Man, you will never understand how much this angers me! I was on scene at the Tsunami disaster in Indonesia (Banda Ache) in 2004 within 24 hours. It was during a deployment with the 15th MEU. I earned my Humanitarian service medal on that trip and, on top of that, we went from there to Iraq.... I was in Iraq again in 2006 right after the Samara mosque was bombed. Even though I was a Fobbit (stayed on my base) fixing jets to support the grunts, we were hit by mortars and RPG's more than once. I didn't earn a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, A Combat Action Ribbon....but I have friends that did, and I
have friends that didn't come back from that war.

Fry this guy. Lock him up and throw away the key. Jackass.

SF
Gunnz

Fayetteville (NC) Observer
October 20, 2009

Marines Say Sergeant Faked War Injuries

By Associated Press

HAGERSTOWN, Md. - A Marine sergeant charged with faking battle injuries to get freebies intended for wounded warriors will plead guilty, a Marine Corps spokeswoman said Monday.

Sgt. David Budwah, 34, of Springhill, La., will enter the plea at a court-martial hearing Wednesday at the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Va., 1st Lt. Joy Crabaugh wrote in an e-mail.

Crabaugh wouldn't say what offenses Budwah will acknowledge. "That will all be addressed Wednesday," she wrote.

Budwah faces eight counts, including making false official statements, malingering, misconduct and larceny. They carry combined penalties of up to 31½ years in prison and a dishonorable discharge.

Prosecutor Marine Capt. Thomas Liu declined to disclose terms of the plea agreement.

Budwah is accused of bluffing his way into 33 events last year, including six rock concerts, two Washington Nationals baseball games, a Washington Redskins football game and a World Wrestling Entertainment "Monday Night Raw" show. Sponsored by various civilian groups, the events often included special recognition of injured service members in attendance.

Budwah is alleged to have worn eight unearned medals and decorations on his uniform, including bronze-star medals from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Other unauthorized decorations included a humanitarian service medal denoting work on the 2004 tsunami relief effort, the government has said.

Budwah claimed in a speech to young boys at an American Legion camp near Sabillasville in July 2008 to have been wounded in Afghanistan when he dove onto a homemade grenade to shield a buddy from the blast - a false story, the government contends.

Instead, Budwah was with a radio communications unit in Okinawa, Japan, from early 2000 to early 2006, and then at Quantico, the Marines have said.