A Case of Stolen Valor
If the evidence is to be believed, Jesse Bernard Johnston III, 26, was extremely brazen, a liar, lucky, or all three. The Associated Press reports that the Texan was able to enter the Army Reserves at the rank of sergeant, despite being unqualified to hold that rank due to having no service record -- save for attending part of a 12-week Marine officer candidate course for college students in 2004.
Johnston joined the Army Reserve in February as a sergeant with the Corps Support Airplane Company (based at the Fort Worth Naval Air Station). The company -- which has been deployed in Iraq -- provides pilots, intelligence and support personnel for an aviation battalion that destroys IEDs. Since March, Johnston had been stationed at Fort Rucker in Alabama, the primary training base for Army aviation.
Johnston, according to his ex-wife, wished to become an Army aviator. He presented himself as a hero. His uncompleted Marine officer course was transformed to service in Afghanistan and Iraq, including a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts. An affidavit by his now ex-wife states that he would attend military functions wearing a Marine dress uniform, and "people would come up to shake his hand and ask about his medals."
Apparently Johnston's explanations about how he earned his Marine medals and ribbon did not add up for one Army officer. The officer contacted Marine and Army legal authorities and learned from the Marines that Johnston never served.
The cause for concern is not merely that Johnston was able to slip through the Army enlistment system (which is a major issue), but the potential damage he could have done. Johnston's "rank" placed the lives of the men and women under his command in his hands. This is one matter when based stateside, and quite another when deployed to a war-zone.
There is also the national security issue. Congressmen Mike Coffman (R-Colo.) told the AP, "If this person was able to penetrate the military fraudulently, you have to ask the question: Couldn't somebody who was out to do harm to our country do the same thing?"
The Army investigation into Johnston's enlistment is ongoing. In 2005, Congress passed a law making it a crime to claim false decorations or medals.
