Man arrested for allegedly wearing unearned medal

By John Hoellwarth
Staff writer

A member of the Marine Corps League in St. Louis was arrested by FBI agents Tuesday evening after being photographed allegedly wearing a Navy Cross medal he doesn’t rate at the league’s Marine Corps ball earlier this month, according to a Fox News report.

Michael Weilbacher wore a Navy Cross, two Silver Stars and four Bronze Stars to the ball, where he told Marines he had earned the nation’s second-highest valor award during drug interdictions in Colombia, according to Maj. George Dragan, the Corps’ Marine for Life representative in St. Louis, who attended the ball.

 
This raised a red flag with Doug Sterner, who maintains a comprehensive database of every Navy Cross awarded. Sterner said that no Navy Cross has ever been awarded for actions in Colombia.

Personnel records at Marine Corps headquarters’ Manpower branch show no record of Weilbacher ever serving in the Corps.

Manpower spokesman 1st Lt. Rob Dolan said, “I have more time standing on the yellow footprints than he does in the Marine Corps.”

Under current law, Weilbacher faces a maximum of six months in jail and $5,000 in fines in connection with the misdemeanor charge of wearing unearned military decorations.

Legislation in the House would put more teeth into the law, making the crime a felony and doubling the maximum penalty. A version of the Stolen Valor Act was passed unanimously by the Senate in September but has been bottled up in the House Judiciary Committee, despite having attracted more than 100 co-sponsors, including five Judiciary Committee members.

Weilbacher would be unaffected by any change in the law.

After learning of Weilbacher’s arrest, his congressman, Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., said he would consider co-sponsoring the legislation after the next congressional session begins in January, according to Blunt’s spokeswoman, Jessica Boulanger.


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 Out of every 100 men, ten shouldn't even be there, Eighty are just targets, Nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back." - Hericletus, circa 500 BC

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No record of serving in the Corps yet he became a member of the Marine Corp League?  Boy I bet there are some Pissed Off Jarheads around there right now.  He maybe lucky if he makes it to jail.

The Inspiration of a Noble Cause, Enables men to do things they did not dream themselves capable of doing before.

All the way, sir!!!

Sounds like there are over 1/4 of the house signed on to co-sponser the Stolen Valor act but they don't seem to be able to vote on it, can someone please explain this, other than a bunch of pansies who want to sound strong but are completely unwiling to back it with action.

"...my religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter when it may overtake me." He added, after a pause, looking me full in the face: "That is the way all men should live, and then all would be equally brave"

General "Stonewall" Jackson

I say we give him to the FARC as punishment. 

You can run and you can hide, but you'll only die tired !

That's a technique that might just work

"...my religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter when it may overtake me." He added, after a pause, looking me full in the face: "That is the way all men should live, and then all would be equally brave"

General "Stonewall" Jackson