This ain't Hell, but you can see it from here

Category: Phony soldiers

  • Update on Michael Frisoli, fat ass phony Marine

    Michael Frisoli

    You might remember this fatass doofus, Michael Frisoli who we first discussed back in May. He was stopped by Worcester, MA police Sgt. Timothy M. Watts, a police officer who was also a Marine. Watts noticed Frisoli’s massive girth and began questioning him.

    After appearing in court in January on Stolen Valor charges, Frisoli was arrested again in April for possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia. Well, the good folks at POW Network have sent us some updates on the plus-sized pussy;

    A federal judge magistrate said yesterday he struggled with his own outrage over the alleged heroin dealing of a Millbury defendant awaiting trial on a “stolen valor” charge, but the judge rejected a prosecution request to jail the man for six months.

    Instead, U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy S. Hillman sentenced Michael P. Frisoli, 46, of 38 Tiffany Circle, to 200 hours community service for wearing a chestful of Marine medals that he had not earned.

    Yeah, way to show your outrage there judge. 200 hours of watering the lawn at the courthouse. I had a tougher time working off my demerits at the Primary NCO Course.

  • Updates on the POW General phony (Video added)


    I talked with Ned Rausch, a journalist at the Journal News yesterday. He emailed me that he talked with phony Brig. General Fermijon Marrero and asked him some questions about the disparity between his narrative and mine. Marrero had an opportunity to come clean and blew it.

    He said he’s a Lt Col in the regular army but never made it to Brig Gen. (He didn’t explain the discrepancy.) He said he was in the military from 1964 to 1987. He said he was a POW but admitted that his name does not appear in the records. Asked why that would be, he said, “I know not.” I asked him about the records showing he was a private in the mid-1970s. He said he re-enlisted in 1976, trained at Fort Dix and then “got out” in 1977.

    Yeah, if you’re not on the DoD’s list of POWs, you weren’t a POW, it’s that easy. Now that he found out that there is a publicly available list of General Officers, he admits that he’s not a General.

    CBS Channel 2 in New York confronted Marrero, too (Thanks to Greg for the link);

    Marrero said he pretended to be a one-star general because he liked the adulation.

    Marrero: “It felt good.”

    Brown: “It felt good?”

    Marrero: “Yeah.”

    Brown: “How did they treat you?”

    Marrero: “Great.”

    Brown: “One guy called you a scoundrel. He said you are a disgrace.”

    Marrero: “He can go to hell for all I care!”

    Brown: “Do you understand how they could feel?”

    Marrero: “Yes, I understand how they could feel … betrayed or something like that.”

    Brown: “Do you understand?”

    Marrero: “Yes, I understand.”

    Yet he still clings to the betrayal.

    Thanks to Ned for mentioning us in the Journal News article.

  • Chicago Tribune beclowns themselves with Marine’s fantasies

    StrikeFO sends us a link from the Chicago Tribune with the dramatic headline “Iraq War is over, but effects linger for veterans“. They recount the tales from one Marine;

    It was just after midnight when former Marine Cpl. James Dahan was awakened by a faint noise in the distance.

    Except for the glare of his flashlight, there was darkness all around as he crept from room to room, searching for an unknown enemy.

    Windows sealed: check. Doors locked: check. Building secure: check.

    Yet with people pacing about upstairs, voices he did not recognize billowing through the walls and the incessant roar of traffic outside, he dared not fall asleep. So he stayed up all night repeating the routine over and over again.

    Dahan returned from Iraq seven years ago. But the horrors of war followed him home.

    On that night last month, there had been a power outage at his apartment in Lisle, unleashing memories of the war zone. He stood guard over his sleeping son, while the noises of his neighbors moving about kept Dahan on edge.

    The enemy existed only in his mind.

    Well, if you skip to the comments, it looks like Dahan never heard a shot fired in anger during his deployment;

    My name is Devon Bradley, I served with James Dahan in 2004. The fairy tale you just read is a complete lie. James did not fire one shot during his lack of participation in the Iraq war. As far as the Vietnam style of fighting he experienced, well you guessed it, a lie too. If you were to look in his service record book, you would find nothing that resembles what he has explained to the public. He is a fraud and should be charged with VA fraud with a prison sentence. James you know we are all right, for once in your life tell the truth. The above office clerk James Dahan is a disgrace to the Corps and to himself.

    Dear editor, if you want a real story look into my allegations and expose the truth behind Jame’s lies. Don’t let his lies disgrace your organization like he has disgraced ours.

    OK, that’s one Marine’s opinion. here’s another;

    So I typed up this long response to the article regarding Dahan, and the whole thing got deleted and I’m not wasting any more time on this fraud.

    I served under Sgt. Bradley and concurent to Dahan. The worst thing this kid had to deal with was getting a paper cut.

    Dahan: You are a true sh!tbag. Funny how it continued after the Marine Corps. You are a disgrace to the title and everything it stands for. Enjoy the benefits and spotlight while they last…I think it’ll all end pretty soon. It pisses me off that good Marines gave life and limb, and don’t get the respect or honor they deserve, and all you’re doing is spitting in their faces.

    My name is Ryan Brusca, I also served with Devon, and Dahan in 2004. I also contest the statements he made in this article. I was in boot camp with Dahan and if I recall correctly he has always had a foot issue since that time. He even went as far as trying to miss our 2004 deployment to Iraq because of his foot issue. I am disgraced and outraged by his claims. I know many of my fellow brothers, Marines and Soldiers, who have been denied PTSD and TBI ratings. One of which still has a piece of mortar shrapnel in his brain. If anything this article shows the inconsistency in the VA rating system. Dahan was not even close to being an average Marine. Point in case, he was almost kicked out of the Marine Corps during the Light Armored Vehicle school for throwing “gang” signs during the company photo.

    Dear Editor, ask the Marines that have served with him and you will find the true story. His dishonesty is a shame upon himself that he has propagated through your news outlet and is not in accordance with the Marine Corps values or traditions.

    And the hits keep coming;

    I too served with this “Marine”. Clearly he is out for attention. This “Marine” is a fake. I have a photo of hime wearing several distinguishing marks in the way of Medals and Ribbons that he did not earn nor deserve. He also wore them to a Memorial Day Parade, disgrace. I’d be interested in finding the truth behind this liar. He needs help. And for the sake of those who have earned the title, shed the blood, and had the honor, courage, and commitment it took to earn the Medals and Ribbons he calls his own, I think it would be fitting to discover the truth.

    SSgt Jason Jerik

    USMC 03-10

    Another case of the media running with an article without a bit of investigation just because it fits their perception of how things should be. I hope the Tribune does what it’s supposed to do and find out the truth behind this story.

  • That Phony POW General

    We wrote about Fermijon Marrero, who was the honored guest at a New Rochelle, NY event celebrating Veterans’ Day last month and his records disputed his rank and his personal narrative of being a POW in Vietnam.

    The New Rochelle Main Street Connect has finally corrected their story which appeared last month celebrating Marrero’s decision to move to their town.

    Veterans groups are accusing Fermijon Marrero, who was honored by the City of New Rochelle and United Veterans Memorial and Patriotic Association during Veterans Day services last month, of lying about his rank and status as a prisoner of war.

    And of course, Marrero is still clinging to his poorly crafted narrative;

    Pentagon officials with the Department of Defense confirmed that no one with the last name Marrero was a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War, nor was the 12th Cavalry ever in Laos during that conflict. A Department of Defense website, which lists all those missing in action or taken prisoner in the Vietnam War, does not show anyone with the last name Marrero.

    Asked about the absence of his name from the list, Marrero declined comment but added that “the facts will come out.”

    He did, however, address the general accusations against him.

    “My response is they better get their facts straight,” Marrero said. “My name is not Fermin Ernesto Marrero. It’s Fermijon.”

    Marrero said he has never had a middle name.

    Marrero said he will take steps to defend himself and would gather facts and paperwork to discredit his accusers. He offered to fax his DD 214 to The Daily New Rochelle on Wednesday morning but had not sent it as of 3 p.m.

    Yeah, well, it’s not his middle name that is in question, is it? If there’s no one named Marrero on the DoD list of POWs, his middle name is irrelevant.

    Robert Cox of “Talk of the Sound” believes in giving credit where credit is due;

    John Lilyea (SFC, US Army Retired), author of the This Ain’t Hell But You Can See It From Here blog is reporting that the man claiming to be Brig. General Fermijon Marrero is actually Private Ferman Ernesto Marrero.

    Messages left for Marrero were not returned.

    According to Lilyea, records obtained under the Freedom of Information Act from the National Personnel Records Center in St Louis, Missouri show that Marrero served in the Army reserves for two months, from December 23rd, 1975 to February 8, 1976 and on active duty for seven months from February 9, 1976 to November 22, 1976. He is listed as a private at the time of discharge.

    I’m glad that New Rochelle Main Street Connect finally correced the story, but it shouldn’t take a pitchfork brigade to get the truth printed.

  • Paul Tillson; Soup Sandwich’s older brother?

    [Editor’s Note: This Paul Tillson lives in New Jersey – he’s not the Paul Tillson in Oregon who we like immensely and served honorably without embellishing his military record]

    AverageNCO sends us a link that was posted at Don Shipley’s Facebook page. This dude is at his own wedding dressed like this;

    Yes, that’s a 2d award of a CIB over his right pocket, but it’s only because his left pocket is so crowded, I suppose. Of course, he couldn’t have pared down the number of weapons qualification badgesand the hangie-down thingies could he?

    On the 2d award of the CIB, the AR 600-8-22 says;

    f. Second and third awards of the CIB are indicated by superimposing 1 and 2 stars respectively, centered at the top of the badge between the points of the oak wreath. To date, a separate award of the CIB has been authorized for qualified Soldiers in the following qualifying periods:
    (1) World War II (7 December 1941 to 3 September 1945).
    (2) The Korean Conflict (27 June 1950 to 27 July 1953).
    (3) The Republic of Vietnam Conflict. Service in the Republic of Vietnam conflict (2 March 1961 to 28 March 1973) combined with qualifying service in Laos; Dominican Republic; Korea on the DMZ; El Salvador; Grenada; Joint Security Area, Panmunjom, Korea; Panama; Southwest Asia Conflict; and Somalia, regardless of whether a Soldier has served one or multiple tours in any or all of these areas. The Republic of Vietnam Conflict Era officially terminated on 10 March 1995.
    (4) War on Terrorism (Afghanistan, Operation ENDURING FREEDOM) and (Iraq, Operation IRAQI FREEDOM).
    g. Subsequent awards of the CIB is not authorized for the same qualifying period, as outlined above.

    So here’s a close up of his finery;

    AverageNCO says that there are two Humanitarian Service Medals, but I went cross-eyed looking at that mess. He has a star on one of them, so I don’t why he’s wearing two. He’s also wearing a star on his Overseas Service Ribbon. Subsequent overseas tours are denoted by a numeral, not a star.

    And that looks like an Army Distinguished Service Cross next to the Purple Heart. I see a Kosovo Service Medal next to the Iraq Campaign Medal, but no GWOT Expeditionary Medal or GWOT Service Medal, but like I said, I went cross-eyed and may have missed it. And is that an Antarctic Service Medal?

    All I know for a fact is that the CIB should go on top of all that crap, the jump wings should go on the pocket and the two marksmanship badges should close up to his right.

    He really needs to invest in some Brasso and clean up that brass with it instead of inhaling it.

    And this is what he looks like from the right side;

    Yes, that’s a Ranger Tab on his right pocket – all of those marksmanship hangie down thingies were more important than his Ranger Tab. I’m not up on current standards for unit patches on the Class A uniform, but I’m pretty sure that the unit patch isn’t a pin-on metal 82d Airborne Division thing.

    It may be the light, but those buttons on his uniform look silver, not brass, and his service stripes indicate that he has more than 24 years of service and no Good Conduct Medal, unless there’s a Reserve equivalent I don’t see.

    The wedding album said his first name is Paul and his name plate says “Tillson”. But there are no Paul Tillsons in AKO and there’s no Tillson who is a senior NCO.

    Added by Sporkmaster:     For shame, for shame. I thought that you guys would have IDed these two medals. The Korean Service Medal and the United Nations Korea Medal. The funny thing I would like to hear how he earned them considering the ending date for the medals was 1953 and 1954.

    UPDATE: POW Network writes to say they’ve already filed for a FOIA on this nose picker.

    ADDED: Paul Tillson was convicted for defrauding the VA for 13 years and sentenced.

  • Shedrick Burgess the homeless SEAL (UPDATED)

    AverageNCO sent a link yesterday about this poor homeless family headed by former Navy SEAL Shedrick Burgess;

    Desiree Burgess, 38, has just finished removing a pan of bubbling lasagna from the oven on a recent Thursday afternoon. Her infant son, Desmond, is sleeping peacefully in his playpen while her husband, Shedrick, a veteran and former Navy Seal, greets guests with a smile when they come to the door.

    This scene of domestic tranquility could easily be found in any town across the United States, as families gather to share dinner in the comfort of their warm homes.

    But Ms. Burgess and her family are homeless.

    As you’ve probably guessed by now, Shedrick isn’t a Navy SEAL, according to Captain Larry Bailey. So at this point I’m wondering if he’s even a veteran.

    UPDATE: Amy writes to tell us that she contacted the folks at 27 East (dot com) and at her urging, they checked with poor Shedrick and he blamed his wife for the SEAL claim. He admits that he was in the Navy but not a SEAL. The “journalists” (and I use “journalists” in it’s loosest interpretation of the term) said they’ll be correcting the article.

  • Sensei Albert John aka Dick Munch

    That’s Sensei Albert John in the above picture. The folks at POW Network sent us a link to their research. I think that picture is supposed to be him on a secret mission…but, I don’t know what the threat would be in a cornfield unless them damn woodchucks are chucking his wood again.

    Look at all of those damn medals, would ya. Yeah, I spend a lot of my time painted up in camouflage and admiring my finery with an authentic “grader’s stick”.

    Oh, he sent a letter to POW Network claiming that the first picture was a Halloween costume, that he wasn’t claiming to be an SF Ranger. Yeh, huh. Like in this narrative someone snagged from the internet;

    Hi, I’m Sensei Albert John.

    I teach from the privacy of my own home. I’m a self defense consultant whom until recently only catered to private martial art schools, the military and law enforcement. I’ve decided to teach my much sought after skills to civilians as well. If your serious about training then I’m the right instructor for you. Your current physical fitness level, age or previous training will not be a burden with this program. You will love every minute of it.

    I’m a former US Army special operations soldier, a surgical technologist, internationally certified in sterile processing, hold black belts and/or high degrees in over half a dozen different martial arts to include but not limited to Ninjitsu, Jeet Kune Do, Muay Thai, Krav Maga and Lotar….

    So what was he in the military? Well, he started out to be an infantryman, but after a couple of months, that proved to be a little difficult, he became an awards clerk;

    He claims he’s being railroaded by a bunch of cliquish Rangers at LinkedIn that he tried to join. As an excuse for trying to join he claimed the Ward Reilly Syndrome – he was in some unit which called themselves “Rangers” so he is one, too.

    He also claims he scored “expert” with the Claymore mine – that’s hard to do, too, seein’s how the thing is imprinted with the phrase “Front Towards Enemy”. He alo claims he was awarded the EIB, but there’s none in his records;

    Gee, I wonder how an awards clerk got an MSM?

    Anyway, Dick Munch, has supposedly hired a high-priced Los Angeles lawyer to go after POW Network, and I decided that I want to be in the room during discovery, so here’s hopin’ that I get a letter soon, too.

  • One judge who might oppose the Stolen Valor Act

    Someone sent us a link to an article about 90-year-old John Phillips from Georgis who has served on the bench for 64 years and brags about his military career;

    He says his tour of duty involved fighting in World War II and the Korean War.

    “In the Marine Corps, the boats would leave, and the Navy would take them away. We had no where to go but in. We went in or got killed, one of the two.”

    For his service Phillips received two Purple Hearts and the Navy Cross. Phillips says with everything he does in life, the goal is always for good and to help someone.

    Yeah, tough business. Except that the person who sent this to me, noted that hs name wasn’t in the Home of Heroes registry for the Navy Cross, Doug Sterner verified that for us. So POW Network filed for a FOIA on the honorable judge and got this reply from the National Personnel Records Center;

    So I’m just guessing here, but I’m pretty sure that he thinks that the Stolen Valor Act is a violation of his freedom to make shit up.