"Ranger"Major busted for unauthorized awards

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Jim
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"Ranger"Major busted for unauthorized awards

Post by Jim »

Here we have an article from Army Times. This is the initial case of "Stolen Valor" to be tried against a serving USAR officer. Records confirm he did not attend Ranger School. Guess we can call him a Major Poser

Reserve major faces jail over phony medals

By Michelle Tan - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Nov 27, 2007 9:17:50 EST

The awards and badges Maj. Anthony Angelo Calderone wore turned his Class A uniform into a colorful billboard of combat heroism and professional achievement.

The Army Reserve major, who served in Iraq in 2005, wore a Silver Star, the Special Forces and Ranger tabs and other insignia.

The problem is Calderone didn’t earn any of those awards. Moreover, he used the illegitimate awards to nail down his promotion to major.

On Sept. 20, Calderone pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of lying about his awards and qualifications in order to gain a promotion. Sentencing is pending in U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City. He faces a maximum sentence of five years and six months in prison and fines of up to $255,000.

The bogus awards include the Silver Star, the third-highest award for valor; the Special Forces and Ranger tabs; the Senior Parachutist Badge; the Military Freefall Parachutist Badge; the Special Operations Diver Badge; the Pathfinder Badge; the Combat Infantryman Badge; the Humanitarian Service Medal; the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal; the United Nations Medal; the Army Good Conduct Medal; and the Southwest Asia Service Medal.

“It’s completely offensive for this soldier to claim all these things,â€
Ranger Class 13-71
Advisor, VN 66-68 69-70
42d Vn Ranger Battalion 1969-1970
Trainer, El Salvador 86-87
Advisor, Saudi Arabian National Guard 91, 93-94
75th RRA Life Member #867
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Jim
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Post by Jim »

To update: A story from the Salt Lake City Newspaper.

Paul Rolly: Ex-colonel is judge in fake medals case
By Paul Rolly
Tribune Columnist
Article Last Updated: 11/28/2007 01:12:04 AM MST


Career military folks don't look kindly on fellow officers who falsely claim to have earned prestigious combat awards. It cheapens the awards earned legitimately by soldiers putting their lives on the line in the field of battle.
So Army Reserve Maj. Anthony Calderone probably didn't get the best draw for himself when he made his first appearance in U.S. District Court for Utah recently on federal charges of lying about numerous awards and qualifications he had claimed in order to get a promotion.
The magistrate presiding over the hearing was Paul Warner, a retired Utah National Guard colonel who, observers say, didn't seem to show much sympathy.


http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_7577691
Ranger Class 13-71
Advisor, VN 66-68 69-70
42d Vn Ranger Battalion 1969-1970
Trainer, El Salvador 86-87
Advisor, Saudi Arabian National Guard 91, 93-94
75th RRA Life Member #867
User avatar
Jim
Rest In Peace Ranger
Posts: 21935
Joined: March 8th, 2005, 10:48 am
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Post by Jim »

Prison time ordered for soldier who faked valor ribbons
By Pamela Manson
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 02/20/2008 01:01:27 PM MST

Updated: 11:26 AM- An Army reserve major who pleaded guilty to the unauthorized wearing of military medals has been sentenced to five months in prison and ordered to pay $9,300 in restitution. U.S. District Judge Dale Kimball imposed the sentence Tuesday on Anthony Angelo Calderone.
Prosecutors said Calderone - a member of the 2nd Battalion, 414th Regiment, 104th Division headquartered at Ft. Douglas - consistently wore tabs, badges and decorations he never earned.
In pleading guilty, Calderone admitted to wearing without authorization the Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, Senior Parachutist Badge, Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge, Special Operations Diver Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Combat Infantry Badge, Silver Star Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, United Nations Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal and Southwest Asia Service Medal.
According to court records, Calderone completed a deployment to Iraq in 2004 with the 100th Battalion.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Lund, who prosecuted the case, urged Kimball to impose the five-month term.

http://www.sltrib.com/News/ci_8314590
Ranger Class 13-71
Advisor, VN 66-68 69-70
42d Vn Ranger Battalion 1969-1970
Trainer, El Salvador 86-87
Advisor, Saudi Arabian National Guard 91, 93-94
75th RRA Life Member #867
User avatar
Jim
Rest In Peace Ranger
Posts: 21935
Joined: March 8th, 2005, 10:48 am
Been thanked: 1 time

Post by Jim »

Reservist gets prison for lying about medals
By Ben Winslow
Deseret Morning News
Published: February 20, 2008

In the pictures, U.S. Army Reserve Maj. Anthony Angelo Calderone stands proud, sporting medals and bars for distinguished service and trainings in the Special Forces, for fighting in Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia. The truth is, he never earned most of them.

"I don't know how to express how sorry I am about this," Calderone said as he was sentenced Tuesday in federal court in Salt Lake City to 5 months in prison. He was ordered to surrender to federal authorities in April.

Calderone was indicted in March 2007 on charges of unauthorized wearing of military medals, official false statement and fraud. According to the indictment, Calderone wore numerous medals and badges he didn't earn, including a Special Forces tab and a coveted Silver Star — the third highest medal of valor in the military.

In personnel records, Calderone included the awards, decorations and listed tours of duty and military training that he never did, the indictment said. Federal prosecutors said Calderone marched with the medals on and told members of his Army Reserve Unit in Utah about his adventures overseas.

"Calderone continuously advised unit members that he had been with the Special Forces in Afghanistan in the 1980s training rebels to fight the Soviet Army," assistant U.S. attorney Rob Lund wrote in court papers. "Calderone also advised members of the unit that, as a member of the 19th Special Forces Group, he had fought in the battle of Mogadishu in Somalia with Task Force Ranger in October of 1993 for which he earned a Silver Star."

In reality, the 19th SFG said none of its members were in Afghanistan before 2002, no member was at the battle of Mogadishu, and no member has ever received the Silver Star.

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695254719,00.html
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