CSM John Collier; Facebook commando
Craig sent us another Facebook commando by the name of John Collier. I’m sure he has some time in the Army, but not enough to know what he’s doing when he puts together his phony finery;
His profile says that he graduated from Purdue University in 1986, but he has hashmarks on his sleeve that add up to 30 years of service – that means he’d finish his service in 2016. Maybe the picture is from the future.
Collier also has a Special Forces tab and a Ranger tab on his left shoulder, but no jump wings. And it looks like he has foreign jump wings over his right breast pocket, but no US jump wings.
I have no idea what the white cord on his left shoulder is, maybe you know, but I don’t.
If the picture was more clear, I’m sure I’d find something else in there. Maybe this will piss off Detn8tr because of the EOD badge, and he can wait until I’m in the office tomorrow to complain. At least there’s no infantry cord or CIB, for a change.
January 2nd, 2013 at 9:03 am
The white cord is what space shuttle door gunners recieve after 6 missions…
January 2nd, 2013 at 9:17 am
In the “takes on to know one” category, on his FB page the “CSM” is sticking up for Sgt/Pvt. Pulsey:
“So I salute you Sgt. Craig Pusley. Thank you!
This is something I would like to see go viral. Let’s stand up and say Thank you to this man who didn’t think twice…he followed his heart and there is no crime in doing that.”
January 2nd, 2013 at 9:20 am
Good grief; the year isn’t even one week old and we already have entries in the next competition?
January 2nd, 2013 at 9:22 am
Scrolling his friends list, he looks like a typical pervert. Also, noticed that he is “friended” with many VSOs. I wonder how many of them have looked at his Soup Sandwich photos. I think I will try to get him to pick up a friend request.
January 2nd, 2013 at 9:29 am
The picture clearly IS from the future which explains the blurry nature of the photo. Inter-spatial photography is really still in its infancy… The glamor shots back ground has been around for ages though.
I notice his pathfinder badge is SLIGHTLY angled… Does this indicate that he THOUGHT about serving in a pathfinder unit but never actually committed?
Clearly a real American hero…. Yo Joe.
January 2nd, 2013 at 9:30 am
That white cord is mine! That son of a nameless dawgwalker stole my aiguilette from my RTC(W) drill team locker!
Where is he!?!?! I’ll yank that phony woollybear right off his flat face.
I want my aiguillette back…now!!!
January 2nd, 2013 at 9:32 am
Jesus, it looks like Walt Disney puked on his chest.
January 2nd, 2013 at 9:44 am
No jump wings but he’s a pathfinder? Don’t think that is possible?
January 2nd, 2013 at 9:45 am
I also like his work experience at Meatball & Cooper’s Grill. Now I’m gonna go out on a limb here, but a person who (allegedly) has a degree from Purdue University, one of the most prestigious Engineering universities in the nation (hell, the world) might be just a wee bit overqualified to be a line cook in a choke-and-puke joint in Missouri.
YMMV.
January 2nd, 2013 at 9:52 am
The white cord looks like our local high school marching band….he looks like a flute player…so probably that explains it.
January 2nd, 2013 at 10:00 am
Checking his timeline, with a Highschool year of ’82, say he graduated at 18, wouldn’t that put him at just under 50 now? Does that photo not look like a 60+ person? Or would that 30 years of service as a “Leg” Pathfinder/Ranger/Special Forces/EOD, cause one to age prematurely?
January 2nd, 2013 at 10:04 am
@8, It is possible to be Pathfinder without jump wings. I was an alternate for a Pathfinder slot a while back and I am not jump qualified.
No Infantry cord or CIB? Thank goodness for small miracles.
January 2nd, 2013 at 10:13 am
I checked AKO for any retired accounts and there isn’t a CSM listed by that name. I figured it was a long shot. He says his dates of service are from 74-05. I could be wrong but isn’t that the World War II Army of Occupation Service Medal he’s wearing? I love he listed the experience of line cook at Meatball & Cooper’s MKT. Who the hell lists that seriously? A 30 year CSM who is a graduate of Purdue University and he is a line cook. I got a feeling only half of that is true. Take a guess which half?
January 2nd, 2013 at 10:17 am
Not to mention he claims to have graduated high school in 1982, so we’re talking about him enlisting around the age of 10.
I know the all-volunteer force was hard up sometimes, but jeez…
January 2nd, 2013 at 10:19 am
As I said on FB to TSO about another phony, but needs repeating; they ain’t even trying, anymore.
January 2nd, 2013 at 10:25 am
WHAT’S UP HIGH SPEED!!!!???
/sheesh
January 2nd, 2013 at 10:28 am
Being in an active Pathfinder unit in Afghanistan, we do in fact have Pathfinder qualified Soldiers who are not jump qualified (you can thank the 101st Airborne’s Pathfinder school where the only prerequisite is Air-Assault). In fact a lot of dudes in the 101st get the school in without jump wings.
January 2nd, 2013 at 10:31 am
10th MTN NCO: the Army of Occupation Medal was authorized for service in West Berlin until 2 Oct 1990. That one could could be legit.
January 2nd, 2013 at 10:45 am
About a third of my pathfinder class wasn’t airborne. And this was 6 months ago. Just means they are the ones calling in the drops and manning the 34ft tower during pre-jump.
January 2nd, 2013 at 11:08 am
I thought I saw watermarks on the pic, but they were reflections. I probably shouldn’t look down on dreamcatchers, but hippies tend to have them.
January 2nd, 2013 at 11:11 am
I see he has a Tomb Guard badge and the silver Schützenschnur also! Also lists the VFW Post 6722 in Lillington NC, anyone near that area to blast this phony!
January 2nd, 2013 at 11:43 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=bCnzi6L_BsM
Great Video!
January 2nd, 2013 at 11:46 am
#20 – don’t you mean skidmarks?
My god, this douche is a shitbag!!!!!
January 2nd, 2013 at 11:50 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=bCnzi6L_BsM
January 2nd, 2013 at 11:57 am
Looks like he’s standing in front of a polished granite, tile wall. It also looks like the pic may have been taken through glass. That one reflected object looks like a Natve American something or other. What a mess.
January 2nd, 2013 at 12:47 pm
The white cord is a badge holder. Keeps all of his swipe cards together, for when he has to enter “secret squirrel” facilities. Not allowed to photograph them, so you tuck them into your tunic.
And the picture was actually taken on an Indian Reservation. It’s a mugshot, from when he got arrested at the casino.
January 2nd, 2013 at 12:48 pm
This clown reminds me of Jon Candy’s get up from “Cannonball Run”.
Turd.
January 2nd, 2013 at 12:51 pm
Its hard to tell, but one of those “pocket badges” look like a Tomb Guard Badge.
Now that pisses me off.
January 2nd, 2013 at 12:57 pm
No CSM would have a molestache that big.
January 2nd, 2013 at 1:02 pm
Unless they are a tanker.
January 2nd, 2013 at 1:04 pm
I see that on his FB page he has the shared picture that is going around defending the phoney Marine Sgt. guarding the school in California. Kind of like “birds of a feather”.
January 2nd, 2013 at 1:09 pm
Is there a chance this is NOT him at all?
Due to some comments above, I looked a bit more closely at this- is this POSSIBLY a picture of a picture?
Would that explain the reflections on the right side of the pic? And that he’s making stuff up about a fictional picture or something?
A fraud inventing stuff about a fake or fraud.. now that’s got karma written all over it…
January 2nd, 2013 at 1:11 pm
Just to play devil’s advocate a bit – if he is wearing his jump wings centered on top of his ribbon stack, they might be under his lapel. AR-670-1 allows soldiers to “left justify” skill badges so they aren’t obscured by the lapel but it does not require them to do so IIRC.
Also the Purdue graduation in 86 doesn’t mean he wasn’t in the army before that. I graduated from the University of Colorado in 2000 at the age of 38.
The white cord looks like something a unit honor guard or flag detail would have used. Since this is a snapshot, not a DA photo, that might be legitimate as well.
I’m not saying the guy’s not a faker, just that there could be legitimate explanations for the items Jonn focused in on. Without seeing his ribbon stack up close and/or more information on his biography, I wouldn’t call him out just yet.
January 2nd, 2013 at 1:27 pm
I asked for and was admitted to the Post 6722 group, and sent them a message asking for clarity on this guy. I wrote:
Hello Post 6722. I asked to join the group, after finding a connection at a Facebook page, so that I could ask Y’all for your input on one John Collier. We who read at the Blog; “This Ain’t Hell”, are having trouble interpreting his ribbon rack, and finding inconsistencies in his timeline of service. A post has been made about him here: http://thisainthell.us/blog/?p=33452, and your input could well square it all away.
We’ll see if the clouds can be cleared from this mess.
January 2nd, 2013 at 1:41 pm
This is real easy.
Run the Tomb Badge number.
Hardest badge to earn next to the Army Astronaut Badge.
Real easy.
January 2nd, 2013 at 1:56 pm
For what it’s worth, here’s what I came up with for the guy’s ribbon rack. Guesses follow “cannot ID” when I could make one that seemed a reasonable possibility.
Top Row: cannot ID (single ribbon, appears partially light blue, can’t see enough to fully ID)
2nd Row: cannot ID (some blue, some white, can’t see enough to fully ID), MSM
3rd Row: ARCOM, cannot ID (maybe AAM?)
4th Row: GCM, AOM
5th Row: cannot ID (no clue), cannot ID (maybe GWOTEM?)
6th Row:
cannot ID (maybe GWOTSM?)NDSM, ASR, OSRBottom Row: cannot ID (NATO?), KLM (Saudi), KLM (Kuwait)
Assuming the unidentified ribbons in the top two rows are (1) in correct order, and (2) have blue stripes as they appear, then they may be a significant issue. There aren’t too many ribbons of higher precedence than the MSM having blue stripes near their edges (or which are mostly blue) that aren’t decorations for valor.
Hat tip to martinjmpr for ID of the NDSM (see comment 65 below).
January 2nd, 2013 at 2:07 pm
Three Things:
1. Looks like he wearing OSD and WH Staff Badges … only issued to those who are permanantly assigned and/or by letter designation. The photo is fuzzy, I could be wrong on the badges.
2. The White Cord is authorized. The White Cord is authorized as appropriate wear, when the following criteria is met: you are a poser; have no idea about uniform regulations; and you have sufficient amount of white rope to fashion your own. The White Rope shall be brainded and tied using pull cords from all the inoperable Briggs & Stratton engines littering your front yard.
3. This guy can’t even wear a neck tie properly!
January 2nd, 2013 at 2:15 pm
Rope Colors:
Best I could come up with:
USAF: White – Chapel Assistant
USA: White – Worn by Ceremonial Horses
So, he was not in the USAF … therefore … he is a horse!
January 2nd, 2013 at 2:18 pm
Hondo: Not sure about the top row medal – could it be a Joint Services MSM? The one below and to the left of the MSM looks like maybe an AFEM. I can’t ID the one in between the MSM and the Army of Occupation medal, looks like it has a lot of brown in it (maybe an ARCAM?) The one at the bottom left looks like the NATO medal we got for Bosnia.
To be honest, nothing jumps out at me that screams “fake” except for the Tomb Guard badge. As @31 says, this appears to be a snapshot of a framed photo – could be somebody snapped a photo of the current or previous CSM of the battalion/brigade and posted it to FB as “his” picture.
January 2nd, 2013 at 2:19 pm
ANNNNd that is one dicked up Shutzenschnurr as we.. I know it was mentioned already, but DAMN.
January 2nd, 2013 at 2:42 pm
The White Cord is the Toudahang. It’s French for “When I get caught, I can use this cord to hang myself with”
January 2nd, 2013 at 2:45 pm
@40, or it can be used to surrender with in a pinch case they are short of white flags.
January 2nd, 2013 at 2:53 pm
@40: Doesn’t look bad to me – that’s pretty much the way I wore mine.
Of course, any good CSM would know that you can only wear one foreign badge at a time which means the foriegn jump wings + schuetzenschnur are a no-go anyway…
January 2nd, 2013 at 2:54 pm
I’m no expert on Army uniforms, but isn’t he wearing the Schützenschnur incorrectly? (It’s on the right shoulder alright, but appears to be mounted inboard, not towards the outside of the shoulder tab as prescribed).
I would think an Army SgtMaj with 30 or so years would know something like that.
January 2nd, 2013 at 2:54 pm
…and before someone says it, there may have been a time when you could wear more than one foreign award at a time but being as how the good CSM has a GWOT badge, this photo was definitely taken AFTER that time.
January 2nd, 2013 at 2:56 pm
@43: To be absolutely correct, yes, the Schutzenschnuer should be worn towards the outside but since the dress green jacket doesn’t have a button there, there isn’t any way to attach it (I guess you could use a safety pin?)
FWIW I’ve seen a lot of folks wear their pretty much as shown in this pic, right or wrong. I think I’ve probably done it myself a time or two when the Shutzenschnuer was the only foreign award I had.
January 2nd, 2013 at 3:01 pm
As # 24 Air Cav points out there is an Indian (Native American) Dream Catcher reflected in and on the glass of the photo. This may add credibility to his claim of being a Pathfinder or the Dream Catcher may be proof as # 5 Bam Bam noted that the photo was taken in the future.
Either way …
January 2nd, 2013 at 3:05 pm
@45 – Got it… understood. Marines don’t wear the Schützenschnur, but soem are authorized to wear a version of the French fourragere if served with 5th Marines.
January 2nd, 2013 at 3:10 pm
Looks like Brit airborne wings:
http://www.durhampra.org.uk/rw_common/images/WINGS.png
January 2nd, 2013 at 3:16 pm
Checking Tomb Guards @ http://www.tombguards.org there is not a John Collier listed. Confirmed, that is a Tomb Guard badge, no blue infantry cord or discs. I forget but the white cords(?)on Right shoulder “looks” like the German Marksman(enlisted)and Left shoulder “looks” like an assignment as a W.H. Aide & Honor Guard (longer white cord designates him as W.H. aide), unit patch appears to be 101st ABN(Yea! the pukin’ buzzards get picked on this time)IF he is wearing CIB, it is hidden underneath the left lapel. Air assault, jump badges…think that is a Vietnam ribbon 2nd row, center.Not familiar with Pathfinders so…
Background shadow (lower) is an entertainment center, square object directly over entertainment center is heater-A/C intake grille and two dream catchers. Individual taking picture is wearing brimmed hat, maybe Panama style, large frame picture on wall to subjects right, this was taken with cellphone camera (smudge outline of phone in hands, arm and elbow positions indicate held at chest high)
January 2nd, 2013 at 3:21 pm
I don’t think he used a photo of someone else and is using that as his profile picture. In his photo album there is a picture of the same guy in what appears to be civilian clothes sitting on a couch.
January 2nd, 2013 at 3:22 pm
Okay, one of you computer wiz kids ‘splain somethin’ to me. There is a secret thread here. Oh, it’s the same as this one except there are only three comments on it. One is mine, one is USMCRet’s, and the other belongs to 10th MTN NCO. All three of us, I’m guessing, clicked on the picture once or twice to enlarge it. We then entered a comment. Those comments can be seen ONLY when I click on the picture again! They do not appear in this thread that you’re reading now. What gives?
January 2nd, 2013 at 3:22 pm
https://tombguard.org/tomb-guards/?q=collier
Only one Collier ever served as a Tomb guard, May 91-Feb 95. His name was Anthony Collier, not James.
January 2nd, 2013 at 3:23 pm
Sorry, Streetsweeper. You’re faster than me.
January 2nd, 2013 at 3:32 pm
@51, It is the new “inbox stuff” topic trying to pull you back in.
January 2nd, 2013 at 3:32 pm
@51 – Same thing would happen if you clicked on Ty Ziegel’s photo. It opens a new discussion thread. Don’t know why.
January 2nd, 2013 at 3:33 pm
Just once, I’d like to see these fakers all be invited to a conference where they can tell each other war stories.
January 2nd, 2013 at 3:43 pm
Wonder what the heck that regimental crest on his right pocket is.
January 2nd, 2013 at 3:44 pm
@54. Nooooooooooooooooo.
January 2nd, 2013 at 3:44 pm
NP Virtual. Going back to look at the photo again I see I missed the stereo system sitting on top of the entertainment center and surround sound speakers mounted up on the wall, LOL!
January 2nd, 2013 at 3:45 pm
@56. A Stolen Valor convention! This is brilliant. Need more details.
January 2nd, 2013 at 3:45 pm
From http://www.mylife.com/csme9
John Collier was born in 1963. John currently lives in Indianapolis, Indiana. Before that, he lived in Indianapolis, IN from 1998 to 2006. Before that, he lived in Whiteland, IN from 2002 to 2008. John Collier attended North Daviess Jr Sr High Sch in Elnora, IN and graduated class of 1982. After high school, he went to Purdue University in W Lafayette, IN. he attended college from 1984 to 1992. He majored in Business. Boston College Law Sch in Newton Center, MA. he attended college from 1992 to 1996. He majored in Law and Legal Studies.
January 2nd, 2013 at 3:46 pm
@49: 2nd row center is the ASR (Army Service Ribbon) AKA “Welcome to the Army” ribbon, AKA “gay pride ribbon” (based on rainbow coloring.) Awarded to all Army personnel who completed initial entry training starting around 1980-81.
The one immediately to the left of that (yellow in the center and red on the ends) appears to be the NDSM, awarded to all military personnel who serve during wartime. Current NDSM period goes from the start of Desert Shield up to the present with no break so, like the ASR, it is essentially an “it-came-with-the-uniform” award.
January 2nd, 2013 at 3:48 pm
Call me jaded but whenever I see a picture of someone with more than 8-10 ribbons, more than two badges one or more cords and more than one tab I think “Poser”. I’m sure there are a few out there, but then again they aren’t pasting their pictures all over facebook.
January 2nd, 2013 at 3:51 pm
On his right pocket, it appears he’s wearing a drill daddy badge, as well. Well, it seems he has all his bases covered, i.e. Tomb Guard, drill daddy, foreign awards, SF, Ranger, EOD, etc.
Yep, I’d say he’s legit.
January 2nd, 2013 at 3:54 pm
#64 OT…is it on some sort of red background, then?
January 2nd, 2013 at 3:55 pm
martinjmpr: thanks for catching the NDSM – not sure how I missed that one. Will edit comment 35 above to reflect that ID.
Minor correction: Desert Shield NDSM period was from 2 Aug 1990 through 30 Nov 1995. Current NDSM period (GWOT) started on 11 Sep 2001.
January 2nd, 2013 at 3:56 pm
He’s listed as a poser on the Home of Heroes site:
http://www.homeofheroes.com/rollofvalor/media_accuracy.html
January 2nd, 2013 at 4:01 pm
VI: Yeah, the backing of the drill daddy badge is green, so I don’t know if it is that, or something else. It sure looks like one, but maybe the lighting is messing with it??
Here’s a pic of the real deal on a real CSM:
http://www.acc.army.mil/command-and-staff/leadership/images/murray_fullres.jpg
January 2nd, 2013 at 4:08 pm
Yeah, Papa Insanity wore one…pretty familiar with it.
I went looking for regimental affiliation badges that looked like it (gold on a red background), but couldn’t find anything close.
January 2nd, 2013 at 4:09 pm
And here’s the result of an FOIA request: http://www.homeofheroes.com/rollofvalor/phonies/records_collier.jpg
January 2nd, 2013 at 4:10 pm
Damn, it looks like this jackass was claiming a DSC, DSM, and 2x SS, 2x BSM, and 4 PHs back in 2007. The claims were BS then; they’re BS today, too. See the link Mustang posted above.
Per Doug Sterner’s site, Collier apparently was a mechanic from 1982-1988. Most of his service was in the RC; no decorations other than an ASR. He was apparently discharged as an E1 after at least 6 years total service (active and RC).
http://www.homeofheroes.com/rollofvalor/phonies/records_collier.jpg
Yeah, this individual looks to be a real “piece of work”. Probable for the “Smelly-16″ of the next SV tourney IMO.
January 2nd, 2013 at 4:10 pm
Mustang gets the gold star!
January 2nd, 2013 at 4:11 pm
Mustang: apparently great minds think alike. (smile)
January 2nd, 2013 at 4:12 pm
Oh look, he’s posting a link over at https://www.facebook.com/VeteranOwnedBusiness.
I won’t post it here but he posted his phone number
January 2nd, 2013 at 4:16 pm
Gotta give the the tool credit for having balls if not brains – apparently his business is in the Fort Bragg area.
Anyone know a good POC with the Fayetteville Observer who might be interested in doing a story giving this guy a bit of “publicity”?
January 2nd, 2013 at 4:26 pm
I just can’t believe this guy has been at it so long. Then again, looks like he only got on FB last year.
January 2nd, 2013 at 4:41 pm
Discharged as an E-1? Quality human all around no doubt…
January 2nd, 2013 at 4:47 pm
We might want some screencaps of his Facebook page. I don’t do Facebook, so I can’t login to access his Facebook page.
Found an address and will be sending a news tip to the Fayetteville Observer about this guy soon.
January 2nd, 2013 at 4:57 pm
You can’t say the Army didn’t give him a chance. Three separate tours, with the longest being 13 months. WTF?
And he was only eight promotions shy of E-9.
January 2nd, 2013 at 5:00 pm
Make sure to get a screenshot of his profile at http://www.vetfriends.com/veterandirectory/?member=1158135 also.
January 2nd, 2013 at 5:07 pm
An article about his ‘second’ Silver Star;
http://www.homeofheroes.com/rollofvalor/phonies/collier_john.pdf
January 2nd, 2013 at 5:14 pm
@81. Holy Hannah.
January 2nd, 2013 at 5:16 pm
My “Holy Hannah” reaction was to kp’s found article regarding Audie Murphy Collier.
January 2nd, 2013 at 5:20 pm
“No regard to his personal safety”
A child wrote his Silver Star citation!
January 2nd, 2013 at 5:20 pm
He’s a member of this VFW: https://www.facebook.com/ErnestSimmonsVfwPost6722LillingtonNc
I’m going to refer them to here.
January 2nd, 2013 at 5:22 pm
@66: Hondo are you sure about the NDSM period ending in 95? I know the Desert Shield/storm ribbons ended about then but I had thought that the NDSM period that began in 1990 never actually ended. For some reason I thought the guys from my USAR unit who were mobilized for Bosnia/Croatia/Hungary in 1997-98 received the NDSM, while I didn’t because I already had one from the same qualifying period. In fact, I had thought that I did not qualify for a BSD (Bronze Star Device – subsequent award) for the NDSM even though I served in both the Afghanistan and Iraqi theaters (actually in Kuwait) for OEF and OIF post-9/11 because the qualifying period was the same.
Or maybe I’m confusing the NDSM with the CIB. IIRC there have only been 4 qualifying periods for the CIB which were (1) WWII, (2) Korean War, (3) Vietnam through 9/10/01 and (4) 9/11/01 to the present.
January 2nd, 2013 at 5:25 pm
Whoops, just googled it, you’re right. NDSM qualifying period ended in 1995. Seems odd to me given that there were so many deployments between 95 and 01 but I guess they didn’t get the NDSM.
January 2nd, 2013 at 5:33 pm
Hunter posted the .pdf file of a newspaper article earlier on the “other” page so it looks like Mustang came in second place.
http://www.homeofheroes.com/rollofvalor/phonies/collier_john.pdf
To get there, click on the picture and another page of 4 comments comes up. That badge on his right pocket indeed looks like he went to Drill Sergeant school.
January 2nd, 2013 at 5:34 pm
Aw, damn
January 2nd, 2013 at 5:35 pm
Sorry for doubling up on ya, kp32.
January 2nd, 2013 at 5:36 pm
“His actions reflect great pride in himself, his country his unit and the United States Army.”
I can’t recall ever reading a Silver Star citation that says the recipient’s actions “reflect great pride in himself.” Usually, it’s a reflection of credit but I guess when you write your own citation you can make it read however you want, eh?
January 2nd, 2013 at 5:45 pm
#81 Mustang: That picture of “him” with his “buddies” looks like a VN setting? The uniform and boots seem so. I didn’t see where he claimed VN service but this is confusing.
January 2nd, 2013 at 5:53 pm
@93 Looking at some of the other profiles on VetFriends, that appears to be the default profile photo.
January 2nd, 2013 at 5:56 pm
@92: Yeah, I caught that too. Great “pride” in himself, his country, his unit and the U.S. Army? Yeah, I guess he takes “pride” in his PX-ranger uniform and fake medal citations, though I can’t imagine why. Maybe he prides himself on his writing skills and/or on his ballsy way of putting every decoration he could find on his uniform?
January 2nd, 2013 at 5:58 pm
@93. Collier just claims they’re his buddies. It’s just part of the ‘build.’ No names, just two pics. Viewer gets to assume he is in one or both pics. Viewer should not do so.
January 2nd, 2013 at 6:03 pm
Actually, streetsweeper, a link which brings up that article is in the article for which Mustang posted the link in comment 68 at 3:56PM.
The first meeting of this clown’s VFW post this year appears to be on 8 Jan 2013. It would seem that this might be a good topic for discussion at that meeting.
Perhaps someone knows how to find contact info for the Post Commander? I’ve come up dry so far.
January 2nd, 2013 at 6:21 pm
I just got a response to my inquiry at the VFW post that he claims as his, and forwarded same to Jonn. They are on this, and will let us know what they find at their end.
January 2nd, 2013 at 6:39 pm
Additional to my #98; Jonn n I have their quartermaster’s contact info. Would love to by a fly on the wall at that meeting.
January 2nd, 2013 at 6:53 pm
Re @64 Just an Old Dog Says: Call me jaded but whenever I see a picture of someone with more than 8-10 ribbons, more than two badges one or more cords and more than one tab I think “Poser”.
My best bud (RIP) only wore 1 ribbon on his uni. But then, it was a DSC.
Maybe Collier would like to comment on last week’s thread re abolishing the CSM positions?
January 2nd, 2013 at 7:54 pm
I have an idea that hasn’t been brought up yet, if he is a poser, as I suspect he is, for his punishment, make him attend the Sergeant’s Major Academy resident course. If that doesn’t make him want to chew on the barrel of a Glock, nothing will.
January 2nd, 2013 at 7:57 pm
Southern Class: good. I had planned to copy the post leadership a version of the e-mail I have queued up for the Fayetteville Observer if I could find their contact info. Sounds like that will be unnecessary.
January 2nd, 2013 at 8:39 pm
Hondo; how about you asking Jonn to share our e-addresses. Might make for less duplication, and we might share some common ground.
January 2nd, 2013 at 8:50 pm
I still shake my head ruefully: how does one go from graduating from Purdue to being a CSM with a DSC and Silver Stars and then a line cook?
January 2nd, 2013 at 8:58 pm
One more observation/conundrum before I quit drinking…for a little bit: My SWAG is that 99.999% of the public doesn’t know about Tomb Guards and 80% of Army Vets don’t either. So, how did Collier dream this up and find a badge? He, clearly, never was one.
January 2nd, 2013 at 9:24 pm
@ #105- That my friend is the $64.00 question. However, I am willing to bet that Mr Collier wasn’t exactly counting on a handful of vet’s that would figure his act out, to come kicking down his front door saying “Surprise mofo!” either. Just saying. B-)
January 2nd, 2013 at 9:24 pm
@105. I guess he thought he was smart for precisely the reasons you stated. Most of us Vets don’t know that badge.
January 2nd, 2013 at 10:05 pm
@106 and 107 — He read about it online or in a magazine like Black Ops, or something like that, thought it was cool, stole my RTC(W) drill team aiguilette, stuck it on his shoulder, cut a set of wings in half (look below his left pocket) and let that woolly bear thingy crawl up his nose.
January 2nd, 2013 at 10:31 pm
# 108Ex-PH2…”stole my RTC(W) drill team aiguilette”
Incomplete post without pictures
!!!. I’m a geezer and can’t find the link…but you lead, for great reasons, the Members Gallery pictured…but no aiguilette is shown. 
January 2nd, 2013 at 11:04 pm
@101/TrapperFrank – “…for his punishment, make him attend the Sergeant’s Major Academy resident course.” That wouldn’t work too well for him. That course would suck whatever amount of intelligence he has out of him resulting in his inability to even know what a Glock is.
January 2nd, 2013 at 11:37 pm
@SJ – yes, but I have a rather large (16×20) print from Bainbridge, with me and the other drill teamers in front, with really bad hair.
January 2nd, 2013 at 11:44 pm
Ya’know, I didn’t even have to read the comments to guess that this douche is a possible fake and fraud. Just to look at him, I NEVER saw ANY SGM or CSM that looked like he’d been beat with the wussy stick. Most NCOs carry themselves with an air, a swagger of confidence. This “person” (and I hesitate to call him even that far up the scale) looks like he just barely crawled out from under a rock, and is looking for any shadow excuse to jump back underneath.
What a slump-shouldered sad-sack.
January 2nd, 2013 at 11:48 pm
Shit he looks like he attended a Star Trek swap !
Turd.
January 2nd, 2013 at 11:59 pm
The foreign “wings” over his right breast pocket aren’t even wings. That’s the cap badge for the British Parachute Regiment, i.e. the device paras wear on their maroon berets. Their parachutist badge has extended, downward swept wings. The metal version authorized for wear by Americans is in bronze, not silver.
January 3rd, 2013 at 12:10 am
Man he was outted in 2007 and posted a picture of himself again on facebook in 2011 WTF does he think noone is watching. I was the one that sent the link to Jonn, Glad I did, I was unaware of his previous douch baggery …
January 3rd, 2013 at 7:07 am
Fuck him.
January 3rd, 2013 at 8:04 am
@70: VI; I am going to go with it. It’s a drill daddy badge. The light reflecting off of it makes it appear to have some red in it, but it’s just the light reflection. That is what I thought it was, at first.
January 3rd, 2013 at 8:25 am
John, I’ve held my composure for a day on this one. Now, I want to pack his ass with just enough C-4 to blow his mind without making his eyes water! Or turning his fifth point of contact into a venturi, being EOD he should know what that is. Better yet, I’d just BIP the poser.
January 3rd, 2013 at 9:05 am
@62 Boston College is miles away from Newton Center, and BC is located in the made up town of Chesnut Hill. All the Bozo’s that went to BC call it that. It is actully in the Brighton section of Boston on the Newton and Brookline borders. What do you expect from a POS anyway. FACTS?
January 3rd, 2013 at 10:13 am
So he claims Law School as well? And still has himself listed as a line cook at said choke-and-puke?
Boys and girls, what we got here is the most edumakated hash slinger in US history. That’s a no-shitter.
Discharged as an E-1 after THREE periods of service, none over 13 months? Oh, I gotta hear this one.
January 3rd, 2013 at 12:01 pm
@Paladin – Please do not insult Star Trek geeks by comparing them with this jester’s bastardo.
Trek people do at least get their uniforms correct, unless they do what I did and make them up out of thin air, and then you can spend the evening at the bar with a phony ID, lying your ass off about getting in trouble with your CO for wearing your Starfleet service dress combat flight suit (with all sorts of fake awards) to a Trek convention.
January 3rd, 2013 at 1:15 pm
Here’s an article that shows his picture a little better that shows him being outed as a poser. Is that a Drill Sergeant badge??? http://www.homeofheroes.com/rollofvalor/phonies/collier_john.pdf
Also, the picture on his FB page is a photo he took of a photo hanging on his wall in his living room. You can clearly make out a pair of hands holding up a camera in the reflection with some sort of curio or knick knack cabinet in the background.
January 3rd, 2013 at 1:17 pm
Oops, I missed that Hondo already posted the link.
January 3rd, 2013 at 1:36 pm
@110: If he graduated from the CSM academy he wouldn’t know how to use a Glock because to him a ‘bullet’ would be something on an NCOER.
He might hang himself with a reflective PT belt though…
January 3rd, 2013 at 3:19 pm
@122: I personally like the dream catcher reflected in the right side of the picture. It lends a certain authenticity to this poser. He’s probably a Native American, too.
January 3rd, 2013 at 3:40 pm
@124 – Very good point.
@125 – I was precisely thinking the same thing about him faking some sorta high-speed/low-drag Native American ancestry line.
I met an older fella years and years ago while I was stationed in Denver, who was the manager of a Midas repair shop there. His co-workers referred to him as “Sarge”. This guy (I forget his name – it was long ago) said he was a retired CSM, MOH recipient, said he was the only white-man allowed to be taught some sort of martial arts in the mountains by Shaolin monks, was Airborne qualified, Ranger, (all the bells and whistles… you know?), was on the “lecture circuit” because of his experience, was an expert at panning gold (made millions doing it) – all the while he managed the Midas store. Come to find out he lived in a beat up Winnebago that was parked in the parking lot next door. AND, of course, he claimed to be “part American Indian”.
He was a liar, too.
January 3rd, 2013 at 4:33 pm
I’ve noticed a weird overlapping of the fake military posers and fake Native American posers. They frequently throw martial arts or “bullshido” into the mix too.
January 3rd, 2013 at 4:47 pm
@114 – Charlie Six, I have British wings from a 1996 exchange with B Co, 1/501st. The metal wings we were given were as you described, downward swept feathers on the wings, but in silver, not bronze. Still, yeah, the device he’s wearing appears on the certificate and berets. It must have been more fun and exotic looking, sort of like the Nike shoelace he’s got going on the left shoulder.
January 3rd, 2013 at 4:56 pm
That is one dejected looking fake.
January 3rd, 2013 at 5:11 pm
Ist Cook….1SG, they can get confusing.
January 3rd, 2013 at 8:47 pm
@128-BK. A bunch of guys from my unit earned British wings during Purple Dragon ’96 (I was not among their number). I recall their wings being bronze, but I stand corrected.
January 3rd, 2013 at 8:53 pm
@127.
“Ranger” Burrell.
January 3rd, 2013 at 9:03 pm
Craig M.: have to say I served with very few soldiers who mistook 1SG for 1st Cook. And those few who couldn’t tell the difference ended up being corrected by the 1SG shortly before they ended up working for the 1st Cook for a while – pulling KP. (smile)
January 3rd, 2013 at 9:31 pm
Make that mistake and the 1SG will introduce you to the “T-Bone”.
An 8 count exercise for you non IN types.
January 3rd, 2013 at 9:57 pm
USMCE8Ret@126, I think that the guy you met was actually Billy Jack.
January 3rd, 2013 at 10:11 pm
Naw… Couldn’t have been Billy Jack. This guy was a total doofus, and just couldn’t pull of the ruse with me. He was more like an indigent homless guy (although he had the Winebago), and looked like he’d slept in his mechanics clothes for 3 days. No self respecing CMS or SGTMAJ I ever knew would stoop so low in life and present himself the way this guy did to us. The whole thing took place prior to the STOLEN VALOR ACT, so there wasn’t much we could do but laugh our asses off.
January 3rd, 2013 at 10:17 pm
Do not knock Billy Jack.
Guy was tough. “Im going to put this boot right here on the side of your head and there is nothing you can do about it”.
And he did.
Roger that.
“Ranger” Burrell,try that.
Turd.
January 3rd, 2013 at 10:33 pm
[...] Our friends over at thisainthell also posted a little something about him here -CSM John Collier; Facebook commando [...]
January 4th, 2013 at 2:35 am
Army of Occupation Medal (White/Black/Red/White). Post World War II period unless you happened to be assigned to Berlin or the Potsdam Mission. Mine is on my 214
January 4th, 2013 at 9:14 am
Hmmmm…he took down his Facebook page now. It’s too bad. He had such a great following!
January 4th, 2013 at 11:08 pm
He also sports a Tomb Sentinel Badge given only to those who walk the mat before the Tomb Of The Unkowns in Arlington. I served in the unit and had and am still in contact with a few sentinels and at least one Commander of the relief. His name is nowhere on the rolls. And since he is not an 11bravoe or a female MP he would never have done so.
January 17th, 2013 at 6:51 pm
“The first meeting of this clown’s VFW post this year appears to be on 8 Jan 2013. It would seem that this might be a good topic for discussion at that meeting.”
The VFW addressed this way before the 08 JAN 13 meeting. FYI, he has been permanently banned from the VFW. This clown s information was pushed up the the national level and no VFW should have to deal with this clown again. But since he is a fraud and a con artist I would not be surprised if he didn’t change his name and fabricate another DD 214. POS, ughhhhh
January 21st, 2013 at 2:10 pm
@141 – Facebook page is still up at the link in the original post. Contacted my news writer buddy. Hoping she will have POC’s at FayObserver or WRAL.
January 21st, 2013 at 3:35 pm
Anonymous (143): FayObs has been notified. However, if your friend does the same, that would probably be good as well.
January 21st, 2013 at 3:36 pm
InYourFace: good to hear. Hopefully the next shoe will drop in terms of the media giving this lying tool and his business some “good publicity”.
January 21st, 2013 at 11:26 pm
John Collier was terminated April 3rd 2012 from the Grill referred to in his Facebook profile.
January 24th, 2013 at 1:32 pm
A couple of notes from VFW post 6722:
(1): Collier is officially persona non grata at VFW Post 6722. Additionally, his actions have been reported to the County Veterans Council and at the District VFW meeting, where we had participation by State Officers, as well as regional VFW Post representatives.
(2): Collier is still in NC. He & his family lead what might best be described as a hand-to-mouth existence. He lives about three miles out of town, and no longer has a car.
I did confront him about the charges against him. He didn’t admit anything. He didn’t deny anything. It’s hard to describe the impression I got from him as I discussed his extravagant claims.
My impression is that he had to have been a military brat. He has fairly detailed knowledge of some installations in Germany, specifically Ansbach and the old NCO Academy at Bad Tolz.
I get the impression that he wasn’t trying to do anything malicious, if he has a ‘master-plan’ it seems to be largely self destructive. I do believe there are a few linkages and relays in his brain housing group that aren’t connected properly.
May 21st, 2013 at 9:38 am
[...] CSM John Collier; Facebook commando [...]