam vet. Although some choose to put “Vietnam era”

If you see the answer to my question in there, let me know.

Ex-PH2

Yes, I see it. He really does know how to avoid getting into a pawing & snorting episode over that kind of question.

Jeff LPH 3, 63-66

2/17 Air Cav. My dad was Coast Arty during WW2 and he was called a WW2 Vet. He was not a WW2 Combat Vet though since he didn’t go over seas. I see the Viet Nam tee shirts and caps with the silk screen Viet Nam service ribbons and Viet Nam ERA tees and caps. So the difference is one would either be a Combat Vet/and Vet who served over there and the Vet who served during that era but never made it over there. I could not and would not wear anything that had Viet Nam Vet on it unless it had the ERA wording and so far I do not own any of those era tees, caps, jackets, etc.

OldCorpsTanker72

And yet, for the record, the American Legion officially considers him a Vietnam Veteran. Why doesn’t anyone ever call the American Legion on this?

SFC D

I think the AL only requires service during wartime. The VFW requires that you served IN the war. At least that’s what the rule book says, mileage seems to vary by individual posts.

Jeff LPH 3, 63-66

SFC D; I don’t remember what the AL criteria is about joining but the VFW were looking for members at the time I wanted to join so I was let in because of the 1965 Domonican Republic operation which Pres Johnson at the time did not declare it a war but an exception was made. All those that were there were awarded the Armed Forces Expiditionary Ribbon, so I was allowed to join Both the AL and VFW.

Hondo

The VFW in general requires that a member have a campaign or expeditionary medal. (There are a couple of “corner case” exceptions.)

However, the VFW (and DoD, as I recall) count the KDSM as a campaign medal. So pretty much anyone who’s ever been to Korea on other than a short TDY or two now qualifies to join the VFW.

Claw

Be rest assured that his VA issued headstone (when that time comes) will say Vietnam on it, especially if he is laid to rest in Fort Logan National Cemetery there west of Denver.

In the meantime he will continue to wear a vest with a 24″x24″ patch embroidered with an NDSM and the words “I spent my time in Hell.”/smile

NHSparky

Maybe he and Dick Blumenthal can get together and go bowling and tell their war stories of Vietnam.

JimV

What, no service dog?

Green Thumb

There are probably none left.

They have all been taken.

2/17 Air Cav

Yeah, GT, I saw that coming so I went for a service gerbil. I have extras now. Let me know if you need one.

Green Thumb

I just hired a Manservant. So much easier….

Reaperman

So am I a GWOT veteran? I mean, I spent like, all my time during ‘WOT’ on the ‘G’–unlike those pussy astronauts. ;p

I kid. I really don’t think states get many takers on those purple GWOT license plates.

ChipNASA

SO, I’m gonna call myself a:

Grenada: Operation Urgent Fury
Libya: Operation El Dorado Canyon
Panama: United States invasion of Panama and Operation Just Cause
Saudi Arabia Operation Desert Shield
Iraq: Operation Desert Storm
Iraq: Operation Desert Sabre
Iraq: Operation Provide Comfort
Sierra Leone: Operation Silver Anvil
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Operation Provide Promise
Iraq Operation Northern Watch, Operation Southern Watch
Bosnia: Operation Deny Flight
Haiti: Operation Uphold Democracy
Bosnia: Operation Deliberate Force
Central African Republic, Operation Quick Response
Kuwait: Operation Desert Strike
Bosnia: Operation Joint Guard
Albania: Operation Silver Wake
Iraq: Operation Desert Fox
Afghanistan and Sudan: Operation Infinite Reach
Serbia: Operation Allied Force
War in Afghanistan: The War on Terror Operation Enduring Freedom
Philippines: OEF-Philippines
War in Iraq: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Era veteran.
(I never deployed in theater in 23 years despite volunteering)
😉

Jeff LPH 3, 63-66

ChipNASA;By any chance did you make Operation Power Pack Dominican Republic 1965?

sj

I did but was with the 82nd.

Green Thumb

I survived the War on Drugs.

trackback

[…] The Political Hat: Republicans Should Be Hitting The Panic Button This Ain’t Hell: This Man Is Not A Vietnam Vet, also, Phony SEAL Victory Girls: Rapper Cardi B Refuses An Abortion, Says Pregnancy Won’t […]

FatCircles0311

What are all those patches? Military patches? For a guy that was never deployed he sure has a lot of patches.

HMC Ret

When talking with someone about my service I make sure there is no misunderstanding and that I am NOT a VN Veteran. As mentioned above, I don’t even bring it up unless someone else does first. I don’t want there to be a story about me on TAH.

Ex-PH2

No stories about you on TAH?
Hmmm… I can quickly and easily make up a fake bio for you that would raise the hair on your scalp…. something to do with a bug hunt on a strange planet that is alien to humans but loaded with cockroaches the size of elephants…. and dragons. Gotta have dragons. And swords, stuff like that. And buxom women. Buxom women with swords….

Yes, HMC Ret was there… he saw it all… from the comfort of his plush seat in the darkened theater….

HMCS(FMF) ret

Don Marostica

I am Donald W. Marostica, Don Marostica. I completed four years of the Reserrve Officer’s Training Corps (ROTC) at Colorado State University on 4 June 1971 and was commissioned Second Lieutenant. I was promoted to the rank of Captain of the AR-USAR on 7 June 1978. I received an Honorable Discharge as a Captain AR-USAR on 3 June 1979. I have my records of serving between 1971 and 1979 when I retired. What is the process so I can show my records to your organization? As far as the Vietnam on the brick I purchased to be laid in Webster park here in Loveland I have no idea how it was put on the brick. I have never told anyone or written anywhere I served in Vietnam. I know when I filled out the form the individual who I gave it to knew I had not served in Vietnam because we discussed it. I am proud of my service and now at age 70 would like to work with your group to establish my good name. Thank you..

Go Navy!

Did you complete Special Forces training?

When was the 8 month period you taught jungle survival? Where did you provide the training?

What were your active duty dates?

Why didn’t you correct the author who called you a Vietnam Veteran? Why did he believe you were a Vietnam Veteran?

The Vietnam brick was purchased 10+ years ago. Why haven’t you corrected the error?

2/17 Air Cav

Don. First, please note the head honcho here, Jonn Lilyea, wrote, “I’m not calling this stolen valor because I can find nothing where Marostica directly claims that he is a Vietnam veteran, I’m just correcting the record – he is not a Vietnam veteran.”

Second, there are clearly two camps regarding service during the official VN War years: those who think it’s okay for a Vietnam Era Veteran to be called (or to call himself) a Vietnam Veteran and those who do not. I contacted Loveland Park (see cmt 0f 11 April at 12:30 p.m.) and the respondent opined with his unsolicited opinion that “Vietnam” on a brick of a “Vietnam Era Veteran” is okay with him. I strongly disagree but I understand why it’s okay with others. Lastly, Go Navy! (a sentiment I also disagree with) asks some good questions. Your answering them would help to set the record straight.

SFC D

I’m just gonna grab a fresh cup of coffee and watch this play out…

HMCS(FMF) ret

Got to love it when those political animals get caught “embellishing”…

Ex-PH2

It is ALWAYS someone else’s fault. They all have no memory of having done “that”, whatever “that” is. It must have been elves or the Good Idea Fairy doing it for them.

Don Marostica

This is Don Marostica. I did not complete Special Forces Training. A slot did not open up and when it did my business would not allow me to be gone for 3 months.

I did not teach jungle survival school.

I completed Armor school. I completed Jump School. I attended monthly meetings and did my two week duty every summer at Fort Campbell.

I firmly believe the author just thought I was a Vietnam Veteran because of the years I was assigned to the Army 1971-1979.

I did not know what was on the brick, I have never been to Webster Park to look at it. When I filled out the form to purchase the brick I did not say on the form I was a Vietnam Veteran.. The Veteran Club member who took my money and form knew I was not a Vietnam Veteran.

3/17 Air Cav

Tell whoever runs Webster Park to change the brick or remove it!

Claw

I’m sure there are other people who would like to know the back story on just how you “retired”(per your Apr 13, 2018 10:49 am comment) from the Army.

Were you discharged or retired?

Asking for a friend.

Claw

Crickets

Meh

IDC SARC

“I did not complete Special Forces Training. A slot did not open up and when it did my business would not allow me to be gone for 3 months.”

Hard to complete something you never started. Kinda slippery phrasing there…more correct to say you never attended rather than never completed it. If that’s the way you routinely explain things, I can understand why people would be confused and over time question your motives.

LovelandPolitics.com

We posted a video where you can see how Don Marostica introduces himself at the end during a candidate debate leveraging his military experience while running for office.

https://youtu.be/BvHi5YCQZB4

While he doesn’t say he served in Vietnam he comes awfully close. Instead of blaming the “misunderstanding” on the American Legion volunteer who took his order for the paver, the Denver Post reporter or thousands of constituents who still believe he was Special Forces in Vietnam; we put the blame on the man who seems incapable of using the proper terminology – reservist never activated.

Don Marostica

This is Don Marostica. I will try and get the brick removed.

Donald W. Marostica CPT AR USAR was Honaorbly Discharged from the United States Army on the 3rd day of June 1979. Honest and Faithful Service. Robert S. Young, Brigadier General, USA

Don Marostica

I am Don Marostica. I will try to get the brick removed.

Donald W. Marostica CPT AR USAR was Honorably Discharged from the United States Army on the 3rd day of June 1979 Honest and Faithful Service, Robert S. Young, Brigadier General, USA.

3/17 Air Cav

Don

Possibly, you might feel like we’re picking on you. Something you need to understand, those of us who comment on this site. Who served in that shithole called Vietnam, in many cases did not talk about it for decades. We just got on with our lives. It seems that now that it’s cool to be a Vietnam Vet, so many want to claim it as their own!

Don Marostica

I am Don Marostica. On Monday 16 April I will be asking Webster park to pull the brick in my name and replace it with the following: Donald W. Marostica
Week-end Warrior AR-USAR 1971-1979

Don Marostica

I am Don Marostica.

Air Cav, I have a deep respect for Vietnam Veterans and a deep respect for all who have served. I saw first hand what World War Two did to my Marine Father so I know how many of you feel about Vietnam.

I am truly sorry about this incident and will work very hard to make it right.

OWB

While you are correcting things, Don, how’s about addressing the “retired” issue. Looks like you had considerably less than 20 years military service and therefore are likely not “retired.”

Yes, it’s a pesky and picky detail, but one that is important to those of us who really earned a military retirement and whatever status comes with it.

Don Marostica

This is Don Marostica

OWB, I used the wrong word, I did not retire I was discharged. Thank you and all others who retired after 20 years of military service. I will never use the word “retired” again when speaking of my military service.

No

My grandfather served his country – the United States of America – in World War I. He saw active duty in the European theaters, where he was physically injured and gassed, and sent to England to recover. After it was determined that his injury and the fact he had been gassed by mustard was due cause for honorable discharge he was sent back to the United States of America. According to my mother, my uncle, and my aunt he did not speak of his service because he did not see areason to do so, and when representatives came several times to bring him honors for his service he chose to politely dismiss them and the honors they would have bestowed on him. When he died he was accorded a military burial.

My father, against his parents’ wishes, enlisted and served. He did not see active duty and makes no claims to being a veteran of the Armed Services. Unlike Don “The Don” Marostica.

Go Navy!

I say STOLEN VALOR. Quotes from Nam-Don Marostica.

– “It started in the military. I was teaching jungle training to guys going to Vietnam, and for eight months you were on your feet all day.” DENVER POST, Apr 18, 2009, https://www.denverpost.com/2009/04/18/qa-with-gop-rep-don-marostica/

-“While attending CSU, Don participated in the ROTC program and served in the Army after graduation, retiring in 1979 as a Captain in the Colorado 19th Special Forces Army National Guard. After returning from Regular Army Duty, Don taught and coached four years at Rocky Mountain High School in Fort Collins.” Don’s current bio for “Meet the Board for Loveland Business” Partnership.”http://www.lovelandbusinesspartnership.com/about-us/meet-the-board/

– Above captioned picture with Don in front of Viet-Nam memorial stating he was a Vietnam veteran. Photo by Mike Garrett. Mr. Garrett wouldn’t have stated Don was a Vietnam veteran unless he was led to believe this. It’s more than coincidental that picture is taken in front of Vietnam memorial.

– “Don retired in 1979 as a Captain in the Colorado 19 Special Forces Army National Guard.” Embrace Northern Colorado bio of Don.
https://groups.google.com/a/co.larimer.co.us/forum/#!msg/commissioner_johnson_public/ss5pm4-Ia9U/oRF5eCoXdZgJ

– “While attending CSU, Don completed the ROTC program and served in the Army, retiring in 1979 as a captain in the 19th Special Forces Army National Guard.” http://www.fortmorgantimes.com/ci_16226954

How can this not be stolen valor? It’s not just the brick, it’s the history of telling newspapers, voters, and the public he retired from Army Special Forces and going so far as to say he instructed jungle training for 8 months. He was active duty for only 3 months! I would like to hear him justify his actions to the real men & women in the Special Forces.

He owes voters, veterans & public an apology. A signed letter to the local newspaper would be a good start.