Poser sentenced

[BLUEHAWK]

By The Associated Press
18 Dec 09

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) -- A man who posed as a decorated Marine Corps captain for two years will tend graves at a military cemetery as part his sentence to serve 500 hours of community service, a federal judge ruled.

Reggie L. Buddle, 59, of Puyallup pleaded guilty in April to unlawful wearing of U.S. military medals and decorations. He told U.S. Magistrate Judge Kelly J. Arnold at his sentencing Monday that he was ashamed of his conduct.

Buddle never served in the Marines. He bought the uniform at a military surplus store, and the medals belonged to his brother, a Marine who died in Vietnam.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Friedman told the court in his sentencing memo that the publicity had been punishment. "Mr. Buddle has been appropriately made to answer before a great many people, and he has been shunned by a great many others," Friedman wrote.

Buddle posed as a Marine Corps captain in 2005 and 2006, wearing a uniform with medals intended as awards for extraordinary contribution to national defense and heroism in combat. He even gave the opening prayer for the Washington state Senate in 2006 and posed as a chaplain and reverend, including officiating at weddings and funerals of servicemen.

Buddle wasn't ordained, however Friedman has said the marriages he presided over would still be lawfully recognized.

The judge said Monday that Buddle would serve his community service tending graves at the Tahoma Military Cemetery in Kent.

[David]

Here is his profile and history of the story

http://www.pownetwork.org/phonies/phonies276.htm

[03Fox2/1]

It seems to me that his acknowledgment of his guilt, only after being exposed, is far from sufficient punishment for this man that brought dishonor on himself at the expense of the innocent that believed in him. He took the medals and courage that they represented from his brother, a real Marine, and the legacy of his brother's service in VietNam and used it for personal gain. Maybe not for financial gain, but certainly for his own warped ego and the positive attention and honor that was bestowed on him by those he deceived. The fact that he even performed weddings and funerals shows that he deserves less compassion and more punishment, in my opinion. And as a former Marine and the son of a Marine, I resent intensely the impersonation of a Marine by anyone, no matter what their motives. Semper Fi, Scott

[BLUEHAWK]

Thanks for fleshing it out, David...