No, his story is real-I saw this guy’s biography at the movies.
His name is Forrest something or other.
Best wishes,
hh
That for me is the biggest warning sign of the bio. The Angola conflict was one of the biggest African wars of the seventies. Could hardly call it a secret, trying to pass it as one make him sounds like a con-man.
Here’s what he said when I confronted him about the fraud:
I appreciate your concern about my history. I would also get a little upset. Evey man in my line, going back to great-great gandparent has fought for this country. And I have too, and so has my son.
Let me clarify something your friend can’t seem to. The seventh doesn’t exist? It has existed since the '20’s. The role has changed - now it is mostly communciations work and logistics, but it is most definitely there.
http://www.i-mef.usmc.mil/div/7mar/default.asp
http://www.i-mef.usmc.mil/div/7mar/3bn/
Your friend should know that there were originaly more battalions, but have been assimilated (mostly due to budget cuts) along with base closings after 1970. Now there are I think 3. I could be wrong. It has been a number of years.
But we most certainly did exist.
Marine over view:
In 1965, in another Asian land, the Regiment went into action against the foes of Freedom. This time the battleground was Vietnam. On thousands of squad sized patrols, in scores of Battalion and Regimental sized operations, and in fierce Division sized battles, such as the TET Offensive, the Marines of the Regiment proved that they were worthy successors to those who had gone before them. Whether in armed action against the foe, or in civic action with the local populace, the Marines of the Regiment performed magnificently. Through the long course of the War in Vietnam, until they left as part of the American withdrawal, the Marines and Sailors of 7th Marines never wavered from their duty. As the Regiment sailed for the United States in September of 1970, the members of the Regiment were proud of their role fighting against Communist Aggression
During the 1970’s and 1980’s the Leathernecks of 7th Marines trained in every clime and place preparing for the moment when they would once again face the foes of Freedom. In August of 1990, shortly after shifting the home of the Regimental colors from Camp Pendleton, California to the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, 29 Palms, California, the Marines and Sailors of the Regiment deployed to Saudi Arabia to stem Iraqi aggression against its neighbors. Manning the “Line In The Sand”, the Regiment faced the Iraqi invaders. For the attack into Kuwait, the Regiment fought with skill and ferocity, overwhelming the enemy. After their Victory they returned to 29 Palms proving they too were Warriors shaped in the mold of those who had served their Corps and Country before them as members of this Elite Regiment.
My time an Angola also existed. It was never in your grammar school books but it was a very real conflict.
Please note the following sentence from the above entry:
President Gerald Ford approved covert aid to UNITA and the FNLA through Operation IA Feature on July 18, 1975, despite strong opposition from officials in the State Department and the CIA.
It all comes down to this, I don’t mean to be rude but the truth is this:
maybe our friend needed a better security clearance.
Please note this from our mission statement:
On order, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines deploys by air to locate, close with, and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver or repel enemy assault by fire and close combat. As directed, conduct Military operation in urban terrain. Be prepared to conduct Military Operations Other Than War in permissive/non-permissive environments.
Like I said, I don’t mean to be rude, but, maybe our friend needed a better security clearance.
Yes, the refugee problem stemming from the exodus out of Vietnam and the pressure from Pol Pot was enormous at that time. Do you think, young man, that the press and our government gave a beep about us? The political landscape made us persona non grata. No one covered anything we did. Thailand was our ally and we were paid (our government was) to have us there to “advise”. I am sure your friend knows what that word means. That is one way our county makes money. We are paid to advise. Most people would not think that we are a “business” that way, but we are. Business ventures can be wet work at times, and I am sure they might not be readily discussed or even know amongst the regular ground pounders.
Times were different then, hell, I was even allowed to get my own rifle instead of using military issue. I could pick my BDU’s. Today? Your friend has the advantages of being supplied by a wealthy grateful country.
I had to get a NVA pack from the black market, because it was way better than the crappy ones we got at issue. The zippers and closures were on the bottom so I could reach behind and drop gear one handed. Ours? Zippers on the top, like it was a piece of American Tourister luggage. Had to take the pack off to get anything out, or have a fellow do it for you. Sucked.
We also took Chinese made radio packs. Put our field phones in them because they could be turned upside down. It dragged the antenna along the ground. Ours? right side up, they antenna stuck up about 40". Hard to hide in the razor grass when your antenna lets everyone know where you are. With the Chinese pack you looked like a large walking cockroach, but you made it out.
One mistake you noticed was something I glossed over. A typo. There should be a hyphen between 7th and ICorp. ICorp is Army and they came out of a forward base in Japan. ICorp had experience in being a liason between us and foreign governements, they ran the logistics, and the supply chain. We were attached to them. Why? Politics. The Marines as you know are “the President’s own” and do not require an act of Congress or even the Congress knowing about it for the President to use us. At that time in our history ICorp was already there, so they were ostensibly the “face” of the refugee issue, while we did the security, in plain speaking. Bringing in specialized ground forces from the Army would have been a political nightmare and caused problems due to the oversight necessary by Congress.
My orders came from STDAT 158, the Strategic Technical Directorate Assistance Team 158. They took over after MACSOG was disbanded in the early '70’s. Althought our brass faced me every day, my directives came from a (I believe) non-military official, a very very young guy - who I later saw in Africa.
Your friend is a hero in my book and I will always salute them. And I will even salute your pride in your friend. Times have changed in 35 years, so has the military. Yours is not mine. Please respect mine, too.
Speaking of that, I used the first sentence to find out where else this exists online. (BTW: It’s plausible the author actually is a chef for Marriott. Couldn’t find any cookbooks by him, though.) It turns out he posts to the IMDb message boards, mainly about Twilight. He also has a blog with more Fake Tales of the US Marines.
[moderating]
Thread title changed from “US Marines in Angola?” to “Debunking a phony ‘Marine Veteran.’” at the OP’s request.
[/moderating]
He’s got a point here. No act of Congress is required for the POTUS to use The Marine Corps Band.
Edit: Ask him where he keeps his DD-214. See if he even knows what it is.
Ummm, wait. He claims to have been in the 7th Marine Division and then puts up a link to the 7th Marine Regiment?
Am I missing something here?
I guess he’s implying that it’s a typo.
Good question about that form. What are some other questions that can be asked?
I don’t know what he’s talking about here. There’s no psychological test for the ability to “predict behavior patterns in sociopaths.”
Thats quite a typo…
So now the OP’s acquaintence is saying that he was in the 7th Division instead of 7th Corps? Interesting. Veeeery interesting…
My fake vet radar still says he’s completely full of shit. It’s coming out of his ears. Notice how much of his reply is unverifiable blather.
Probably worth considering that every time you try to prove him a fake by pointing out inconsistencies, you’re probably just helping him identify what the holes in his story are so he can correct them.
Otara
He can google that.
I need a good trick question to ask this guy - preferably something gear or weapons specific.
That’s what I came in to say.
More shit than the reservoir of a pig farm.
Here is the guy’s blog, by the way. I gotta say, if he’s lying, he has one hell of an imagination on him.
Funny coincidence. The wife and I just watched Apocalypse Now again this weekend, and in the beginning the Harrison Ford character ascertains this is the Captain Willard who did some CIA work while in I Corps.
Yeah, not a lot of critical thinkers over at that other board.
Nothing at that link. Just the blog’s homepage and there is nothing there.
Things catching up with him?