Is this guy for real?

[Snoopy47]

I was looking for examples of ASU uniforms with full size medals and this came up.

I want so much to call it stolen valor. His Wiki page is solely focus on political aspirations.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_A._Christian

[PyroFox79]

Meh. Army uniform regs are so ****ed up i dont know whats in your regs and what arent.

[stormvet]

Who knows how accurate the wiki page is but going from enlisted to Capt in four years is pretty remarkable and seven Purple Hearts in the same space of time! Makes you wonder, but hell if it's all true. What a bad azz he was.

[fritztkatt]

I'm no soldier, and admittedly not educated on the extremely fine points of marine corps dress, but that's no way to wear medals, ribbons and badges. I can't fathom any self-respecting soldier leaving the house like that.

THEY'RE NOT EVEN COVERED AND ALIGNED!

Are those john Kerry purple hearts? What looks like a shooting badge on his lapel, we don't wear badges in dress blues? That can't be right. Airborne device way up there, again, in class A's (iirc that's your dress uniform)? Does the army not add silver/bronze stars in lieu of 2nd and 3rd awards?

I'd err on the side of stolen valor. Anyone in his position, with that much salad, would be happy to make it rain with dd214 or srb copies if asked. Isn't there a national database of purple hearts just like the CMOH?

[Snoopy47]

So I put in an inquiry to Guardian of Valor

http://guardianofvalor.com/

My grandfather is 30 years Army (to include Vietnam) so I have pictures of him in correct uniform.

Yes, the Army has oak leafs in lue of multiple medals, so his photo is completely jacked. And they aren't even in the correct order. So his SIX purple hearts would be ONE medal with ONE silver oak leaf.

His bio says he enlisted at 17, made SGT by 18, and then went to OCS and commissioned at 18 and was a CPT by 20.

Is that possible? I don't know. Maybe guardianofvalor.com will check him out.

My father made SGT in 6 months after being drafted. So some things are possible. But I think it's a reach to make an 18 year old an infantry officer.

I'm just not buying it.

[stormvet]

I'm no soldier, and admittedly not educated on the extremely fine points of marine corps dress, but that's no way to wear medals, ribbons and badges. I can't fathom any self-respecting soldier leaving the house like that.

THEY'RE NOT EVEN COVERED AND ALIGNED!

Are those john Kerry purple hearts? What looks like a shooting badge on his lapel, we don't wear badges in dress blues? That can't be right. Airborne device way up there, again, in class A's (iirc that's your dress uniform)? Does the army not add silver/bronze stars in lieu of 2nd and 3rd awards?

I'd err on the side of stolen valor. Anyone in his position, with that much salad, would be happy to make it rain with dd214 or srb copies if asked. Isn't there a national database of purple hearts just like the CMOH?

You can tell that photo is strictly for PR, he was long out of service when it was taken. I'm sure it was for his political aspirations. chessy and not correct, sure.
But is it all real, that's the question. That is a massive amount of advancement and awards for four years of service.
But with all the stolen valor investigations and groups actively searching them out. You'd think someone in his position would have been tard and feathered by now.

[Snoopy47]

He's looking legit:

http://davidchristian.us/awards.htm

I don't have the expertise to discount his documentation, but everywhere I go to look him up is his own published sources.

[Snoopy47]

So I guess what really doesn't sit well is that he goes to a lot of trouble to post documentation and pictures validating all these cool things about himself, but I'm not finding his DD214.

It would be such a simple thing. He posts copies of all his membership credentials, and press passes, but I haven't come across his DD214. He posts the orders for his awards though.

[Subotai]

I call BS.

[Pauliedad]

Born in Florida.

Mystery solved.

[stormvet]

So I guess what really doesn't sit well is that he goes to a lot of trouble to post documentation and pictures validating all these cool things about himself, but I'm not finding his DD214.

It would be such a simple thing. He posts copies of all his membership credentials, and press passes, but I haven't come across his DD214. He posts the orders for his awards though.

Like I said, in his position, running for office, head of the legion of valor, decorations plastered all over the Internet. Somebody has to of looked into it.

Maybe the guy is a friggen war hero, that DSC write up was some pretty gnarly stuff. So maybe he gets a F for dress blue regulation wear, but an A+ for soldiering in battle.

[Dragunov]

Who knows how accurate the wiki page is but going from enlisted to Capt in four years is pretty remarkable and seven Purple Hearts in the same space of time! Makes you wonder, but hell if it's all true. What a bad azz he was.

Not sure I'm buying it. He's in WAY too good of shape to have been wounded seven times. I actually know a Vietnam vet who DOES have seven purple hearts. Corporal Jimmy Wynn, U.S.M.C. Scout. Good friend, and student of my dads in the Corps. He does *NOT* look that good!

He's pretty chopped up, but still fully functional.

Tough guy!

Who really knows though. From what I've been told, under the right circumstances, you can get a purple heart for a frikkin' paper cut, nowadays.

[geoint]

So I put in an inquiry to Guardian of Valor

http://guardianofvalor.com/

My grandfather is 30 years Army (to include Vietnam) so I have pictures of him in correct uniform.

Yes, the Army has oak leafs in lue of multiple medals, so his photo is completely jacked. And they aren't even in the correct order. So his SIX purple hearts would be ONE medal with ONE silver oak leaf.

His bio says he enlisted at 17, made SGT by 18, and then went to OCS and commissioned at 18 and was a CPT by 20.

Is that possible? I don't know. Maybe guardianofvalor.com will check him out.

My father made SGT in 6 months after being drafted. So some things are possible. But I think it's a reach to make an 18 year old an infantry officer.

I'm just not buying it.

Things didn't work the same back in those days. Depending on the amounts of casualties a unit sustained, I wouldn't be surprised if a unit had to promote from within a whole lot if the casualties kept including the COC. If the Army taught me anything its that some people are leaders and thinkers but most aren't. And having a degree and some rank doesn't make a damn bit of difference as far as that goes. IF this guy actually had some balls and half a brain, even at 18 he'd be an improvement over most of the officers I've ever met.

No idea if that guys a real war hero or just was real cool with the guys in his S1 shop but I do agree his uniform looks retarded as hell there. But... so do all ASU's lol.

[Rusty42]

Odd that he is an Infantry Officer with a Air Metal and no Wings.
He does have a Paratrooper badge, however that is not considered AirCrew.

[stormvet]

During the Vietnam war, Infantry that flew on combat mission could and did recieve the air medal.