Roger Paul Gagnon Jr – Irony with the case of the ‘VA is LYING’ Spokesman, Blog of Shame
2309/14/2015 by
DISCLAIMER: We have no affiliation with either the Veterans Administration or ‘VA is Lying’.
CONSIDERATIONSAs Roger Gagnon makes claims that the Veterans Administration is being unfair, has Gagnon been unfair to the VA? Does the ‘VA is Lying’ organization really know who they are getting behind as a spokesman? Are they setting themselves up for a huge embarrassment? Who is this man that is getting out in front of a national movement? BACKGROUNDRoger Paul Gagnon Jr. has earned a place as spokesman for the “VA is LYING, VETERANS ARE DYING” movement by his work and his recent purchase of several billboards out of his own pocket. The cost of the two billboards that Gagnon purchased was over $2000.
Gagnon has been on several news broadcasts including local station WFTV, FoxNews Fox and Friends.
Gagnon proudly displays his service cap for service in Beirut, Lebanon.
A complimentary GoFundMe page has raised thousands of dollars and the publicity has increased the membership to the VA is LYING Facebook page. In the WFTV interview (1:15 mark), Gagnon implies that due to the VA wait times, “ultimately he collapsed on a road just outside his home” as a result of seizures. He spent weeks in a coma. The message is certainly a powerful one with all of the problems with the VA. It resonates with anyone that has experienced delays in their care combined with the alarming rate of suicides among veterans. Is this all the fault of the VA? How has Gagnon’s background and experience contributed to him being out front of this cause besides the money that he has personally spent? What truth lies beneath the surface? |
THE MAN, HIS SERVICE & HIS MESSAGERoger Gagnon is well known to the Beirut community. This community consists of Beirut Veterans and family members that were affected by the loss of life and disabilities that came as a result of the US involvement in Beirut, Lebanon in 1982-1984. THE MAN – BEHAVIOR PATTERNS Gagnon came on the scene with a few Beirut Facebook groups a few years ago. He identified himself as a member of Battalion Landing Teams (BLT) 2/8 and 2/6. His posts immediately took the direction of making the case that the VA has forgotten about Beirut veterans.
A few weeks later, things took a strange turn.
Evidenced by the 304 comments, an immediate panic swept over the community. Not many knew Roger or where he lived, but the entire Beirut community rallied to get information as this all implied suicide. Phone calls were made, police were contacted, people dropped what they were doing that lived in the Texas area to try and identify anyone that could drop in on Roger. When he was found to be OK, he claimed everyone misread his post.
Behind the scenes, several felt that it was unfair to stir everything up like that and then chastise people for reacting. Although peculiar, Gagnon is a Beirut brother so it was overlooked. Upon his recovery he posted some service claims that raised some eyebrows and he explained it away by saying he took an overdose of pills.
The next year, Gagnon got 100% disability, unemployable rating and back pay from the VA. He purchased an RV and moved around for a while, mostly staying outside the home of friends. He eventually settled in Florida. In April of 2015, there was another episode with Gagnon, this time in Florida. Friends were desperate for answers as to what was happening and how they could help. Someone posted a summary of what happened.
. . . . . HIS SERVICE – CIVILIAN AND MILITARY BACKGROUND Gagnon’s service claims and behavior were a concern with the community of Beirut veterans and family members. Several saw his behavior as self-destructive but were relieved that he was getting the help that he needed. Some casual inquiries into his background were initiated. . . . . . CIVILIAN He had served some time in prison and had some pretty serious charges to his name.
. . . . . MILITARY Gagnon’s official service records show that he was indeed in Beirut, Lebanon in 1982 and 1983. He served with 2/8 and then 2/6. However, it appears that he had disciplinary problems dating as far back as 1982. Enough so that he was removed from his Guard MOS (8151) and assigned to a Automotive Mechanic (3521) MOS in early 1982.
Then after Gagnon’s time in Beirut, he came back to the U.S. and is discharged, reenlists, assigned to Charlie Co, then Supply Co, then goes Unauthorized Absence (UA). Gagnon is declared a deserter and while on that status the bombing of the Marine Corps Barracks happens on 23 Oct 1983. Elements of Gagnon’s unit, BLT 2/6, were immediately sent back to Beirut to replace men that were lost in the bombing. Perhaps this was a factor with Gagnon, but he shows back up just in time for the Marine Corps birthday on 10 Nov 1983. He is then transferred to the brig for confinement. Upon release from the brig months later he goes UA once more never to be seen again. He is declared a deserter for a second time on 27 Jan 1984 and eleven months later is discharged on 17 Dec 1984 in absentia.
In the WFTV news broadcast, Gagnon is referred to as a “retired Marine”. There is reason to believe that Gagnon may have went back to the Marine Corps years later and had his “Other Than Honorable” discharge changed and may have even received a medical retirement. The focus then moved to the VA. Most likely after considerable negotiation, Gagnon eventually received a 100% disability rating and all of the associated back pay. Some of this back pay was most likely used to fund the very billboards that in turn criticize the very VA that helped Gagnon. The irony is extremely heavy. . . . . . HIS MESSAGE Many Beirut veterans observe Gagnon’s behavior and feel that both the Marine Corps and the Veteran’s Administration took care of Gagnon when he needed them. At the same time, when Gagnon’s unit needed him in 1983 he was a deserter. It is difficult to now watch as Gagnon complains about the VA. Who can know another man’s heart? Maybe it is all about his fellow man, but Gagnon’s past behavior leaves many in the Beirut community of veterans and family members to wonder if he is the best voice of advocacy for veteran issues. |
FOIA RESULTS – COMPLETE |
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SUMMARY AND DISCUSSIONSome of Roger Gagnon’s military claims and their status are listed briefly below:
Maybe Roger Gagnon has turned his life around and channeled his energy into helping others? Some within the Beirut community have praised his efforts and gotten behind him. Other Beirut veterans are skeptical and with good reason. Roger Gagnon’s message no doubt resonates with some. There are also some that have had good experiences with the VA, other that have not had enough experiences to weigh in on the discussion, and others that have had no experiences. The U.S. intervention in Beirut has been mostly forgotten about and some of its veterans have stated that they don’t want to be remembered for bad mouthing the VA. Who can blame them? In a strange way, Beirut Veterans and all veterans may have a stake in Roger Gagnon’s success. The “VA is LYING” effort would do well in proceeding with caution with Gagnon out front. They may have a situation that is a house of cards waiting to implode. It also could hold together long enough to achieve their goals. Only time will tell. As Gagnon says often — we’ll see you on the other side. |
PHOTOS and SOCIAL MEDIAPHOTOS
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This Ain’t Hell: http://thisainthell.us/blog/?p=61854
He is a worthless POS Beirut embellishers are the worst
I must say something here. Instead of trying to bring someone down over mistakes in their past and embellishment (which I know of several who do) why can’t you stand behind and support someone who has turned his life around and is trying to make access to better VA care for other veterans a possibility? I visited with him when he was unresponsive at the hospital with his mother, he did NOT try to “check out”. It was a grand mal seizure and they had to slowly worked him off the sedation because he kept having them. I was standing there with his mother when they said there were no drugs or levels that shouldn’t have been present. I have also witnessed them play with his appointments and NOT get him in with neuro when they should have. I’m sorry, not a one of you is perfect! I even know of a Beirut Vet who got Home Depot to donate a tree to be planted in Memory of the Beirut brothers and then planted it in his own yard instead of a public park for everyone to be able to pay respects. Really, at 19 years old kids don’t think before they do sometimes. But at 50+ they regret those mistakes. So next time before posting derogatory things about a “brother” make sure you know the WHOLE truth and not just someone else’s belief. I know where a lot of this came from.
We know the WHOLE truth. That is why he is posted here.
That Marine who plants a tree EVERY year in honor of his fallen brothers from Beirut is a tribute to what HONORABLE Marines do . You bashing what he does in comparison to what Gagnon has done is pure ignorance. And shows just what type of a person you are. You’re not out for the truth. Or you can’t handle the truth. Which is it ? I bet you’re one of those idiots who thinks this is a VA conspiracy too ? You’ve gone past full retard straight on to potato. ~ Scotty
Thank you, this all needed to be said. Roger is my father. He made many mistakes for a long time, but isn’t only stepping up for veterans now, but stepping up in my life. There is no need to hold a past against someone who is trying to help others!! Thank you for being by my fathers side in his time of need by the way. I love in vt, and haven’t seen him in 20+ years. Anyone who can go as far as to bring someone down who is trying to help thousands of others lives is just as guilty as anything! Keep it up dad, you’re doing great. I love you and I support you!!!!
Shelly,
It’s every orphan’s fantasy that his/her parents were good people. Often they imagine them as being wealthy and perhaps killed in an auto accident. This thinking is beneficial as it allows the individual to function, because it’s hard to accept what may be the truth.
The truth is that Roger Gagnon continues to lie and misrepresent when it comes to his military service. The key word there is: continues. He did this just the other day on a radio show when he was asked about the Marine Barracks Bombing, which he said affected him greatly. This may be true, but he failed to disclose the fact that he was listed as a DESERTER at the time. You can hear it yourself at: http://www.theblaze.com/author/doc-thompson/ (go the the VA is Lying episode on top)
Maybe he’s turning over a new leaf with you and that’s a good thing. We wish you well with that.
However, within the Beirut community he has threatened the life of a widow, has constantly sought money and favors from people which usually comes about with an emergency that he has manufactured. He continues to bite any hand that feeds him. This is all recent behavior. Although his past is relevant and often a predictor of future behavior, the primary purpose of this blog did not appear to be an effort to sandbag Roger with his past. The point is that there is no indication of a change in his behavior for people to receive Roger with open arms, open homes and open wallets.
Hi, I am Shelly’s mom–
She was way too young to remember the abuse, the threatening to take our lives a well as my family’s, spending all the money on himself and deserting us time and again. I have told her how much it hurts me that she is in contact with him, but–like she has said, she never knew him and only knows what he is saying now. He is currently sending her money and acting the caring daddy. I warn her all the time, to be careful. He never gives something for nothing. He leaves a trail of deceit, abuse, lies, etc. He always loved his booze, drugs and sleeping around more than his family. The only beautiful thing out of our marriage was the two kids. Which of course he paid child support on once; a whole $50!!! He is now contacting the VA here, stalking his son who honorably served it the Marine Corps, with the claims he is “trying to help him”. RJ wants no part of him and told him this many times, and you can be sure will be contacting the VA to arrange a way this (out of consideration for Shelly I won’t say it) cannot get anymore info. My thought is he must be claiming to be Roger Gagnon III, or how else could he get the info?
SHAME on those who did this! YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT IS LIKE FOR VETS WHO LIVE WITH PTSD
Karen actuall we do know what it’s like to have ptsd Some of us choose not to blame every thing we do on it Roger chose to lie about his service and his desertions and commit felonies he is not the person that should be speaking for a org that is trying to help veterans. Just my opinion
The guy isn’t about anything but getting attention for himself. He fucked up in the Corps got booted then 30 years later he decided to apply for Bennies. By hook or crook he got 100% now he wants to run his suck about how the Marines and the VA ruined his life. The VA saved his sorry ass. I’m not even sure they looked at his complete service, since he could have simply showed then his FIRST DD 214 from Jan 1983 vice his desertion and Bad Conduct Disharge on his second hitch. I hope the VA knew the extent of his service when they granted his pension. If not he could lose what he has and face jail time. Not hat he isnt used to jail.
I live with PTSD every day of my life. I didn’t get kicked out of the Service, and my Discharges all say Honorable.
Prove it !! Post both of your dd-214’s.
Don’t think you have the market cornered when it comes to PTSD.
I have a life sentence because of it and it ain’t because the men in my unit sexually harassed me. And it’s not because I have a friend that has a friend who knows someone that was in a unit that took casualties. In today’s world you can file for PTSD and get it because you almost got deployed to a combat zone, so what does THAT have to do with anything?
This guy deserted his post when the Corps needed experienced guys like Gagnon. This isn’t about shooting the messenger. This is about hypocrisy.
He’s made himself a spokesman for Veterans. Some happen to be the very veterans he left hanging, get it?
[…] folks at Military Phonies send us their work on this fellow, Roger Paul Gagnon who recently made a name for himself when he […]
Excuse me Shawna but what does planting a tree in my yard in honor of my brothers that were killed in Beirut as well as Grenada and Haifa, Isreal? I’ve been planting trees in their honor for 30 years and they’re thriving living memorials to their sacrifice in and on every property I have lived on since 1985. How fucking dare you even mention it here in this kind of forum? And you of all people know why Gagnon wasn’t welcome at the cerimony I had at my home to plant that tree. You know where a lot of this came from? Bullshit, you obviously don’t know shit.
I don’t get it. He really never did anything. Was booted out of the service, and gets 100%.. I take fifteen medications,have had five surgeries, can barely walk or drive,and all my stuff is service connected,. I don’t have 100%, and I did ten years honorably.. This guy is ridiculous..
Let me see if I have this right. He joins the Marine Corps, gets kicked off Embassy Duty for conduct unbecoming a Marine, get put in a unit that happens to deploy to Beirut in the early days of that event. Returns to the States, goes UA (unauthorized absence), is declared a Deserter, stays gone during the Bombing which took the lives of 241 Marines, his former unit deploys back to Beirut to replace the Marines that were lost without him, comes back on the Marine Corps Birthday, goes to the Brig for a couple of months, gets out of the Brig and goes UA again, is declared a Deserter again, never comes back to the Corps, is discharged later with an other than honorable discharge, abandons his obligations as a father, does an armed robbery and goes to prison for 14 years, finally gets out of prison and lives with his sister, gets booted from there, befriends members of the Beirut community of veterans, lives off of their help and generosity, threatens to harm people in the group, implies that he is going to harm himself, files against the VA and Marine Corps for benefits, gets them and paid a huge sum for back benefits, travels around camping out in other veterans driveways, pays for some billboards to bash the people who gave him benefits and money, makes false claims about what he did in Beirut, is never held accountable for Desertion, gets some media attention for his billboards, claims PTSD (from what I am not sure), never once makes an apology for his actions, and become a spokesman for a nonprofit organization raising money in the name of the very people he abandoned.
Wow, what a resume. Now, all of a sudden he is being honored for his service and helping veterans. Well, I can tell you that I don’t know a fellow Beirut Veteran that wants or would accept any help from this man. I and many others will have nothing to do with any veteran group that would have him as a member. Shame on anyone that supports him in the name of Veterans. He is a bottom feeding piece of human waist. He will blow through what cash he got like a drunk monkey, spend his benefit check before it gets to the door, never get a job, never be a father, never have any honor, and never be held accountable for his Desertion. He is NOT A MARINE, he turned his back on that honor and abandoned his code of honor. He uses people to try and fill the void within him where pride and honor are supposed to be. That place is an abyss and the more it gets fed the bigger it becomes. He is an emotional black hole, a singularity to the soul that consumes anything good around him. He is a Valor Vampire who feeds on the service and sacrifice of those that fulfilled their obligations with honor.
The name used for people like him is COWARD.
The saddest part of all of this is that honorable veterans are sticking up for this deserter and felon
That pretty much sums it up, Dave. Gagnon was also convicted of fraud and other crimes besides the armed robbery. Gagnon is a shakedown artist and uses a technique of threats and intimidation to gain something from his victims. He’s now applying his tradecraft on a much grander scale and using an unsuspecting media. I have no opinion on the VA is Lying group other than to say he will eventually have a falling out with them. It’s simply a matter of time and if they’re a reputable organization they would do well by cutting ties with Gagnon ASAP. On the other hand, maybe it’s a great marriage. At least they now know.
Very well said! That comment about sums his scumbag ass up!
Roger was always fond of saying “Baffle ’em with bullshit.” He can spout about what others need to do in order to receive his due, but there are at least 3 kids that he has literally run out on in order to NOT pay child support. For years I received death threats from him, how it was too bad our daughter would have grow up without a mother or father (indicating he’d kill me first, then himself). Funny part was when we were married, he had no problem wanting nothing to do with us, blowing $$ on drugs and women and alcohol, then blaming me and taking off again because I had the audacity to be angry about it. I lived in fear from this jerk-off for years until I finally got sick of it. After the last threat, now about 2 – 3 years ago, I decided to put my disdain for guns away and learn how to protect myself. I’ve learned very well…..
While some of you have voiced your opinions that Roger has made mistakes but has learned from them, until he steps up and do what he as a parent is responsible for, him claiming the VA isn’t doing what they said they would is like the kettle calling the pot black. If it isn’t anything that’s going to benefit him, it isn’t his problem… just a little more baffling with bullshit.
What? Surely he took some of the money from his bullshit VA claim and paid for his kids education. You must be mistaken, or the checks are going to arrive any day now.
No reason to live in fear from this little dwarf, GaggedOn is a punk and always has been. If he starts any shit again, mention my name. The little shit stain lacks the balls to say boo to me.
He is no real threat to anyone, every time he had to stand up and be a man he ran like the coward he is. This 2 time deserter can kiss my ass.
Hey Roger, Phuk ewe…pussy.
I wanted to take the time to add something to contribute to this forum but I can’t add anything more to it. All I can think of is what a douchebag fuck GaggedOn is and the fact that I had to beat the shit out of what I thought was a brother (Shawna Henson’s husband) Lonny Henson a Beirut Veteran, cause I called his bitch ass wife out on her comment earlier here about the trees I plant to remember the 273 KIA in Beirut and Grenada. I doubt he will come here and attack me again. So back to my point, I can add nothing to this that my brother Dave Hardin didn’t already say right here in this quote except if you’re following this blog Shawna, how’s your hubby’s head you stupid ass bitch.
“Dave Hardin
09/21/2015 at 08:59
Let me see if I have this right. He joins the Marine Corps, gets kicked off Embassy Duty for conduct unbecoming a Marine, get put in a unit that happens to deploy to Beirut in the early days of that event. Returns to the States, goes UA (unauthorized absence), is declared a Deserter, stays gone during the Bombing which took the lives of 241 Marines, his former unit deploys back to Beirut to replace the Marines that were lost without him, comes back on the Marine Corps Birthday, goes to the Brig for a couple of months, gets out of the Brig and goes UA again, is declared a Deserter again, never comes back to the Corps, is discharged later with an other than honorable discharge, abandons his obligations as a father, does an armed robbery and goes to prison for 14 years, finally gets out of prison and lives with his sister, gets booted from there, befriends members of the Beirut community of veterans, lives off of their help and generosity, threatens to harm people in the group, implies that he is going to harm himself, files against the VA and Marine Corps for benefits, gets them and paid a huge sum for back benefits, travels around camping out in other veterans driveways, pays for some billboards to bash the people who gave him benefits and money, makes false claims about what he did in Beirut, is never held accountable for Desertion, gets some media attention for his billboards, claims PTSD (from what I am not sure), never once makes an apology for his actions, and become a spokesman for a nonprofit organization raising money in the name of the very people he abandoned.
Wow, what a resume. Now, all of a sudden he is being honored for his service and helping veterans. Well, I can tell you that I don’t know a fellow Beirut Veteran that wants or would accept any help from this man. I and many others will have nothing to do with any veteran group that would have him as a member. Shame on anyone that supports him in the name of Veterans. He is a bottom feeding piece of human waist. He will blow through what cash he got like a drunk monkey, spend his benefit check before it gets to the door, never get a job, never be a father, never have any honor, and never be held accountable for his Desertion. He is NOT A MARINE, he turned his back on that honor and abandoned his code of honor. He uses people to try and fill the void within him where pride and honor are supposed to be. That place is an abyss and the more it gets fed the bigger it becomes. He is an emotional black hole, a singularity to the soul that consumes anything good around him. He is a Valor Vampire who feeds on the service and sacrifice of those that fulfilled their obligations with honor.
The name used for people like him is COWARD.”
Roger Gagnon ? Never heard of her