Fake out: Officer faces jail for phony medals

Army Reserve Maj. Anthony Calderone pleaded guilty Sept. 20 in federal court to charges of lying about his awards and qualifications in order to gain a promotion. Sentencing is pending in U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City. He faces a maximum sentence of five years and six months in prison and fines of up to $255,000.


Fake out: Officer faces jail for phony medals
By Michelle Tan - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Nov 25, 2007 8:22:53 EST

The awards and badges Maj. Anthony Angelo Calderone wore turned his Class A uniform into a colorful billboard of combat heroism and professional achievement.

The Army Reserve major, who served in Iraq in 2005, wore a Silver Star, the Special Forces and Ranger tabs and other insignia.

The problem is Calderone didn’t earn any of those awards. Moreover, he used the illegitimate awards to nail down his promotion to major.

On Sept. 20, Calderone pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of lying about his awards and qualifications in order to gain a promotion. Sentencing is pending in U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City. He faces a maximum sentence of five years and six months in prison and fines of up to $255,000.

The bogus awards include the Silver Star, the third-highest award for valor; the Special Forces and Ranger tabs; the Senior Parachutist Badge; the Military Freefall Parachutist Badge; the Special Operations Diver Badge; the Pathfinder Badge; the Combat Infantryman Badge; the Humanitarian Service Medal; the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal; the United Nations Medal; the Army Good Conduct Medal; and the Southwest Asia Service Medal.

“It’s completely offensive for this soldier to claim all these things,” said Robert Lund, the assistant U.S. attorney prosecuting the case.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/11/army_medals_faker_071125/

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Karma's a bitch.

"Heckuva job ..."

I served 20+ in the Navy and I never saw anyone promoted because they got a medal. If their actions in getting such awards were correctly reflected in their fitness reports it would certainly have a positive effect on promotion but 10 rows of ribbons never got anyone I knew promoted.