Bloggers bust "alleged" military faker

Blogger helps expose alleged military faker

By Joe Gould - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Feb 22, 2010 10:15:42 EST

The goateed man was decked out in a formal Army uniform with a dozen medals pinned to his jacket and a Commander of the British Empire medallion hanging around his neck.

To blogger Mark Seavey, the “general” was an obvious fraud. Seavey’s fellow bloggers at the conservative “This Ain’t Hell” posted a photo of the alleged faker online, dead set on smoking him out.

“Wearing two Distinguished Service Crosses and a Combat Infantry Badge with two stars, is analogous to saying someone is a pitcher for the Red Sox and a quarterback for the Patriots,” said Seavey. “If that person existed, you would know about them.”

The blog post led to tips, angry comments, media attention and ultimately the Feb. 5 arrest of Michael P. McManus, a 44-year-old former Army private first class who served from 1984 to 1987.

It’s not a first for Seavey and the blog’s volunteer staff. Seavey said they have exposed about a dozen others who have claimed unearned medals or insignia, and publicized other cases.

Seavey and his fellow bloggers are among a cadre of self-appointed stolen-valor police. There’s also Mary Schantag, co-founder of the P.O.W. Network.
read more here
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/02/army_stolenvalor_022210w/