By: Jason Zimmerman

Richardson says he is innocent, but his accuser went to the FBI, and a criminal complaint now alleges he wore a number of military medals that he did not earn.

Feeling a sense of outrage, John Stateson holds up a picture of the American Legion Firing Squad, out of fond du lac.

"There is nothing lower than what he's done," said Stateson, a World War II Veteran.

In the picture, he says William Richardson wore a number of medals, he supposedly was given for service in Vietnam.

Stateson said "We accepted him for saying this, all vets, you say you are in the Army I have no way to dispute it, but then when we found out about him not making it into the VFW, that told us immediately he didn't have any combat overseas."

The FBI alleges, Richardson showed off all kinds of medals, from Purple Hearts, to Bronze and Silver Stars, even a distinguised Service Cross.

Action 2 News tried to talk to Richardson at his house. He would only tell us off camera, that the accusations against him are false, and that he intends to plead not guilty on the advice of his attorney.

Richardson also says he served three years in the Army, including time spent overseas. He was honorably discharged after an injury.

Still, his accuser says, he shouldn't have been wearing the medals.

Stateson said "It insensed me, and I have a brother that was lost in the second World War, and he got a Bronze Star, and he died getting it, and it just got to me, that's all, it insensed me, so did what I knew to do, report him to the FBI."

If found guilty of this misdemeanor, Richardson would face probation, possibly even a fine.

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Man charged for wearing medals prosecutors say he didn't earn
Associated Press

FOND DU LAC, Wis. - A 60-year-old man faces a federal trial for wearing military medals or decorations that prosecutors say he did not earn.

William James Richardson, of North Fond du Lac, is charged with a misdemeanor of knowingly wearing a badge authorized by Congress for the country's armed forces without authorization, the federal court in Milwaukee said.

Trial was set for Aug. 3 by Judge Aaron E. Goodstein at a hearing on Tuesday.

No plea has been entered yet.

Richardson said that former members of the Fond du Lac American Legion, of which he is a member, have been harassing him. He said they're making a bigger deal out of his case than is necessary.

"They're trying to make a federal case out of a misdemeanor case," he said.

He would not say whether he wore medals he did not earn.

John Stateson, a World War II veteran, served on the Fond du Lac American Legion firing squad with Richardson. He said he reported Richardson to the Federal Bureau of Investigation after Richardson tried to join the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

"He wasn't a veteran of foreign wars," Stateson said.

He said he believed Richardson served in the U.S. Army for two months in Germany but was not eligible to be a member of the VFW.

Bud Ruckman, a former member of the Fond du Lac American Legion, said he had spoken with Richardson several times because he felt Richardson was wearing medals that he had not earned for years.

"I confronted him and said, 'Bill, you're wrong,'" he said.

Stateson said Richardson continued to wear the medals in public, including a Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest award for valor.

Ruckman said that Richardson was still a member of the Fond du Lac American Legion. He said he and five other members left the group or transferred because they did not agree with a decision to allow Richardson to stay on as a member.

Stateson and Ruckman said wearing medals that have not been earned is a disgrace to veterans of war and people who have lost loved ones in wars.

"That's a mockery. That's a slap in the face," said Ruckman, a World War II and Korean War veteran. "He's a disgrace to the families who lost family members."

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Amie Jo Schaenzer
The Reporter ajschaenzer@fdlreporter.com November 2, 2006

For two area war veterans, the guilty verdict handed down Tuesday for a 60-year-old North Fond du Lac man charged in federal court for wearing military medals he did not earn is well deserved.

Rudy Jaeger of Brownsville and Bud Ruckman of Fond du Lac testified Tuesday at the Federal Building in Milwaukee during the one-day trial for William James Richardson, who was found guilty of wearing military medals of valor not issued to him by Congress.

Richardson wore the medals while serving on the Fond du Lac American Legion firing squad.

"It's nice to have it all over, and it's the nice that the truth was brought to light. Hopefully, it sets a precedent for those doing what he was doing," Jaeger said.

Nationwide, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has been cracking down on individuals who claim to be war heroes but actually are not and the topic has gotten significant media attention in recent months.

Jaeger said he was commander of the Fond du Lac American Legion when numerous complainants told him Richardson was posing as a phony war hero and fabricating stories about his involvement in the military.

Ruckman said it was a disgrace and disrespectful that Richardson was serving on the American Legion's firing squad and wearing medals such as the Distinguished Service Cross, the second-highest military decoration awarded by the U.S. Army.

John Stateson, a Fond du Lac resident who also testified Tuesday, turned Richardson into the FBI in Green Bay after Richardson tried to join the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Ruckman and Jaeger said Richardson was not a war veteran and said the extent of his work overseas occurred in Germany where he was employed as a truck driver. Ruckman said there was no war going on in Germany at that time.

Ruckman, Stateson and Jaeger all served on the Fond du Lac American Legion firing squad with Richardson.

Jerry Mullen with the FBI in Green Bay said fellow American Legion members gave Richardson fair warning that he should stop wearing the medals before they reported him. Mullen said he's been with the FBI in Green Bay for 10 years and has never dealt with a case such as Richardson's.

Richardson did not testify Tuesday, and the defense did not call any witnesses, Mullen said.

Magistrate Judge Aaron E. Goodstein found Richardson guilty of the one misdemeanor charge of knowingly wearing a badge authorized by Congress for the armed forces of the United States without authorization.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled Dec. 21 in Goodstein's court at the Federal Building in Milwaukee, Mullen said.

Richardson could face up to six months in prison and a fine for the conviction.

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NFDL Man Sentenced for Wearing Medals He Didn't Earn

Dec 28, 2006 06:48 PM CST


A North Fond du Lac man is ordered to do community service and serve one year of probation for wearing military medals he didn't earn.

William James Richardson, 60, was sentenced in federal court in Milwaukee last week after being found guilty of wearing military medals of valor not issued to him by Congress. He must do 30 hours of community service.

Richardson wore the medals while serving on the Fond du Lac American Legion's firing squad.

The medals he wore included the Distinguished Service Cross, the second-highest military decoration given by the Army.

 

Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Posted January 4, 2007

NFdL veteran sentenced for wearing medals

By Amie Jo Schaenzer
The Reporter ajschaenzer@fdlreporter.com

A North Fond du Lac decorated military veteran convicted of wearing military medals he did not earn, said for a year he has quietly watched his name get dragged through the mud.

"It just embarrassed me, I was hurt... Not only did it embarrass me, it embarrassed my family members," Richardson said. "No one would talk to me."

Richardson, 60, of 69 Center St. was sentenced last month in federal court in Milwaukee for wearing military medals of valor not issued by Congress. Judge Aaron Goodstein sentenced Richardson to 30 hours community service, one-year probation and a $10 fine.

Those who served on the Fond du Lac American Legion firing squad with Richardson said they wish the sentence handed down to Richardson would've been harsher.

"It was rather disappointing," said Rudy Jaeger of Brownsville. "It was a slap in the face."

Fond du Lac veteran Bud Ruckman took the stand during the sentencing and told the court what Richardson had done "was a mockery to all of us" and a "definite disgrace to the United States" as well as the American Legion.

Richardson said he is now more willing to speak out and tell his side of the story — a story he previously held back on advice of his lawyer.

A war veteran, Richardson admits he wore military medals — such as the Purple Heart — not issued to him by Congress, but he said he did not know it was wrong to wear them. He said the medals were given to him since he was a veteran.

"I thought I had the right to wear them," Richardson said, "but I was wrong."

Several members of the Fond du Lac American Legion, where Richardson formerly served on the firing squad, became enraged when they learned Richardson had never earned the medals he wore.

One of the members, John Stateson, a Fond du Lac resident who testified during Richardson's trial, ended up turning Richardson into the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Green Bay.

In the past year, the FBI has cracked down on individuals who claim to be war heroes when they are not, with the topic getting significant media attention.

President George Bush signed the Stolen Valor Act of 2005, which makes it a felony to wear unearned medals, such as the Distinguished Service Cross, Purple Heart, Navy Cross and Air Force Cross, according to govtrack.us.

Under the former law, only those who wore an unearned Medal of Honor faced a felony charge while others, such as Richardson, faced a misdemeanor charge punishable by a maximum six months in prison and a fine. Under the Stolen Valor Act, a year in prison and a fine may be handed down to violators.

Richardson told the Reporter Tuesday he wants the public to know that he is a war veteran and spent three years of active duty in the military, including 29 months in Germany where he was injured.

"I was proud as a peacock to be in service," he said.

Jerry Mullen with the FBI in Green Bay confirmed Richardson's service time. Mullen also said Richardson received three authorized decorations, the Good Conduct Medal, a National Defense Service Medal and the Rifle Expert Badge.

Richardson has since resigned from the Fond du Lac American Legion and said he's ready to get on with his life.

"I'll do my time and be done with it," Richardson said.