Marine Sentenced for Purple Heart Fraud

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Marine Sentenced for Purple Heart Fraud

Nov 14, 2007
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Marine veteran won't spend time in prison for falsely claiming he received the Purple Heart for service in Iraq so that he could get a special license plate.
Timothy Allen DeBusk, 27, was a sergeant when he was an active-duty Marine in Iraq, but was never wounded while serving there. He pleaded guilty in September to fraudulently trying to obtain a Purple Heart license plate for his car.
District Court Chief Judge Nancy Parrish sentenced DeBusk Tuesday to two consecutive eight-month jail terms but suspended the time behind bars. She placed DeBusk on 18 months of probation and ordered him to undergo a mental evaluation and serve 200 hours of community service.
"You very much violated the honor that (these combat-wounded veterans) have received and the honor that others wounded in combat have received," Parrish said.
In court, DeBusk apologized for his actions, saying he lacked the moral guidance to make the right decision at the time.
"I am very sorry for what I did," DeBusk said. "I didn't have the Lord at the time."
During the sentencing hearing, DeBusk was berated by combat-wounded veterans for staining the honor reserved for those hurt or killed in action.
Veterans who spoke noted that the sentencing came on the 25th anniversary of the dedication of the Vietnam Memorial Wall, two days after Veterans Day and three after the Marine Corps' 232nd birthday.
"You are a despicable person," said George McKnight, a Vietnam veteran who retired in 1985 after 21 years in the Army.
McKnight was a master sergeant and suffered burns and shrapnel wounds when grenades struck his tank during the 1968 Tet Offensive.
Other veterans said DeBusk cheapened the award for those who served and truly earned the medal.

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