Mo. man posed as Purple Heart recipient, feds allege

Timothy James Watkins of Richmond also claimed he had a Silver Star for his service in Grenada, the U.S. Attorney for Western Missouri alleges. He regularly wore the pins on his everyday clothes, the feds say. And they accuse him of lying to a kid, the indictment alleges.

In March 2005, Watkins allegedly made similar false claims to Adam Kyle, a young boy who was preparing a short paper entitled “The Hero Next Door” for one of his classes at school. Watkins allegedly claimed he was a member of Echo Company of the Second Ranger Battalion and that he parachuted into Grenada with the unit during a nighttime Airborne operation.

Watkins allegedly claimed that he scaled a 135-foot rock face with nearly 100 pounds of gear while under enemy fire, and that during his ascent he was shot in the leg and fell approximately 70 feet, breaking his leg. Watkins allegedly told Kyle that he was awarded the Purple Heart and Silver Star medals as a result of his courage under fire and for the injuries he sustained during the engagement. All of these claims, the indictment says, were completely false.

Comments

[Elrond of Rivendell]

That just pisses me off.

What compels people to do that stuff? Is it their desire for attention?

My father had a REAL purple heart, but few outside the family knew, unless we kids told them.

[D-man]

I think he should be forced to recreate his lie.

[Pat the comedian]

My dad lied about his age to join in 1942.

He was 15, and would have beat the crap out of a guy like tWatkins.

[FlyBoyGA]

"Those that know, don't talk. Those that talk, don't know."

When it comes to military decorations and combat exposure, I find that quote true more often than not.

[FlyBoyGA]

"Those that know, don't talk. Those that talk, don't know."

When it comes to military decorations and combat exposure, I find that quote true more often than not.

[Unbelievable]

"And they accuse him of lying to a kid"

I think if that was a crime you would have to lock up virtually every parent out there.

Yes, crappy that people lie about doing things they didn't do. When it comes to military type things, they should be called out on it. Not sure if it warrants a jail sentence though.

I dont think it alot people who are given the medals parade them openly. My grandfather could find little comfort from a medal while being responsibile for so many deaths.

I think those that tend to parade them are generally fake and should be given very little attention.

[PO1 ret]

I say treat him with a full "Military Courtesy" when he gets sentenced send him to Military prison. Instead of some lame local over filled prison.

[146]

It really doesn't bug me much. People have been telling fish stories for centuries. I'm a vet. But I think you'll find 90% of the time the only time medals are discussed is among the receiptents loved ones (family) and mostly after they die. God bless our Service men & women:)

[Keith G. in P.V.]

I wouldn't care if a vet stomped on his feet until his toes were smashed into the shape of those dollar pancakes. But a federal charge of lying?

If you favor "throwing them all out" we could empty the halls of Congress. We could impeach and convict every president serving since the Constitution was adopted, including Washington, Lincoln and St. Ronald Reagan. Not only every parent, but every grandparent would be at risk with tales of the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus and Aesop's Fables. Every LEO who ever interrogated a suspect, every prosecutor who presented a case would be in prison.

Maybe we should prosecute Michael Jackson's doctor, too. Oh, wait! We already are.

[Drasil]

There is a book called, "Stolen Valor" that is a good read for anyone interested in this type of thing.

And no, 146, this is not about fish stories, this is about people, who for whatever reason, want to heap glory upon themselves.

Maybe, they thought they could have gone there. Maybe, they thought they could have been that. Maybe, they were too much of a wussy to have done that.

[Drasil]

One last comment on this. A couple of years back, I was sitting in a local bar and grill in a table next a person wailing to the person with him that he had PTSD from VietNam and couldn't get disabilty. I looked over at the table and asked, "What unit were you with?" He looked over and said he was a mechanic with the Air Force on Danang AFB.

I know this will sound cold, but, I then asked what his PTSD was from, his air conditioning breaking down?

Nope, I am not a total arsehole, I was a 0311 (Marine grunt) who during my last four months in country ran ops in defense of the Danang AFB.

That is what pisses combat vets off about stolen valor. The wannabes that didn't have the balls to really do it.

[Ted Nugent]

He was probably some draft-dodging, liberal hippie who was too scared to serve. If I ever see him, I'll kick his ass!

[Stanley White]

I would bet that half the people talking about their hero dads are lying also or their dads were lying.

[Oldtimer]

It is impossible for me to even chastise a person who would do something like this. Unless he used the lie to acquire something tangible, he should be pitied as an extemely sad person. While it is understandable that true veterans/heroes might be disgusted by this self-aggrandizement, it is difficult for me to see this as a crime. How will he be able to face his family and friends?

[Thin The Herd]

Oldtimer, I appreciate the comment about this man facing his family and friends.

Once upon a time, social pressure kept many of the lesser foibles of people in check, and there was no need to criminalize such behavior.

Now, we make excuses or want to claim some DSM IV illness for what is simply character weakness.

[Ollerfarm]

Natoma, Ks 1968 a man came into the feed store after he left the owner ask me had I seed him before. No! First time he'd been to Natoma since 1942, draft dodger and his own cowardance had prevented him from coming to town for over 20 years, while he drove 40 miles to Osborne instead of 5 to Natoma.

[mutt]

I guess this guy never did one damn thing he could be proud of in his entire life and felt he had to invent stories to fill the void.

[Roger L Kehrier]

The country is full of "wannabe's" that are war hero's and legends in their own minds that have never accomplished anything in their lives. A true veteran is comfortable within his own skin and doesn't need to make up stories and tales beyond the pale.

[Oldtimer]

I really want to add one more thing. I served in the military when I was very young. I was scared shXXless, and hated every second of my tour of duty. I was a lousy soldier. I did what was required, so my opinion of this man means less than nothing. Most of the truly negative comments above are probably coming from persons who have little or no understanding of what serving your country means, and less about the person who lied. Make no mistake, what he did was wrong. However, I cannot, and most of these Ted Nugent types have no right to, judge. For the most part, the true heroes of our military campaigns give little, or no, relavence to a piece of medal on a little ribbon. Their type of service cannot be slighted by some liar. Why should anyone else care?

[clive]

crazy is as crazy does.......he doesn't sound cool, he just seems stupid

[Manny The Manhandler]

Who gives a crap. You people who claim to support the military and troops are nothing but a bunch of penny pinching idiots and only really support yourselves and your immediate family.

Quit whining you bunch of babies!!!

[Nemesis]

Very few veterans will talk about their combat stories. If they do, it is with other combat vetrans who can relate. Oldtimer is correct. This guy shows himself to be a two bit phony which is what he deserves, but it does not take away anything from the combat vet. A combat vet does not think medals define them nor in their mind does it increase their status as a human being. Indeed, to most vets, those medals represent memories they would as soon forget and in some cases like my brother, increases the survivor guilt. So they stay burried in the bottoms of drawers and chests along with the memories.

[Daddy's Girl]

My dad joined the Marines on his 17th birthday in 1942. He served in the Pacific, and was at Saipan and Tinian. He was wounded (my mom pulled shards of shrapnel from his back for 20 years) but refused to accept a Purple Heart. I guess you call it survivor guilt - he felt he didn't deserve the same award that so many received for being killed.

[Shirley]

I know the guy, used to work with him. Ironically, he works as a rat for an attorney out in Independence. How will they help him out. Liers can always help liers out. Ken McClain is his best bud.

[MIKE RIGHT]

I MEANT THIS GUY ONCE HE WAS A FAKE FROM THE START. EVERYONE THAT WRITES ABOUT WHY A PERSON WOULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAS TO UNDERSTAND THERE ARE PEOPLE WITH MENTAL PROBLEMS THIS GUY IS NOT ONE OF THEM HE IS JUST A DUMB SHIT

[jasmfwby]

I know this guy, he is a loser, freak, lying adulterer who molested his kids and lied about that too. Vicki, who knew you could stoop this low, you both deserve each other.

[Roger L Kehrier]

The email attributed to "mutt" is mine and not the one that bears my alleged name. I served in the military for 24 yrs!