Thomas, Benjamin "Ben"

aka Mookie 

aka Mookie Spicolli

Reportedly did a Fox News Interview with Brian Kilmeade where he claimed to be a Seal and have a 10 years experience.

Respectfully,

Mookie

Mookie_1

Mookie_2

Mookie_3

Mookie_4

Correction to the Record

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http://www.kathryncramer.com/kathryn_cramer/blackwater_security/

Posts categorized "Blackwater "

October 04, 2007

December 30, 2008

Dear POW Network,

Please post this supplemental information related to Mr. Benjamin “Ben” aka “Mookie” aka “Spicolli” Thomas.

I was contacted in January 2008 to provide verification or denial of “SEAL status” which was reputed to have been made by Mr. Thomas. In response to that inquiry I clearly indicated that Mr. Thomas had successfully graduated from the Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training program and the secondary SEAL training program (SST), but he was never granted SEAL status, never granted the SEAL Trident, and never granted the Naval Enlisted Classification (NEC) code used to designate a SEAL. I myself made no statements or reports about Mr. Thomas having made claims of being a SEAL; I only provided information showing that he was NOT A SEAL.

I have now been accused by a man named xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx of pursuing a “personal grudge and personal vendetta” against Mr. Thomas. Nothing could be further from the truth. I’ve replied to literally THOUSANDS of inquiries regarding claims made by countless individuals who claimed SEAL status. In some cases I have been able to reply that that man in question truly was a Navy SEAL. In other cases I have replied that the man in question was NOT a Navy SEAL. I’d not heard of Mr. Thomas prior to January 2008, and after I provided information about Mr. Thomas’ lack of SEAL credentials, I did not hear anything more… until now (Nov 2008). I certainly do not have a vendetta going against the man, but I will not step back from my statements that the man WAS NOT A US NAVY SEAL.

Mr. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx contacted the POW Network and not only claimed that I was carrying out a vendetta against Mr. Thomas, but that “Jack Lynch vouches for the man”. Mr. Jack Lynch is a well-known former Navy SEAL, and a member of the UDT-SEAL Association. As I am also a member of that organization, and have the membership roster, I determined that I needed to contact Mr. Lynch to get to the bottom of the story.

I personally contacted Mr. Jack Lynch in Virginia Beach by telephone. Mr. Lynch informed me that he NEVER VOUCHED FOR BEN THOMAS. Mr. Lynch verified the accuracy of the statements which I made in earlier communications related to Mr. Thomas, to wit:

Benjamin Thomas IS a graduate of BUD/S training class 210

Benjamin Thomas IS a graduate of the supplemental SEAL training program which was formerly known as “SST”

Benjamin Thomas IS NOT and NEVER HAS BEEN a US NAVY SEAL. Upon completion of his probationary period (6 months) an evaluation board determined that it was not in the Navy’s best interest to grant SEAL OPERATOR status to Mr. Thomas. He was therefore NOT AWARDED the SEAL Trident, and was NOT AWARDED the Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC) code designating a man as a “Combatant Swimmer, SEAL”.

Mr. Lynch further stated that he had heard from a number of other SEALs that Mr. Benjamin Thomas was continuing to make claims of having served as a SEAL.

I thanked Mr. Lynch for his clarification and ended our conversation.

There are a significant number of web sites around the Internet in which Mr. Benjamin Thomas is either promoted as a “former SEAL”, touted as a “Navy SEAL”, or statements have been offered which are attributed to him as being said by “former SEAL” Ben Thomas (aka Mookie Spicolli). I have not yet found any sites on which Mr. Benjamin Thomas clearly states the true nature of his status or clearly denies being an accredited “Navy SEAL”. Neither have I seen any statements from Mr. Thomas wherein he denies claiming to be a Navy SEAL. Mr. Thomas sat for a Fox News Interview with Brian Kilmeade where he claimed to be a Seal and have a 10 years experience, and the promotional material used to publicize that show included the claim that Mr. Thomas was a Navy SEAL. Numerous letters were sent to the Fox News, including this one:

Good Afternoon Brian,

I have been told you interviewed Ben Thomas, during his interview he claimed to be involved with Naval Special Warfare for over 10 years. I just want to set the record straight so he doesn't lead you down the wrong path. Since I first met Ben when he was 14 and served at SEAL Team One during his brief stint their I feel that I am an subject matter expert.

Ben went to BUD/S twice the first time he quit during Hell Week on Monday night.

Ben did graduate his second time through with I believe Class 210.

Ben did complete SEAL Qualification Training.

Ben was assigned to SEAL Team One Bravo Platoon under LT. [name withheld] and Senior Chief [name withheld]. He committed numerous honor and operational violations and was removed from the team before receiving the 5326 SEAL designation. Some but not all of Ben's violations were Theft of equipment and ammunition, Honor Violations for causing undue stress to a deployed teammates wife for which he was punished by his teammates. Integrity violation for wearing the SEAL breast insignia without proper authorization IE not passing or even completing a SEAL Trident Board. And Finally for disobeying a direct order, Ben was ordered to carry out all personal items from a special reconnaissance training mission. When asked to carry the item that Ben had been ordered to carry out Ben could not present the item. Senior Chief [name withheld] did this as a last test to see if Ben could be trusted as a member of the SEAL Team. Since this was a last straw in a long line of screw-ups in a very short time Senior Chief [name withheld] requested a Chief Petty Officers Board. At the conclusion of this hearing Ben Thomas was removed from Seal Team One and sent to the USS Constellation were he again misrepresented himself as a SEAL by wearing the SEAL Breast Insignia. He was sent to Non Judicial Punishment and not allowed to reenlist in the Navy.

Ben's final straw with Naval Special Warfare happened in December 2003. Ben visited Camp Jenny Posey in Iraq. Camp Jenny Posey was at the time the operational headquarters for NSW TU-Iraq. Warrant Officer Posey built and maintained this camp at great personal sacrifice. WO-4 Posey had made a large wooden UDT Frogman mural at the front gates of the camp. This was to welcome back the member of the Task Unit after many dangerous missions. After visiting the camp Ben stole this mural and openly bragged about it. For myself and others this was a personal insult.

Ben then went into the world of contracting were he is known for his unprofessionalism and his ability to somehow shoot his weapon more than anyone else. You can take that however you want. Ben has been accused of some serious stuff that you may want to check out before you use him as a source.

To close with Ben has earned the one title every Frogman hopes they will never get "SHIT-BAG".

Feel free to contact me if you need sources for future stories. I will be glad to point you in the direction of many honorable and trusted warriors who carry themselves as all Frogmen are supposed to "Silent Professionals".

The transcript of the interview with Brian Kilmeade has subsequently been removed from the FOX News web site. I do not know if the letter quoted above had any bearing on that.

There is no indication anywhere that the “claims” or “misstatements” about Mr. Thomas being a “former SEAL” have ever been clarified or rescinded, or that Mr. Thomas has taken any pains to clear the record and make his NON-SEAL status absolutely clear.

Let me be completely clear on this point. Others have reported to me that Mr. Thomas has publicly and privately claimed to be a Navy SEAL. I have no grudge or vendetta underway with regard to Mr. Benjamin “Mookie Spicolli” Thomas. My only involvement has been to provide the public with the absolute truth regarding Mr. Thomas’ military credentials. He was NOT A SEAL. Mr. Thomas did get through the SEAL training pipeline but he failed a final review by his peers at the end of his probationary period and he was NEVER GRANTED SEAL STATUS.

Respectfully,