FAKE MARINE IS NOW LEADING BARRIENTES' SILENT MARCH

 

Special to El Rrun-Rrun

To the members of the American Vietnam Veteran (AVV) Chapter 1 of Brownsville and members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars the fact that Cesar Rendon walks around in green battle fatigues was often amusing since everyone knows he did not serve in the military, the Marines, and much less in combat.

But when people started posting photos showing him awarding medals to various local people as a "Special Marine," that crossed the line. And he's still at it because he was one of the flag carriers – decked out in combat fatigues brimming with medals – at Tiny Barrientes' Silent March this past May 26 during Memorial Day.

"He isn't authorized to hand out medals," said Vietnam Veterans chapter commander Salvador Salinas in the past when the fact first came to light. "Especially since he didn't serve. I notice in the photos that he is still wearing corporal stripes."

When Salinas and his comrades saw Rendon handing local seafood magnate Robert "Capt. Bob" Sanchez a Marine medal, it was the last straw.

"I have instructed our XO (executive officer) to call a special meeting to discuss this matter," he said. "I don't want one misguided person to put us in a bad light." 

Sanchez, by the way, did not serve in the military, and doesn't claim he did. And there's no telling how many such medals Rendon has awarded other people. In fact, he wears a chest full of medals when he puts on his late brother's fatigues – a real veteran – to attend veterans events. 

 Other readers have sent El Rrun-Rrun photos of Rendon when he "volunteered" for the chapter's funeral detail and wonder why Rendon was allowed to perform that sacred duty. Here he is decked out in a VFW funeral detail uniform wearing a Marine Corps tie clip. (Out of respect for the soldiers and their families we will not publish them here.)

"He volunteers in the funeral detail," wrote one. "The families of the fallen soldier don't even know that he is not a true veteran. What a disrespect to the fallen soldier and the family."

More recently, a veteran complained that Rendon had been allowed by Silent March coordinator – and Vietnam combat veteran – "Tiny" Barrientes to wear Vietnam veterans' jungle fatigues with a MIA decal and lead the parade honoring the fallen soldiers of the country's wars bearing the Texas flag. 

Unfortunately, cases of such "stolen honor" are not unusual. Most involve individuals pretending that they served in combat and wear medals, including the Purple Heart, indicating that they were wounded in battle. 

In Rendon's case it was his brother Blas, who actually served in the military. Shorty Rendon born in 1964 and the Vietnam War ended in 1975 when he was 11 years old.

Unfortunately, cases of such "stolen honor" are not unusual. Most involve individuals pretending that they served in combat and wear medals, including the Purple Heart, indicating that they were wounded in battle. 

In Rendon's case it was his brother Blas, who actually served in the U.S. military. Shorty Rendon born in 1964 and the Vietnam War ended in 1975 when he was 11 years old.

However, Salinas and his crew said they would deal with the issue directly and put a stop to it once and for all. Rendon was one of those fake VFW members who was "recruited" by the late VFW commander Luis Lucio, who himself wore a fake Purple Heart until he was called on it by real combat veterans of the VFW. 

Lucio was a cook during his service, but claimed at different times to have been a Marine drill instructor and/or infantry officer. He consistently earned performance certificates for his VFW-member recruiting of non-combat veterans like Shorty. (When this was published in this blog, the publisher was banned from the VFW by Louie's goons.)

"We'll correct it," AVV's Salinas said of Rendon. And he did.

Barrientes, unfortunately, has allowed this charade to take over and actually lead the annual Silent March parade. After El Rrun-Rrun first posted this article, a reader sent the blog  a copy of the Texas Penal Code dealing with claiming a fraudulent or fictitious military record and decorations (VTCA Penal Code 32.54). A person commits an offense (Class B misdemeanor) is he or she uses or claims a military record 

* knowing it's fraudulent,

* is fictitious and has not been granted  or assigned to the person,

* or uses it to gain some benefit (like free meals at Texas Roadhouse of Golden Corral on Veterans Day), service, state job or donation. 

Given the proof of Sanchez's Facebook posts, "Special Marine" Rendon might want to think things through if he continues "awarding" Marine Corps medals or leading military veterans parades to honor the real fallen soldiers.