The curious case of California Assemblyman Randy Voepel, his wild tales of military derring-do and a welcomed challenge by Command Master Chief (SEAL) Larry Wilske, USN (Ret.).
By: MCPO Terence B. Hoey, USN (Ret.)
March 29, 2018, New York City
As per Stars and Stripes, “Stolen Valor” is a term applied to the phenomenon of people falsely claiming military awards or badges they did not earn, service they did not perform, Prisoner of War experiences that never happened, and other tales of military derring-do that exist only in their minds (or as expressed in their own words on the internet and to others). These claims can be a complete fabrication of a career or military service and or embellishment of an otherwise honorable tour, service or career. However, phenomenon is a misnomer. The issue of Stolen Valor is much more like a lightning-fast spreading pandemic negatively affecting all who have honorably served, those currently on active duty and in the reserves and the Veterans community at large. In addition, such false claims often result in wasted resources, massive fraud and abuses within the Veterans Administration and other federal, state and local agencies that provide benefits to legitimate and deserving Veterans.
Our nation’s first Stolen Valor Act of 2005 was a U.S. law that broadened the provisions of previous laws addressing the unauthorized wear, manufacture, or sale of any military decorations and medals. The law made it a federal misdemeanor to falsely represent oneself as having received any U.S. military decoration or medal. If convicted, defendants might have been imprisoned for up to six months, unless the decoration lied about is the Medal of Honor, in which case imprisonment could have been up to one year. In United States v. Alvarez the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on June 28, 2012, that the Stolen Valor Act was an unconstitutional abridgment of the freedom of speech under the First Amendment, striking down the law in a 6 to 3 decision. Confirmed Valor Thief Xavier Alvarez of United States v. Alvarez won claiming his First Amendment right to lie about military service and claim he was a Medal of Honor recipient, he said, “I’m a retired Marine of 25 years. I retired in the year 2001. Back in 1987, I was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. I got wounded many times by the same guy.” Of course none of this was true (not a US Marine and no Medal of Honor), but Alvarez, in photo below, is a liar, a confirmed Valor Thief and he has rights.
With the disgraceful Supreme Court decision of 2012, the outrage from within the Department of Defense, military members, Veterans advocacy groups and patriotic citizens alike was immediate and resulted in the speedy passage of the much improved Stolen Valor Act of 2013. Little wiggle room is provided for Valor Thieves now … the Stolen Valor Act of 2013 amends the federal criminal code to rewrite provisions relating to fraudulent claims about military service to subject to a fine, imprisonment for not more than one year, or both for an individual who, with intent to obtain money, property, or other tangible benefit, fraudulently holds himself or herself out to be a recipient of: the Medal of Honor;
Distinguished Service Cross; Navy Cross; Air Force Cross; Silver Star; Purple Heart; Combat Action Ribbon; Combat Infantryman’s Badge; Combat Action Badge; Combat Medical Badge; Combat Action Medal; or any replacement or duplicate medal for such medal as authorized by law. The Purple Heart and Combat Action Ribbon are highlighted above for effect. More on that later.
In addition to the Stolen Valor Act of 2013, many states have enacted their own Stolen Valor laws. In fact, due to the dedication of Stolen Valor researchers/investigators and Veterans advocacy groups, we have greatly assisted states, through hard work, lobbying and proven results, in the passage of tough laws directly aimed at Valor Thieves.
One such state is California. In 2011, Assembly Bill 167 was passed citing the federal Stolen Valor Act of 2005 and the bill has some fairly stiff penalties for public and/or elected officials who engage Stolen Valor activities. More on California Assembly Bill 167 later.
Stolen Valor researchers/investigators and Veterans advocate groups have done a fairly decent job in recent years of exposing the worst offenders. We have found that in all cases of Stolen Valor there is an element of financial fraud and in most cases Stolen Valor and financial fraud is just the tip of the iceberg. The Stolen Valor community has uncovered through meticulous research and thorough investigative processes Valor Thieves who were convicted of or under investigation for crimes such as murder, rape, domestic abuse and child pornography. We have identified and regularly cross a filthy path exposing pedophiles, felons in possession of firearms, illegal aliens, drug addicts, drunks, corrupt politicians, unethical business owners, horrible lawyers, thugs and variety of general fraudsters, criminals and low-life miscreants.
One such example is Daniel A. Bernath, in photo below, who I and others investigated for over four years. Bernath was one of the worst Valor Thieves we have ever encountered. Due to our work, Bernath was being investigated by federal, state and local authorities in several jurisdictions for distribution of child pornography and other unsolved heinous crimes. Like all Valor Thieves, Bernath was a coward, he crashed his airplane straight in to the ground on January 22, 2018 as we closed in on him. In addition to being a confirmed Valor Thief, it should be noted Bernath was a really bad lawyer and poorer pilot.
With the passage of the Stolen Valor Act of 2013, we now have one specific catch-all provision that greatly assists researchers, investigators, law enforcement and other authorities with respect to application of the law: “an individual who, with intent to obtain money, property, or other tangible benefit, fraudulently holds himself or herself out to be a recipient of …”
This leads us to incumbent California Assemblyman Randy Voepel (71st Assembly District, encompassing inland eastern San Diego), an insurance salesman with 40 years of experience, past mayor of Santee, CA, a former U.S. Navy enlisted man, who by all accounts (official service records) was a marginally adequate Sailor at best and served for a brief period onboard the great ship USS Buchanan (DDG-14). Voepel served less time at sea than I did cleaning steam and water drums in 1200 psi D-Type propulsion boilers and standing in the chow line waiting for my daily dose of SOS. Yet, his tales and claims are so fantastic and unbelievable they must be told.
Here are California Assemblyman Randy Voepel’s military claims. Buckle up for the ride:
Purple Heart Recipient – False claim, there is no official record and he was not mentioned as being wounded in combat by the enemy in other supporting documents (official US Navy Deck Logs) with respect to incidents of direct combat action involving USS Buchanan.
Combat Action Ribbon – False claim, there is no official record and he was not mentioned in other supporting documents (official US Navy Deck Logs) with respect to incidents of direct combat action involving USS Buchanan. Voepel has been photographed and regularly wears the Combat Action Ribbon as in photo below.
Trained by the Viet Cong – False claim, there is no record of Voepel’s training and or membership in the People’s Liberation Armed Forces (PLAF), more popularly known as the Viet Cong (VC), the military arm of the National Liberation Front (NLF). Established at the end of 1960, the VC was created by the North Vietnamese communists to escalate the armed struggle in South Vietnam. If Voepel was in fact trained by the Viet Cong, I would like to see those training records, because the Viet Cong was our enemy and that would open up a larger and more scandalous can of worms. Below is a historic photo of a VC fighter. Could this be the one who trained Voepel?
In the Jungles of Viet Nam – False claim, there is no record of assignment at or “In the Jungles of Viet Nam”, or any unit bearing that name. However, Voepel may have spent some time “on the beach” (liberty call) in Subic Bay, Philippines which was at that time, in the early 1970’s, a very different type of jungle as depicted in the photo below. Perhaps he has erroneously conflated neighboring regional jungles.
Self-Diagnosed PTSD – Based on review of official records this claim is, more likely than not, a complete fabrication and false. However, Voepel’s Veterans Administration service-connected disability rating and certification could provide insight into this claim, should such an official rating exist.
Small Craft Qualification – False claim, there is no official record of qualification and or designation. Created in the mid 1970’s after the Viet Nam War, the Small Craft Insignia is awarded to only very skilled and qualified officers and petty officers commanding small combatant vessels that patrol brown-water (littoral zone) and riverine environments. Voepel is not authorized to wear, has never been retroactively awarded the Small Craft Insignia and was never assigned to any small boat and or craft unit, although Voepel has been photographed and regularly wears the Small Craft Insignia. Voepel commanded no boat or craft, yet he sits at his desk, in photo below, wearing the Small Craft Insignia.
Wounded in Action – False claim, there is no official record of Purple Heart and or Combat Action Ribbon being awarded to Voepel.
Voepel’s Chief of Staff, Mason Herron recently stated, on March 12, 2018 at the 76th Assembly caucus meeting at the Veterans Association of North County Resource Center, Oceanside, CA, that Voepel did have a Purple Heart. Herron continued and stated, “no possible way that anyone, including Mr. Wilske, could verify whether Mr. Voepel was awarded the Purple Heart or not.” These statements made by Herron were witnessed and testimonials were documented. Mr. Wilske most certainly did, quite easily in fact, verify that Voepel was never awarded the Purple Heart. I independently verified all relevant official records and confirmed that no Purple Heart was ever awarded to Voepel. On Tuesday March 27, 2018, I gave Voepel’s office and Herron an opportunity to comment on this Stolen Valor article, no one returned my call.
Herron of Voepel’s political enterprise, in the above statement demonstrates a serious lack of understanding about the military in general, our resolve and culture, traditions and history held dearly close and basic official record archiving requirements. I have independently reviewed all of these claims, official records, witness testimonies, open source information and intelligence and it has been determined that Voepel has not been awarded the Purple Heart or the Combat Action Ribbon. Voepel’s spontaneous utterances that he was “Trained by the Viet Cong” and “In the Jungles of Viet Nam” are in equal disgusting and comedy gold. Voepel’s assertions regarding PTSD are insulting to all warriors who return home with scares of battle after answering the call to duty. Voepel is not authorized to wear the Small Craft Insignia. With respect to Voepel’s claims of being “Wounded in Action”, it never happened. He may have “gotten some action” in Southeast Asia, but those accomplishments are typically not recorded in official service records. The official service records, of Randy Greg Voepel, provided by the Naval Military Personnel Command via the National Archives, does not match his false, shameless, inexplicable and comedic claims.
As a retired U.S. Navy Master Chief Petty Officer, serving over 32 years from 1979 – 2011, four-time voting member of the U.S. Navy Senior and Master Chief Petty Officer Selection Board, Professional Certified Investigator (PCI), nationally recognized Stolen Valor Researcher and Investigator and proud Valor Thief Hunter, I can say with 100 % certainty Voepel’s claims outlined here are completely false. These claims hold no water with me, my fellow military comrades in arms, Stolen Valor advocates and the Veterans community at large. The long-standing and continued arrogance and aberrant comments by Voepel and Herron should be noted by all the constituents in the 71st Assembly District now and in the months before this pivotal election.
Challenging incumbent Assemblyman Randy Voepel is retired U.S. Navy Command Master Chief (SEAL) Larry Wilske. Larry is a man great integrity and solid character, he is proven Servant Leader and a model of the “Warrior Elite.” He lives and breathes in thought and action the U.S. Navy Core Values of “HONOR, COURAGE and COMMITMENT.” He does not compromise his sworn “Ethos.” There are no comparisons to be made between likes of Voepel and that of Master Chief Larry Wilske.
Voepel’s purposeful embellishment and fabrication of his military service is noteworthy … “with intent to obtain money, property, or other tangible benefit, fraudulently holds himself or herself out to be a recipient of … the Purple Heart and Combat Action Ribbon” … a clear violation of the Stolen Valor Act of 2013 and possibly CA Assembly Bill 167.
CA Assembly Bill 167 calls for the removal of public and elected officials with respect to violations and acts of Stolen Valor. It is now up to the federal authorities with jurisdiction, state and local prosecutors in California, the media and most importantly the citizens of the 71st Assembly District to take serious note of the claims of confirmed Valor Thief Randy Voepel. If Voepel has any evidence or official records to the contrary, I would suggest he prepare to produce those for review by the authorities, media and his constituents. If not, Voepel may want to return to his previous occupation of selling nickel and dime insurance policies.
Stolen Valor is a growing and serious issue in our great nation. Stolen Valor researches/investigators and advocates are generally self-funded and conduct more Stolen Valor investigations than law enforcement, many of these self-initiated research projects and investigations are delivered to law enforcement and authorities which often results in arrests, charges filed and leading to prosecutions under Stolen Valor Act of 2013 or state Stolen Valor laws.
Note: US Navy and National Archives official records, Wikipedia quotes, credible open source/web based information and witness testimonies all were used and contributed to this article.
