Sean Yetman Phony Ranger Oxford Valley Mall

Pennsylvania –  A few days ago we were contacted by Ryan Berk, a Veteran from the 2/506th 101st Airborne about a fake Ranger he ran into in the Oxford Valley Mall in Pennsylvania. Once we watched the video it was obvious that the person in the video, later found out to be Sean Yetman, was no Ranger.

Ryan asked Yetman a series of questions about his uniform and his service that any Soldier should have been able to answer. He then called out Yetman on his three CIB’s, Yetman claimed he got all of them for Iraq and Afghanistan, which is impossible. According to Army Regulations, you can only earn one CIB for Iraq or Afghanistan no matter how many times you deploy to each theater.

The initial award of the CIB is authorized for award for the following qualifying wars, conflicts, and operations:

• World War II: 7 December 1941 – 3 September 1945
• Korean Conflict: 27 June 1950 – 27 July 1953
• Republic of Vietnam Conflict (qualifying service in Laos): 2 March 1961 – 10 March 1995 (19 April 1961 to 6 October 1962)
• Dominican Republic: 28 April 1965 to 1 September 1966
• Korea on the DMZ: 4 January 1969 to 31 March 1994
• El Salvador: 1 January 1981 to 1 February 1992
• Grenada: 23 October to 21 November 1983
• Joint Security Area, Panmunjom, Korea: 23 November 1984
• Panama: 20 December 1989 to 31 January 1990
• Southwest Asia Conflict: 17 January to 11 April 1991
• Somalia: 5 June 1992 to 31 March 1994
• Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom): 5 December 2001 to a date to be determined.
• Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn): 19 March 2003 to 31 December 2011

Subsequent awards of the CIB may be awarded provided the Soldier had met eligibility criteria in two or more of the following four periods:

• World War II: 7 December 1941 – 3 September 1945
• Korean Conflict: 27 June 1950 – 27 July 1953
• The Republic of Vietnam Conflict: Service in the Republic of Vietnam conflict (2 March 1961 to 28 March 1973) combined with qualifying service in Laos; Dominican Republic; Korea on the DMZ; El Salvador; Grenada; Joint Security Area, Panmunjom, Korea; Panama; Southwest Asia Conflict; and Somalia, regardless of whether a Soldier has served one or multiple tours in any or all of these areas. The Republic of Vietnam Conflict Era officially terminated on 10 March 1995: 2 March 1961 – 10 March 1995
• Global War on Terrorism (Afghanistan, Operation Enduring Freedom) and (Iraq, Operation Iraqi Freedom/New Dawn): 18 September 2001 to a date to be determined.

A third award of a CIB is so rare that the Infantry Museum in Fort Benning keeps a list of those who have earned them.

Berk also called him out on his flag being too low on his right shoulder, a mistake a PVT wouldn’t make much less an SSG. Yetman, knowing he was busted, then began to pretend to talk to someone on the phone. Once Berk began to get loud and call him out for Stolen Valor, Yetman claimed he was going to meet his SGM.  Berk responded, “You shop with your SGM on Black Friday?”

Below is the video we posted to our YouTube account several days ago, it went viral, gaining more than two million views in two days and grabbing the nation’s attention. U.S. Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania also saw the video and has ordered the U.S. Attorney’s office to look into the situation for possible prosecution under the Stolen Valor Act of 2013, which is possible if Yetman gained anything of value while wearing the unearned badges.

We will keep you updated as to if any charges are filed against Yetman.