Someone asked why are Special Forces guys so sensitive about the term Special Forces and people falsely claiming to be one and why we do this.
So here is our response.
Franco Webb claimed to be a Special Forces Medic (18D) while running for Mayor of Fayetteville NC. He wasn't even close.
Lance claimed Airborne Ranger Green Beret with a CIB who was shot in the shoulder in combat.
He never served in the military.
Steve Morales claimed to have been a Green Beret with a Purple Heart. It turns out he was reduced in rank twice and separated from the Army for exceeding the weight limit for his height.
This is an older article we transferred over from our Facebook forum.
Ron Fernandez, Green Beret, Lieutenant Colonel, 19th SFG(A), with a CIB? No
Never served in the military? Yes
Richard "Dick" Couty, aka Cooty Bug, pretended to be a Green Beret for over 40 years. He actually spent 24 months in the service as a Radio Repairmen. Never a Green Beret.
Derek Hamm the fake Green Beret was sent to us way back in 2017. It seems we can't keep up with these frauds as others come in while we're waiting for records. This one slipped through the cracks.
Butch Hansen told one of our investigators an excuse as to why he claimed to be a Green Beret and then told us a different excuse on the phone.
Joey Galindo claims Purple Heart and Bronze Star w/ a V device. Records say different...
Stephen "Grizz" Dukeman claimed to be a LTC with 2 Silver Stars, a CIB with a star, and 2 Purple Hearts... Not so fast.
Dana claimed he hurt his knees because of too many parachute jumps and couldn't run across the battlefield anymore. He wasn't even Airborne.
Man of God?
Wil Hamilton should practice "Thou shalt not bear false witness"
1000 jumps and 9 combat jumps. We knew immediately he was a fraud.
Having 46,000+ followers on Instagram and claiming to be a Green Beret, does NOT make you a Green Beret unless you've gone through the training.
Sandi Sturgeon claimed to Be a Special Forces Sniper to both people in Canada and the United States yet he said he never claimed to be a Green Beret. We're not sure he even knew what he was pretending to be.
13B Connon Crewman, yes.
Imprisonment, yes.
Green Beret, NO!
Gunmaker with DoD Contacts Falsely Claims to be a Green Beret.
We had Greg Buck a while back and he slipped through the cracks. He should have kept quiet...
We were sent Ramón Montijo by some that knew him as a 1SG yet saw him wearing the rank of a Captain.
Nathan Ball was sent to us by multiple neighbors with emails of him claiming to be a Big Bad Green Beret. Records show a different story.
Dennis emailed us that he never claimed to be a Green Beret yet friends and family say different.
What are the chances a person sit down across the desk from a guy you’re trying to impress and potentially get a job from and you're BOTH Green Berets?
Or at least one of you are...
Roger Alan Case claims he was a "Werewolf Scout Sniper" working Covert Ops. Along with MAV-SOG in Vietnam.
Antoine E. Gomez claims Airborne Ranger, Special Forces, Black Ops... He wasn't even Airborne.
Nick George, 757 missions, shot 31 times, 2 Silver Stars, 6 Purple Hearts... All bogus
We were sent this fake Green Beret over 2 years ago. It might take a while, but we will get to you.
John Medlock had problem both in and out of the service.
Don Albares seems to like shiny awards he didn't earn as he wore many.
We're not sure when Rudi Gresham started living the lie but from a picture he shared, it looks like it dates pre '71
James Davison, the fake Green Beret created a fake profile to talk to himself and back up his lies on social media.
Jack Proulx, the fake Green Beret, doubled down on his lies when the Times-Chronicle did a follow-up article. Jack wasn't aware that we found his Ex-wife...
Jack Proulx said he went to Vietnam as a US Army Green Beret in 1971 and back in 1976, a year after Vietnam fell.
He also said he used a Barrett 50 Caliber Sniper rifle as a Special Forces Sniper. He should have done better research.
In honor of our fallen Green Berets, SF Brothers in collaboration w/ Excalibur Industries, have come up with these high quality Remembrance Chips. These chips are designed to be placed on the grave markers of war fighters who have worn the Green Beret in the past and present. These chips can also be displayed in coin collections and be given as gifts to Gold Star Family Members and others, simply letting the our community know we do say their names daily and honor their commitment and sacrifice. Remember our Brothers. Say their Name. De Oppresso Liber.
Some people should do more research to at least get the uniform correct.
Rap Peavy claimed to be a Green Beret for decades to help sell cars.
James Cooper should do some research. He wears an elisted beret yet 0-6 rank on his uniform.
Carl claims 1000 Jumps among other claims yet wasn't even Airborne.
We are former and current Green Berets who find and investigate those who falsely claim to be a Green Beret. We will never out someone unless we are 100% certain via FOIA and Bragg.
Contact us.
FRANCO K WEBB is a LYING POSER. He and I were BEST FRIENDS during the time he CLAIMS 7th GP 18D (MY MOS and MY Duty assignment - ODA 755/754, O&I, SWC G Co SFAS, 1st Bn S3).
He was NEVER ASSOCIATED WITH, ASSIGNED TO, in SUPPORT OF, or attended ANY TRAINING that would qualify his claim of being an 18D.
He was a CAR STEREO SALESMAN and INSTALLER on Yadkin Road the ENTIRE TIME I KNEW HIM. We were in Westarea Fire Department TOGETHER and he lived in a trailer on Haretown road.
It APPEARS that he has taken some of MY SF TRAINING, HISTORY and BACKGROUND, claimed it as his own, and further EMBELLISHED those stories for his own video game centered bravado.
FRANCO K WEBB IS A GREEN BERET FRAUD
He probably never will. The 7th Grp picture he pretends is his is an ODA from the mid-'80s. We've identified all men in the picture. It also looks like he added a Ranger Tab to his website. He's never before claimed Ranger so this is strange.
He and Mike Mika (President of SFA Ch 34) threatened to sue the SFA National if they didn't rescind the letter they sent us, give Rudi a formal apology, and re-instate him as a member in good standing. Of course SFA National refused and nothing came of his idle threat.
Mike Mika has twice, along with Rudi Gresham the fake Green Beret claimed that Rudi spent 12 years in the S.C. National Guard and that's where he attained the rank of LTC. Neither time were they able to produce records that baked up that statement.
I just looked at his personal website, and it still has a picture autographed by General Yarborough, and a statement that says he served as Yarborough’s Aide. When will this clown give it up? I took screen shots.
Why is he working for the VA?
First of all, thank you folks for what you do, what you’ve done, and what you’re willing to do.
Secondly, it is my hope that Mr Prouix owns up to his lies. I have been watching this story and it disgusts me that there are people who would assume to receive the accolades deserved, but never sought, by better, braver, stronger men.
Mr Prouix needs to be exposed. Well done.
This is almost unbelievable. This guy wanted to be a Green Beret so bad he faked it to the grave. It must have been awesome to him to take on a persona. Feeling like a hero, getting recognition, and being treated like a hero in addition to fellowship with real warriors was too much to pass up. It must have felt good. I'm sure he could have joined the military. He just didn't think it was worth it. He could have everything without dropping a single iota of blood, sweat, or tears. I feel sorry for his family. This guy is to me obviously mentally ill. I guess he never thought he would hurt and shame his family to the extent he ended up doing so. To any potential fakers. Let this guy be a lesson to you. If you want what we have, just join the military. Don't do this to your family and friends.
I just want to thank Guardians of the Green Beret. I had no idea this problem was so widespread. These phonies do a great disservice to all us real Green Berets. Yes, I am a Green Beret. They give a false representation of who we are, what we are, and what we represent. These phonies are almost always criminal otherwise in my opinion. Good job Guardians of the Green Beret. People probably don't realize what it would be like for me to ever actually meet a phony Green Beret. Offensive is not the word. I don't think there is a word for all the things that would go through my mind.
is that white shirt even a thing? i never knew that
Ol' "Sarge" here talking all kinds of crap and stuff after he was exposed...LOL
It's really pathetic that people try to get away with this type of stuff. I spent 23 years in the Army and retired in 2006 and although would have loved to to be a part of a Special Forces or Ranger unit and go through all of the training, never did it. And it just amazes me the lengths that people will go through to embellish military service.
We are former and current Green Berets who find and investigate those who falsely claim to be a Green Beret. We will never out someone unless we are 100% certain via FOIA and Bragg.