May 8, 2009 9:02 pm US/Pacific
Local Man Pretends To Be Desert Storm War Hero
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) ―
A cop and former Marine Corps Corporal were honored for an award he never earned. The FBI says it's a 'Silver Star sham.'
CBS13 tracked down Corporal Eric Piotrowski to a house in Elk Grove. The feds say the current Cal Expo cop went on eBay and bought someone else's Silver Star military medal.
The FBI also says he also admitted to ordering a citation detailing his bravery on the battlefield.
Operation Desert Storm in 1991 is where "Corporal Piotrowski returned through enemy positions, totally disregarding his personal safety showing bold leadership, wise judgment, and complete dedication to duty." The problem is the FBI says it's all a lie.
When CBS13 confronted Piotrowski he told us 'No Comment.'
Piotrowski's family asked the state to formally recognize his Silver Star. The Department of Veteran Affairs then presented the medal in a short ceremony.
"Well, it turns out there was some misrepresentation of what this individual presented," explains J.P. Tremblay.
A tipster to Veterans Affairs and the FBI led to an investigation that unraveled the story of stolen honor.
"It's an insult from those who earned those citations and awards," says Tremblay.
People like Sergeant Roy Harmon, Captain Raymond Harvey, and Sergeant John Druse Hawk, who are real life heroes, deserved the honor like so many others who died serving our country and fighting for our freedom.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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