Make Believe Seal

[Rlong1985]

A man who appeared in a Navy SEAL uniform at a Thousand Oaks school event this week apparently never served in the Navy, military officials said Wednesday.

Salhem Dreasden was among those in uniform Tuesday at a tribute to soldiers at Ladera School. The school was honored at the event for outstanding patriotism and support of the armed forces.

Dreasden was wearing a Navy uniform that bore his last name, the words "SEAL TEAM," the trident pin insignia of the elite unit and twin bars indicating the rank of Navy lieutenant.

The name Salhem Dreasden, however, does not appear anywhere in databases of Navy service members that go back to at least the Vietnam War, said Katie Suich, a spokeswoman for the Navy Personnel Command in Tennessee. There aren't any S. Dreasdens in the database, either, she said.

Federal law prohibits the unauthorized wearing of a U.S. military uniform.

Dreasden could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Dreasden was not associated with the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve organization that honored Ladera School with a Seven Seals Award on Tuesday for its commitment to the military, said Pat Kuykendall, executive director of the statewide group.

Questions about Dreasden's service were first raised in an online special operations community forum called SOCNET.com.

Ladera Principal Pam Chasse said Wednesday that Dreasden is the friend of a parent. The school had asked parents and the community to invite veterans and active military personnel to the event.

Military service claims were in the news recently as the 2006 Stolen Valor Act was challenged in a federal appellate court. That law prohibits false claims about receiving military medals or decorations. Last month, attorneys for a Colorado man who falsely claimed to be a decorated Marine Corps veteran argued the law was an unconstitutional violation of free speech, the Denver Post reported.

In 2009, the FBI received more than 200 complaints of fraudulent representation under the Stolen Valor Act, said Laura Eimiller, a spokeswoman for the FBI in Los Angeles.

Retired Navy SEAL Craig Powell of Thousand Oaks said he worries that false military service claims will make others less likely to help service members, who make immense sacrifices.

"It bothers me when anybody portrays themselves to be who they're not," Powell said.



Read more: Man in uniform at school event was not in Navy, officials say » Ventura County Star
- vcstar.com

Man in uniform at school event was not in Navy, officials say » Ventura County Star

I still cant believe there was no one there in the Navy, or an actual seal to call him on his bull ****.

[retdetsgt]

There's a site operated by a former SEAL who more than willingly outs posers. He's caught politicians, college professors, et al and does everything he can to humiliate them as much as possible.

[MikeG]

There's a site operated by a former SEAL who more than willingly outs posers. He's caught politicians, college professors, et al and does everything he can to humiliate them as much as possible.

the article mentions SOCNET.com . They do a great job and have a few members that can access the "list" of everyone that attended a BUDs or UDW class.

BTW, IMHO I doubt they would directly confront him if they were "suspicious" in a function like that. I can see them calling someone out in a bar "maybe" as it has little consequence. I think a Marine would call out someone wearing a Marine uniform and saluting like that especially if the uniform didn't look legit. The guy would get beat up or maybe just a little intimidated and that's it (Marines did that to a person in the airport a while ago as someone was sporting a uniform that wasn't right - no violence but that guy probably wished he hadn't been born that day.).

A SEAL I think would be more circumspect, get all the information and then pounce like a ton of bricks. "Ruin his life" so to speak, not just a black eye or underwear stripes. A newspaper article and lots of attention to the fake SEAL while the real deal remains in the shadows reading it all very satisfied. Heck, if they do it right, this guy will get beat up every day for a year by non-SEALs that just hate the fact he faked veteran status ON MEMORIAL DAY.

Just my 0.02 though.

[martyn850]

There's a site operated by a former SEAL who more than willingly outs posers. He's caught politicians, college professors, et al and does everything he can to humiliate them as much as possible.

Good. It is my biggest regret I never served my country.

Reminds me of this....

A MAN who marched at a Remembrance Day parade with an impossible array of medals was named last night as carpenter Roger Day, 61.

Neighbours said the keen amateur actor was once thrown out of his local pub in a row over an SAS badge he was wearing.

Mr Day denied he was a conman and said the 17 medals – including top bravery awards – were ‘pukka’.

But medals expert Martin Harrison said: ‘He would be world-famous and some sort of Rambo character – if he had been awarded them all.’ A drive to identify the mystery medal man was launched after he was pictured marching alongside brave servicemen at the November 11 parade in Bedworth, Warwickshire.

1693-man-who-marched-at-remembrance-day-parade-with-fake-medals-named-as-carpenter-roger-day

[MikeG]

Sam: What regiment was that?
Spence: The 22nd Special Air Service.
Sam: What's the color of the boathouse at Hereford?
[repeats]
Spence: I don't like your attitude!
Sam: What's the color of the boathouse -...
Spence: F*** off!
Sam: What's - -you got the gun. I'm unarmed. Do something. Go ahead. Do something. DO SOMETHING.
[Spence spills the coffee cup and Sam subdues him]
Sam: Tell me about an ambush. I ambushed you with a cup of coffee!

later

Gregor: So, what colour *is* the boathouse at Hereford?
Sam: How the f*** should I know?

[martyn850]

Sam: What regiment was that?
Spence: The 22nd Special Air Service.
Sam: What's the color of the boathouse at Hereford?
[repeats]
Spence: I don't like your attitude!
Sam: What's the color of the boathouse -...
Spence: F*** off!
Sam: What's - -you got the gun. I'm unarmed. Do something. Go ahead. Do something. DO SOMETHING.
[Spence spills the coffee cup and Sam subdues him]
Sam: Tell me about an ambush. I ambushed you with a cup of coffee!

later

Gregor: So, what colour *is* the boathouse at Hereford?
Sam: How the f*** should I know?

Great film!

[retdetsgt]

If you listen to a lot of guys my age in bars, 90% were SEALS, Special Forces, snipers or tunnel rats in Vietnam. I asked one guy in a bar one night who was telling us of his sniper exploits (never mentioned any provinces, villages, towns, etc.) what kind of rifle he had. He stopped, looked puzzled and then said he couldn't remember. I started laughing out loud as did several people. Then he remembered some place he needed be and left.

[Citicop]

If you listen to a lot of guys my age in bars, 90% were SEALS, Special Forces, snipers or tunnel rats in Vietnam. I asked one guy in a bar one night who was telling us of his sniper exploits (never mentioned any provinces, villages, towns, etc.) what kind of rifle he had. He stopped, looked puzzled and then said he couldn't remember. I started laughing out loud as did several people. Then he remembered some place he needed be and left.

That's awesome. Almost without exception, the BTDT's will not talk about it publicly.

-Citicop.

[retdetsgt]

A very good friend of mine and ex partner in uniform was on a Special Forces A Team in Vietnam. He never mentioned it around a lot of people, but in the car he used to tell me stories. And they were always self effacing or making himself sound like the fool (which he wasn't by any stretch). The only time he got serious was when he complained of the "legs" he had to deal with (non paratroopers). Not a real big man, not socially or physically aggressive w/o cause, always smiling and joking, but someone that could cut your throat and then go home a take a nap.

[Kimble]

A very good friend of mine and ex partner in uniform was on a Special Forces A Team in Vietnam.

Was his codename Murdock, Face, B.A. or Hannibal?

I've had quite a bit of interaction on the job with active SEALs, not once seen them advertise or gloat about who they were. Only time I've seen that was when it was someone who was with a command attached to a Naval Special Warfare Group (i.e. they're in a rate that is not a Naval Special Warfare operator) or they were a complete fake (and we've arrested more than a few of these).

[Cat_Doc]

That f'd up salute should have been the first clue.

[retdetsgt]

Was his codename Murdock, Face, B.A. or Hannibal?

Heh, no this guy was the real deal. In fact, he wrote a book, "Sympathy For The Devil" by Kent Anderson. He uses a fictional character as the primary, but a lot of it is obviously based on his experiences.

[retdetsgt]

That f'd up salute should have been the first clue.

Looks like he's shading his eyes...... I still can't get used to seeing military personnel outside with no cover on their heads.......

I tried to find a clip of Eddie Murphy in Trading Places doing his "Agent Orange" routine. It was a classic.

[Rlong1985]

That f'd up salute should have been the first clue.

I am not sure thats even a real uniform; it looks like something picked up at a Army Navy Surplus store. I have never seen anyone wear anything of the sorts, NSW is special but this guy is another breed of special.

[MikeG]

Looks like he's shading his eyes...... I still can't get used to seeing military personnel outside with no cover on their heads.......

I tried to find a clip of Eddie Murphy in Trading Places doing his "Agent Orange" routine. It was a classic.

http://movieclips.com/VMFc2-trading-...vie-i-can-see/

He was in Gang Bang, Vietnam - Green Berets, code name Agent Orange.

All salutes except for Mr. SEAL were with cover. Hmmm. I wonder.