Fake Navy SEAL Exposed

[WildBill]

When Navy veteran Carol Roberts first met A.J. Dicken, who boasted about being the most decorated Navy SEAL ever, she was in awe of him, and she wasn't the first. "He's a big guy," Roberts said. "He commands authority."

For years, Dicken, 57, claimed he was an ex-Navy SEAL who had served in dozens of covert combat missions, from the jungles of Vietnam to the caves of Afghanistan. He proudly wore the SEAL trident insignia and loved to show off his numerous awards. He would regale listeners about his mission to assassinate Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar and his death defying swoop into Pakistan to make the kill shot on Osama Bin Laden. He also carried discharge papers that included two Medals of Honor, and even a laudatory email from Col. Oliver North.

But it was all an elaborate lie, one that he would allegedly use to take hundreds of thousands of dollars from his victims -- and something else harder to put a price on: their honor.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/exposing-navy- ... d=21403794
Here's a copy of his faked Navy record. He even spelled Coronado [Island] and [Camp] Pendleton wrong!
http://abcnews.go.com/Site/page/arthur- ... t-21420904" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[03Lightningrocks]

Reminds me of a cartoon character I remember from my childhood.

[WildBill]

Reminds me of a cartoon character I remember from my childhood.

I had forgotten about him. Thanks for reminding me!

[baldeagle]

Fake Navy SEALs are a dime a dozen. Read B J Burkett's Stolen Valor if you want to know how bad the problem is. There are several clear indicators of fraud in this case:
1) Heroes don't brag. Anyone who brags is not a hero. No exceptions.
2) The Medal of Honor is only received once. There is no such thing as a two Medal of Honor winner. There used to be, but the law was changed in 1917.
3) The more medals a man has, the less likely he is to talk about them.

If a man started telling me about his exploits unprompted, I would immediately accuse him of being an imposter. Ask him to grant you permission to get his records from the NPRC. Tell him you will request his DD-214 regardless. He'll most likely slink off into the darkness.

[EEllis]

If a man started telling me about his exploits unprompted, I would immediately accuse him of being an imposter. Ask him to grant you permission to get his records from the NPRC. Tell him you will request his DD-214 regardless. He'll most likely slink off into the darkness.

I guess you didn't read the comments from the people he scammed. He first only responded to questions like when asked what his training was he would inform them of being a seal. He then would work the slow con in becoming friendlier and slowly let then get him to start telling war stories, not as a brag, but just sharing among friends. It sounds like if you don't know the military that this guy was real convincing.

[JALLEN]

I lived just down the road from SEAL HQ. My b-i-l retired a few years ago as a O-6 SEAL after 30-something years. I have probably known several dozen or more real deal SEALS over the years, attended some of the parties, finished their triathlon a couple of times, etc.

One thing I think you can count on is that if you don't know a man is/was a SEAL, you won't find out from him. That has held true as long as I have known these guys. They just don't talk about it unless it comes up somehow where they can't deny it.

In Coronado, I had dealings with a fellow about my age weekly, for several years. I knew he was retired Navy, due to the base pass stickers on his car. I knew he was/had been a Commander O-5. One year, he and his wife hosted our group at their home where I spotted a Trident glass cutting. I asked him if he was in the teams, he said he was. Did he know my b-i-l? He did, they were best buddies nearly. I had never spoken about one to the other. When I checked him out, not only was he a real deal SEAL but had earned some very impressive chest ornaments and, according to some few who knew him, had participated in some of the hairiest ops imaginable. Not a peep from him, though. That is exceedingly typical in my experience.

So if someone starts blabbing on about their SEALness, you can be almost certain they weren't.

I myself was not a SEAL, of course. I probably could have qualified as a Walrus, though.

[Vol Texan]

I myself was not a SEAL, of course. I probably could have qualified as a Walrus, though.

Sorry, JAllen...I couldn't resist!

[youtube][/youtube]

[VoiceofReason]

If I was 18 again, I would not serve nor would I be drafted. What with the courts overturning the Stolen Valor Act, and allowing openly homosexuals to be in the military, I wonder how those showers, aboard ships on deployment are working out?

[jmra]

If I was 18 again, I would not serve nor would I be drafted. What with the courts overturning the Stolen Valor Act, and allowing openly homosexuals to be in the military, I wonder how those showers, aboard ships on deployment are working out?

my boys are young. Hopefully if they decide to pursue a military career we will have much different leadership than we have now.

[gthaustex]

I myself was not a SEAL, of course. I probably could have qualified as a Walrus, though.

I have to laugh at that....

[jmra]

I myself was not a SEAL, of course. I probably could have qualified as a Walrus, though.

I have to laugh at that....

I'm sure a lot of us resemble that remark.

[JSThane]

I myself was not a SEAL, of course. I probably could have qualified as a Walrus, though.

I have to laugh at that....

I'm sure a lot of us resemble that remark.

I'm more of an otter. Who can't swim.

[Jaguar]

In the Army we called them "PX Rangers." Personally I have nothing but respect for the SF guys, being only an electronic repairman myself.

[Jumping Frog]

... Ask him to grant you permission to get his records from the NPRC. Tell him you will request his DD-214 regardless. ...

We can't actually get the DD-214 without the person's permission. However, we can request Access to Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF) - for the General Public.

Publicly releasable information via the FOIA includes

FOIA and Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF)

The public has access to certain military service information without the veteran's authorization or that of the next-of-kin (the un-remarried widow or widower, son, daughter, father, mother, brother or sister) of deceased veterans. Examples of information which may be available from Federal (non-archival) Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF) without an unwarranted invasion of privacy include:

Name
Service Number
Dates of Service
Branch of Service
Final Duty Status
Final Rank
Salary *
Assignments and Geographical Locations
Source of Commission *
Military Education Level
Promotion Sequence Number *
Awards and decorations (eligibility only, not actual medals)
Photograph
Transcript of Courts-Martial Trials
Place of entrance and separation

If the veteran is deceased:

Place of birth
Date and geographical location of death
Place of burial

*Items rarely available in the records we maintain.

FOIA and Official Personnel Folders (OPF)

Most information in a Federal (non-archival) Official Personnel Folder (OPF) is not releasable to the general public without the written consent of the individual whose record is involved. The Freedom of Information Act does allow, however, for certain information to be released without the individual's consent. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has determined that the following information can be released to the public:

Name
Past and present positions
Past and present titles
Past and present salaries
Past and present grades
Past and present job locations

[The Walrus]

So if someone starts blabbing on about their SEALness, you can be almost certain they weren't.

I myself was not a SEAL, of course. I probably could have qualified as a Walrus, though.

Word.