Reggie L. Buddle
aka 
Reggie Buddel

USMC uniform, rank....

Poses as a Marine Chaplain  and was working out of a Marine recruiting office in Tacoma. He wears full regalia including medals. He is also reportedly marrying Marines, attending funerals and performing pastorish duties.

Served in the Army from April 6, 1967 to April 1 1973. Active Duty April 6 1967 to March 19 1969. 
Awards: National Defense and Expert Badge/Rifle.

Training: General Supply Course

Stationed: Ft Lewis WA; Ft Gordon GA; Ft Jackson MS; USAREUR

MORE

Claims brother "Al" (above!!) died in Nam.

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UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Western District of Washington

April 5, 2007

PUYALLUP MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO POSING AS MARINE CORPS CAPTAIN AND CHAPLAIN WEARING UNEARNED MEDALS OF VALOR
Conducted Weddings, Funerals and Other Events Illegally Wearing Uniform and Medals for Valor

REGGIE L. BUDDLE, 59, of Puyallup, Washington, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to Unlawful Wearing of United States Military Medals and Decorations, a violation of federal law punishable by up to six months imprisonment and a $5,000 fine. BUDDLE will be sentenced June 21, 2007.

In pleading guilty, BUDDLE acknowledged that during 2005 and 2006, in the State of Washington, he repeatedly posed as a decorated member of the United States Marine Corps, wearing a Marine Corps uniform, with insignia and rank of Captain, and wore official medals and service decorations awarded to soldiers on the basis of service and valor to the United States. In fact, Buddle never served in the United States Marine Corps, and never earned those medals and commendations. The medals and commendations worn by BUDDLE included such prestigious and well-known awards as the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, awarded for extraordinary contribution to national defense; the Combat Action Ribbon, awarded to soldiers for actual combat with opposing forces; the Presidential Unit Citation, awarded for extraordinary heroism in combat; the Vietnam Service Medal, available only to soldiers who served in Vietnam; and the United States Marine Corps Gold Jump Wings, awarded only to Marine Corps members.

During this same period of time, BUDDLE posed as a Marine Corps Chaplain and Reverend, officiating and presiding at weddings, baptisms, and funerals of servicemen, and others. BUDDLE had never been ordained as a chaplain, and was not authorized by State law to act in such a capacity. On February 27, 2006, wearing the Marine Corps uniform with the above military medals and decorations, Buddle participated in the opening ceremony of the Washington State Senate at the Capital in Olympia, Washington, and gave the opening prayer to that body, posing as a Chaplain.

“Falsely claiming medals is stealing “Valor” from those who put themselves in harms way protecting this great country. We must continue to recognize our veterans for the true and actual sacrifices they have made, and to publicly condemn those who tarnish that service by stealing their valor,” said Douglas Carver, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Veteran Affairs, Office of Inspector General.

The case was investigated by the Department of Veteran Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG) and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Friedman

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Puyallup, WA, man sentenced to tend graves in military cemetery
Associated Press - July 30, 2007 7:05 PM ET

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) - A 59-year-old man has been sentenced in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to two years of probation and 500 hours of community service for the unlawful wearing of U.S. Military Medals and Decorations.

Magistrate Judge Kelly Arnold today ordered Reggie L. Buddle, of Puyallup, to perform 500 hours of community service tending graves and performing labor at the Tahoma Military Cemetery in Kent.

The judge said he was "pleased the beneficiary of the community service will be connected to the criminal event."

Buddle once gave the opening prayer for the Washington state Senate while posing as a marine Corps captain.

Buddle pleaded guilty on April 5th.

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Last updated July 30, 2007 3:09 p.m. PT

By MIKE BARBER

P-I REPORTER

A Puyallup man who posed as a decorated Marine veteran of the Vietnam war must now spend his time tending the graves of real veterans.

A U.S. magistrate in Tacoma on Monday ordered Reggie L. Buddle, 59, to work 500 hours of community service by working at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent. Buddle had pleaded guilty to unlawfully wearing military medals and decorations. Buddle acknowledged posing as a decorated Marine captain. He never served in the Marines nor won the medals he wore, including the Distinguished Service Medal, a presidential unit citation for heroism in combat and a medal for serving in Vietnam.

He also posed as a Marine chaplain and presided at weddings, baptisms and funerals. Among other things, he gave an opening prayer before the state Senate in February 2006.

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Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Last updated 7:19 a.m. PT

Man who posed as Marine hero sentenced to tend military graves

By MIKE BARBER
P-I REPORTER

For pretending that he was a decorated U.S. military veteran, 59-year-old Reggie L. Buddle of Puyallup must tend to the graves of those who really were.

	Reggie L. Buddle of Puyallup, standing in the khaki shirt, during the 2006 opening ceremony for the Washington State Senate. (Photo provided by U.S. Attorney's office)

U.S. Magistrate Kelly Arnold in U.S. District Court in Tacoma on Monday sentenced the counterfeit Vietnam vet to two years' probation and 500 hours laboring at Tahoma National Cemetery for posing as a decorated U.S. Marine captain and military chaplain in 2005 and 2006.

Buddle, who never was in the Marine Corps, pleaded guilty in April to unlawful wearing of U.S. military medals and decorations. That followed an investigation by the inspector general of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

After the hearing, Buddle, who served two years as an Army enlisted man but never in combat and never earning any of the medals he wore, apologized in court Monday and said he was ashamed, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Seattle.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Friedman said such cases, which have been growing nationwide since Congress passed stiffer measures 18 months ago against pretending to be a member of the armed forces, were researched to recommend an appropriate sentence.

"In this case, we thought it was a good idea to teach him what true service is like," Friedman said.

When Buddle begins serving those who rest at the national military cemetery in Kent, he must avoid any interaction with families of veterans.

"The court expressed concern that he not be allowed to participate in any funerals or counseling sessions or any other type of matters at the cemetery. That was part of his underlying crime; it was clear he will be there to supply labor," Friedman said.

Though Buddle was never an ordained chaplain or reverend, nor authorized by state law to act in any such capacity, he officiated at servicemen's funerals, weddings and baptisms.

Friedman said state statutes were researched and found to protect the legitimacy of marriages in such instances.

Buddle even hoodwinked the state Senate.

On Feb. 27, 2006, dressed in a Marine Corps uniform replete with the rank and medals he awarded himself, Buddle stood before the Senate and gave the prayer at the opening ceremony. Not everyone was so certain that Buddle was the real item. Doubters called authorities, who began investigating.

Among the unearned medals and service decorations with which Buddle festooned his uniform were those for valor and service in Vietnam; a Combat Action Ribbon authorized for wear by those who have fought enemy forces; a Presidential Unit Citation ribbon, issued to members of units that displayed extraordinary heroism under fire; and the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, a high-ranking medal authorized for "extraordinary" contribution to national defense.

Real Marines and their families seemed satisfied with the sentence.

Bert Rutan, 84, retired pastor at University Congregational Church in Seattle and a Marine who in 1945 received the Silver Star for his actions on Iwo Jima, called the sentence "a fair thing. It has to be publicly known that (posing as a member of the armed forces) is not something you can do."

In Snohomish, Brian and Shellie Starr, whose son, Marine Cpl. Jeff Starr, was killed in combat in Iraq on Memorial Day 2005, said the sentence is appropriate.

"I'm glad they nailed him," Brian Starr said.

"I think for someone to impersonate somebody who has done this voluntarily, with the potential for risk of life, is terrible."

P-I reporter Mike Barber can be reached at 206-448-8018 or mikebarber@seattlepi.com.

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http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2007/07/fake-vietnam-ve.html

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SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/325954_fakevet02.html

How one bogus Marine fooled an entire family

Thursday, August 2, 2007
Last updated 7:23 a.m. PT

By CAROL SMITH
P-I REPORTER

Reggie Buddle, the man who posed as a combat-decorated Marine and military chaplain, wasn't authorized to officiate at veterans' funerals, recruit new Marines, perform their marriages or baptize them before they went to Iraq, but for one family, he managed to do all four.

Buddle, who in reality is a retired Boeing Machinist and an Army veteran who never saw combat, encouraged Debbie Laukeman's son to join the Marines, in part by sharing his own made-up experiences. Her son, Christopher Bearce, was 19 at the time and turned to Buddle, who was engaging and a good storyteller, for advice.

"He seemed like a cool guy -- we would just go hang out with him," said Bearce, who first met Buddle through a friend of Buddle's daughter. Buddle told him he was a Marine, had served in Vietnam and was part of a Special Forces reconnaissance unit. Just out of high school, Bearce was knocking around the Tacoma area working odd jobs and was impressed with Buddle.

	Reggie Buddle baptizes Christopher Bearce, far right, and two friends before they leave for boot camp after joining the Marines. Buddle helped recruit them. (Photo courtesy Debbie Laukeman)

"He seemed to know a lot about God and the Bible, about Christianity," he said. "And he always had a story to tell. He said he knew all these people in high places. He would mention, 'I know the fire chief,' and could get me a job. He said, 'Let me know if you ever get in trouble,' because he knew the police chief."

Eventually, Buddle urged him to join the military.

"Joining the Marines was the furthest thing I thought he would do in his life," Laukeman said.

But Buddle accompanied him to the Tacoma Mall recruiting station and also helped recruit some of Bearce's friends.

"I signed the papers on my 20th birthday," said Bearce, now 25 and living in San Antonio, Texas, with his wife and newborn daughter.

Before he left for boot camp, Buddle baptized Bearce and two of his friends, who had also joined up.

"Like thousands of other mothers, when he went on his first tour of duty, I was scared to death," said Laukeman, of Lacey. "Thank God, he came home."

Bearce served two tours in Iraq as a radio operator. In between tours, he asked his sweetheart to marry him. Buddle performed the wedding ceremony, although he was not legally qualified to do so. (State laws protect the legality of the marriage under these circumstances.)

And when Bearce's grandmother, a U.S. Army veteran, died, Buddle donned his uniform and officiated at her service at Tahoma National Cemetery.

Now Buddle, who pleaded guilty in April to unlawful wearing of U.S. military medals and decorations, will be back at the military cemetery -- this time doing community service by tending graves.

Laukeman has mixed feelings about the sentence, which includes two years' probation and 500 hours of community service at the cemetery.

"I am not sure I want him anywhere around my mother's grave because I already feel he violated her and our family," Laukeman said.

Bearce, too, is struggling with mixed emotions. The Marines were good for him, he said. "It helped me to grow up." But he feels betrayed by a friend.

"He baptized me and my friends. He married me, and he gave a speech at my grandmother's funeral, all with no credentials," he said. "It feels like we were kind of taken advantage of. Those moments are something we're not going to be able to get back. We can't go back in time and have him not be there."

Bearce and his wife hope to have a new wedding ceremony, this time official, on their fifth wedding anniversary, he said.

Buddle, 59, who has lived in Lakewood most of his life and been married for 25 years, is struggling to come to terms with his shame and understand why he did what he did, said his public defender, Colin Fieman. Court records state that Buddle was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and related depression in 2003, and is taking medication for both.

Since Buddle was unmasked, he has received death threats and has been harassed to the point of moving households, Fieman said.

Buddle could not be reached for comment.

In a memorandum to the court, Fieman argued that Buddle, who did serve two years as an enlisted man in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War but never saw combat, acted out of a misguided sense of duty and his own religious convictions. He also said Buddle, who at one point had studied to become a lay minister but wasn't ordained, never sought any veterans benefits that he wasn't entitled to.

"Reggie wanted to go back to active service at the outbreak of the Iraq war, but was too old and had too many health problems for that to happen," Fieman wrote. "At one point he even went to a recruiter and offered to go to Iraq in any capacity, even if it meant washing dishes in a mess hall."

Instead, he wound up signing up others.

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P-I reporter Carol Smith can be reached at 206-448-8070 or carolsmith@seattlepi.com.

© 1998-2007 Seattle Post-Intelligencer

 

Saturday, August 4, 2007
Last updated 12:04 a.m. PT

Cemetery duty for impostor Marine reviewed

Tahoma director worried presence will upset families

By CAROL SMITH
P-I REPORTER

False Marine chaplain spun web of deceit

Courtney Hopkins, a former Marine, first met Reggie Buddle in 2004 at his home, where he presided over a wedding for a leatherneck who had just finished boot camp.

A year later, the man she called “the Rev” baptized her newborn son and presided over her wedding to Staff Sgt. Bryan Hopkins, a week before her new husband deployed to Iraq.

“I had known [Buddle] for a year and my husband knew him even longer, so it just seemed like the natural choice. We trusted him,” Hopkins said.

Buddle wore the uniform and rank of a Marine captain and spun heroic tales of serving in Vietnam. He attended the local Marine Corps birthday ball in full uniform. The Marines at the recruiting substation in Tacoma, Wash., trusted him, asking him to marry them and baptize their children. The Washington State Senate even arranged for him to give an invocation with a Marine color guard to start a daily session.

There was only one problem. Buddle lied about it all.

A federal judge sentenced Buddle on July 29 to two years’ probation and 500 hours tending graves at Tahoma National Cemetery after he pleaded guilty to unlawfully wearing military medals and decorations.

The judge chose the national cemetery for Buddle to do his community service to teach him what it means to truly serve, U.S. Attorney Ron Friedman said. However, it was stressed in court that Buddle must avoid any interaction with families and will provide only labor, he added.

Buddle, 59, did serve two years’ active duty in the Army during the Vietnam War from 1967-69 and two years as a reservist, getting out as a corporal, but he was never shipped overseas. The retired Boeing machinist also attended a Presbyterian seminary in the 1990s, but never graduated, said Christopher Lensch, dean of students at Western Reformed Seminary.

The investigation into Buddle started with a call last fall to the POW Network — a Web site known for alerting the public to military frauds — from his sister-in-law, who became suspicious when he showed up at his father-in-law’s funeral in full Marine uniform, officials from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Justice Department confirmed.

Shortly after, the VA inspector general started wading through Buddle’s military records and discovered the web of lies, said M. Davidson Martin, the special agent with the VA office of the inspector general who oversaw the investigation.

Martin also acquired photos showing Buddle wearing the Defense Distinguished Service Medal — the highest peacetime defense award; the Combat Action Ribbon; the Presidential Unit Citation; the Vietnam Service Medal; and gold jump wings, he said. Buddle had earned none of them.

The IG’s investigation found proof he presided over six weddings and one funeral, almost all involving the Marines who worked at the Tacoma recruiting substation or Marines recruited through it.

Buddle was ultimately charged with unlawfully wearing military medals, but he never faced charges of misrepresenting himself as a chaplain.

Befriending Marines

Buddle would visit the recruiting substation next to the Tacoma Mall at least once a month, said Maj. Forrest Poole, commander of Marine Corps Recruiting Station Seattle. He sometimes brought along possible recruits, but never worked at the station. The Marines working there trusted he was a chaplain and built relationships with him, Poole said.

Whenever Marines asked him about the fact the Marine Corps doesn’t have chaplains, Buddle would tell them the Corps had made him an “honorary” chaplain because he had served in Vietnam and later been ordained, Hopkins said.

When Hopkins and her husband hit a rough patch in their marriage, she said they trusted Buddle enough to confide in him and ask for advice on how to strengthen their relationship.

He told stories of serving as a Recon Marine and receiving two Purple Hearts. Buddle made up an elaborate story for Hopkins’ brother, also a Marine, describing how he won a Purple Heart after guitar string was wrapped around his neck on the battlefield, she said.

“After we found out, my brother told me he came to the conclusion he was a fake right [when he told that story],” Hopkins said.

In fact, Hopkins said, when the Marines started to reassess the stories Buddle had told, they realized they matched famous war movies such as “Full Metal Jacket” and “Saving Private Ryan.”

Buddle posted on a Web site he started March 24, 2005, that he worked out of Recruiting Substation Tacoma, was ordained at Western Reformed Seminary and that “I serve Christ as a United States Marine ... Reserve.”

Buddle did study at Western Reformed Seminary, applying for enrollment in 1993. He completed two terms, each 15 weeks long. He didn’t complete his third term after dropping out of the seminary for health reasons, Lensch said.

He described Buddle as an “enthusiastic” student who was always studying the Bible. “I would recommend that he could provide spiritual advice, but I would have said no way to baptisms and funerals,” said Lensch, a chaplain in the Air National Guard, on Aug. 2.

However, Lensch wrote a letter of recommendation for Buddle, dated Feb. 9, 2005, that was submitted during Buddle’s sentencing proceedings. It read: “I am very happy to commend Mr. Buddle for a chaplain ministry with the Marine Corps.” Further down, Lensch wrote “very few clergy have the instant rapport and understanding that it takes to minister to Marines in a combat environment, but Reggie Buddle is already up to speed in his ministerial skills.”

When a reporter read the letter back to Lensch over the phone, he said he regretted writing it and would have written it differently if he knew what he knows now.

“I knew that he could never put on an officer’s uniform,” he said. “I scratched my head when I saw that and never supported him when he told me he was honorary.”

“The Marine Corps encouraged him, even writing a letter saying he was a honorary Marine chaplain,” said Buddle’s public defender, Colin Fieman, referring to a memo dated Dec. 23, 2004, submitted by the Tacoma recruiting substation to Lensch, stating Buddle was an honorary chaplain.

“What was happening was Buddle was playing both sides, having the seminary send letters to the Marines and then the Marines sending letters to the seminary,” prosecutor Friedman said.

Fieman said his client did not want to be contacted because he had received death threats and had to move from Lakewood, Wash., his home since the age of 14.

“He felt totally ashamed about the whole thing; in fact, he was suicidal at one point,” Fieman said.

Buddle was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2003 and suffers from depression, Fieman said. He said his client was only trying to find a way to help his country and never got anything out of lying to the Marines.

The aftermath

When Hopkins — a lance corporal until a knee injury she suffered in boot camp forced her to separate in 2003 — found out about Buddle’s deception in February, she said she was outraged. Then, the rage turned to panic.

“We had been claiming we were married on our taxes and getting paid as if we were,” she said. “We thought since he wasn’t really a chaplain that our marriage wasn’t legal and we defrauded the government.”

Hopkins’ husband was slated to deploy back to Iraq with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, a few days after finding out about the problem. The couple scrambled to determine if their marriage was legal, calling aides at the Washington State Legislature, but no one could give them a straight answer, Hopkins said.

She stood holding her infant son and waving goodbye to her husband as he deployed, still without a clear answer about their marriage. A couple of weeks later, an official with the VA called and told her the government was pressing charges against Buddle. She also learned that her marriage was legal due to a provision in state law protecting couples who go into a marriage in good faith from false officiants.

Her husband returns from Iraq with 2/7 later this month, and Hopkins said they plan to remarry eventually. “We can get remarried, but what about the families of the people he buried,” she said. “You can’t redo that.”