Category Archives: Wounded in Action

“Meat Draw Mike” Also-Known-As.

Of course, there’s more.


Barry Marchand also known as Patrick Marchand, Michael Patrick Barry Monet-Belhumeur-Riel, Michael Patrick Belhumeur, Michael Monais, Mike Monias-Riel, Joey Nicholls, Joey Stock, Joseph Joey Mike Stock, Mike Moon, Mike Moon-Riel, Barry Gladue and Meat Draw Mike.

This many-named individual, who for simplicity’s sake we’ll call Mr Also-Known-As, has been on our radar for several years and we had concerns over his claimed military service however, we could never find a smoking gun in regards to his medallic fuckery™️ as he has used and continues to use multiple aliases. 

An image of him receiving the King’s Coronation Medal from Marty Morantz, a Winnipeg Member of Parliament, on 8 November 2024 resulted in multiple reports questioning his ridiculous military themed, bedazzled costume complete with home crafted medals, a wound stripe, what appears to be the Close Protection Operator insignia along with oversized VAC Minister’s Commendation and Canada Pride Citation insignia.

8 November 2025

Wound Stripe

The picture posted on social media of him being awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal brought into question his entitlement to Wound Stripe and the CP Insignia. Most disturbing is the “Wound Stripe” is a distinction that recognizes a CF member being injured (physically / psychologically) as a result of hostile / enemy action prior to September 2001.  The absence of any evidence of him serving in an operational theatre and being wounded as a result of enemy action, suggests to us that he’s wearing the award without lawful authority.

In an email exchange on 16 October 2025, he claims that he’s never worn a wound stripe and what he’s sporting is a US Army 2nd Lieutenant rank badge that he was awarded in Illinois in 1969.

Wound stripes are a dress distinction, not marks of service or qualification. For personal reasons, individuals may prefer not to display symbols of physical injury.

Wound stripes are worn vertically on the left forearm, on the outer side of the sleeve, with the lower end of the stripe 12cm (4¾ inches) above the bottom of the sleeve. CFP 265

Close Protection Operator (CPO) Insignia.

CPO training was formalized in the CF in the very early 2000s.  Initially, the training was limited to members of the military police (regular/reserve) however, the operational tempo required that combat arms personnel be brought into the mix to meet the personnel requirements. The operators were trained at CFB Borden and in the US @ what was then called Blackwater.

In our conversations with both the MP/CPO groups, they could find no record of Belhumeur/Marchand/Monais ever undergoing selection/qualifying.

The Specialist Skill Badge – Protective Services was approved in 2011 and awarded to all qualified operators. There were no retroactive awards with the exception of two former MPs who successfully completed their training with the UK’s Special Air Service Regiment in the early 1980s.

Mr “Also Known As” claims that he did some dignitary work, whatever that may be, in Borden, Ontario and that somehow entitles him to wear the hard earned The metal CAF Close Protection Operator insignia.

Now, we’ve seen some questionable photo editing in the past however, this one is by far the worst. A SVC researcher conducted a reverse image search on a picture lifted directly from Belhumeur’s FB page and discovered an image that appears to have been modified to fit his MP narrative…

The images were overlaid on one another and the torso is identical in both. One can see where the make believe medals / MP badge were added and the third chevron in the Sergeant’s rank badge was blended out to make himself a Master Corporal. The trade badge is also incorrect for someone claiming to be a MP. The original pic has a firefighter’s badge and not the crossed pistols of the MP. Also missing is the scarlet MP identifier on his wedge cap. And then, an old timey filter was added in a crude attempt to blur the details… 

And, then there’s this image scooped up from one of his many FB identities. Note that the rank badge and name tag have also been manipulated along with the the addition of BFO head and birth control glasses.


Now why would he do that?

We are well aware of his multiple awards for community service, in which his claimed operational military service was most likely considered positively by the selection committees.


We are also aware of his penchant for creatively adding home made arts and craft medals to his legitimately awarded medals. He has used the “Saskatchewan Military Service” badge with green and yellow ribbon to create a miniature medal and he has also used the “Caring Canadian” lapel pin with a blue ribbon to create another.

Interestingly, he was awarded the Caring Canadian pin which was later exchanged for the Sovereign’s Volunteer Medal, he wears both! There are another other unidentifiable, homemade medals in the group.

We are also aware of images of him wearing completely different groups of medals depending on which uniform / costume he wears…




Mr Also-Known-As takes some sort of perverse pleasure in intimidating and threatening legal action against those whom he believes have wronged him. In his latest attack, using the name Michael Monias-Riel he submitted a claim to the Court of King’s Bench in Winnipeg, Manitoba on 16 May 2025, in which he accused a number of organizations and individuals of “spreading false rumours about him, embarrassing him in public, gossiping about him, possibly calling upon, authorities to investigate him, vetting him, reporting him to Stolen Valour and causing them to investigate him.” He was demanding 50K and an apology from all the named parties 

Mr Monias-Riel, should have paid attention the old adage if you are your own lawyer, you have a fool for a client.

Essentially, the judge struck his claim and ordering him to pay the cost of the plaintiffs. Hopefully, that will dissuade him from filing future claims that lack any substance in an attempt to line his pockets

No surprise, he didn’t attend court to hear the verdict…

After his frivolous case was dismissed, he really should have focussed on paying the court ordered costs. However, he made the decision to carry on with his delusional military themed fairy tales spooled up a protest / boycott of Remembrance Day events.

It’s now time for for this fool to either put up or shut up.

What we do know

  1. Mr Many-names served in the RCAF as a MP for a very short period of time, not the 25 years of service that he has publicly claimed. After completing recruit school in St Jean, Quebec and MP training, he was posted to RCAF Station Gimli, Manitoba.
  2. He has absolutely no deployed service and is therefore ineligible for the Wound Stripe.
  3. The Close Protection Operators insignia is problematic as he was released from the CF decades prior to the formal qualification being created in 2011. and
  4. He was never a Warrant Officer nor a M/Sgt.

On Remembrance Day 2025, Mr Many-names presented himself at a veterans club along with a “security detail” to protest his alleged poor treatment by individuals who have been known to attend this specific location. He was asked to remove himself from the premises…

Amazingly, the home-made medals, unearned skill badge and wound stripe have been removed from his military themed costume. He now is wearing the medals that have been legitimately awarded to him as noted above.

Was this change in his dress due to heat and light being applied to this situation?

Who knows?

However, SVC will be closing the file on this individual and leave the authorities to determine which steps, if any, they should take.

A Vietnam Prisoner of War? You decide…

Mark S. BERES

Beachville, Ontario

We were asked to have a look at this individual who wears a substantial group of medals detailing his service in South East Asia as a combat infantryman in the 101st Airborne Division.

In the group, there are two medals which are readily researchable. The first, the Silver Star, the United States’ 3rd highest award for heroism in combat and, the Prisoner of War Medal.


Our team could find no open source record of these two medals ever being awarded to Beres so, we contacted our US counterparts for their advice and assistance. They initiated a FOIA request for his military records on our behalf.

The documents received from the National Personnel Records Center are quite interesting as there’s absolutely no mention of the Silver Star nor the POW Medal…



We’ll draw your attention to the Decorations and Awards block.

The accounting for US Army Vietnam Prisoners of War (returnees / escapees) is 100% accurate, Beres isn’t listed!

https://www.dpaa.mil/portals/85/VietnamAccounting/pmsea_acc_p_usa_20191227.pdf

Interestingly, the three other Vietnam POW claimants we are currently tracking are not listed as returnees / escapees either!

https://www.dpaa.mil/portals/85/Documents/VietnamAccounting/pmsea_returnee.pdf

https://www.dpaa.mil/portals/85/Documents/VietnamAccounting/pmsea_escapee.pdf

You decide…

Beres can contact us if he has independently verifiable evidence of the awards. We aren’t hard to find…

In fact, we encourage him to do so.

***UPDATED***James Kenneth FRENCH – Never pass a fault!


Mr Kenneth “James” FRENCH has been making false claims of military service for at least a decade.

https://www.bclocalnews.com/news/once-homeless-lower-mainland-veteran-hopes-government-provides-help/

In a recent newspaper article, he is pictured wearing a most interesting group of medals including the Sacrifice Medal, the Persian Gulf & Kuwait Medal, the General Campaign Star (South West Asia), the Special Service Medal & the Canadian Forces Decoration.

(1)  The Sacrifice Medal, awarded to CF personnel Wounded in Action or posthumously for those Killed in Action. This medal was created in 2008 and  is retroactive to 2001. Mr French says he served in the CF until 1999 therefore, he cannot be a legitimate recipient of that medal.

(2) The Persian Gulf and Kuwait Medal awarded for service during Gulf War 1 (1990-91). The 3rd Battalion RCR, then based in Germany, was deployed to Bahrain / Qatar as a defence / security force for the headquarters and the airfield. However, French is a complete unknown to that group of Royals. He is also unknown to the members of the 1sr Battalion RCR tasked with the defense and security of 1 Canadian Field Hospital. 

(3)  The General Campaign Star (South West Asia) was created in 2004 and first awarded later that year, it is not a retroactive award, and again French claims his military service had concluded prior to this mission.

(4)  The Special Service Medal (SSM) recognizes a multitude of missions and is ALWAYS awarded with a clasp detailing the operation – PEACE/PAIX, ALERT and NATO are the most common. Of note, there is no clasp on the SSM he’s wearing.

(5) Lastly, the Canadian Forces Decoration (CD) is a long service and good conduct medal, it requires 12 years of honourable service. By his own admission, he has only 10 years of military service.

https://www.aldergrovestar.com/news/supportive-housing-advocates-hope

Typically, posers, fakes and embellishers are exposed due to their difficulty understanding recorded history and simple arithmetic.

French is just the latest in a long line of individuals who have used a bogus military narrative in an attempt to gain something without any lawful entitlement

We remember the blood, sweat and tears that it took to earn a piece of metal attached to coloured ribbon, a strip of cloth or an embroidered badge, and that is why we get somewhat emotional about them.  Stolen Valour Canada does not take our mission lightly. We are absolutely dedicated to finding posers where ever they may be and making sure that they are stopped from sullying the memory of Canada’s service men and women. For an individual to wear the Sacrifice Medal, without the making the requisite sacrifice is an absolute insult to our wounded and fallen. 

These reprehensible acts should be punished to the fullest extent of the law.

SVC

Lest We Forget

Making amends.

Mr Brent Tremblay who was featured on our website in 2019 sent us this follow-up note on 19 February 2021.

http://stolenvalour.ca/index.php/2019/12/01/brent-errol-tremblay-master-sergeant-purple-heart-cib-nope/

We wish him luck in his future endeavours. 

SVC

Arnold LePOTVIN – Sarnia’s Rice Paddy Daddy.

Mr LePotvin liked to tell his stories of searchin’ and killin’ missions in the jungles of Vietnam as an eighteen year old Staff Sergeant paratrooper.

A friend of SVC, thought that perhaps, LePotvin was being less than truthful as his Army timeline didn’t marry up with recorded history. So, we were asked to look at a couple of photographic images…

As per our SOP, we contacted LePotvin and asked him to help us sort out the situation and, we received this in return.

He then quickly dumped all of his social media accounts however, it ain’t our first time at the rodeo and we scooped up anything of interest before connecting with him…

So, we asked our American Partners at “This Ain’t Hell”, the pre-eminent Stolen Valour (or “Valor”) web site in the United States for their assistance in determining fact from fiction.

Those fine folks easily punched holes in LePotvin’s story and they contacted the US National Personnel Records Center (not Centre) as permitted by US law, to obtain his military records.

The Bottom Line

Mr LePotvin was encouraged, by members of the Sarnia Veterans Community, to surrender the bogus medals and apologize for his reprehensible actions.

He’s done the former, and we are still waiting for him to do the latter.

Is that RCAF ink on his right forearm? Weird, as he was never a member of the CAF either….

For additional information on this file, visit http://thisainthell.us/blog/?p=77434

or,  http://www.theobserver.ca/2018/01/29/claims-of-service-in-vietnam-war-questioned

Kenneth Laroche – was never a guest at the Hanoi Hilton

SVC has been tracking Kenneth Laroche and his medallic claims for a couple years. Unfortunately, it took us some time to marry up multiple photographic images with a name.

Once we had his particulars, they were passed on to our US partners with the goal of initiating a Freedom of Information Access request. However, access to the US National Personnel Records Center has been severely restricted due COVID 19 and we have been unable to obtain official proof of his Vietnam War claims and that information may not be secured until well into 2021-22.

SVC researchers have compiled enough evidence that raises questions regarding Mr Laroche’s claims, but, questions do not mean we have reached any solid conclusions.

Laroche’s military records, once received, may address all of our questions and perhaps, even result in us thanking him for his service. Until such time, there are questions that need to be asked and answered.

Remembrance Day 2021 Sudbury, Ontario

What do we know?

The open source records indicate that Mr Kenneth Laroche isn’t named as a recipient of the Silver Star, Navy and Marine Corps Medal nor the Prisoner of War medal. Those findings bring his entire military narrative into question…

Had his service and multiple awards been legitimate, he’d be a legend in the US Marine Corps and buildings would be named after him. However, there’s not even a one hole shithouse in the Camp Pendleton training area recognizing his claimed service.

Is Kenneth Laroche of Copper Cliff Ontario a liar of epic proportions?

Imagine, a Marine who claims that “his job there was saving lives, not taking lives”? Is he alluding to being a US Navy Corpsman / Devil Doc? Surely, he knows that medical care provided to the USMC is delivered by US Navy personnel?

https://www.orilliamatters.com/local-news/local-veterans-honoured-at-orillia-dinner-6-photos-1109895

Why isn’t he listed as Vietnam War Silver Star recipient?

Is this due to an uncorrected administrative error? If so, Laroche should have this situation cleared up and have his heroism officially recognized.

https://valor.militarytimes.com/award/5

Why isn’t he listed as a Navy and Marine Corps Medal awardee?

According to accessible records, he’s not listed a recipient the Navy and Marine Corps Medal which also awarded to former US President John F Kennedy, Master Chief Carl Brashear US Navy Master Diver and SVC’s friend Senior Chief (Ret’d) Don Shipley US Navy SEAL. If there was a mistake made, this needs to be resolved and his name added to the list of NAMC Medal recipients.

https://valor.militarytimes.com/award/19


Is Laroche listed a POW from the Vietnam War?

As above, if there was an administrative error spanning several decades Mr. Laroche needs to get this sorted out. Being officially recognized as a US Prisoner of War will secure access to POW specific benefits and allow him to cease his visits to charitable organizations with cap in hand asking for assistance as his “military pension had been denied”…

That being said, anyone can access the US military’s Vietnam POW returnee list to confirm whether an individual was a prisoner or not. Should an individual claiming to be a POW and/or wearing the POW Medal not be on the list, there’s a issue – the POW returnee accounting is 100% accurate.

It’s just that simple…

https://www.dpaa.mil/portals/85/Documents/VietnamAccounting/pmsea_returnee.pdf?fbclid=IwAR19jVoOt5Pnx4I0-d7tKiy5_gf5klYtT2YktxvDzzecnDb_87gHtIfgVLc


Mr Laroche can contact us and we’ll happily assist in determining his truths.

Milan KRES – an update

Way back in 2017, SVC was asked to look at the claims being made by Milan Helmut KRES of Edmonton Alberta. He claimed to have been an airborne soldier and special forces operator who had deployed on operations world wide and lost men in battle.

His claims resulted in considerable discussion in veterans forums and we took every effort to contact him in order to sort out the situation…

His response?

Kres deleted the images of the medals, insignia and certificates and went silent.

Perhaps, he heard foot steps after SVC initiated the “Shameless Sunday” showcase of unrepentant posers, fakes and embellishers who had yet to responsibility for their actions.

After 3 years of silence Mr Kres contacted us last week and stated that he wanted to make amends and asked what steps he had to take in order to do so.

As the window to pursue criminal charges against him had long since closed, Kres was advised that a public apology for his reprehensible actions would be a starting point.

He was further advised that surrendering the bogus medals, badges, insignia and certificates for appropriate disposal action would confirm his commitment to never use them as props in a game of military make believe.

A SVC representative met with Kres on 4 August 2020 and took control of assorted bogus items. These items will be properly disposed of / placed on display in military facilities as appropriate or applicable.

SVC has now closed the file on this matter.

Now y’all know, we’re a patient bunch…


Hendrik Van der pol – “the Lying Dutchman”

Hendrick Van der pol – “the Dutchman”

In the image taken at the Silver Fox Entertainment Centre in Summerside PEI on 11 November 2019, he’s rockin’ a most interesting collection of ribbons and insignia. 

The ribbons represent the Canadian Somalia Medal, Special Service Medal, Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal, UN Interim Force in Lebanon, UN Protection Force, UN Assistance Mission in Rwanda, NATO (FY), the Canada 125th Anniversary, the Canadian Forces Decoration, a privately purchased Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal & The St John Ambulance Service Medal.

Of the 3 medal ribbons on the bottom row, there’s the Netherlands UN Peacekeeping Medal, the centre one is unknown and the last is a privately purchased UN commemorative trinket.

Our Dutch friends tell us that he is wearing the Draaginsigne Gewonden, legitimately awarded, on his left chest pocket, the badge is analogous to Canada’s Sacrifice Medal.

What we do know.

He was a Boatswain in the Navy Reserve 1991-97 then transferred to the Regular Force as an Infantryman serving in 2nd Bn RCR in Gagetown 1997-2001. He completed a tour in Bosnia 1999 and was awarded the CPSM and NATO (FY) Medal.  Van der pol voluntarily left the CF in 2001. 

Before joining the CF, Van der Pol had prior service in the Netherlands Army and he was deployed as a mechanized infantryman with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon. 

Of the medal ribbons that he’s wearing, there is no evidence that Dutchman has any lawful entitlement to the wear the (1) Canadian Somalia Medal, (2) the Canadian Special Service Medal (NATO), (3) UN Protection Force Medal, (4) UN Assistance Mission in Rwanda Medal, (5) Canada 125th Medal, (6) the Canadian Forces Decoration and, (7) the St John Ambulance Service Medal. 

Of course, there’s an awesome vest involved…

In an email exchange with Van der pol, he talks of role in a play in which he played a soldier suffering from PTSD who became a biker… 

He claims the uniform and jacked up ribbons and insignia were just stage props that he wore on the same day as he was camping with a 2% van club in Europe and he changed on the way to the venue. 

Cool story bro, the ribbons on the uniform and your cut are identical unfortunately, the images are separated by 6 years! 

You also told us that you were wearing the US Combat Infantry Badge to honour your father, a Netherlander who was wounded in action in Korea.  And, the jump wings were awarded / purchased at a civvy parachute school and your CO authorized you to wear them. 

The US Navy wings are an interesting addition to his medallic fuckery…
Then, outta the blue, Ol’ Hendrik just cowboy’d up… (7 April 2021)

Never pass a fault.

Wave “Sticky Buns” RAYNER – Never a Gunny!

Guess who is making waves in Leduc, Alberta?

Ex Corporal Wave Rayner, a cook who self identifies as a Gunnery Sergeant of Marines is apparently causing some churn over his attendance / participation in Remembrance Day services hosted by the Royal Canadian Legion branch on 11 November 2019. 

Some of you may remember this fake from a few years back and the ridiculous claims he made…

The Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, parachutist wings, combatant swimmer insignia are all worn without lawful authority.

Claiming that his son was Killed in Action is about as low as a human being can sink, we know too many folks who have suffered this tragedy, and this con man and grifter wears that story like some badge of honour!

He played a sick game with the families of the RCMP’s Mayerthorpe Fallen Four and 3 PPCLI’s fallen from the Tarnak Farm incident by presenting them with “his” Purple Heart medals to recognize their sacrifices!

 

It’s long past time for the good people of Leduc to put this compulsive liar on ignore!

 

Courtesy of our US counterparts @ Valor Guardians

https://valorguardians.com/blog/?p=92430&cpage=1

 

https://valorguardians.com/blog/?p=59684&cpage=3

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