SGM John Letuli: info request
We received this last night through various dependable channels. The Sergeant Major in the middle of these Sergeants Major pictured above is SGM John Letuli. He’s wearing a Special Forces combat patch in this picture. According to the folks at Professional Soldiers, they’ve contacted the Special Warfare Center and he’s never served with a Special Forces unit. Letuli is currently an operations sergeant in the North Carolina National Guard.
According to the people who emailed us yesterday, several investigations into this sergeant’s background have begun, but the various commands involved seem to want to sweep this under the rug. Apparently they won’t even respond to an Army Times reporter.
Of course, because he’s currently in the service, we won’t be able to get his OMPF through our usual channels in order to set the record straight, so we’re asking you guys for any information you can provide us. Someone out there knows this guy and can verify or refute his claims. You can contact anonymously with the form at the “Contact Us” link in our header our at the email address.
ADDED: I am aware of all of the possibilities that might have led to the SGM wearing an SF combat patch, I, myself, am authorized to wear either the 1st ID or 2AD patch for the same combat tour. Apparently these possibilities have all been negated by the folks at Professional Soldier, the SWC and the SOCOM CSM.
2nd ADDED:Seems that is not only the thing that is in question.
Besides the SF tab, he’s wearing the Soldier’s Medal and the Purple Heart.
April 1st, 2010 at 6:55 am
I may be wrong, but you don’t have to be SF to belong to the unit attached to the patch right?
I mean, I was in an INF BAT. and we had pay clerks and supply, they all got to wear our combat patch; and I have heard that the same thing happens in Rangers BATs.
But, I am late to the party and am not up to speed on this one.
April 1st, 2010 at 7:11 am
I knew him in Poon Tang, his named was Agent Orange.
April 1st, 2010 at 7:15 am
In Afghanistan I’ve worked with soldiers who wore the emblem of the 1st Marine Division as a combat patch… That doesn’t make them Marines. They were attached at some point (in combat) to the 1MARDIV but would not have been assigned to it. By Army regs, they rate to wear that perticular “combat patch.”
April 1st, 2010 at 7:15 am
perticular = particular. Ugh.
April 1st, 2010 at 7:17 am
Billy Ray, is dat you? Man I ain’t seen you since we was in Ramalamadingdong tracking Col. Wat Da Phuck….. Dem wuz the dayz man….
April 1st, 2010 at 7:21 am
Most National Guard guys I know wear an active duty combat patch for a unit they were attached to. Same with many of the active duty support guys who don’t belong to a division. Also, IronKnight is right, there are alot of group Support guys as well who are technically part of an SF Group. The more “elite” the better, and why wear a 769th ENGR patch when you can identify yourself with the Green Berets, Screaming Eagles, All-Americans, or another high-speed, highly recognized unit with alot of history?
Army Times itself did a writeup on a Florida National Guard unit back in 2003 or 2004 and how they were awarded the SF combat patch and proudly wore it. I don’t think I’ve seen it around here much, but many NG people down here wear the 82nd patch though most of them have been Guard their entire career and none (that I know of) have jump wings.
When I was at Fort Campbell, I knew most of the personnel walking around with a red beret were Group support. Of course, with ACUs some people choose not to wear their badges, but a couple of minutes of conversation with someone wearing an Airborne combat patch (minus 101st, of course) without jump wings is a tell-all about what they really did. Another downside to ACUs is that some people play musical patches and like to flaunt all the patches they were “awarded”. Just another tell-tale sign they didn’t do much of note. That said, even if they don’t wear badges, most of the Soldiers I’ve encountered will wear the tabs they’ve earned. An SF combat patch without a tab means either Group support or wannabe that is ashamed of his/her own unit’s lineage and honors.
April 1st, 2010 at 7:28 am
yup. See it all the time with NG or Reserve units who supported SF groups in Iraq or Afghanistan.
For example, in my last tour in Iraq I am authorized to wear:
1st Cav
3rd ID
MNC-I
CENTCOM
MSTC-I
…but not the unit that I went over with, as we went over as a small group of 12 joes and were ‘attached’ to all the above over various times…
April 1st, 2010 at 7:38 am
True, I was thinking “big Army” but there are many reserve units who send small detachments to augment larger units. Almost forgot one Old Guard kid who went to Afghanistan as an individual augmentee. His job was to help guard an airbase but he was technically assigned to an SF unit, so when he came back he sported the SF combat patch. Got promoted to Sergeant, received a J-COM in the mail, started messing up and blamed it on the horrors of his deployment (bear in mind he had not earned either the CIB an 11B assigned to a Special Forces detachment might be qualified for or the CAB he would have earned for actions if not). Long story short, I was acting Platoon Sergeant, he reported late for duty and our acting 1SG noticed he reeked of alcohol before I could help get him straight. A month of so later he was a Specialist once again, still sporting his high-speed combat patch and with another “woe-is-me” story to tell the Joes he liked to hang out with.
As for the Marine combat patch, alot of Marines were pissed about that one! I think it was some of 1st ID that earned it, but the only time I saw someone wear it was when one of my Soldiers decided to piss off the 1SG.
April 1st, 2010 at 7:59 am
I would tell you that My company in Iraq(2004-2005) was detached from the Bn, and assigned to CJ-SOTF at the RPC for 7 months. And when we left a Letter from the 3/10 Group S-3(Cpt. Glauber) And a By Name roster of those who were assigned authorized us the SSI as well. In the last 5 years those who’ve worn the SSI have been harrassed left and right. The fact that I earned My CIB while with them Is the only reason I’ve worn mine, normally I wear 1CAV.
Several of Our men were pulled and used as Gunners, and a few to al Kut to help a ODA build a Base with either the Ukrainians or Hungarians(CRS syndrome)since they were Building contractors in civvie life.
April 1st, 2010 at 8:19 am
I had a buddy in 2AD (what was left of it) at the begining of Desert Storm, they were deactivating and still had an armored brigade left which they attached to a Marine division. I don’t know which one he was authorized to wear but if it was both I’m sure he would have stuck with Hell on Wheels.
April 1st, 2010 at 9:17 am
We have a ‘patch of the day’ thing going here. You wear your most obscure SSI and then people have to guess what it is and where you got it.
Not completely on topic, but I don’t care-
Who in the **** is making the schedule for the new (not) dress blues combat ID badge thingy. Yes, we already have full color patches ($5.00) we could sew on our uniforms, but now we have an $11.55 metal badge we pin on our pockets.
Notice, however, some major players don’t have one yet, and people with the 735th Industrial Support Dishwashing brigade do?
The Rangers don’t have one yet? WTF?
…and not we return you to your regular scheduled insanity..
April 1st, 2010 at 10:01 am
I saw the same in 2005, National Guard kids wearing a 2nd MARDIV patch. Had to stop and ask them what the frik was going on, they explained to me that they were attached to the Marines out at Haditha and thus rated the patch.
April 1st, 2010 at 2:23 pm
Iron Knight? Sounds like 1-35AR. The wear of the combat patch is for the unit you went to combat with (what’s the term- your parent organization?). In OIF 07-09 the Iron Brigade was under the 3rd ID, 10th MN, 1 AD, 4th ID, and 1 CAV. But we were not authorized to wear 5 different combat patches – just the patch of our DIV -1 AD. I don’t know the circumstances of this SGM. But I saw Soldiers in Afghanistan in 2003 who worked with SF units and got a memorandum from the SF unit authorizing them the wear of the SF patch as a combat patch. Surprised the hell out of me, but they told me it was authorized. 1/1 AD is authorized to wear a unique patch with Marine Expeditionary Force written on it(or something like that) because during their deployment to Ramadi in 2006-2007 they were attached to the Marines. So who knows what this SGM has done. I hope someone finds out. Strike Hard!
April 1st, 2010 at 4:43 pm
The combat patch is not just a “roll your own” deal. Just because your unit was OPCON or TACON to another parent organization you are not neccessarily authorized to wear their patch. Although they don’t appear in your records brief, there should be a copy of your SSI authorization memorandum and an attached battle roster in your actual records (just doesn’t appear in the summary). Those are the rules. If the adjutant does his job, the documents should be submitted for everybody at the end of tour. That being said, it is the individual soldier’s responsibility to ensure their records document the wear of the SSI. Probably not a big deal until you go to a centralized selection board (E7 and above)or someone throws the bullshit flag.
April 1st, 2010 at 4:55 pm
If you want to get technical..
http://www.armyg1.army.mil/hr/uniform/docs/ALARACT%20030-2006.pdf
April 1st, 2010 at 5:16 pm
They guys at Professionalsoldiers.com are 100% on top of possibilities. They will not call someone without cause. THEY ARE VERY THOUROUGH. As such, if this guy was attached to an SF unit then they would know about or find the information. I have been a member on the site for 3+ years so I knwo first-hand that they are sharp.
It is nice to see ‘fakers’ finally get what is due.
April 1st, 2010 at 6:20 pm
No doubt. I don’t know the guy from Adam but trust this site. Just channeling my inner adjutant since there were some misperceptions floating around.
I just don’t get why people have to lie about their service. Every job is important.
April 1st, 2010 at 7:45 pm
Looking at his left shoulder reveals an Airborne and possibly Ranger/Special Forces tabs. He’s seems to be in good company.
On the other hand, that commercial bucket boonie is way outside the regs. As a SGM, he should exemplify the standard.
April 2nd, 2010 at 1:22 am
Yeah, he looks like Bill Murray’s character in Caddyshack. “Oh, Mrs. Green, you’re a tramp… “
April 2nd, 2010 at 7:26 am
“…Cinderella story…”
April 2nd, 2010 at 7:32 am
“…licensed to kill gophers, by the government of the United Nations…”
April 2nd, 2010 at 8:20 am
“….I don’t think the heavy stuff is gonna come down for awhile….”
April 2nd, 2010 at 9:03 am
fm2176 you’re right about the telltale signs. I have a buddy, hit Panama, DS/DS and Somalia as a Marine Riflemanm Afghanistan as an 11B, and Iraq as an intell weenie in Cav SQN. He like to switch patches every hour on the hour.
He sure hasn’t “done much.” He only has three PHs after all. Oh, and a CIB, MC CAR and a CAB.
Me? I’m just proud that I got to serve with men like him.
April 2nd, 2010 at 10:39 am
“…correct me if I’m wrong Sandy, but if I kill all the golfers they’ll lock me up and throw away the key.”
April 2nd, 2010 at 12:50 pm
“I smell varmint poontang. And the only good varmint poontang is dead varmint poontang, I think.”
April 2nd, 2010 at 8:05 pm
“I smell varmint poontang. And the only good varmint poontang is dead varmint poontang, I think.”
Yer a sick man, Lilyea….must be a part of why I like ya! Anywho, as I recall from “old regs” I may legally fly the 1st Cav patch (which I don’t except for on my blog) because the company/battalion either provided Law Enforcement(including Garrison)or Phys Sec (Physical Security, weapons, ammo) for any other company associated with them.
I do however fly the cross pistols with a certain amount of pride. Not everyone can be an MP same as no everyone can be airborne
April 2nd, 2010 at 8:06 pm
“I smell varmint poontang. And the only good varmint poontang is dead varmint poontang, I think.”
Yer a sick man, Lilyea….must be a part of why I like ya! Anywho, as I recall from “old regs” I may legally fly the 1st Cav patch (which I don’t except for on my blog) because the company/battalion either provided Law Enforcement(including Garrison)or Phys Sec (Physical Security, weapons, ammo) for any other company associated with them.
I do however fly the cross pistols with a certain amount of pride. Not everyone can be an MP same as not everyone can be airborne
April 5th, 2010 at 9:03 am
FWIW – the larger issue with this guy is not related to the SF SSI but the fact that the SGM is wearing the SF Tab and has never gone through SFTG/SWCS – he’s a ‘wannabe’!
April 5th, 2010 at 9:06 am
The bigger problem is that he also wears the Special Forces Tab.
April 5th, 2010 at 9:08 am
As SFODA726 noted – The key is the Special Forces Tab (Long Tab) on the left shoulder.
April 5th, 2010 at 4:17 pm
As already stated…the issue is his wearing of an unuthorized badge. “Outing” these posers in as many outlets as possible is one way we keep our collective houses clean.
April 7th, 2010 at 9:47 pm
As others stated biggest issue is he is wearing a Special Forces Tab which he never earned. and is in direct violation of the Stolen Valor Act, and the fact taht he is a SGM.
April 8th, 2010 at 5:49 am
“They’re like the Viet Cong… Varmint Cong!”
April 8th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
He is not SF Qualified, did not earn the tab, he is a fraud, a poser!
April 8th, 2010 at 1:45 pm
“I got to get into this dude’s pelt and crawl around for a few days.”
May 1st, 2010 at 8:27 pm
This Guy is a good story teller. CSM LETULI. HAHA what a fuckin joke. Ask anyone around Bragg.
June 5th, 2010 at 6:00 am
Guys, I have known John from 1984-1992 before I retired. We have serve together at C co 11th SFG until 1990 than transfered to CO B 20th SFG at APHILL Va. Don’t get me wrong he been there as a brother for me. I have known him coming out of the 82nd Division back than. Mission first Family always
June 5th, 2010 at 6:57 am
This morning I have received a telecoms from Stevens about John to all of you that are still listening and reading this messages don’t worried about this let it go. We need to move on and take good care of our families and Be prepare for more upcoming missions cause alot of it is coming your way. John is one of ours, So everyone of you take good care of yourself and be vigilant what ever you do. Ed don’t forget to tell John to give me a call if you talk to him first.
June 5th, 2010 at 8:07 am
Yes I know CSM Letuli he was in CIA,FBI,JSS,DELTA FORCE who cares! The only thing I know he has served multi Combat tours from 1983-Present and serving our Country proud. This is what I knew then from the Special Forces Commands never cares about us. They have treated us like red hair step children. so if you need some information ask your wife where she got her Poon Tang from. Your SF brother suck it!
June 5th, 2010 at 8:10 am
CSM Lopez; with all due respect, would you want to “let it go” if someone was wearing a decoration or tab that they didn’t earn, but you did? Just as with the Ranger tab; should I be able to put it on my uniform, because the unit I was in supported the 1/75th on occasion? I couldnt do it, because I know what they went through to earn it. My conscience wouldn’t allow it for 10 seconds. Just like Airborne wings; should I be able to put them on my uniform, even though I didn’t go to jump school in the military? I did many jumps as a civilian while I was in the military and in fact had more jumps than many soldiers that wore the wings. But since I was jumping with Airborne qualified troops on a Saturday afternoon, shouldn’t I be entitled to put them on?
June 5th, 2010 at 9:13 am
Old Trooper you sound like a crying Officer who cares go ahead and make my day. As far as I can see that’s you but don’t question the CSM because he knows what he’s talking about just don’t hate the player hate the game and please keep on jumping maybe one day you will have a Ranger Tap print on your chest. Oh I am sorry I authorize you to wear a Delta Force black marker too! ish, ish. I think the words is out and all of you that are haters will here it soon. Do you here what I say suck it….
June 5th, 2010 at 9:24 am
You’re an NCO when you write and spell like THAT? Seriously? I’m still having trouble deciphering what you’re trying to say, but somewhere in there I think you’re just excusing bad behavior, which NO NCO worth a shit would do, regardless of the rank of the transgressor.
June 5th, 2010 at 9:30 am
Hey Old Trooper join the 19th SFG or the 20th SFG so we can throw you ass out of the balloon and stick your junp wings in your ass buddy ho ho your mama I got you daddy hanging haters. DO YOU SMELL IT????
June 5th, 2010 at 9:32 am
I am confused.
I tried out for 20th grp at AP Hill in 1997. Great time, but I definitely didn’t have it then.
June 5th, 2010 at 9:37 am
Sorry I just woke up I will do better next time got to go to see my girl friend DO YOU SMELL IT????
June 5th, 2010 at 9:38 am
In case no one has figured it out yet, these are all the same guy;
The IP is coming from Sanford, NC (outside of Fayetteville) and he’s been googling “John Letuli” to get here. I suspect it’s John Letuli himself.
June 5th, 2010 at 9:49 am
Speaking of fucking posers. Not the smartest peanut in the turd, are ya CW3/CSM?
June 5th, 2010 at 9:53 am
Hey F_ _ _ all of you, Who’s give a F_ _ _ leave my BDE CSM alone I am happy as a Ranger because I heard Special Forces f_ _ _ their team mates wife while on deployment that’s really fucked up Infantry lead the way.
June 5th, 2010 at 9:56 am
Yeah, Jonn, I figured it out before I even wrote my first response. The round of responses I got in return show that whomever it is that is writing them is about 12 years old, or has the mental capacity of a pre-teen wannabe.
June 5th, 2010 at 10:01 am
I guess he has MPD – Infantry has the same IP address as all of the other guys. There’s certain kind of crazy that spends 4 hours googling his own name and creating screen names to defend himself. Of course, there’s always the possibility that all of the people above were at a down-low sleepover and used the same computer.
June 5th, 2010 at 11:04 am
Teh stoopid is strong with this one.
June 5th, 2010 at 12:38 pm
AP Hill… Yuck. During my enlisted days I stayed at the enlisted barracks at Benning’s airborne school (for those that were there over the last decade you know what I’m talking about). Fort Campbell and Iraq later, AP Hill still for whatever stands out to me as crappiest of them all.
Sorry, navigating through the lame sock puppet antics only focused me on the rare AP Hill reference.
June 5th, 2010 at 4:33 pm
Funny how North Carolina National Guard SGM John Letuli (by the way is that your real name, Letuli?) has not told me he’s going to sue me for defamation, cause one of us is a liar and a scumbag.
Do you hear me you spineless punk?
Why don’t you sign up at ProfessionalSoldiers.com and make these same comments, there’s a few hundred “real” Green Beret wearing soldiers that need a laugh.
The next story we break is going to be about the Sr Samoan Army Enlisted that KNEW you were a fraud and a liar and allowed you to stay in uniform anyway, yeah, they are next.
Have a good day you spineless coward.
Team Sergeant
Master Sergeant
Special Forces (ret)
June 5th, 2010 at 4:55 pm
CPT Me,
AP Hill has its pros and cons over Pickett, I trained at both (usually AP Hill) while in The Old Guard. AP Hill has its little shoppette and that’s it. We’d have to drive off-post for anything else, and Bowling Green is not very big. The barracks were older and not very conducive to privacy but at least the toilets had stalls. No doors, but a poncho fixed that for those that cared.
Pickett is a ARNG base since BRAC de-federalized it. It at least had a theater and bowling alley along with a slightly larger PX and Blackstone is a bit bigger than Bowling Green. Then again, the barracks at Pickett are even more primitive than AP Hill. No dividers in the toilet area.
As for the CSM, whoever keeps posting the comments from the same IP, keep it up. It is keeping me amused, at least.
June 6th, 2010 at 7:09 pm
He is still a POS, hope they slam his ass.
fucking Poser, dirt bag.
June 8th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
I know John, I deployed with him, by reading some of those comments with same IP Address it sounds just like him. Favorite saying he always says *suck it* He was great NCO while on deployment he stood up for alot lower enlisted.. but if what is said here is true that hes a poser and liar then he mines as well go stick his head in a hole or something.. what a disgrace to the Army and national guard itself.. Ive ask around no one knows where he is last time they checked he was doing medical evalutaions up in Virginia.. (crazy)
June 8th, 2010 at 6:03 pm
Before you attempt to beat the odds, be sure you could survive the odds. Some people dream of success while other people live to crush those dreams. For every winner there are dozens of lossers, “opos are you one of them” You aren’t going to be able to do it, no matter how hard you try, so why bother??
June 8th, 2010 at 7:25 pm
For all of you second guessers…UCMJ Article 134 Wearing of Unauthorized Decorations- it’s cut and dried. This is not a “pick and choose military” on what we can wear whether it was earned or not. Busted! Now throw the book at him. The higher up you go… the higher the standards! What a moron!
June 8th, 2010 at 7:26 pm
Wise words from the California Department of Corrections. Let me guess which side of the wall you’ll be sleeping on tonight.
June 10th, 2010 at 10:54 am
You know…Like right in front of you. Whats the worst that could happen?? “WHARRGARBL” It’s just like that intense. Will not end well. A few harmless flakes working together can unleash an avalanche of destruction. No matter how bad you think you’ve got it. Someone always has it worse. Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. But it rocks absolutely too. Never assume that just because someone holds a license, they know what they are doing. The journey of thousand of miles sometimes end very very badly. Don’t you get it now??
June 10th, 2010 at 10:59 am
Capital of California, aside from typing mindless incoherent drivel, is also using the California correctional system’s internet, we can only guess whether Mina Seumanu goes home at night or not.
June 10th, 2010 at 11:20 am
Its like some weird code for the frnch resistance. I think he’s telling us to meet aty midnight to blow up the nazi bagel station.
July 1st, 2010 at 9:24 am
I really just can’t believe all that I am reading about John Letuli… Even some of the people that have personally known him have had disrespectful things to say. I spent 6 years under John Letuli and I honestly cannot say that I believe one word of any of whats being said. The comments that have posted from the same IP address, probably the recruiter on-site at the Sanford National Guard Unit, Delta Co. 30th CAB (919)776-1212, get to calling and talking junk. Set up a face to face, ask these questions to the man… If he is deployed, interview his wife, his son is a pro football player. Call him and request an interview. All of this guys info concerning civilian life is public domain. I’m not trying to be sly here, but its fairly easy to do what we are doing right now on this computer, when a minute portion of these bloggers know the man, have served with the man and know his family. I havent seen or talked to John in over 2 years, but he is the real deal. No, I dont have copies of any of his records, but I have sat in his home and office enough to see proof of everything you are questioning here. He was SF at one time, and yes, he has been involved in many conflicts from Panama, Grenada, Bosnia, to Iraq. There isnt any one of you that could possibly think that one man alone can fool the entire military and continue on with a 30 year career with nothing but promotions. Does everybody in uniform just love him so much they will put their career on the line, lie for him, forge documents, all over an SF Patch?
July 1st, 2010 at 9:46 am
“No, I dont have copies of any of his records, but I have sat in his home and office enough to see proof of everything you are questioning here.”
What did it look like? I’m having a hard time imagining what kind of “proof” you could see just sitting in his home and office, that wasn’t his records. Are we talking medal citations or pictures of the SGM in camo paint which he said were taken during his SF days? (Not that both couldn’t be faked, but one would be more compelling than the other).
July 1st, 2010 at 10:55 am
I’m with Scott here. Using your style of argument I would also ask; ‘Would a man as professional as the SGM is supposed to be, have records that were so incomplete that they didn’t include some of his most important training and affiliation information?’ Personally I think not, and in the absence of evidence to the contrary I think the SGM is one of a particular breed of soldier I have unfortunately had contact with frequently during my career, a dissatisfied poser.
July 1st, 2010 at 12:36 pm
WOW,
Special Forces Military Freefall wings, Purple Heart! What a hero!!!!!
(What is that above the Purple Heart? I cannot make it out? I need a High Definition copy of that DA photo!!!!!)
Well, except this liar has never been assigned to Special Forces, never went through the Special Forces Qualification Course, and has never gone to Military Freefall MFF school (we know, we checked the “book”.)
We had an update that this coward & scumbag was seen yesterday on Ft. Bragg wearing CSM rank.
July 1st, 2010 at 12:44 pm
“What is that above the Purple Heart?”
Could only be the Soldier’s Medal, unless he’s wearing it out of order. Nothing else higher than PH with quite that color scheme.
July 3rd, 2010 at 6:55 pm
I have sat with John also….I’ve seen his records…nothing he wears is true…I’ve talked to him about the lies, and he would never answer. I did all this in 2001. I reported him, and the Battalion, and Brigade did nothing. He is a fake, has always been a fake and always will. He also claims to me a Prince, and pro-power lifter.
July 6th, 2010 at 7:17 pm
This is crazy… there isn’t a chance in the world you sat down with Letuli and “talked to him about his lies.” That’s the most fraudulent statements yet! Anybody that even knows the guy knows you dont sit down and talk to him about shit, its the other way around. This guy comes out of the blue and says he “has seen his records.” Yah fucking right… I find it hard to believe that a single man can defy these thousands of peoples voices online with high connections and friends, much less the countless special forces brass that encounter John daily… The notion that you, a single person, checked the “book” and can blog about it is highly unlikely… If you know somebody and checked up on John, you wouldnt say so online because you are going to have to reach for that info, not just National Guard buddy… It is 2010, if he is not authorized to wear the patch in any way shape or form, then why is the man steady climbing rank like it’s nobody’s fucking business? 2003 Ssgt Letuli/ 2010 CSM Letuli… Think about it.
July 6th, 2010 at 7:25 pm
and a picture with Noriega…
July 7th, 2010 at 11:00 pm
DUexposedsoldier, the Samoan SGM, fake and fraud known as letuli has been busted, he’s done, this is a fact. What we do not know is why he’s not currently in jail, but we’ve heard rumor the bottom feeding scumbag is playing the “I’m mentally ill” card and because of that no one will throw him in prison, for now……
We’re onto you letuli, you samoan coward and bottom feeding scumbag, your name and picture will live on in infamy. You may play the I’m mentally ill card but it will not cut it with us, you will always be the samoan scumbag coward.
July 8th, 2010 at 3:25 pm
Well buddy, your “facts” must be bullshit, b/c I called battallion and talked to him yesterday dick. He’s at the Fayetteville Armory, HHC, 30th CAB. Call the fucking switchboard in Raleigh and asked to be transferred, it’s just that easy…
July 8th, 2010 at 3:38 pm
And if it does somehow “come out” that he is a fraud is some way, then you might tighten up your postings. People put him where he is today, not him alone. Stop associating Somoan with scumbag for that purpose… Your hatred for him should also fall on the countless soldiers that took the oath just as you may have, but allowed, and possibly even pursuaded a fruadulant situation to continue and grow. There are high ranking brass that john is very friendly with, not just in nc. Embassy work in a war zone provides for many avenues of escape if the situation in ones personal life may occur, especially when your pal Paul Bremer will take care of things… And that wasn’t a joke… If anything does come out of this, you wont know it, and neither will I. If you do know something, it’s only what they want you to know.
July 8th, 2010 at 5:43 pm
I suppose we’ll have our answers as soon as he’s retired and his full records are available under the Freedom of Information Act. He can’t keep this stuff buried forever.
July 8th, 2010 at 6:10 pm
I think a certain Army SGM is hearing footsteps, and is trying desperately to find a hidey-hole.
Time to man-up, SGM. There’s no place left to run and hide.
July 8th, 2010 at 8:14 pm
I just do not understand why you think he is “running and hiding”… The man works at the Fayeetteville Armory and on Ft. Bragg, everyone sees him. He is hiding from nobody. Still in his same position at Batallion. You guys are a joke. I’m just some guy that happened upon this board googling several of my former units members… I had not talked to him in over two years until I read these message boards and within 3 days I had his home phone number and address as well as 4 digit extension at Batallion. I have talked to him, he is there everyday. Man up, do something, put the keyboard down and stop waiting for uncle sam to take action. If you feel so strongly about it, use your resources to find the man you hate so much, and speak your mind to him. This text on the screen is meaningless in his realm. You are nothing but an IP address until you are boots on ground in front of the issue, handle it my boy.
July 8th, 2010 at 8:23 pm
The Freedom of Information Act dont mean shit if you know the right people. You people are going to drive yourselves crazy over this… It’s so funny because if you knew the guy and everyone he knows, you might realize you are in for the long haul if he is guilty. You think you can just submit a paper to the government and the will give you what you ask… funny stuff people.
July 12th, 2010 at 11:46 am
POWNetwork is also on the case:
http://pownetwork.org/phonies/phonies1226.htm
July 12th, 2010 at 12:47 pm
Play with a little more DU there buddy, if you believed half of what you yourself are spouting here you wouldn’t feel the need to defend this guy. Too funny.
July 12th, 2010 at 1:18 pm
DU’s last comment reads like every e-mail ever sent to POW Network by arrogant outed fakers.
July 12th, 2010 at 2:50 pm
Nah, you both are far off course… All my comments read like a veteran who worked very closely with this guy, and is really just astounded by the “news”. You might think what I say is bullshit, but hey, we did do security for Paul Bremer on our first deployment. We escorted him and other diplomats from the airport down rt irish, to the greenzone, then the embassy… But hey, since the shit is so unbelievable you must have had a lousy enlistment, or have never done anything you thought was important in a worldly view. As much as I dont want to believe it, everything you have said prior to me joining this board might be truer than not… I contacted several other soldiers who work at brigade level, and nobody will even say a word about john… I have been hung up on and told to mind my own business. I’m just having trouble grasping the reality of the situation, but you can gladly go fuck yourself Jacobite. What I say is unbelievable to you because you are a nobody in the military and a nobody in life. That comment summed up the type of human you are. Everyone else, i apologize for defending a man that very well might be a fraud. But Jacobite, you are a piece of shit. Talk shit about Depleted Uranium if you want, you may know a 26 year old Veteran one day who is dying of cancer too… There are a lot of young soldiers coming home with depleted uranium toxicity and then getting some of the rarest forms of cancers, then dying. Live this situation Jacobite, then you will see how the unbelievable becomes very true. I have been trying for a year now to obtain my gamma radiation levels on paper, no go. Not going to happen. When I hired a private attorney and filed a claim about the matter, the VA just connected me at 100% totally disabled, unknown illness and set up a followup appointments 14 months from now. I have cancer, it is documented, but the VA already awarded me at 100% unknown, so now I’m locked out of being connected and compensated for 100% disablity related to DU… The system is working in this manner for a reason, they want the soldiers to die before they have to award them monsterous amounts of money for an illness the DOD says cant come from DU… Think; agent orange being denied as a cause of cancer for 10 years before soldiers started being awarded compensation for cancer related to agent orange. Big government is full of conspiracy, mistruths, and fraud. John Letuli may be a walking testament to that…
July 12th, 2010 at 2:56 pm
Paragraphs. They are your friend. Use them. And oh yeah–looks like your boy Letuli already has at least one IG investigation against him, and will soon be having at least one more.
July 12th, 2010 at 3:19 pm
Yah, I didn’t realize it was going to look that way on screen, I use voice to text, sorry. He’s not ‘my boy”, just a member of my previous unit. I’m sure he has IG Complaints against him, some of these boards online date back to 2006. It is 2010 and the IG still has their hands full? Come on now, 4 years to investigate fraud, they bust people in days or weeks if it simply a paperwork issue to prove the fraud. If it is true, doesn’t it make you wonder why he is getting away with it?
July 12th, 2010 at 3:21 pm
DUexposedsoldier: John Letuli does not work at the Fayetteville armory has never work at the Fayetteville Armory and is currently still on title 10 Active duty orders pending this investigation. YES, I have seen his records looked at his DD 214 from 1983, and looked at his enlistment documents from 1989 into the National Guard. He got off active duty as a E3 in 1983, joined the Army Reserves in 1985, made E4, joined the National Guard as a E4, went to 19K school, PLDC, and BNCOC in the National Guard. Then he was hired in 1999 or 2000 AGR E6, then went to Active ANCOC. He was promoted in 2001 or 2002 to SFC, then in 2005 or 2006 was promoted to MSG. Tell me this: how does a E4 go to Special Forces School, jump master, pathfinder, HALO, air Assult, and Ranger School all within 1983-1989 as a E4. His DD 214 shows that he went to Jump school in 1980. He has pictures in his office of that, but nothing else from any other school. you said “This guy comes out of the blue and says he “has seen his records.” Yah fucking right” guess what I have. I know more than the average person.
July 12th, 2010 at 4:03 pm
19K? He was an airborn assault tanker? Dang, I always wanted to do that…
July 12th, 2010 at 4:16 pm
#81
Bwaahahahaha, whatever. I’ve lost both friends and family to cancer, I’ve also lost friends and family to other un-natural and natural causes, including various chemical exposures in Vietnam. Go cry in someone else’s beer. You want to wish me ill? Fine. I accidentally handled expended DU rounds on two different occasions while over there, I also slept in the powdered remains of tons of asbestos on more than one occasion, so did the majority of soldiers I served with, so maybe you’ll get the opportunity to piss on my own premature grave, but here’s a difference between you and me, I don’t go around using a moniker that screams ‘feel sorry for me’. And while I could, I don’t ‘name drop’ in an effort to inflate my self importance in the company of strangers. In contrast to your uninformed opinion of me, I’m very, very pleased with my career, and very happy with the contributions I made over the course of 20+ years in uniform, and it is in fact that which leads me to be angry as hell with two bit posers who inflate their image based on the deeds of greater men than me, who’s feet said posers are not fit to wash.
I’m a nobody in your estimation? Watching how you have comported yourself here, the ease with which you apparently allowed yourself to be hoodwinked, the difficulty you have in letting go of a cherished fantasy in the face of damning evidence, and seeing as how you have no idea who I am or what I’ve done, you’ll pardon me if your estimation fails to impress or upset me.
July 12th, 2010 at 4:26 pm
#85
Heheheee. Well dang it, wish they had offered that to us 19Es back in the day…………. lol
July 12th, 2010 at 4:41 pm
Well obviously you have achieved filling up more of the screen than me, but I could care less. You write so well. It was actually a very nice read… Yah, evidence does seem damning and credible.
July 13th, 2010 at 4:46 pm
Let’s see, in our individual posts you used approximately 1524 words to my approximately 438 words, but I ‘achieved filling up more of the screen’ than you? Ok……………………
Thank you for the compliment otherwise.
October 11th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
Looks like CSM Letuli is still wearing everything on his uniform that has his face on this blog. Yes, he still has his rank and NO, nobody is going to do anything about it. None of you nor anybody you know can or will do anything about it. He WILL retire with full benefits and zero action taken against him over these claims. It’s to the 33rd Degree, even in Somoa.
October 13th, 2010 at 1:25 pm
Just wanted to add my two cents: I worked with SGM Letuli during both the 30th HBCT’s 2004 OIF tour and the 2009 OIF tour.
During the OIF 2004 tour, he was a E-7. I remember him being a good mentor and senior NCO. Remember, most of the junior NCO’s at that time (at least in this particular unit) had no real experience since the war was just starting. During the most recent tour he was a staff SGM for the BDE and although he tried to come off hard he still was a good mentor to many young soldiers.
Regardless of whether or not his tab is real; he did do some outstanding things with younger and junior soldiers; and for that he can be commended.
Now, as for his tab(s) issue(s); I do not know. I’ve heard it both ways. In fact, I’ve just been recently told that he has been demoted to E-8; but again this is all here-say.
Earlier in the thread, people were discussing the SSI-FWTS (combat patch), and how you can wear that even if you didn’t serve with the unit; and how that applied to the Tab. For those who are reading this thread and don’t understand; unit patches are just that; they are temporary and change with the unit of assignment-however a soldier can wear the combat patch of a unit that he/she deploys with permenantly if awarded the SSI-FWTS. Tabs, badges, medals and ribbons are permanant awards that once received are always worn. So in short, no, you can not get to wear the TAB if you were in a unit. The TAB is earned, permanently, by completion of a special skill school.
October 15th, 2010 at 11:33 pm
I sent email to deaddrop@professionalsoldiers.com just want to make sure somebody reads it, the email provides additonal info pertaining to the CSM Letuli SF qualifications so to speak, I am sure sooner or later cause i am still in the service i ll be questioned if you know what i mean, let it be known i am the type that has nothing to hide.
November 14th, 2010 at 8:30 am
I know this man since 1983.
November 26th, 2010 at 1:10 pm
Funny, you can tell when Letuli is pretending to be someone else…his written English is slightly off and all of his verbage looks the same.
Hey Letuli you Ahole, from a qualified SF CSM to a poser, get a freakin life and why not use your original name….
November 27th, 2010 at 12:36 am
Like many have said, Letuli will just walk. A SGM wearing awards and decorations he never earned. He is not SF Qualified, never attended the Q course but likes the look.
The NC Guard will not uphold any standards in this regard I suspect because many in that unit do the same thing and they don’t want any type of investigation.
November 29th, 2010 at 1:12 pm
To “Rob” what part of “North Carolina National Guard john letuli the Samoan Coward” has NEVER been assigned to a “Special Forces” unit don’t you understand? (or are you actually “Jonn Lilyea” aka the coward john letuli?)
@DUexposedsoldier: Do you need more proof?
Another fraud exposed. (A Special Forces tip, don’t wear medals you didn’t earn!)
http://www.military.com/news/article/senior-nco-busted-for-unauthorized-medals.html
http://www.pownetwork.org/phonies/phonies1226.htm
November 29th, 2010 at 3:23 pm
” (or are you actually “Jonn Lilyea” aka the coward john letuli?)”
Huh???
November 29th, 2010 at 3:40 pm
Team Sgt: “Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?”
Jonn: “Germans?”
TSO: “Forget it, he’s rolling.”
December 1st, 2010 at 8:27 pm
I’ve been reading the traffic about CSM Letuli, and what is the most disturbing thing to me, aside from the fact that he is walking around wearing accolades he may not have earned, is that now this has given the NC National Guard a bad rap. I was on this last deployment with the 30th BCT in Iraq, and knew people that spoke highly of CSM Letuli. I’m not surprised in the least that the senior leadership of the NCNG will sweep it under the rug, because one thing they excel at taking care of their own..”the good ole boy” system is strong here. As a junior NCO, it just makes me more ashamed to call myself a guardsmen, which is why I’m looking to get out of the guard and go Civil Affairs. Its not hard to make your own “paper” career, because there’s NO oversight whatsoever in the guard.
December 2nd, 2010 at 11:55 am
I can’t reconcile this quote:
“Regardless of whether or not his tab is real; he did do some outstanding things with younger and junior soldiers; and for that he can be commended.”
Yeah, justify unethical practices by providing anecdotal evidence about how good he is with Soldiers.
It’s like saying,
“Yeah, he might be a pedophile…but damn it, he loves the kids.”
December 3rd, 2010 at 12:43 am
All: this guy is a loser. Letuli is an NCO who has lied and failed himself and everyone around him. He is a disgrace and a sorry NCO. His spelling is 3rd grade for an American. I have worked with foreigners and 3rd world nationals with better spelling. He is a sorry excuse for a man; let alone a NCO. Mentoring? What can we all learn from a pathological liar? Next thing he would have done is screw his subordinates? His lazy and sorry 3rd world attitude in a modern world are incompatible. Go back to where you came from and rot. You have further eroded the NCO corps with you sorry standards.
December 3rd, 2010 at 2:12 pm
Really, Is that what the 1st Amendment cover for Professional Soldier’s? This SOLIDER, who may well be a father, son, husband, brother, and friend to many is in the middle of a dessert fighting for freedom and safety for you reporters to have your 1st Amendment rights and the best you can call news is to tear a SOLIDER down for wearing a patch for serving what his country, our freedom, and possibly his life. Does the rank miss leading or not make a difference if he is fighting this war? does he get paid more for it? do his children miss him less? will his life mean more or less if he loses it for you? Some of these comments are a waste of space and time. Can you honestly say that a patch or the color of his skin make a difference if he is out there away from his family, his children & friends making and income that can never measure the worth of this man. To have pathetic home bodies, has been’s scare the spirit of this SOLIDER. YEah, get off of your little job, go home, to a warm meal, kiss your wife and your kids goodnight and thank GOD their’s a SOLIDER like him guarding your gates and then ask is this freaken patch worth it?
December 3rd, 2010 at 2:23 pm
Like the man said, 3rd grade spelling. I’d love to know where the last post originated.
Just sayin.
December 3rd, 2010 at 2:35 pm
#102,
I doubt anyone here will detract from whatever sacrifices Letuli has made in the past, but consider the following quote: “It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it.”-Benjamin Franklin
Most of us one here have served or are serving. As a junior NCO I realize that there is no excuse for a failure to uphold to adhere to the standard. I guess my honorable service in Iraq gives me the right to just throw on whatever patch I want so long as I am willing to deploy again, in your world at least.
I can respect the rank, but in the case of this sorry POS I cannot respect the man. I have buried men who were not even old enough to buy cigarettes, much less achieve the rank of SGM. Even a Future Soldier awaiting their ship date knows not to claim something they have not earned. Letuli has stained the NCO Corps and is a discredit to the uniform.
December 5th, 2010 at 5:29 pm
Ref: Post 102
In the middle of a “dessert”? Really? In the middle of a big old dessert? What, a hot-fudge sunday from Dairy Queen? Letuli…learn to spell…CAN YOU SMELL IT?
December 5th, 2010 at 6:37 pm
The Rock is cooking dessert?
February 12th, 2011 at 4:57 am
For those defending him, sure he may have been a soldier but if one is a soldier that needs to embellish on his own medals, badges, and patches. He does not deserve to be a soldier at that. I served with the National Guard for a short period and would NEVER even think of adding items to my uniform that I did not earn. I apparently have a conscience.
This is disgusting who the fuck cares if he was overseas he was a CSM over there working as what a desk jockey such a sacrifice… not. Those that you should be defending are those who have actually earned the right to wear and display the medals, badges, and patches in which he is falsely wearing. His act takes away from what honor and respect those fighting men and women have earned.
Sure defend a coward and a proven lair but you are taking away from those that are Heroes and professionals.
To the real soldiers fighting overseas
Hooah and take care brothers and sisters
May 11th, 2011 at 6:22 pm
What a shameful way to live! I’ve known John Letuli for many years and always knew something was not right about his stories but could not quite put my finger on it. Now outcomes the truth. Not only has he proven to not having any honor or integrity but he has shamed his family as well. How can you do that to your children? Apparently quite easily. I think that the “dead horse” has been beaten enough on his embarassment to the military, the NCO Corps, etc. The fact of the matter remains that the NC National Guard needs to take a great portion of the blame as well. Why? You ask? Because having spent sometime in the 30th BCT myself I know alot of the way they operate. The majority of them, not all, are an embarassment to the military they pretty much run the organization they want to and thrive on the “good ol’ boy” network. They are undisciplined and would not know a military regulation if it slapped them. No, I am not a disgruntled employee, LOL, just stating the facts. That should pretty much sum up why John Letuli has gotten away with what he has for so long.
August 30th, 2011 at 5:54 pm
I agree with the last comment. Beating the man down is over and done with. As time has past since the initial investigation, many of you locals that have been or are involved with the 30th BCT, already know that this has been swept under the rug. I am a Sanford, NC local and the last time I saw John a few months back, he was still CSM, in uniform and working full-time for the NC National Guard. There are many people above him whom are just as guulty, but remain hero’s or respected leaders in your eyes. The whole situation was just the “good ol’ boys” getting caught up in favors for friends…
September 28th, 2011 at 12:21 pm
I am now in the unit this guy was the 1st Sgt back in 2008 and 2009 for the train-up. The guys say he was a good first sergeant but that doesn’t matter he completely disregarded the army values and the fact the NC National guard did basically nothing is very disturbing. But they did what they do best, covering up and looking out for their buddies.
This is an embarrassment to the 30th BCT but not surprising. That’s why I am getting out next year, it is just a good ole boy club. I don’t consider myself a disgruntled employee but as a Junior NCO their actions against Letuli (or lack thereof) gives me no faith in their leadership ability. And supposedly this guy still works at the NC Military Academy on Butner Rd.
February 3rd, 2012 at 7:10 pm
Iron Knight the only group I know of who went to combat with 1AD in the time frame you speak of was 1st brigade who’s orders were cut by 3rd ID, and since I was in first armored but was pinned for my CMB by the 3rd ID division commander I sometimes will choose to wear that patch, and yes I actually worked with the 1/30th and yes I feel I’m more than authorized.
March 10th, 2012 at 6:36 pm
For all of you pieces-of-shit that are defending Letuli, I’d like to give you all a big FUCK YOU! I don’t give a flying fuck if you were friends w/ him or how “good” of a “leader” he was. The fact is that he was NEVER an SF soldier & that he’s NEVER earned the right to wear the Special Forces tab.
March 10th, 2012 at 6:44 pm
And for ANYONE else who’s wondering why he hasn’t been properly punished is b/c it goes way deeper than just Letuli. A big chunk of his fucking guard unit is in on it & that’s why all the bullshit that he’s done has been swept under the rug. Also, a big chunk of the asshats in the guard unit that he belongs to all have dirt & they’re all doing damage-control by giving Letuli a slap-on-the-wrist punishment so that they themselves don’t get investigated. And once again, for all of you that are defending Letuli, I’d like to give you all a big FUCK YOU!
March 13th, 2012 at 3:48 pm
The background appears to be a DA photo. Ok, he can fake the picture, how in the hell do you get the shit onto your OMPF??? I have a feeling this guy has faked his way right up to the CSM ranks! And as many of you have already stated, there is nothing more upsetting that seeing a reservist with an active duty combat patch. What is wrong with wearing your own patch? Don’t you have any pride? I once saw an 82d snatch the AA patch off a reservist and told him “go ahead and get it back”. It was classic!
March 15th, 2012 at 9:00 am
[...] he didn’t earn. Our buddies at Professional Soldiers alerted us to the case just days before my post two years ago. Of course, Letuli had defenders in that post (one of whom we suspect to be Letuli himself), so [...]
June 19th, 2012 at 7:40 pm
I read this whole episode about John Letuli, and it saddened me of the fact that some of you are caliing him the Samoan coward. Please Samoa is the name of the islands far in the Pacific and I don’t think it’s people are cowards. Maybe John is but please leave aside the name Samoa.
June 19th, 2012 at 8:01 pm
A concern citizen: if you’d bothered to read a bit more carefully, you’d have noticed this comment thread had been dead for 3+ months – and the comments you find objectionable were over 2 years old. All you’ve done here is bring them to the forefront.
And remember: it was Letuli who dishonored his heritage – not those commenting here.
June 20th, 2012 at 7:20 pm
Thanks Hondo, I fully agree with you. I am also a retired paratrooper and I know exactly why everyone were upset. I hope the matter is dealt with and for everyone to move forward.
July 28th, 2012 at 7:45 pm
I had the unfortunate pleasure of serving with SM Letuli during the 2008 train up for the 30th HBCT’s deployment to Iraq from 2009-2010. He was a good person, but quite frankly a shady soldier. He had a tendency to create false stories in which he implicated his false qualifications, in a unconscious effort to boost the morale of his soldiers.I was always leary of him, and spoke to several other soldiers who did not believe that he had acquired such qaulifications. SM Letuli was promoted to SM during the train up while in mississippi at camp shelby. He was then moved to battalion as the operations SM. During the deployment, he was very rarely seen as if he was constantly hiding from the people who knew he was a poser. He is completely and utterly a disgrace to men and women that wear the uniform. He has brown nosed his way to success by pencil whipping military award documents and creating a false resume for himself. Lets see how far he gets now.
July 28th, 2012 at 7:46 pm
I had the unfortunate pleasure of serving with SM Letuli during the 2008 train up for the 30th HBCT’s deployment to Iraq from 2009-2010. He was a good person, but quite frankly a shady soldier. He had a tendency to create false stories in which he implicated his false qualifications, in a unconscious effort to boost the morale of his soldiers.I was always leary of him, and spoke to several other soldiers who did not believe that he had acquired such qaulifications. SM Letuli was promoted to SM during the train up while in mississippi at camp shelby. He was then moved to battalion as the operations SM. During the deployment, he was very rarely seen as if he was constantly hiding from the people who knew he was a poser. He is completely and utterly a disgrace to men and women that wear the uniform. He has brown nosed his way to success by pencil whipping military award documents and creating a false resume for himself. Lets see how far he gets now.
July 28th, 2012 at 8:09 pm
11 Bushwhacker: you might want to follow the link in comment 115 above. Bottom line: he didn’t retire as a SGM.