BACKGROUND

Matthew Michael Morton comes to us from Saint Louis, Missouri. At the time of this writing, April 2023, Morton is 48 years old.

Besides numerous claims on Social Media, Morton has written a book called “Adaptive Bodybuilding” in which he claims he “spent 5 years in the US Marine Corps, serving from 1992 to 1997, retiring with the rank of Staff Seargent. [sic]”

Morton also claimed in his book that he was awarded three (3) Purple Heart medals for being wounded in combat, along with four (4) Combat Action Ribbons for service in Somalia (1993), Rwanda (1994), Albania (1995) and Bosnia (1995). He also claimed that he “was part of a team that rescued downed U.S. Air Force Pilot, Captain Scott O’Grady from behind enemy lines.”

Morton also claims in the Preface section of his book that he had left the Marine Corps with PTSD and disabilities that he had amassed.

What’s not entirely clear, but perhaps implied by Morton’s statements, is whether he received combat injuries that lead to him being restricted to a wheelchair. If not directly stated, it appears heavily implied.

However, in the following video posted to Morton’s Instagram profile, it shows him using his legs without the aid of a wheelchair, although he does hobble a bit…

SOURCE: https://www.secure.instagram.com/adaptfit_mattmorton/

Morton claimed in his book that he was part of the rescue team that retrieved US Air Force pilot Captain Scott O’Grady…

Morton also had this photo posted on his Facebook profile, appearing to claim he was one of the Marines in the photo of the rescue team…

A contributing factor for this case is Matthew Morton was posted on the popular Stolen Valor site “This Ain’t Hell” – now called “Valor Guardians” – by the late owner Jonn Lilya.

A newspaper article from the Southeast Missourian spoke about Morton’s account of the rescue mission. There was no mention of his injuries, the article instead focusing on the rescue mission.

MARTIAL ARTS & DISABILITIES

Although Morton had some light brought to his situation based on martial arts claims, there was no mention of his disabilities or Marine Corps combat-related injuries as he has claimed. This post on This Ain’t Hell was in 2016.

NOTE: As a disclaimer – we do not investigate martial arts claims, so cannot speak to any of that.

THE MISSOURI NATIONAL GUARD

The newspaper article above mentions that Morton joined the Missouri National Guard after his time in the Marine Corps. We find it curious that his disabilities that he claims are related to his Marine Corps service would not have been an issue upon joining the Missouri National Guard. If he was medically retired from the Marine Corps, or for that matter bound to a wheelchair, he would have to have obtained medical clearance to join the Guard.

CAPT SCOTT O’GRADY RESCUE MISSION

The blog posted on This Ain’t Hell had Morton’s case brought to them by someone on the flight crew of the mission that rescued Capt Scott O’Grady, and this pilot claimed Morton was not on the roster of the 61 people that were there.

Again, we found it most interesting that Morton did not seem to exhibit the combat-related disabilities that appear to drive the central core of his bodybuilding principles based on limiting him to a wheelchair.

NEW BOOK ANNOUNCED

Now, there is a new book by Morton that was recently announced on his Facebook page…

NOTE: The U.S. Marine Corps may want to contact Matthew Morton about the use of the official Marine Corps seal on the cover of both of his books. It implies that they endorse his book, and usually they are extremely protective of the use of the USMC official seal.

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ACTIONS CONDUCTED BY MILITARY PHONIES

Matthew Morton’s military records were ordered through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. We filed with the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) and the US Army because he served with the Missouri National Guard, as put forth in the newspaper article from 1999.

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FOIA RESULTS

NATIONAL PERSONNEL RECORDS CENTER (NPRC)

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OTHER RECORDS (THIS AIN’T HELL)

Although third-party, meaning we don’t know if they were supplied to This Ain’t Hell or they obtained the records themselves, we supply them here. They appear to accurately reflect the results that we obtained from the NPRC. The combat history page is particularly illustrative of Morton’s deployment experiences.

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DISCUSSION and SUMMARY

LENGTH OF SERVICE

The length of service is consistent across all FOIA results – 1993-1997 – representing a four year enlistment. We find it odd that he claimed that he served for five (5) years in his book, but perhaps he was counting delayed entry time.

The claim of “retiring” from the Marine Corps is a bit odd but leads one to believe it was a medical retirement since Morton only completed four (4) years. However, the dates of his enlistment are from June 14, 1993 to June 13, 1997 – exactly four (4) years. That would cast some doubt on a medical retirement but it is possible that the dates coincided. As stated previously, a medical retirement or medical issue, in general, would have to be overcome to enter the Missouri National Guard – no small hurdle.

RANK

All documents – the NPRC summary sheet and the DD-214 – state that Morton was a Lance Corporal (E-3) vs. the Staff Sergeant (E-6) that he claimed.

Morton left the service as an E-3 Lance Corporal. Although it is possible that Morton achieved a higher rank with the Missouri National Guard, he made a specific claim in his book that he retired as a “Staff Seargent” [sic] in the Marines.

Morton’s official military records do not support his claim of retiring as a Staff Sergeant in the Marine Corps.

ASSIGNMENTS

Morton did seem to be assigned to the overall MEU that was involved in the Capt Scott O’Grady rescue effort in 1999. The pilot that helped with the ‘This Ain’t Hell’ blog claimed that Morton was not on the roster of 61 individuals that were part of the rescue.

We will leave this claim to those knowledgeable about the event.

PURPLE HEARTS & COMBAT ACTION RIBBONS

Morton’s records do not support the claims that he has a Purple Heart, let alone the claim of three in his book. Also, there are no Combat Action Ribbons (CARs) listed. Claims of either one of these medals are covered in the Stolen Valor Act of 2013.

Morton joined the Marine Corps in mid-June 1993 so it would have been a challenge to complete boot camp, attend advanced infantry training (SCOLOFIN = School of Infantry) and make it to Somalia. In fact, his records show that he went to Fort Sill Oklahoma for artillery school in Nov-Dec of 1993, then on to Camp Lejeune in early 1994.

On October 7, 1993 then President Clinton called for a withdrawal of US Forces in Somalia no later than March 31, 1994.

Morton was assigned to BLT 2/8, 24 MEU in September 1994.

SUMMARY

If Matthew Morton has used any of these claims to gain anything of value, he could violate the Stolen Valor Act.

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PHOTOS

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SOCIAL MEDIA

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/matt.morton.8

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/mattmorton075

INSTAGRAM: https://www.secure.instagram.com/adaptfit_mattmorton/

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