BACKGROUND
Mark Paul Jerome comes to us from Stony Creek, New York. Mark is 55 years old as of March 2019.
Mark claims to have been a Sergeant of Marines (E-5) as well as a Scout Sniper (MOS 8541).
Mark claims on his Facebook page that he served from 1982 – 1989, and held the MOS’s of 0311 (Rifleman), 0331 (Machine Gunner) and 8541 (Scout Sniper).
Mark served in the U.S. Marine Corps and by the judge of the bling he wears, he is damn proud of that.
Here he displays a Purple Heart, along with the label “COMBAT WOUNDED.”
In a picture he used as his Facebook profile photo for a while, he also suggests he was awarded the Purple Heart.
And in the following photo he wears a Purple Heart medal on his ball cap.
This photo shows the same ball cap and Purple Heart medal, but also shows the Sgt insignia.
In these photos of his jacket, you can see the patches for 0311, 0331 and 8541.
BEIRUT, LEBANON
Then there is the matter of Beirut, Lebanon. If Jerome was wounded between 1982 and 1989 as he claimed, there were only a few conflicts that this could happen to him. Beirut, Lebanon 1982-1984, Operation Urgent Fury – Invasion of Grenada in 1983 and Operation Just Cause – Invasion of Panama in Dec 1989.
At one point, Mark was a member of the Beirut Veterans of America (BVA) Facebook group.
He was asked a few questions in PMs.
MNPF probably meant Multi-National Peacekeeping Force but the correct acronym is MNF for Mulit-National Force in Lebanon.
An old post had a friend claim that Mark Jerome was there during the Marine Barracks bombing in Beirut on 23 Oct 1983. Mark never corrected him and posted in the same thread.
In this post, Jerome suggests he is on the ground in Beirut calling in a fire mission from the USS New Jersey, who did fire shells into Beirut.
He was asked about his service in Beirut as well as his Purple Heart.
At this point – Mark Jerome blocked the person asking the questions. It sounds like it was too painful for Mark to talk about.
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ACTIONS CONDUCTED BY MILITARY PHONIES
A Purple Heart database for all wounded in Beirut was checked – Mark Jerome’s name was not on it.
Mark Paul Jerome’s military records were ordered through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.
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FOIA RESULTS – SELECTED
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FOIA RESULTS – COMPLETE
NATIONAL PERSONNEL RECORDS CENTER – NPRC
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE MANPOWER DATA CENTER – SCRA
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USMC CAR / HSM DATABASE
A search of the USMC Combat Action Ribbon (CAR) and Humanitarian Service Ribbon (HSM) database came back with a “NO RECORD” response.
It must be noted, however, that this database has been known to not be 100% inclusive so nothing can be concluded from a negative result.
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US NAVY CRUISE BOOKS
Mark Jerome’s photo was not included in the group photo for STA 1/8.
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DISCUSSION and SUMMARY
SUMMARY SHEET
Mark Jerome’s summary sheet shows just under four years of active duty. He was discharged from the USMC as a Lance Corporal (E-3). He was not a Sergeant (E-5) as he claimed.
The summary sheet shows that he went on deployments due to Sea Service Deployment Ribbons. We know that one was in Japan.
The summary sheet does not show a Purple Heart as he had claimed.
This is in violation of the Stolen Valor Act.
Nothing in his military records support Jerome’s claim of training to be a Scout Sniper or serving with any STA units.
Nothing in his military records support his claim of serving in Beirut.
STOLEN VALOR
The official military records for Mark Jerome do not support many of his claims – many of which are in violation of the Stolen Valor Act.
If these claims were leveraged by Mark for something of value over the years, including monetary gain, work positions, or advertising sniper or wounded warrior to further a business, Mark may be in violation of the Stolen Valor Act. Individual state laws may apply as well.
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PHOTOS
SOCIAL MEDIA
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MPJUSA
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