Winter Soldier fables: Anti-war “Marine” was lying mental patient; Updated
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You remember Jessie MacBeth, don’t you? He was the fake “Army Ranger” thug who lied about serving in Iraq and was promoted by the Iraq Veterans Against the War until milbloggers exposed him as a total fraud.
Well, meet a guy who makes Jessie MacBeth look like a choir boy.
And add this story to the ever-growing file of bogus Winter Soldier Syndrome tales from MacBeth and Micah Wright to Josh Lansdale and Amorita Randall.
“Rick Duncan” of Colorado Springs was a prominent anti-war activist who claimed to have served in Iraq on three tours of duty AND survived the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon. He has now been unmasked as a lying mental patient (via Colorado Springs Gazette with a big hat tip to This Ain’t Hell):
The leader of a statewide veterans group who fought for homeless veterans in Colorado Springs was in the Denver County jail on Wednesday, unmasked as a former psychiatric patient who posed as a wounded Marine officer and 9/11 survivor.
Federal authorities are looking into whether Rick Duncan, whose real name is Richard Glen Strandlof, could have pilfered money he raised in the name of Colorado veterans, said Daniel Warvi of the Colorado Veterans Alliance (CVA), the group that Duncan founded.
“We were all taken aback,” Warvi said.
Strandlof, 31, who invented the name Duncan and claimed he was a former Marine captain and 1997 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, never served in the military and falsely claimed that he was in the Pentagon during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the group said.
Two members of CVA said the group became suspicious of the man they knew as Duncan after discovering inconsistencies in his personal story…The group said it found that Strandlof had been a patient in a mental hospital in Washoe County, Nev., at the time of the roadside bombing in Fallujah, Iraq, that he claimed left him severely wounded. CVA members contacted the FBI field office in Denver, which opened an investigation in early May and arrested him Tuesday night in downtown Denver on a traffic warrant originating in El Paso County.
According to Warvi, when an FBI agent asked whether he was Strandlof or Duncan, he responded “both,” then requested an attorney.
Duncan was quoted extensively by Colorado newspapers and TV stations whose b.s. detectors were apparently in the repair shop:
Under his invented identity, Strandlof proved to be a popular spokesman on veterans’ issues. He is quoted in stories as recently as March, when he was interviewed by The Denver Post about a measure before the state General Assembly to cut tuition for veterans.
He often spoke vividly of being in the Pentagon on Sept. 11 when a hijacked airliner was crashed into the building.
“The duality of that day, the good and the bad that I saw that day, are forever etched in my mind and in my memory,” he told KOAA television in an interview last year marking the anniversary of the attacks.
The Gazette quoted Strandlof on issues concerning homeless veterans. The Colorado Springs Independent wrote about him in articles about veterans struggling to deal with their experiences in war and PTSD.
On YouTube, Strandlof appears in desert camouflage talking about his “wounds.”
“I was involved in an IED explosion that killed four Marines,” he said. “I have a plate roughly the size of a, like, cup and saucer on this portion of my skull.” In the video, Strandlof also claims to have had a hip replacement and to have “had a finger blown off.”
Here’s that video:
Get a load of some of Duncan’s other performances. Here he is using his Absolute Moral Authority to condemn torture in December 2008:
Here he is reading the 91st Psalm after recounting how he was “heavily injured” on his third tour in Iraq:
This Ain’t Hell follows the rest of the Internet and YouTube trails. This faker wrote a piece published at VoteVets.org, the same anti-war group promoted by Gen. Wesley Clark which fell for anti-war hoax “soldier” Josh Lansdale.
Duncan/Strandlof is going to need a lot more than prayers and poetry therapy in dealing with the feds.
***
Greyhawk at Mudville Gazette has some must-read updates on Duncan/Strandlof’s Nevada fundraising scam.
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- Rick Duncan “anti war protestor” exposed as mental case and a fraud | Fire Andrea Mitchell!
- Another fake anti-war iraq vet - The Underground Conservative
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- 5-14-2009 | Drive Time Happy Hour
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- Michelle Malkin » More on the fake Marine anti-war poster boy
- Michelle Malkin » You can say that again, Mr. President
- Tell it to Napolitano, Move on, Winter Soldiers Fakers, Penn State & Columbia « The Lioness
- Dancing with terrorists — Winds Of Jihad By SheikYerMami
- Will The REAL Anti-War Vets Stand Up « Needs of the Many
- The Hill’s Blog Briefing Room » Michelle Malkin
- AntiObamaBlog.com » You can say that again, Mr. President
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True ‘dat!
Exactly my sentiments in 1973…..but zero, as the years pass by, you may find that the sucky times, although still there, are mixed with the other feelings. How really alive you felt when your very life was on the line…the friends that were at the time, closer than your own family…I could go on, but I don’t need to. You will find this out yourself in the coming decades.
And you will want to remember; you do not want to find yourself in my (and many others)position 20 years after coming home, after not talking and trying forget for 20 years and now you realize how important that little piece of your life was and you have buried it to the point that you have lost some of the things that meant so much to you back when you were over there……..
Please, don’t let yourself fall into the trap so many of us…Vietnam vet…fell into…..
Heh, I knew it!
VA Beach is slightly more receptive to the military, but I hated being stationed in that area as far as the locals were concerned.
For all of the bitching and moaning they do about the military down there, that area would collapse without it. I was amazed at the level of contempt local businesses and the city governments had for military personnel.
emjem, you’ll enjoy coming back to the Springs. We’ve been here about a year now and love it. Very military friendly. Lots of discounts offered, etc. The Harley dealer here just had a special evening a couple weeks ago where the store was open only to ID card holders, with discounts on everything in the store, free hot wings and drinks, etc.
This is a little off-topic, but still within the spirit of the blog:
When I was working up my qualifications as ESWS(Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist), I was on a Gator Freighter. I remember there was one climate-controlled compartment on the ship that was designated as storage for MREs(two lies for the price of one). I am from the days of alphabet rats, so I didn’t realize that MREs required such delicate care. Nobody then could give me an answer, so maybe somebody here can. Why was/is it necessary to store rations in climate-controlled conditions, then issue them to the troops in the field in all kinds of weather – hot, cold, wet, dry, etc.?
Anybody got an answer?
Heh, I knew it!
VA Beach is slightly more receptive to the military, but I hated being stationed in that area as far as the locals were concerned.
For all of the moaning they do about the military down there, that area would collapse without it. I was amazed at the level of contempt local businesses and the city governments had for military personnel.
Just a Grunt:
I was stationed in Korea for years. My wife is Korean. You get used to things. Korea is more or less a modern nation these days rather similiar to Japan (just don’t say that to a Korean).
No, I know this. I have been out for a few years now too. I appreciate the concern though. My roommate from Iraq and I still keep in touch and get together on occasion.
Yah, no doubt; it’s always awkward. They always seem to expect some cool stories and the stuff you think cool is never really what they think is cool and vice-versa. I’ve met a few (generally very smart and thoughtful people) that can appreciate what I say though never having been in, but those folks are the exception rather than the rule. I have a feeling some of our fellow posters here at MM would fit that category though.
Thanks for you concern though. I am fine, really, I just can’t stand a$$hats like the guy in this article and I can’t tolerate stupid movies about the war. That’s all.
norm1111 et al.:
Thank you for your kind words.
That is where my sister and nieces (BIL in Iraq) are right now and they absolutely love it. Way more than Fort Jackson.
Zero, I thank you for your service, too. Sorry your experience wasn’t more positive. I did a little over 22 years in before it stopped being fun. But, that was because I wasn’t in ops anymore and was a staff weenie my last couple years.
cpodug, they are stored at lower temps to extend the shelf life.
Dexter:
Korea was a blast, but mostly because of Korea itself, not because of the Army. *smile*
Thanks – nobody on the Cleveland seemed to know that. But still begs the question of why C-rats could be stored in any old warehouse for years and not spoil, and still be good, and why not MREs?
Ham and Lima Beans will last till the end of the Universe –
Soju… I mean, so true.
Corn beef hash is better aged. Besides, no one ever wanted it, and I loved it. I also took everyone’s extra salt and tobassco sauce.
Awesome.
Dexter:
I was thinking more of agashiis, and of course, the one I finally married *smile*.
As I recall, you could break a tooth on the crackers and cheese
Dexter:
zeroangel + Soju = jail time were it not for the intervention of my CO. *blush*
I am slowly opening up and coming to grips with my injuries and the horrors that I faced during the First Battle of Bull Run.
Time heals all wounds, but money really speeds things up. Please send money…
I don’t know, but I imagine it has to do with different storage technology, ingredients and menus entirely.
MRE’s taste better than C-rats…there’s a reason.
I love me some wheat snack bread with jalapeno spread.
Only found in Accessory Packet 2, I believe.
We aircrew types used to get MFFs (Meals, Flight Feeding). They were MREs designed to be less gasseous, I believe. Turkey a la King was my favorite. The Pork Patty in BBQ Sauce was good, too.
Doh!
From what I understand, Soju + Anyone → Jail in many cases. In Germany it was Jägermeister.
Chapppy, I don’t ever remember any of the rations I knew came with a spork, though. I didn’t know KFC delivered up there.
Those rations are classified. I can’t talk about it. But you wouldn’t know cause YOU WEREN’T THERE MAN!!!
The… horror. The… horror.
(cue The Doors “This is the End”)
I’ve argued before with this scumbag in the comments on the Gazette. I knew something was hinky about him, so I feel some nice satisfaction in this arrest.
Curious. He was arrested on a traffic warrant, and the FBI is investigating, but is it actually illegal to hold yourself out as an ex-vet?
I’m so ashamed. I was using my spork in the forward resting position when my MRE accidently discharged and did something to my foot that I never talk about with civilians. You had to have been there man…
No sh|t! There I was, in the post Burger King…
Um, “ex-vet” does not compute.
He’s being investigated for possible embezzlement from the organization he founded.
Passing yourself off as a veteran when you’re not may not necessarily be illegal unless you falsify documents, or try to get benefits you’re not entitled to, or something like that, I would think. But, then… I’m not a lawyer!
Chap – in answer to your question, yes it is illegal to pose as an officer. Don’t have the law to cite, but this will give you enough information to pursue, if you so desire.
My can got opened up by a P38, but I don’t talk about it…
Ooops. I guess that doesn’t make sense.
Ahhh. missed that detail. Thanks.
Only in the sense of John Murtha being an ex-Marine.
Creating a fake dd-214 is punishable by 1 year in jail and/or a 100,000 dollar fine.
A real oh sh!t moment.
As for MRE’s, remember the 4 fingers of death?
LOL. How can one forget? Some MREs were just downright horrible. Basically anything that had meat in it that wasn’t in a stew of some kind was nasty.
Hmmm…I have MREs in my 72 hour emergency kit. I am more than happy to not have “ham n mutherf**rs” or a crunchy chili bean LRRP meal…..however, a C-rat pound cake would always be nice to this day; great dessert, worth at least 4 or 5 packs of Marboros back in the day.
Then there were the pecan cake rolls in a can…..the little starving Vietnamese kids would throw them back at you if you tried to pawn them off to them…..
BTW obama just said the debt is unsustainable.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aJsSb4qtILhg&refer=worldwide
REALLY??? When did figure this out mister dumbass.
norm1111:
Packs?!?! Man, the price of cigs has gone way up! I can’t even say that great MRE lemon pound cake would be worth 4 or 5 individual cigs, much less a pack!
We could not give ANYTHING to the locals in Bosnia because one troop gave candy to a kid from one side (don’t remember which) and it caused literaly days of rioting.
People are nuts.
sonofdy
We have here a failure to communicate with our fearless leader. What did he think about the tea parties – oh, he didn’t know anything about them. He must suffer some kind of deficit disorder to have finally stumbled on the law of economics….you can’t spend more than you take in.
It seems that somewhere along the way, someone would have done a basic background check on this guy; or were they just so desperate for a frontman with the credibility to speak their venom, that they would accept as fact the war “stories” of a man about whom they literally knew nothing?
Obama?
LOL!
Also Obama?:
Chap and Zero were in the military? Who Knew?
Seriously though, the Springs is a nice place to live, in spite of the imposter. I belive our web hostess MM lives there, and doesn’t Rabid live there too?
I live just north of the Springs, up here where “the air is rare.” I still get goose bumps when the Thunderbirds do their thing for the Air Force Academy Graduation, which is coming up soon. I can’t wait till they rattle my windows again…
Thank You all for your service.
happy2behere:
*smile*
Chap was just playing with you guys in this thread and said as much earlier. He was basically mocking the subject of this article.
I am in fact a veteran. Something I remind people of when / if they accuse me of being “un-patriotic” for my social libertarian views and my “godlessness.” Fortunately, that seldom happens on this blog WRT me.
I really think you’ll find that the military is generally right-leaning (esp. since the left is viewed as being anti-military) but there is a wide range of beliefs even among “right-leaning” folks.
Wow, I’ve been laughing my butt off reading some of these posts. Some of you guys are a riot! alohaguy, I hope you foot is better! LOL!
I greatfully appreciate all the service personnel who post here. You guys and gals are the best. Wish I could say I served but a freak accident as a child kept me from doing so. And no, I was not dropped on my head. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
This weekend is Joint Services Open House @ Andrews Air Forse Base. The Thunderbirds are hear this year. And of course the next week is the Naval Academy graduation which means The Blue Angels will appear over Annapolis for 3 days.
Oh yeah, I know what you mean. Going to miss this year ’cause I got talked into working but there will be other times.
So, thank you all for the laughs and the sacrifice on the wall for me and my family. God Bless!
I also have to say the comments left me laughing and grateful all of you made it through your trials and tribulations to help those of us that never served understand a bit more about what is to do so. Reminds me of sitting around the table, late at night, with my cousins, eight all in the military – but different branches – ribbing each other and talking about their experiences. Sadly, two of them didn’t, and another returned missing body parts and scarred for life. Kept his wicked sense of humor though. My complete ultimate gratitude and thanks to each and every one of you for caring enough to protect those at home and the sacrifices of your families.
No way. You must not remember the first iteration of MRE’s. We lost Ham Slices and Steak Slices and got Pork Patty and Beef Patty (known universally as Pork and Beef Cookies). We lost Beans and Franks and got some nasty stuff with beans in it and 4 “Franks” that you could drive end connectors with. Then there was the pear, peach, apricot, and fruit cocktail styrofoam that replaced cans of real fruit in syrup. We lost Pound Cake, Maple Nut Cake, and Chocolate Nut Cake, and got something that looked like a cookie cooked in a zip lock bag that had the texture of drying clay. The only good thing was that we lost Fruit Cake.
Allegedly, MRE’s got better, but I’ll always remember them as “Meals Rejected by Ethiopeans” after starving people there threw them away as inedible.
ECS
Yes way.
I won’t say MRE’s were always decent, but the recent incarnations are not bad at all when you consider what they are designed to do.
I still remember my first experience
with the front leaning rest position.
It was our first or second day at
MCRD SNDG and we had not yet been
trained in that. Sgt Skull just back
from leave took us on a March around
the little grinder and we of course
were terible. he stopped us and gave
the order and we all stared at him
like he was speaking a foreign language
and the look on his face said he was
sure we were all being insubordinate,
but he recovered he disposisiton and
explained the activity. after that
we spent a lot of time in that exercise
for a while. Semper Fi dan
Not having been permitted to serve in the military, I cannot possibly say that I understand, but I think I can come close.
There are “war stories” and then there are “war stories”. There are the stories that only those that have been there know and understand that you just cannot tell anyone, and then there are those that you tell the kids, the people you know that aren’t involved etc.
These are the funny ones. These are the ones that will not make people freak out or what not.
Again, not having been in a war, I could never know for certain, but doing what I did, I can say there are many stories that I just would never talk about. I never understood anyone who was in the fire service and talking about this wreck, that fire or what not as a way to “impress” people, especially in bars or at parties. You look at those guys an think of one of two things: They are not in the fire service and are merely talking out their butts in order to sound important and get a date or, 2) They might be in the fire service and merely new and thus have yet to get anything other than a “Gomer” run or car fire.
I was giving a talk at a “Career Day” once with a bunch of high school kids, and one of them, with that smart-ash head bob thing inturrupted me with, “What’s the worst thing you ever saw”. I just looked him right in the eye and told him flat out, he didn’t want to know what the worst thing I ever saw was.
So…is that somewhat close?
Forgive the rambling…suffering from “Swine Flu” and the flu meds are worse than the flu itself…dang Thera-Fu.
Maybe we are being a little too harsh about this. I mean, Hillary claimed that she was dodging bullets when she landed in Bosnia and hell, she gets to be Secretary of State. Obama still has some positions open right? And mentally ill to boot? He’ll fit right in.
The only person I have ever told everything to is my High School Sweetheart who I lost but found 32 years later. I sat there and told her everything and watched her cry and look at me with that look. Those of you that know that look, know what I mean. I have been with her ever since because with her I am safe. Thats hard to explain but it just is what it is.
I love commenter Bill Perry’s reference “Dali Bama” on the This ain’t Hell blog. I just wish he was in exile with the rest of his followers.
Take it easy, chap…remember when we were undercover in the tiny village of No Phuc Luc?
Good times.