Guest Post; Confirmed Valor Thief Randy Greg Voepel in Hiding as CA State Assembly 71st District Primary Election Looms – June 5th

Photo Caption: Voepel sits at his desk (perhaps updating his resume) wearing the Small Craft Insignia (that he is not authorized to wear) and an upside down Combat Action Ribbon.

By: MCPO (SW) Terence B. Hoey, USN (Ret.)

June 1, 2018 New York City

As the primary for the CA State Assembly 71st District approaches Voepel has not been seen or heard of in public since we broke the news, on March 29, 2018 (Vietnam Veterans Day) here at TAH and on LinkedIn, that he, the last Vietnam Veteran serving in the California Assembly, is a confirmed Valor Thief. He has conducted no public appearances or town halls, baby holding, handshaking, TV and radio gigs or caucus meetings. But, he is proud of his service.

Let’s review what we have learned about Voepel through FOIA requests, official service records, testimonials, his extensive digital footprint, video evidence and his own words:

Voepel was a very junior sailor and radarman onboard the USS GURKE (DD-783) and USS Buchanan (DDG-14) during his Vietnam era service – TRUE.

Voepel has been photographed and regularly wears a Combat Action Ribbon upside down – TRUE.

Voepel regularly wears the Small Craft Insignia that he is NOT authorized to wear – TRUE.

Voepel and his Chief of Staff Mason Herron distributed to the media an altered DD-214N as proof positive of his combat experience – TRUE.

Voepel is a confirmed Valor Thief – TRUE.

Served with Korean Tiger “Battalion” – FALSE.

Purple Heart Recipient – FALSE.

Combat wounded – FALSE.

Heavy Combat – FALSE.

Multiple combat tours – FALSE.

Two combat tours – FALSE.

Served in combat IN Vietnam – FALSE.

Assigned to Task Force 117 – FALSE.

Newly Released … 17 kills – FALSE. Note: Number of kills is eerily similar to the Task Force number (we see this a lot).

Served onboard PBR – FALSE.

Bow gunner onboard PBR – FALSE.

Inserted SEALs from PBR in Mekong Delta – FALSE.

While onboard USS GURKE (DD-783) supported inserting SEALs in Mekong Delta – FALSE.

While onboard USS GURKE (DD-783) manned a 50 caliber, under supervision for offensive and defensive purposes – FALSE.

Served in the US Navy Infantry – FALSE.

Has experienced in combat body fluids of all sorts, blood soaked uniform and taste of blood in the back of his throat – FALSE.

Knows what real combat is like – FALSE.

Still has his “monsoon” (boonie) hat from Vietnam – FALSE.

Has (and self-diagnosed) PTSD from his multiple combat tours in Vietnam – FALSE.

The above is only a partial list as we have not released all evidence collected to date.
As the California and San Diego GOPs, the CA State Assembly and paid political pundits largely ignore Voepel, take no action and wait this out … so does the MSM. The original reporting of Voepel’s Stolen Valor activities by the MSM was weak, technically wrong, full of errors, relied on old documents and incorrect information, clearly biased and ignored the very evidence that has been in the public domain for years. The evidence was easy to obtain, yet the media failed to do the hard work, research and develop the evidence. One MSM outlet referred to a real witness as an “alleged” witness. The “alleged” witness was one who provided real damning video evidence. One MSM outlet said we called the DD-214N a “phony”, we called it “altered.” Another said we called the DD-214N a “forgery”, we called it “altered.” One outlet edited their tape of the April 16th press conference at the USS Midway Museum to make it appear that I said, “pure fantasy” with respect to Voepel’s Combat Action Ribbon claim. I was clearly referring to a separate wild claim and never addressed Voepel’s Combat Action Ribbon claim at that press conference. A reporter from the same MSM outlet suggested that I drop my pursuit of Voepel and that I should “watch my back”.

Fortunately there are some real journalists in the San Diego area and they are hot on the bread crumb trail that we have laid with respect to Voepel. We have more testimonials. People are stepping forward from Santee City Hall to Voepel’s own VFW and all the way to the California State House and back again to San Diego. It seems many had heard the wild and comedic claims of Voepel’s military derring-do. In addition, I suspect authorities with jurisdiction are either following the Voepel story very closely or may already be investigating, but I am not privy to that information.

Now back to the “altered” DD-214N, Combat Action and Purple Heart claims … these issues are NOT just going away with time and neither will I. Voepel has to face the truth … he will have to either confess and resign, be removed by the CA State Assembly for violations of CA AB 153 (California’s Stolen Valor Act of 2017 which he supported and voted for) and or be prosecuted by federal authorities for violations of the US Stolen Valor Act of 2013 and 18 USC 489 before this case is closed. PERIOD.

As a 4 time voting member of the US Navy E8/9 Selection Board, I have reviewed thousands of US Navy Service Records, tens of thousands of associated documents (including various versions of DD-214 and DD-214N) and I know a BRAVO SIERRA service history when I see, touch, hear and smell it. The particular stench emanating from Voepel and his view of his service record is simply rancid.

So, tune in and watch the results on June 5th in CA State Assembly 71st District.

Category: Phony soldiers, Valor Vultures