NC man charged with posing as officer again - Marine Corps News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Marine Corps Times

NC man charged with posing as officer again

WILMINGTON, N.C. — A man who pleaded guilty last year to altering an identification card after he was spotted in the uniform of a three-star Marine general has been charged again with posing as a highly decorated Marine officer.

Sixty-seven-year-old Michael Hamilton of Richlands was charged last week with wearing a Marine colonel’s uniform and three counts of wearing medals, including two Navy Crosses, the second highest award for valor, according to court papers.

Hamilton was photographed wearing the uniform and medals at Jacksonville’s Vietnam Memorial during a military recognition day ceremony last month.

It is a federal offense to claim or wear military decorations and carries punishment of up to one year in prison and a fine.

Hamilton is to appear in federal court next month. He said Tuesday that he didn’t know about the charges. “I have no comment,” Hamilton said.

It’s not immediately clear if he has a lawyer.

In a biography distributed at the April ceremony, Hamilton claims he was promoted from private first class to colonel between 1961 and 1969 and was awarded 80 medals, including two Navy Crosses. An affidavit filed by investigators said the highest rank Hamilton attained was private first class.

Hamilton only served nine months and was discharged in February 1962, according to the affidavit. It said his only decoration was a rifle qualification badge.

This is not the first time Hamilton has been in charged for fraud related to military service.

Hamilton was investigated in 2007 for wearing the rank of a three-star general and altering a military identification card, according to court papers. He pleaded guilty to altering the identification card in 2009 and was sentenced to probation for six months, records show.

John Cooney, the adjutant of the Beirut Memorial Chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, attended the ceremony in April and was happy to hear Hamilton had been charged again.

“It is about time something is done,” said Cooney, 69, who served two tours in Vietnam. “The disservice he did to the 58,000 dead on that wall was unforgivable.” About 58, 000 Americans died of combat related injuries in Vietnam.

Cooney said he thinks Hamilton needs psychiatric help.

“I think he believes he served in Vietnam and he rates all those medals,” Cooney said. “I don’t want to see him go to prison. I hope he gets help.”