James Richard Lyons
aka Richard Lyons

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http://www.socnet.com/showthread.php?p=1203751#post1203751

He's been telling the press and anybody else that will listen that he lost "Half a foot and half a shoulder" in Vietnam. He told a lot of the folks at the Legion Post that he'd been a SEAL and also Force Recon.

Reported claims:

• Navy Enlistment thru SEAL Training.

• Marine Enlistment thru Force Recon.

• Jungle Warfare Training in Panama.

• Special weapons in Quantico.

• Rank of Gunnery Sgt.

• Four (04) Tours in the Nam.

• Seven (07) months in Naval Hospital.

• AND, he did it all in four (04) years.

http://waronterrornews.typepad.com/home/2009/03/truckers-honor-fallen.html#more

http://www.armywell-being.org/skins/wblo/display.aspx?ModuleID=f6c229ca-03ae-4c81-8d0a-81a5a0c208f9&Action=display_user_object&CategoryID=073288a7-6a09-
4448-8569-dcda67d5a5dc&ObjectID=8659cd50-a215-4ca4-9128-ae82905cd3e6&AllowSSL=true%2ctrue%2ctrue%2ctrue

http://www.defenselink.mil//news/newsarticle.aspx?id=53669  

http://www.usa-patriotism.com/articles/ne/truckers_arms.htm

SO... which is it - enlisted in the Navy and served with the SEALs or served in the Marine Corps as a sniper?

Richard Lyons

Biography: i drive the 1/2 scale of the vietnam veterans memorial across this nation. i wrk for...

Here it is—Richard's authorized biography. Check out Richard's Q&A for some personal factoids.

been awhile. diane devorced in 68. remarried x3. jail or nam so i went usmc. lost 1/2 left foot 1/4 left shldr. i now wrk for the vietnam vet mem frm wash dc i drive the 1/2 scale of the wall arond the u.s. no base home i live where where the wall goes to. i bring the names of thse killed to thier home its awsom stay in touch.

He claims to be in Vietnam from 1964 until 1968..?

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Hint:   "Gunny"  - enlisted in the NAVY....

SO... which is it - enlisted in the Navy and served with the SEALs or served in the Marine Corps as a sniper?

THE DATABASE

The SEAL database used by the AuthentiSEAL currently lists slightly more than 10,500 men, of whom (as noted above) about 2,200 are currently on active duty. That SEAL database is a product of the Naval Special Warfare Archives, and while it is not “classified”, it is most certainly considered to be “extremely sensitive” information and is not available for general distribution or public dissemination. While the SEAL database does have some information gaps relating to men who served in the very earliest days of WWII, it remains the best and most complete listing of all NSW men in existence. There is no other more complete resource, and it is certainly the best and most accurate method of verifying an authentic, genuine US Navy SEAL. This is the same database that SEAL use for authentication among themselves when they are not known to each other, and it is recognized by the UDT-SEAL Association, the UDT-SEAL Museum , and the US NAVY as the most complete and comprehensive listing of Naval Special Warfare members available.

The SEAL database is thoroughly researched and based on original US Navy records and documentation dating from the present back to the early 1940's. Principal in the compilation of the database are the graduation records for the Navy’s Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training program. As each new class graduates from BUD/S training and the subsequent SQT training course, their names are added to the database.

The SEAL database was created by a private, non-governmental organization (the Naval Special Warfare Archives). It is held in private hands, and has never been subject to any manipulations by the Department of Defense. SEAL who have been removed from the Teams or who have had their SEAL status revoked are listed in the database along with those men whose service is exemplary. Records are never deleted or altered, and they are not subject to any control or censure by Naval authorities. The SEAL database contains the names of those who have successfully completed the BUD/S program and SQT; if a man’s name is not listed in the database, then he did NOT complete SEAL training… and he is not a US Navy SEAL.

It is important to note and it cannot be overstated that it is possible for a man to successfully complete BUD/S training and still NOT be a US Navy SEAL. Although the vast majority of men who complete BUD/S training do, in fact, go on to successfully complete SQT and all of the additional training courses needed to achieve SEAL status, there are a very few men who do not complete all of those programs, and who never become SEAL.

VIETNAM
Although there were a very few individual SEAL acting as military advisors in Vietnam as early as 1962, the FIRST deployment of SEAL as combat forces did not take place until February 1966.

The last full SEAL platoon deployed to the Republic of Vietnam in 1971, and returned to the United States about 6 months later. Thereafter, only seasoned, experienced SEAL combat veterans were sent to Vietnam , singly or in pairs, acting as military advisors.

The LAST SEAL in Vietnam were returned to the US in November 1972. The Paris Peace Accords were signed in January 1973, stipulating a mutual cessation of hostilities, and an exchange of POWs. The last US combat troops (from all branches of US armed forces) left Vietnam and returned to the United States on 29 March 1973. Thereafter the only US military forces in Vietnam were the mere handful of US Marines officially assigned as the security force at the US Embassy in Saigon . The Vietnam War was at an end for all US combat forces. Only a small diplomatic embassy remained in Saigon .

On 30 April 1975 the North Vietnamese forces invaded Saigon (in direct violation of their agreements as stipulated in the Paris Peace Accords). With the imminent threat of being overrun by NVA forces, the US Embassy was evacuated… officially ending the US diplomatic presence in Vietnam .

There were a grand total of no more than about 250 SEAL sent to Vietnam, and only about 750 UDT “Frogmen” who served in the Republic of Vietnam or the coastal waters immediately offshore during the entire time span of the Vietnam War. The Platoon designations, dates of deployment, and duration of deployments are known factors. Anyone claiming to be a SEAL during the Vietnam conflict should be able to easily provide this information. While specifics about duty activities during such deployments may be considered “sensitive”, the facts regarding a deploying unit’s identification, deployment dates, and duration are NOT classified and can be quickly verified.

The following names were checked through the SEAL database:

James Richard Lyons
James R. Lyons
Richard James R. Lyons

If the name you provided is spelled correctly, I do NOT find a listing in the SEAL Database (end of WWII to the Present Day) using any of the above names. I have also examined possible alternate spellings, and names with similar pronunciations without finding any that might be applicable.

 Unless he has undertaken the unlikely action of a legal name change (an action for which there would be evidence in the form of court documentation) since his claimed attendance at BUD/S training, and based upon the information you have provided, I can state conclusively that James Richard Lyons nor 
James R. Lyons nor Richard James R. Lyons has NEVER COMPLETED SEAL training, and he is not now, nor was he ever a Navy SEAL or a Navy UDT “Frogman”.

KG

Very Respectfully,

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Hint: Marine Corps Jacket - enlisted in the NAVY....

WHICH IS IT?

Silver Star patch

Facts vs Fairy Tale

One had to be 18 to be sent into combat.

FOUR USMC "tours" was 13 months x 4 = 52 months NOT 4 years.

Subtract 7 months "in the hospital", the time between 17 and 18 yrs old - and no time for 4 Navy tours exists either.

NO 20 yr old (joined at 17, discharged at 20)  ever made Gunny.

The NAVY doesn't have Gunny's.

HONOR THE WARRIOR - a book on Vietnam Silver Star recipients for the Marine Corps and Navy does NOT list Lyons in the book, addendum, or corrections.

NPRC could locate no records.  Lyons needs to provide a DD214 and orders for the Silver Star and Purple Heart. He needs to prove his claims.