Article

2009-06-12 -Lurid Crime Tales-

Another Military Fake - Now Assisting The FBI

Richard Strandlof said he survived the 9/11 attacks on the Pentagon. He said he survived again when a roadside bomb went off in Iraq killing four fellow Marines. He'd point to his head and tell people he had a metal plate, collateral damage from the explosion.

Crowds ate up his story. He canvassed Colorado appearing at the sides of politicians. Inspiring and seemingly authentic, he spoke on behalf of veterans at the state Capitol.

It turns out the whole thing was a lie. He wasn't at the Pentagon. He was never a Marine. He never served his country. He never graduated from the Naval Academy. He claimed his name was Rick Duncan.

He formed a group called the Colorado Veterans Alliance, and the FBI is now investigating whether he embezzled money as a result.

Where was he on 9/11, the day he said he witnessed heroism firsthand?

"I was in San Jose, California, watching it in horror on TV with a few other people," Strandlof told CNN's Anderson Cooper.

He was at a homeless shelter at the time.

Strandlof denies being a pathological liar. He says he suffered from "some severely underdiagnosed mental illness" and that he got caught up in the moment around "people who are passionate and loved what they did."

He told CNN he had put on a "production, which I'm sorry for."

"Hopefully the people that I hurt can in some way gain closure from that, and I myself don't know what I can do short of leaving them alone and not being in their lives, to make that happen," Strandlof said.

He said he's not sure exactly how he's hurt people. "It's not for me to say, and time will tell," he said.

Posted by Anonymoose 2009-06-12 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11126 views ] Top

#1 Isn't this old news? He was exposed the Colorado vets organization I think.

Posted by Cyber Sarge 2009-06-12 06:15|| 2009-06-12 06:15|| Front Page Top

#2 "He canvassed Colorado appearing at the sides of politicians..."

what CNN doesn't say is that the politicians, in turn supported him and also that the politicians are all Democrats, including , Democrats, including then Senator Obama, Senator Udall and Representative Polis.

Posted by Lord garth 2009-06-12 09:22|| 2009-06-12 09:22|| Front Page Top

#3 Is there recourse against the politicians for supporting the fraud?

Posted by Lagom 2009-06-12 09:37|| 2009-06-12 09:37|| Front Page Top

#4 CNN doesn't mention that he's also gay, which probably increased his street cred with the usual suspects even more.

Posted by tu3031 2009-06-12 10:08|| 2009-06-12 10:08|| Front Page Top

#5 Is there recourse against the politicians for supporting the fraud?

Yes... but it isn't legal.

Posted by DarthVader 2009-06-12 14:36|| 2009-06-12 14:36|| Front Page Top

#6 He served his purpose of making Obama look manly during the campaign. The press was wholly supportive of that. Now his services are no longer required. Enjoy the view from under the bus.

Posted by ed 2009-06-12 15:02|| 2009-06-12 15:02|| Front Page Top

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