PITCAIRN, Pa. — Several Pitcairn residents are outraged about a man who they claim displays Marine Corps insignias and says he served overseas but did not actually serve in the armed forces.
Such cases are referred to as "stolen valor" -- people who seek attention and sometimes financial benefits based on a false military history.
A Marine Corps veteran questioned Luis Cruz on video about his apparently contradictory claims of service, and the video began to circulate on social media.
"I’ve seen him with different military uniforms, in Army, Navy ... never a full Marine Corps (uniform) on, but veteran T-shirts," said former Cpl. Matt Ruby, who did serve in Iraq.
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Ruby asked someone else to ask Cruz about his service, in which he says he was stationed in California, and then went to Iraq.
Pitcairn Police Chief Scott Farally confirmed they've received complaints about Cruz, and are launching an investigation while getting the Department of Veterans Affairs involved.
"That he served numerous tours in Iraq," Farally said. "He actually made it to another individual who bought him food that really thought he was in the military."
Channel 11 found Luis Cruz in Pitcairn on Thursday and asked him about the complaints. He said he did indeed serve in the Marines for 15 years, and was stationed in California and then Texas.
But when we asked him if he served in Iraq, he said no. We showed Cruz the video of him saying he went to Iraq, and asked him why his answer was different.
"I don't remember saying that, because I was upset," he said.
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