Navy: Cole faker wore unearned awards

[unhappycamper]

Navy: Cole faker wore unearned awards
By Mark D. Faram and Lance M. Bacon - Staff writers
Posted : Monday Dec 7, 2009 13:44:03 EST

Jeffrey Sparenberg looked every bit the hero.

His chest candy included a Bronze Star with “V,” Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal and Combat Action Ribbon. A newspaper photo showed him holding a flag he claimed had flown on the destroyer Cole during and after the Oct. 12, 2000, suicide bomber attack in Aden, Yemen.

The (Wilmington, Del.) News Journal reported that he said he was a master chief on the ship at the time of the attack and was seriously wounded, requiring a long rehabilitation.

And it was all a lie.

Sparenberg did serve on the ship, but he reported aboard four days after the attack, according to a Navy spokesman and documents obtained by Navy Times. The Bronze Star with “V,” Purple Heart and Meritorious Service Medal worn by Sparenberg don’t match information in his personnel data. And he retired in 2004 as a senior chief.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2009/12/navy_cole_faker_120709w/