Marine charged with faking war wounds for gain

[snopes]

On a sultry day in July 2008, Marine Sgt. David W. Budwah strode in his battle fatigues to the front of a picnic pavilion to tell three dozen young boys what he did during the war.

With his clear gaze, rigid posture and muscled, tattooed arms, Budwah looked every inch the hero he claimed to be. He said he was on his second tour of duty in Afghanistan when a homemade grenade exploded, wounding his face and arm when he dove to shield a buddy from the blast.

But the Marines say Budwah is a liar, a fraud and a thief. They are court-martialing the 34-year-old Springhill, La., native, alleging he was never in Afghanistan, wasn't wounded and didn't earn the combat medals he wore — or the many privileges he enjoyed.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090921/...s/us_hero_hoax

[snopes]

A Marine sergeant charged with faking battle injuries to get freebies intended for wounded warriors will plead guilty.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091019/...s/us_hero_hoax

[JoeBentley]

Wow. That's pretty low Marine.

[DesertRat]

He's a scumbag and a disgrace to the uniform. He richly deserves any punishment he gets.

[Canuckistan]

I initially read the second post as Marine to plead guilty in fake heroin case.

Yeah, what he actually did is much worse.