http://guardianofvalor.com/richard-arthur-rahn-fake-army-ranger-shows-vfw-event-convicted-felon/
Outstanding work done by all those involved.
Outstanding work done by all those involved.
Richard Arthur Rahn Fake and Felon
Willmar Minnesota – Several weeks ago we began getting emails and wall posts on our Facebook page Stolen Valor after this guy was spotted at a local VFW event wearing an Army dress uniform adorned with all kinds of accolades. So we began looking into who this guy was and if he had ever served. In the post that was spreading around Facebook, Facebook user Patrick Zenk wrote the following:
Fellow Minnesotans and family members in the Willmar / Montevideo area, there is an individual in the local area who is pretending to be a decorated Soldier and combat veteran. On August 9th, 2014, he showed up in this uniform at the Olivia, MN VFW for the KMS Memorial Ride. The individual stated that his name was Command Sergeant Major Richard Rahn of the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. The Army Ranger Association was contacted by a National Guard member who believes that he is a fake.
There are several indications in these photos that indicate that he is a fake. He wears the uniform incorrectly with things sewn on a uniform where it is not authorized, wears numerous awards out of place and out of order (to include the Bronze Star and Purple Heart), and also has at least one badge that hasn’t been awarded since the Vietnam War (CIB with 2/stars). It is believed that he lives in Wilmer, MN. The Ranger Association checked with the Ranger Regiment and confirmed that they have no record of him ever belonging to the Regiment, nor is there a record that he served in the military. What was found is that this individual has a felony record in Florida. Pass the word to ensure nobody is scammed by this individual.
We started doing some digging and found out that this guy had felonious charges out of Florida, which gave us his DOB so we were able to see if he in fact ever served at all. Below is a snapshot of the charges out of Florida:
So with this information we reached out to our contacts to see if Mr. Rahn had ever served in the military, because according to his uniform he is claiming a very distinguished career:
In the above photo some of the highest awards he is claiming are:
Purple Heart
Bronze Star
Combat Infantryman’s Badge with two stars(Almost impossible for his age as he would have had to serve in the current wars and two other theatres of combat to earn those. Fort Benning museum keeps a list of three-time CIB recipient’s and he is not on it. Although CSM Plumley is!)
Ranger Tab
Pathfinder
Master Jump Wings
Ranger Battalion Combat Service Identification Badge(Meaning he served in combat with that Ranger batt)
Infantry Cord
He is also wearing the Cross Rifle insignia on his lapel, but notice he is missing the blue discs that all Infantryman wear behind the rifles.
Not to mention he is wearing his sunglasses on his head, no CSM I have ever met would wear his shades on his head!
Here is another photo that shows the Ranger Tab:
We got our request back from Army HRC, and we weren’t surprised when we found out that this guy has never served in the US Army, much less as a CSM at a Ranger Battalion. I wonder where he got the money to buy that uniform and all the bling that he has on it?
It wasn’t very long after people started asking questions and contacting the local Police about this guy that they began looking into him as well and he was arrested on an unrelated charge. But we are asking the local PD to see if he gained anything of value while impersonating a CSM and wearing unearned badges and tabs, because he can be charged under the Stolen Valor act of 2013.
According to West Central Tribune after several complaints about Rahn, after finding out he was a convicted felon, police executed search warrants and found three firearms. Rahn was arrested on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
ILLMAR — A 54-year-old Willmar man who reportedly has been impersonating a decorated Army officer at various events is in custody on an unrelated charge.
Richard Arthur Rahn is being held in the Kandiyohi County Jail pending felony charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and authorities are investigating the allegations that he has been impersonating a military officer, according to a news release from Willmar Police Chief Jim Felt.Willmar police officers and members of the CEE-IV Drug and Gang Task Force executed search warrants at Rahn’s property and storage unit this week and found a total of three firearms.
According to the news release, a number of complaints had been received recently of a Willmar resident posing as a highly decorated officer in the United States Army. According to the complaints, the individual appeared in uniform at various events and claimed to have served in the Army Rangers. A Facebook user reported spotting the alleged impersonator at the Olivia VFW Aug. 9.
The individual was identified as Rahn and some people also reported to police that the individual had a criminal record in another state.
After investigation, Willmar police found that Rahn did have a felony conviction and gathered information that he possessed at least one firearm. It is illegal for a felon to possess a firearm in Minnesota.
Willmar Police Department officers and members of the CEE-IV Drug & Gang Task Force searched Rahn’s home Tuesday evening on Second Street Southwest in Willmar. A firearm was recovered from the residence and Rahn was arrested and has been in the jail since Tuesday.
Officers then seized two additional firearms and a U.S. Army dress uniform with medals and insignias as part of a second search warrant executed Wednesday at a storage unit west of Willmar.
Additional investigation is being done by Willmar police regarding the alleged fraudulent use of the military uniform, insignia and medals.
Impersonating a military officer is a federal offense. According to the release from Felt, charges may be forwarded to a federal prosecutor.
We have confirmed that Rahn has never served in the US Military, therefore if the local PD can find evidence he gained anything of value while impersonating a CSM, and wearing unearned badges and tabs, he can be charged under the SV Act of 2013. We will be glad to give the Police with proof that he has never served as received from the Army HRC.
Rahn is currently being held on the firearm charges, police also confiscated the uniform.
Welcome to the Guardian of Valor Hall of Shame Rahn, even if you aren’t charged under the SV Act, you will forever be known as a Military imposter!
We will continue to update this story as it develops, I am sure with all the publicity this is getting, Federal prosecutors will at least look to see if he meets the criteria to be charged with Stolen Valor.
