Former Sgt. accused of fake Purple Heart claim

[Vulture6]

Former Sgt. accused of fake Purple Heart claim

By Michael Hoffman - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Aug 19, 2007 9:33:07 EDT
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Topeka, Kan., police captain Ron Brown earned a Purple Heart after he lost a portion of his hearing in both ears when a rocket-propelled grenade exploded next to the Marine reservist’s head outside Fallujah in 2004. So he made sure he was there when former Sgt. Tim Debusk was arrested and charged with forging a Purple Heart citation on May 25.

“I just told him that I thought what he did was despicable, and that I hoped he thought about the guys he disrespected who died for this country over Memorial Day,” Brown said.

Debusk’s trial is set to begin Sept. 7 with a preliminary hearing in Shawnee County District Court, where he is charged with “dealing in false identification documents” and “making a false writing.” If convicted, he could face up to six months in jail and a $5,000 fine under the Stolen Valor Act that penalizes those who claim military awards they didn’t earn.

Marine Corps records show Debusk did not earn a Purple Heart, according to Marine Corps headquarters spokesman Maj. Jay Delarosa. Multiple calls were made to Debusk and his attorney, but neither could be reached by press time. The U.S. Attorney’s office handling the case also did not return calls regarding the case.

Records show Debusk entered the Corps in 1998 as a supply administration and operations clerk and separated from active duty in 2002. He was recalled at the end of 2004.

Debusk’s last duty station was Marine Corps Systems Command in Quantico, Va., where he served until transferring back to the Individual Ready Reserve in October 2005, according to records.

He did earn an Iraq Campaign Medal, although it was unclear from the records when he deployed. Debusk was discharged from the Corps on Jan. 7, 2007, under honorable conditions, according to records.

Retired 1st Sgt. Earl McIntosh, a member of the Topeka Marine Corps League, first reported the forged citation to the Marine Corps Reserve Center in Topeka and local police officials after he received a tip from a source he wants to keep anonymous.

McIntosh said the source handed over the allegedly forged citation to him after it was used to apply for a Purple Heart license plate.

McIntosh sent the Purple Heart citation to Maj. J.D. Lerom, who handles awards for Marine Corps Forces-Central Command’s adjutant. Lerom returned a memorandum to McIntosh stating they had no record of Debusk earning a Purple Heart, according to the document dated March 1 and obtained by Marine Corps Times.

Debusk was also arrested and charged in May 2006 for impersonating a police officer after he pulled over a vehicle and identified himself as a federal officer after flashing a Marine Corps Military Police Badge, Topeka police officials said. Marine Corps records do not show Debusk ever serving as a Marine Corps military police officer.

Debusk avoided jail time for impersonating a police officer and was issued a warning, according to Topeka city court documents.

[KARL THE GRUNT]

If the fella want a PH that badly, no problem.
Send him back to the Mideast and let him walk point or work EOD.

Kindly Karl

[Vulture6]

Vets react to Marine Purple Heart faker

The Associated Press
Posted : Sunday Sep 9, 2007 14:17:26 EDT

TOPEKA, Kan. — Sentencing has been scheduled for next month for a 27-year-old Topeka man who pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining a Purple Heart license tag for his car.

Timothy Allen DeBusk, who wasn’t wounded while serving as a Marine in Iraq, entered the guilty plea Friday in Shawnee County Court while 20 veterans watched.

When the veterans, some wearing overseas caps and uniforms of the veterans’ groups they represented, saw DeBusk approaching the courthouse Friday, they formed a line, became silent and eyed him as he entered.

The Purple Heart is awarded to those in the military who are wounded or killed in battle. A veteran can get the Purple Heart license tag by showing proof of his or her wounding, including discharge records, a newspaper clipping or a certificate issued by the Defense Department.

DeBusk originally was to appear at a preliminary hearing in the case. District Judge Nancy Parrish and assistant district attorney Kim Knoll were surprised when defense attorney Don Hoffman said his client intended to plead.

DeBusk pleaded guilty to dealing in false identification documents and making false information. The felony convictions each have a potential sentence of seven to nine months in prison. Sentencing was scheduled for Oct. 12.

After the hearing, DeBusk expressed remorse.

“I want to make things right by my community, my family and my God,” he said. “I want my conscience clear.”

Knoll said DeBusk used a certificate showing he had received the Purple Heart and showed his discharge papers to officials at the Shawnee County Treasurer’s Office to get the Purple Heart tag in October 2005.

The certificate was forged, Knoll said. DeBusk surrendered the tag on Feb. 1, 2007, after he learned he was being investigated by the military, Knoll said.

As they waited for DeBusk to arrive, several veterans talked about the case.

“We are here in support of all veterans who earned the Purple Heart honestly, especially who gave their lives earning it,” said Topekan Harvey Harris, state commandant for the Marine Corps League.

The Marine Corps League is seeking to flush out the “phonies” and “wannabes,” Harris said. Jefferson Lawson, of Topeka, said the three core values of the Marine Corps are courage, honor and commitment.

“He stained all three,” Lawson said.