PORTLAND, Maine— The special Navy unit trained to fight on sea, air and land was created 50 years ago. And for nearly as long, wannabes have been making bogus claims of being part of the elite SEALs.
This week, a Pennsylvania minister had to apologize after he was quoted in a newspaper saying he served as a SEAL in Vietnam. A retired SEAL from Virginia who confronted the minister says he's receiving 40 to 50 inquiries a day from people suspicious of claims by friends, neighbors or colleagues who claim they're SEALs.
Those figures have grown since SEAL commandos killed Osama bin Laden.
The retired SEAL, Don Shipley, says wannabes lie to further their careers or boost their ego. But what really bugs Shipley is that they're taking credit from those who served.
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