Corpsman guilty of wearing unearned medals

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Naval Medical Center Portsmouth Deputy Commander Capt. Bruce Gillingham presents the Bronze Star and Purple Heart to Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class (FMF) Dontae Tazewell in a ceremony July 14, 2006, at Branch Health Clinic Sewells Point in Norfolk, Va.


Corpsman guilty of wearing unearned medals
By Andrew Scutro - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Jan 23, 2008 19:23:43 EST

NORFOLK, Va. — A hospital corpsman accused of wearing unearned combat awards was found guilty of 10 of 11 specifications of violating the Uniform Code of Military Justice at a court-martial here Wednesday.

Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class (FMF) Dontae Lee Tazewell, whom prosecutors said “duped his command,” is to be sentenced Thursday by Capt. Patricia Battin, the same judge who presided over his trial. He faces a maximum sentence of six months in prison for each of the specifications and a dishonorable discharge, according to the Navy.

Lt. Matthew Cutchen, Tazewell’s defense attorney, told reporters after the proceeding his client “sincerely apologizes to those who may have been offended by his conduct.”

Prosecutor Lt. j.g. Allison Ward said Tazewell — who was a third class petty officer at the time — convinced his command in 2006 to give him medals and ribbons he didn’t earn so he could stay in the Navy, collect an E-5’s pay and receive medical treatment after failing to score high enough on his second-class petty officer advancement exam to move up.

Tazewell, 28, faced 11 specifications of wearing unauthorized ribbons and medals. He was accused of using false paperwork to give himself a Bronze Star with “V,” Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation Medal and various other medals, according to the charging documents. Tazewell allegedly told people he risked his life to save Marines in combat in Iraq five years ago. He was not convicted of the specification involving the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with “V.”


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/01/navy_tazewell_verdict_080123w/