Latest news with #BronzeStarwithValor
Business Insider
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Insider
A top Green Beret influencer says he exaggerated his war story. The US military is investigating, and vets see a deeper problem.
Tim Kennedy, a Green Beret, former MMA fighter, and a recognizable figure in today's "Vet Bro" influencer culture, revealed this week that he had wrongly implied that he received a military award reserved only for battlefield bravery. The military is investigating. The award in question, a Bronze Star, was instead bestowed for commendable work performance, and not specifically courage during combat, a seemingly minor yet significant distinction for service members. The revelation has sparked backlash among veterans amid concerns that the damage of such exaggerations potentially goes beyond an overstated military service record. Kennedy has legions of online followers, and his ties to leading political circles have made him an increasingly influential figure. As veterans increasingly build personal brands on combat credibility, Kennedy's controversy highlights a deeper cultural rift, with tension between the trust society puts in vets, especially elite special operators, and the gray areas of self-promotion. While outright stolen valor has become much rarer than it once was, embellishments and inflated service claims have become more common in the influencer era, raising questions about accountability, authenticity, and the public's willingness to scrutinize military figures. Kennedy, a senior Green Beret with the Maryland National Guard, released a statement on social media Tuesday night in which he said that he "unintentionally misstated aspects" of his military service, that he "implied directly or indirectly" that he was awarded a Bronze Star with Valor. "I never received that honor, and I deeply regret ever suggesting otherwise," he said. "I will no longer speak about my service in a way that elevates me beyond what I actually did," the statement continued. "From now on, my words will be guided by truth, humility, and respect." A Bronze Star can be bestowed upon US troops for "merit" during wartime operations, not only battlefield "valor." Such merit could, for example, also be provided to support personnel or combat troops for noteworthy service absent heroics. The award with "valor" is usually considered much weightier than the meritorious version, which was commonly bestowed to troops throughout the wars. I want to take full and unequivocal responsibility for a serious mistake. Over the years, I made public statements and gave interviews in which I unintentionally misstated aspects of my military service. Most notably, I implied directly or indirectly that I had been awarded the… — Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) July 9, 2025 Kennedy has previously pushed back against other veterans' pointed criticisms regarding his service record, saying "it's totally hypocritical and intellectually dishonest to be pretending that you're on the moral high ground and then misrepresenting facts, lying, paraphrasing, and then taking things out of context." Kennedy said that such scrutiny of his record likely generated lucrative traffic for podcasts critical of him. A copy of Kennedy's Bronze Star award citation provided to Business Insider Wednesday morning, weeks after BI submitted a public records request seeking Kennedy's award documents, reflects that the award was bestowed for "unmatched competence and sound judgement" for planning and executing combat operations in Iraq in 2006. "The Maryland National Guard takes these matters seriously," said unit spokesman Maj. Benjamin Hughes in a statement to BI Thursday morning. "Integrity is a core value of our organization, so an investigation is currently underway to review the facts surrounding these public misstatements." BI reached out to three companies associated with Kennedy, as well as his emails and social media accounts, seeking comment but did not receive a response. A personal phone number for Kennedy was not immediately available. "Vet Bro" influence Kennedy's statement on his service record comes as he has experienced a seemingly meteoric rise within the inner circles of Washington's elite. Over the past few months, he has appeared in the Oval Office and been seen hobnobbing with political leaders, including VA Secretary Dan Driscoll, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, FBI Director Kash Patel, and other Beltway heavyweights. He is a top figure in today's "Vet Bro" culture, a post- Global War on Terror network of veterans, predominantly white, male special operators, which emerged around a decade ago. As the wars started to wind down and social media took over, many vets found the platforms to be a profitable way to promote businesses, memoirs, and podcasts. Some Vet Bros, a term which some veterans find unfair, often see the world through the lens of their experiences in the military and promote things like gun culture, the protective "sheepdog" mentality, and immature or raunchy humor. That sometimes comes with service-related embellishment. "A big problem right now is that the average veteran doesn't feel heard," said Chris Jachimiec, a veteran suicide prevention consultant and retired Air Force veteran who hopes to see service more normalized to the point where people don't feel compelled to embellish it. Some veterans are "reluctant to tell their normal story," he said. "It's like, 'Yeah, I fixed aircraft for 20 years.'" It's a mundane but critical job, even if it lacks the appeal of special operations. Such misrepresentations can fuel the widening civil-military divide, the physical and experiential chasm between troops and regular Americans whose understanding of the armed forces is on the decline. Hollywood depictions of military service are often confined to the actions of special operators, ignoring other forms of service. Embellishment from high-profile vets may reinforce unrealistic narratives of service. Kennedy's proclamations of battlefield heroism have embroiled the online veteran community for months. As wars abroad have wound down, blatant stolen valor, in which someone may fabricate a career or misrepresent their own heroism, as Kennedy indicated he did, is less commonly seen, compared to more common discreet embellishments that would only be easily apparent to a trained eye. But for both, the impact of such misstatements can run deep, leading many veterans to fight them aggressively. Accountability "If veterans don't hold veterans accountable, then we absolutely will lose the respect that honestly we've fought really hard to earn," Brent Tucker, a former Army Delta Force soldier and podcast host, told Business Insider. Tucker's podcast has previously come under fire by other vets for criticizing Kennedy's claims. Ideally, vets, especially special operators, would never need to be questioned, Tucker said. But with thousands, sometimes millions, of followers and money from influencing and entrepreneurship at stake, skepticism is warranted. Kennedy is affiliated with multiple companies, including one that offers Tim Kennedy action figures for $50. Another, "Apogee Strong," appears to be a franchise of homeschooling operations currently caught up in a lawsuit for intellectual property theft. Attempts to reach the attorney defending Kennedy's school program were unsuccessful. The instant credibility often afforded to famous vets of the "all-volunteer force" has become a thorny topic, leading to a problematic pedestal and sometimes not-entirely-merited access to levers of influence and power. Relying on military service isn't just routine for influencers, but also for prospective lawmakers running for office, said Katherine Kuzminski, director of studies at the Center for a New American Security. Touting a service record shows voters that a candidate has a service-oriented mindset. Political news outlet NOTUS investigated the Bronze Star paperwork for Florida Rep. Cory Mills, citing soldiers named in his documents who did not recall him being part of the "extraordinary heroism" that earned him the award. Former vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, Democratic senator Richard Blumenthal, and other veteran politicians have also faced other criticisms related to misleading statements. "It says, like, 'Hey, I know what it means to serve, I have a skill set, I've done something rare, and you should trust me," said Kuzminski, an expert on US military veterans and society. She added that such sentiments often have plenty of truth. But in an era of dwindling pools of people with any military affiliation, there's often an incorrect assumption among Americans that veterans, perhaps particularly those with numerous social media followers, are qualified for everything. Such assumptions, she said, may include dissuading civilians from questioning vets at all. "It shouldn't mask the responsibility to dig a level deeper," she said.
USA Today
10-07-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
After years of combat flexing, UFC vet Tim Kennedy admits lying\u00a0about stories, honors
Kennedy says he's been lying about a major aspect of the military experience he's been using as his calling card After years of talking up his military service and accolades, Tim Kennedy now has admitted a big part of what he's been telling people has been a lie. Kennedy, who hasn't fought in nearly nine years and ended his career with back-to-back knockout losses at UFC 178 and UFC 206, posted on social media Tuesday to say the Bronze Star with Valor he has been saying he was awarded for his time in the Army is not true, and that he has "misstated" other aspects of his time in the military. Kennedy, often called on as a talking head on right-wing, conspiracy theory-driven dog whistle entertainment channels like Fox News, made his post after months of criticism and fact-finding from a segment of fellow former military servicepeople. Kennedy said his lies about his service and honors are "a serious mistake." He admitted he spent "years" repeating the lies publicly and in interviews, but said all the times he did it he "unintentionally misstated aspects" of his service. Kennedy said he lied about receiving a Bronze Star with Valor – a claim he once denied he ever made, though he has made the claim repeatedly and admittedly for "years" – and that "I deeply regret ever suggesting otherwise." Kennedy, who is 45, used his post to try to deflect some of the blame for his actions on being "young when I stepped into the public eye," but said he "should have known better." The bulk of Kennedy's public talk about his military service, or his claimed military service, came after he was brought into the UFC through the Strikeforce merger in 2013. His five fights in the UFC, in which he went 3-2 before his retirement after 2016, were all in his mid-30s. In 2022, when he was in his 40s, Kennedy's memoir "Scars and Stripes: An Unapologetically American Story of Fighting the Taliban, UFC Warriors, and Myself" was published. In its 400+ pages, he tells stories that now certainly will be called into question about their legitimacy. Kennedy only specifically addressed the Bronze Star lie in his "misstated aspects," but his most vocal critics have pointed to many other inaccuracies between what he has claimed in interviews – including the story he once told about exactly how and why he was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor that he never was awarded – as well as how many times he actually was deployed. Kennedy said the apology is a new beginning for him and he is "committed to rebuilding trust through honest reflection, visible accountability, and ongoing service to the community I misrepresented myself to." Whether that community will accept him back is another question entirely. Kennedy's statement on social media: "I want to take full and unequivocal responsibility for a serious mistake. Over the years, I made public statements and gave interviews in which I unintentionally misstated aspects of my military service. Most notably, I implied directly or indirectly that I had been awarded the Bronze Star with Valor. That is not true, and there is no excuse for it. I never received that honor, and I deeply regret ever suggesting otherwise. That kind of recognition is sacred. It represents extraordinary courage under fire acts that risk or cost lives. To those who truly earned it, and to their families and brothers-in-arms, I offer my sincere and direct apology. What I said disrespected your service, and I take full ownership of that. I was young when I stepped into the public eye, and while I wasn't prepared for the scrutiny or pressure that came with it, that doesn't absolve me. I should have known better. Integrity is not situational, and I failed to uphold the standards I claimed to represent. To the military and veteran community, especially those who've served in combat or lost people they love. I am deeply sorry. I know I've let many of you down. You had every right to expect more from me, and I didn't live up to that. This apology is not the end, it's the beginning. I am committed to rebuilding trust through honest reflection, visible accountability, and ongoing service to the community I misrepresented myself to. I will no longer speak about my service in a way that elevates me beyond what I actually did. From now on, my words will be guided by truth, humility, and respect. I understand that words alone don't heal disappointment or restore trust. Only time and action will. Thank you to those who have held me accountable. I will do my best to honor that accountability from this point forward. -Tim Kennedy"
Business Insider
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Insider
A top Green Beret influencer says he exaggerated his war story. Vets see a deeper problem.
Tim Kennedy, a Green Beret, former MMA fighter, and a recognizable figure in today's "Vet Bro" influencer culture, revealed this week that he had wrongly implied that he received a military award reserved only for battlefield bravery. The award in question, a Bronze Star, was instead bestowed for commendable work performance, and not specifically courage during combat, a seemingly minor yet significant distinction for service members. The revelation has sparked backlash among veterans amid concerns that the damage of such exaggerations potentially goes beyond an overstated military service record. Kennedy has legions of online followers, and his ties to leading political circles have made him an increasingly influential figure. As veterans increasingly build personal brands on combat credibility, Kennedy's controversy highlights a deeper cultural rift, with tension between the trust society puts in vets, especially elite special operators, and the gray areas of self-promotion. While outright stolen valor has become much rarer than it once was, embellishments and inflated service claims have become more common in the influencer era, raising questions about accountability, authenticity, and the public's willingness to scrutinize military figures. Kennedy, a senior Green Beret with the Maryland National Guard, released a statement on social media Tuesday night in which he said that he "unintentionally misstated aspects" of his military service, that he "implied directly or indirectly" that he was awarded a Bronze Star with Valor. "I never received that honor, and I deeply regret ever suggesting otherwise," he said. "I will no longer speak about my service in a way that elevates me beyond what I actually did," the statement continued. "From now on, my words will be guided by truth, humility, and respect." A Bronze Star can be bestowed upon US troops for "merit" during wartime operations, not only battlefield "valor." Such merit could, for example, also be provided to support personnel or combat troops for noteworthy service absent heroics. I want to take full and unequivocal responsibility for a serious mistake. Over the years, I made public statements and gave interviews in which I unintentionally misstated aspects of my military service. Most notably, I implied directly or indirectly that I had been awarded the… — Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) July 9, 2025 Kennedy has previously pushed back against other veterans' pointed criticisms regarding his service record, saying "it's totally hypocritical and intellectually dishonest to be pretending that you're on the moral high ground and then misrepresenting facts, lying, paraphrasing, and then taking things out of context." Kennedy said that such scrutiny of his record likely generated lucrative traffic for podcasts critical of him. A copy of Kennedy's Bronze Star award citation provided to Business Insider Wednesday morning, weeks after BI submitted a public records request seeking Kennedy's award documents, reflects that the award was bestowed for "unmatched competence and sound judgement" for planning and executing combat operations in Iraq in 2006. Army officials told BI they could not provide any additional information regarding Kennedy's post. BI reached out to three companies associated with Kennedy, as well as his emails and social media accounts, seeking comment but did not receive a response. A personal phone number for Kennedy was not immediately available. "Vet Bro" influence Kennedy's statement on his service record comes as he has experienced a seemingly meteoric rise within the inner circles of Washington's elite. Over the past few months, he has appeared in the Oval Office and been seen hobnobbing with political leaders, including VA Secretary Dan Driscoll, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, FBI Director Kash Patel, and other Beltway heavyweights. He is a top figure in today's "Vet Bro" culture, a post-Global War on Terror network of veterans, predominantly white, male special operators, which emerged around a decade ago. As the wars started to wind down and social media took over, many vets found the platforms to be a profitable way to promote businesses, memoirs, and podcasts. Some Vet Bros, a term which some veterans find unfair, often see the world through the lens of their experiences in the military and promote things like gun culture, the protective "sheepdog" mentality, and immature or raunchy humor. That sometimes comes with service-related embellishment. "A big problem right now is that the average veteran doesn't feel heard," said Chris Jachimiec, a veteran suicide prevention consultant and retired Air Force veteran who hopes to see service more normalized to the point where people don't feel compelled to embellish it. Some veterans are "reluctant to tell their normal story," he said. "It's like, 'Yeah, I fixed aircraft for 20 years.'" It's a mundane but critical job, even if it lacks the appeal of special operations. Such misrepresentations can fuel the widening civil-military divide, the physical and experiential chasm between troops and regular Americans whose understanding of the armed forces is on the decline. Hollywood depictions of military service are often confined to the actions of special operators, ignoring other forms of service. Embellishment from high-profile vets may reinforce unrealistic narratives of service. Kennedy's proclamations of battlefield heroism have embroiled the online veteran community for months. As wars abroad have wound down, blatant stolen valor, in which someone may fabricate a career or misrepresent their own heroism, as Kennedy indicated he did, is less commonly seen, compared to more common discreet embellishments that would only be easily apparent to a trained eye. But for both, the impact of such misstatements can run deep, leading many veterans to fight them aggressively. Accountability "If veterans don't hold veterans accountable, then we absolutely will lose the respect that honestly we've fought really hard to earn," Brent Tucker, a former Army Delta Force soldier and podcast host, told Business Insider. Tucker's podcast has previously come under fire by other vets for criticizing Kennedy's claims. Ideally, vets, especially special operators, would never need to be questioned, Tucker said. But with thousands, sometimes millions, of followers and money from influencing and entrepreneurship at stake, skepticism is warranted. Kennedy is affiliated with multiple companies, including one that offers Tim Kennedy action figures for $50. Another, "Apogee Strong," appears to be a franchise of homeschooling operations currently caught up in a lawsuit for intellectual property theft. Attempts to reach the attorney defending Kennedy's school program were unsuccessful. The instant credibility often afforded to famous vets of the "all-volunteer force" has become a thorny topic, leading to a problematic pedestal and sometimes not-entirely-merited access to levers of influence and power. Relying on military service isn't just routine for influencers, but also for prospective lawmakers running for office, said Katherine Kuzminski, director of studies at the Center for a New American Security. Touting a service record shows voters that a candidate has a service-oriented mindset. Political news outlet NOTUS investigated the Bronze Star paperwork for Florida Rep. Cory Mills, citing soldiers named in his documents who did not recall him being part of the "extraordinary heroism" that earned him the award. Former vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, Democratic senator Richard Blumenthal, and other veteran politicians have also faced other criticisms related to misleading statements. "It says, like, 'Hey, I know what it means to serve, I have a skill set, I've done something rare, and you should trust me," said Kuzminski, an expert on US military veterans and society. She added that such sentiments often have plenty of truth. But in an era of dwindling pools of people with any military affiliation, there's often an incorrect assumption among Americans that veterans, perhaps particularly those with numerous social media followers, are qualified for everything. Such assumptions, she said, may include dissuading civilians from questioning vets at all. "It shouldn't mask the responsibility to dig a level deeper," she said.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Retired UFC fighter Tim Kennedy apologizes after admitting to lying about military accolade
Retired UFC fighter Tim Kennedy issued an apology after admitting that he lied about a specific military accolade he never actually received during his years of service. A popular YouTube channel hosted by retired Green Beret Nathan Cornacchia posted a video where Kennedy claimed in an interview from 2017 that he won a Bronze Star with Valor after describing a scenario where he took down a 'bad guy' during a conflict in one of his tours of duty. In the past, Kennedy stated that he never publicly claimed that he won a Bronze Star with Valor, which is a very specific military award handed out for 'participation in acts of heroism involving conflict with an armed enemy.' Advertisement After Cornacchia posted the video, featuring the interview with Kennedy claiming he was given the Bronze Star with Valor and telling a story about what led to the award, the 45-year-old veteran issued a lengthy apology about misrepresenting himself and the awards he claimed during his military service. 'I want to take full and unequivocal responsibility for a serious mistake,' Kennedy wrote on Instagram. 'Over the years, I made public statements and gave interviews in which I unintentionally misstated aspects of my military service. Most notably, I implied directly or indirectly that I had been awarded the Bronze Star with Valor. That is not true, and there is no excuse for it. I never received that honor, and I deeply regret ever suggesting otherwise. That kind of recognition is sacred. It represents extraordinary courage under fire acts that risk or cost lives. To those who truly earned it, and to their families and brothers-in-arms, I offer my sincere and direct apology. What I said disrespected your service, and I take full ownership of that. 'I was young when I stepped into the public eye, and while I wasn't prepared for the scrutiny or pressure that came with it, that doesn't absolve me. I should have known better. Integrity is not situational, and I failed to uphold the standards I claimed to represent. To the military and veteran community, especially those who've served in combat or lost people they love. I am deeply sorry. I know I've let many of you down. You had every right to expect more from me, and I didn't live up to that.' Kennedy, who fought in the UFC five times after spending most of his career competing in organizations like Strikeforce and the IFL, promised to hold himself a higher standard moving forward. Advertisement 'This apology is not the end, it's the beginning,' Kennedy wrote. 'I am committed to rebuilding trust through honest reflection, visible accountability, and ongoing service to the community I misrepresented myself to. I will no longer speak about my service in a way that elevates me beyond what I actually did. 'From now on, my words will be guided by truth, humility, and respect. I understand that words alone don't heal disappointment or restore trust. Only time and action will. Thank you to those who have held me accountable. I will do my best to honor that accountability from this point forward.' The apology still didn't land with other members of the military community including another ex-Green Beret named Alex Theodosis, who blasted Kennedy for the way he worded his apology. 'Tim, your entire public persona and the lies that you've told are anything but 'unintentional,'' Theodosis wrote on Instagram. 'None of what you've crafted was by accident. The web of lies you've spun since 2007 have all been intentional and with the purpose of fame and money. When you were asked point blank about having a BSM-V, that would have been the perfect time to clear the record. Instead, you very intentionally lied about not only having the award but continued the lie with a made up story to reinforce your lie. Advertisement 'This ChatGPT crafted non-apology is a clear cut case of 'I'm not sorry I did it, I'm sorry that I got caught.' Barely glazing over one of your many lies and promising to 'do better' doesn't even scratch the surface of what the veteran community and the [Special Forces] Regiment deserve from you.' More from
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ex-N.Y. Rep. Charles Rangel, war hero and civil rights activist, dies
May 26 (UPI) -- Former U.S. Rep. Charles B. Rangel of New York died Monday at age 94 after the Democratic retired from Congress in 2017. His death was announced by the City College of New York where Rangel was a Statesman-in-Residence and in 2022 launched the Charles B. Rangel Infrastructure Workforce Initiative to boost jobs in the Manhattan and Bronx areas. The cause of death was not given. Rangel, a noted Korean War hero and civil rights activist, was born on June 11, 1930, in Harlem and earned a Purple Heart and Bronze Star with Valor during military service. Rangel, known for his raspy voice, was first elected to the House in 1970 and served 23 terms representing New York's 13th district. He co-founded the Congressional Black Caucus, was the first Black member and later chair of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, and primary co-sponsor of then-President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare. "His legacy is one of tireless advocacy, historic firsts and unwavering dedication to justice and equality," Rep. Yvette D. Clarke, D-N.Y., chair of the Congressional Back Caucus, said in a social media post on behalf of its 61 caucus members. Congressional leadership were quick to praise Rangel's service. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called Rangel a "great man" and a "great friend" who "never stopped fighting for his constituents and the best of America" in a post on X. "The list of his accomplishments could take pages, but he leaves the world a much better place than he found it," the fellow New York Democrat wrote. "The Lion of Lenox Ave was a transformational force of nature," said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., calling Rangel a "phenomenal patriot, hero, statesman, leader, trailblazer, change agent & champion for justice." "Harlem, NYC & America are better today because of his service," Jeffries posted on X. Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg called Rangel "a son of Harlem" who "devoted his life to the community he loved and served his country in Congress -- and in combat -- with great distinction." "During my time in City Hall, we worked together to bring more jobs, housing, parks, and schools to Harlem," the ex-mayor and former presidential candidate posted on X, saying Rangel's contributions to New York City and the United States "will long endure." An ethics scandal forced him to step down from his influential Ways and Means Committee post and led to his censure by the House in December 2010, but his official hearing room portrait was unveiled September 2011 less than a year later. "On this Memorial Day, we honor Congressman Rangel not only as a statesman and Harlem icon, but as a decorated veteran of the Korean War who served this country and our people with unmatched courage and conviction," Rev. Al Sharpton, a fellow New Yorker, posted Monday before noon on X.
