A Tale of Two Soldiers.....

.... a strange, but pointed coincidence brought two stories to the forefront of military news this quiet Sunday morning. The first relates the outstanding heart and courage of a double amputee who returned to battle and will one day be remembered in the 101st Airbornes Hall of Fame. The second unfortunately, tells the story of a former non-combat veteran double amputee whose sick mind and lack of conscience led him to steal the valor of those who served in Afghanistan.

The first, the story of Lieutenant Dan Luckett, an infantry platoon leader who lost his left leg and half of his right foot to an IED explosive in Baghdad on Mother's Day, 2008.

Evacuated, treated, furnished with prosthetics, he struggled to regain his physical condition. He eventually earned the Expert Infantryman's Badge, which included running 12 miles with a 35 pound backpack among other similar feats.

Lt Luckett was promoted to captain and achieved the goal he struggled for, was deployed to Afghanistan where he serves today! Click here for more on this American hero.

On the other, dark side of the coin, a young man came forward in Colorado and scammed the local press, the Mayor's Office, state lawmakers and even the local VFW commander. Claiming to have have lost his legs as a special forces vet during operation Enduring Freedom in Kandahar, Afghanistan, he misled them all.

His actual brief military tour was ten years before the US got involved in Afghanistan. His legs were lost in an civilian car wreck in Southern California wherein, he now claims, he was trying to commit suicide. Here is more to his story of Stolen Valor.

Two young Americans, one a true hero in America's finest military tradition...... the other a sick, sorry, and yes - even pathetic figure.