Our story on the deceptions of a Joint Base Lewis-McChord soldier is getting plenty of attention from our readers.
The soldier, Spc. Jordan Olson, fessed up to the lies about his rank, injury and uniform embellishment to a TV reporter yesterday.
The 22-year-old soldier from New London, Wis., told WFRV-TV in Green Bay only his family was supposed to be at the airport to greet him on Saturday. Instead, a hero’s welcome with more than 70 people turned out for the event.
The local newspaper and television stations were there too, and some of Olson’s comrades in the 17th Fires Brigade read the report in the Appleton Post-Crescent and contacted the newspaper.
“I just wanted my family to be proud of me,” he told the television station, “and I overstepped some boundaries I shouldn’t have overstepped.”
A recap: He wasn’t injured like he told friends and family; he was a specialist, not a sergeant; he wore a patch of the 82nd Airborne Division when he shouldn’t have; and he wore the Combat Action Badge and Parachutist Badge, neither of which he was authorized to wear.
His unit will look into the lies when Olson returns to Lewis-McChord after his leave, a base spokesman said Tuesday. Wearing the incorrect patches and badges could also leave him open to prosecution under the federal Stolen Valor Act, which makes it illegal to wear military honors one has not received.
Olson was serving in Afghanistan with 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment. The unit deployed in October and performing route clearance missions in Kandahar province.
“It was my actions, and I need to take responsibility for my actions,” he said. “… At this point, it’s a self-esteem issue. I think I should see what I can do about taking care of myself and having better self-esteem for myself.”
I find it really sad that this Soldiers so called “low self esteem” caused him to do this. His actions really take away from the great things that Soldiers around the world are doing. How is it that just serving his country and taking an oath that says he will go anywhere at anytime to defend his country is not enough? Does he not know that getting injured is not what makes him a good Soldier but the fact that he has agreed to be put himself in harms way in the defense of his country? Volunteering to deploy to these places (when you raise your right hand) should be enough for his “self esteem.” It’s truly sad that he dishonored himself in this manner in order receive a “heros welcome.” A true Soldier knows you don’t serve your country to gain hero status…before he did this shameful thing, he already WAS one.
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Amen, amen, AMEN Deployed….couldn’t have expressed it better myself. Nicely put!
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I agree entirely with what deployd_soldier has said. There are two things I still do not get, however. First, what exactly is our military in Iraq “defending” our country? Defending us against what? Are we actually being threatened by someone or some thing in Iraq? Second, why are all of our fine soldiers in Iraq considered to be “heroes” just for doing their jobs? Are cab drivers heroes? Are telephone linemen heroes? How about school bus drivers? All have demanding and frequently dangerous jobs? I am by no means trying to offend anyone. I would like some thoughtful, non-emotional answers to these questions.
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