David “Buck” Thrailkill – US Army Special Forces Communications Sergeant, ODS/S, Combat Wounded, Purple Heart, Blog of Shame

militaryphonies

5 years ago

BACKGROUND

David Walkup Thrailkill comes to us from Fayetteville, North Carolina. At the time of this writing, December 2020, Thrailkill is 57 years old. He prefers to go by his nickname “Buck.”

Thrailkill recently attended a wedding where he wore his Army uniform complete with a Purple Heart medal, which signifies that he was wounded in combat. Thrailkill is also wearing both a Saudi Arabian version of the Kuwait Liberation Medal and a Kuwait Liberation medal – which are the last two medals on the bottom row. These medals signify participation in Operation Desert Shield/Storm (ODS/S). It appears he has a Bronze Star as well – the medal just to the left of the Purple Heart.

On Thrailkill’s RallyPoint profile, he claims to be an “18E: Special Forces Communications Sergeant.”

The Army MOS of 18E is a Special Forces designation.

Here is Thrailkill’s claim of being a combat veteran, although it is unclear if he is talking about Panama or Operation Desert Storm.

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ACTIONS CONDUCTED BY MILITARY PHONIES

David Walkup Thrailkill’s military records were ordered through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request – twice. Two results will be presented.

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FOIA RESULTS

NATIONAL PERSONNEL RECORDS CENTER (NPRC)

FOIA Result – NPRC – David Thrailkill – Summary Sheet

FOIA Result – NPRC – David Thrailkill – Assignments

FOIA Result – NPRC – David Thrailkill – Awards

FOIA Result – NPRC – David Thrailkill – Military Schools

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DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY (DoA)

FOIA RESULTS – DoA – David Thrailkill – DD214

FOIA RESULTS – DoA – David Thrailkill – Assignments

FOIA RESULTS – DoA – David Thrailkill – Assignment Data

FOIA RESULTS – DoA – David Thrailkill – Miscellaneous

FOIA RESULTS – DoA – David Thrailkill – Current and Previous

FOIA RESULTS – DoA – David Thrailkill – Military Schools

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE MANPOWER DATA CENTER (SCRA)

DoD Manpower Data Center / SCRA Results – David Thrailkill

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MILITARY RECORDS – COMPLETE FOIA RESULTS

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DISCUSSION and SUMMARY

LENGTH OF SERVICE

Although Thrailkill’s military records support his claim of being retired, he served for 15 years and six months. It could have been a medical retirement.

MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY (MOS) CODE

The 18E Special Forces MOS was not supported by Thrailkill’s military records. Although he appeared to be in a support role, he was not 18E as he claimed.

OPERATION DESERT SHIELD/STORM (ODS/S)

The awards in the photo not found in Thrailkill’s official military records are the ones at the very top – Bronze Star, Purple Heart and the Meritorious Service Medal – as well as the ones at the bottom – the Saudi Arabian Medal for the Liberation of Kuwait and the Kuwait Liberation of Kuwait Medal. The two awards for the liberation of Kuwait that Thrailkill is wearing in the photographs suggest he was in ODS/S.

He deployed to Panama in 1989 but had he also deployed to ODS/S he would have a second award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM). However, Thrailkill neither wears two AFEMs in the photo nor are two AFEMs supported in his records.

We also could not find the Multi-National Forces and Observers (MFO) medal listed in Thrailkill’s military records, which is also on the bottom row of ribbons that he wears.

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STOLEN VALOR

A claim of a Purple Heart medal is in direct violation of the federal Stolen Valor Act of 2013, especially if the claims were used for gain. State laws may also apply.

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