A couple of things first – I ragged on the Fayetteville Observer concerning the story about super-sniper Jeff “Rock” Harris and giving them hell for printing a story with such obvious problems. As it turns out the story originated in the Kinston (NC) Free Press, was picked up by AP and then by the Observer. That said, they still should have known better. Apparently the world has come down on Mr. Harris and the “Rock” finds himself in a hard place. All of this began when one of the folks at SOCNET spotted the Fayetteville Observer story on the 4th of July and, well, the smell put them on the trail. The story stank to high heaven. As I said, I picked up on it through the US Army Ranger Association (the next day). Tracing it back, it was SOCNET which has been in the forefront of chasing the “super-sniper” down. The first public indication that Harris’s story was being questioned came from the Kinston Free Press itself on July 5th. Questions have arisen about the accuracy of information provided by the primary source in "Kinston resident recalls extraordinary experiences that led to 'Black Hawk Down,' " which appeared in the Sunday edition of The Free Press and online at kinston.com. As a result, the story has been removed from this site. The Free Press is looking into conflicting information concerning details of that story and will publish the results of that inquiry when it is completed. Then, today the managing editor of the Kinston Free Press showed up on SOCNET with an apology about the story: All: I am Bryan Hanks, the managing editor of the Kinston Free Press ... and I am humiliated and embarrassed that we published this story. There are no acceptable explanations or excuses, so I will offer none. I can tell you this, though: we are working our asses off to reveal everything about this "man" and his ludicrous claims. We are hoping to have an article in Thursday's edition of The Free Press, but you can believe this time we will have all our T's crossed and I's dotted. And I'd like to add this: the writer of the story, Jane Moon, is as embarrassed and humiliated as I. She is deeply sorry to you, the brave men and women this man attempted to mimic, for the hurt this article caused. If you'd like to contact me personally, please feel free to call me at 252-559-xxxx or email me at xxxxxx@freedomenc.com. I'd love to talk to you. Again -- please accept my apology for this. We are doing everything in our power to right this terrible wrong. Bryan Hanks I don’t know about you, but that sounds like a pretty genuine and heart-felt apology. No excuses, we screwed up. Fair enough. Hat tip to Mr. Hanks. Lesson learned. I look forward to the follow-up story. BTW, apparently Harris allegedly showed Moon some fake Purple Heart certs, most likely obtained on the internet, as proof of what he was telling her. She was truly duped, but I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt given the certificates. The SOCNET guys say she reacted to their contact very professionally and was very upset about the story when she learned she’d been duped. Finally someone who purports to be Harris dropped a comment on the story cited above. I am a man who made a stupid mistake. I cannot apologize enough for the disgrace I have caused. The story is not true. And I have no excuse to offer, there isn't one good enough. I understand everyone's anger at me and it is deserved. I want to apologize to all the men and women who have served and still serve, a foolish and unnecessary decision made out of selfishness. I can only offer this apology and take my consequences as the come, I will. I apologize to my Wife and my employer. Let me suffer the punishment, not them. Again, sorry is not enough to decsribe how I feel. I am not sorry for getting caught, it was time for it to end, just sorry for the pain an disgrace I have caused so many others and to my on service. I apologize to the City of kinston and the Free Press, they were deceived and are not at fault, let this city recover and the good people here live in peace. God forgive me and I am truly sorry. for this. Jeff Harris Yeah, I’m much less forgiving toward this oxygen thief . First it wasn’t a “stupid mistake’, jackwagon – it was a purposeful deception. And no, you don’t understand everyone’s anger, nor will you ever. While those who are angry certainly harbor some of that anger over your claiming awards you never earned (note the word, “Rock”) and deeds you never did, the real anger is aimed at the attempt to trade off of the death of a real warrior and Ranger – Cpl James Smith. Smith is the Ranger who died in Mogadishu from a severed femoral artery that caused him to bleed to death during the fight. Implying that was you to the reporter (but you survived while claiming the death in the movie “Blackhawk Down” made for a better storyline), trying to trade off of that young heroes’ death is despicable, dishonorable and cowardly. But there is an upside for you Mr. Harris - it does give you one thing you have truly earned in this whole thing – a reserved room in the lowest ring of hell with all the others losers who feel the need to steal the valor of real warriors. Have a nice day, “Rock”. And a tip of the hat to the SOCNET folks – keep up the good work guys. ~McQ Twitter: @McQandO
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Posted
Jul 06 2011, 06:28 AM
by
BLACKFIVE