TACOMA, Wash. A man who posed as a decorated Marine Corps captain for two years will tend graves at a military cemetery as part his sentence to serve 500 hours of community service, a federal judge ruled.

 

Reggie L. Buddle, 59, of Puyallup pleaded guilty in April to unlawful wearing of U.S. military medals and decorations. He told U.S. Magistrate Judge Kelly J. Arnold at his sentencing Monday that he was ashamed of his conduct.

 

Buddle never served in the Marines. He bought the uniform at a military surplus store, and the medals belonged to his brother, a Marine who died in Vietnam.

 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Friedman told the court in his sentencing memo that the publicity had been punishment. "Mr. Buddle has been appropriately made to answer before a great many people, and he has been shunned by a great many others," Friedman wrote.

 

Buddle posed as a Marine Corps captain in 2005 and 2006, wearing a uniform with medals intended as awards for extraordinary contribution to national defense and heroism in combat. He even gave the opening prayer for the Washington state Senate in 2006 and posed as a chaplain and reverend, including officiating at weddings and funerals of servicemen.

 

Buddle wasn't ordained, however Friedman has said the marriages he presided over would still be lawfully recognized.

 

The judge said Monday that Buddle would serve his community service tending graves at the Tahoma Military Cemetery in Kent.

500 hours of community service for wearing the valor medals of his KIA brother?!? that's NOT ENOUGH! He should have some jail time on that, and have to wear a sign at the funerals stating what he's done. Let the people spit on him for his actions

He should be made to work at a large Marine base, while wearing a sign saying what he did. I am sure the Marines would enjoy that...

Although I understand the judges intent in shaming him by making him face the memorials of the heroes that he was impersonating, I don't think that he will learn anything at all. If a guy will use his fallen brothers honors for his own self-serving sickness, what can be learned by tending the graves of strangers?

 

 

 

As a post script (not pertaining to this particular case)......

 

I would like to add this, the whole "Stolen" valor idea really bothers me. It is not possible to steal valor, as that characteristic is in the genetics and spirit of the individuals we call heroes. While someone can steal a chunk of metal that represents that valor, they haven't diminished the deed of the hero at all - not in any way. Instead, they have only shamed themselves.

 

I'm not saying that we should not shame these individuals, but forcing local, state, and federal agencies to spend time chasing down liars, leaves a gap in the much more important task of providing national security to our borders in a time of war. Lastly, "Stolen Valor" sounds as if the real heroes are victims. I really don't think the true heroes care very much if idiots want to live a lie. We have one or two Silver Star and Purple Heart recepients right here on this forum...it would be very interesting to hear their take.

My two bits - I would never have made him tend the graves of veterans...I would have assigned him to a work detail in the local sewage plant up in Edmonds/Everett

I've asked several folks in the legislative world who know little about collecting "If a phony diminishes a real hero, how many phonies will it take to make Audie Murphy/John Basilone/Alvin York an ordinary soldier?

 

This is not a zero sum situation. Phonies are phonies. They diminish themselves, and only themselves

 

When I get planted at Arlington, I don't want some dress-up clown tending my grave as punishment. I want the professionals who understand what Arlington is about and tend the graves with care.

In response to the above comments by two highly respected members of this forum, (Steven) IMPERIAL QUEST and JB FLOYD I offer my simple reply.

 

As for the individuals in question, I am not going to say what type of punishment I feel that they deserve, I would say however, that I would like to have the chance to meet them for just a few brief moments to try and get them to understand the true meaning and the human cost of the decorations that are AWARDED to those who have earned them, and NOT bought them from a surplus outlet or taken them from a deceased family member.

 

There is an unwritten rule and code of understanding between those who experience combat. In the past, soldiers have nervously joked about home, wives, girlfriends, cars, etc. like those soldiers of previous conflicts and battles who were our Grandfathers, Fathers, and Brothers. Today, they are STILL our Mothers, Fathers, Brothers, Sisters, Sons, and Daughters. Today, the nervous talk is about BLOOD TYPES and CURRENT "DUSTOFF" LOCATIONS. There are no "SHORT-TIMER" calendars to mark of these days...

 

There are 3 main factors of any conflict or war that I have found to be true and without a doubt. PEOPLE FIGHT, PEOPLE DIE, and PEOPLE SURVIVE. I can say that I have been in past conflicts and have fought, bled, THOUGHT I was going to die a couple of times, and somehow by the Grace Of God, I SURVIVED.

 

I am not going into details of my personal experiences or awards. They are in the past, but never far from my memory. I now live a QUIET LIFE as much as possible, and I also have plans to enter the hallowed grounds of Arlington, but if I was ever put on the spot to name my most PRECIOUS AND MOST HEART FELT award ever bestowed upon me by another human being, then I would have to say that award would be...

 

 

My Son ADAM, born on August 14, 2001.

 

 

ADAM2001

TACOMA, Wash. A man who posed as a decorated Marine Corps captain for two years will tend graves at a military cemetery as part his sentence to serve 500 hours of community service, a federal judge ruled.

 

Reggie L. Buddle, 59, of Puyallup pleaded guilty in April to unlawful wearing of U.S. military medals and decorations. He told U.S. Magistrate Judge Kelly J. Arnold at his sentencing Monday that he was ashamed of his conduct.

 

Buddle never served in the Marines. He bought the uniform at a military surplus store, and the medals belonged to his brother, a Marine who died in Vietnam.

 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Friedman told the court in his sentencing memo that the publicity had been punishment. "Mr. Buddle has been appropriately made to answer before a great many people, and he has been shunned by a great many others," Friedman wrote.

 

Buddle posed as a Marine Corps captain in 2005 and 2006, wearing a uniform with medals intended as awards for extraordinary contribution to national defense and heroism in combat. He even gave the opening prayer for the Washington state Senate in 2006 and posed as a chaplain and reverend, including officiating at weddings and funerals of servicemen.

 

Buddle wasn't ordained, however Friedman has said the marriages he presided over would still be lawfully recognized.

 

The judge said Monday that Buddle would serve his community service tending graves at the Tahoma Military Cemetery in Kent.

 

 

That fraud got off too lightly. Not only did he pretend to be a man of the cloth and a marine, but he even stooped to stealing the laurels from his own DEAD BROTHER. I say give jail time and, to build on another suggestion, make him pick up trash on a variety of marine bases while wearing a placard describing why he's doing it.

I'll throw my .02 cents in here.

 

I feel the Stolen Valor Act is a necessity, as there are laws agains impersonating a Police officer. But Impersonation, one can say, is a form of flattery I dont see it that way. I see it as a insecurity about your self that you have to pretend to be someone you are not, they are living a lie and keep perpetuating the lie to the point that it comes back and bite them, and they often believe that they wont get caught.

 

There are Uniform Code of Military Justice Articles (dont remember the numbers off hand) covering Impersonation of an Officer, NCO, and wearing awards you didnt earn. So why shouldn't Civilians face the same penalty? The Highest Valor awards should be protected like the Medal of Honor, but we should include the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Bronze star, and the Purple Heart. We all understand the importance of the award, and as collectors we value and cherish the person that earned the award and display it with honor. However there is always some moron out there who is gonna dishonor it, they should be punished. I feel that when these people go to trial there should be real soldiers sitting in the court room, to shame him.

 

It sickens me to see people pretending to be combat veterans, yet never served a day in their lives, or never served overseas. Always the imposters will say that they were Special Forces, Delta, Rangers, Marine Force Recon or SEALS and that they were knee deep in the "sh*t." Yet when you look at them they look like 10 pounds of chewed bubble gum in a five pound bag.

 

I served in a Combat zone, but I do not wear a CAB, I was never shot at or had an IED go off near me. I was rocketed once, but it landed 1 kilometer away, no soup for me, and if I was offered the CAB for that I would refuse.

I'll throw my .02 cents in here.

 

I feel the Stolen Valor Act is a necessity, as there are laws agains impersonating a Police officer. But Impersonation, one can say, is a form of flattery I dont see it that way. I see it as a insecurity about your self that you have to pretend to be someone you are not, they are living a lie and keep perpetuating the lie to the point that it comes back and bite them, and they often believe that they wont get caught.

 

There are Uniform Code of Military Justice Articles (dont remember the numbers off hand) covering Impersonation of an Officer, NCO, and wearing awards you didnt earn. So why shouldn't Civilians face the same penalty? The Highest Valor awards should be protected like the Medal of Honor, but we should include the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Bronze star, and the Purple Heart. We all understand the importance of the award, and as collectors we value and cherish the person that earned the award and display it with honor. However there is always some moron out there who is gonna dishonor it, they should be punished. I feel that when these people go to trial there should be real soldiers sitting in the court room, to shame him.

 

It sickens me to see people pretending to be combat veterans, yet never served a day in their lives, or never served overseas. Always the imposters will say that they were Special Forces, Delta, Rangers, Marine Force Recon or SEALS and that they were knee deep in the "sh*t." Yet when you look at them they look like 10 pounds of chewed bubble gum in a five pound bag.

 

I served in a Combat zone, but I do not wear a CAB, I was never shot at or had an IED go off near me. I was rocketed once, but it landed 1 kilometer away, no soup for me, and if I was offered the CAB for that I would refuse.

 

 

AMEN, WELL SAID !

 

ADAM2001