Quantico-based Marine expected to plead guilty to faking war wounds

David W. Budwah

By: Julia LeDoux | Inside NoVA
Published: October 19, 2009

A Quantico-based Marine who is alleged to have faked war wounds for personal gain is expected to enter a guilty plea Wednesday morning during court martial proceedings at the base.

“Sgt. [David W.] Budwah is scheduled to enter a guilty plea in the Marine Corps Base Quantico courtroom Wednesday at 9 a.m.,” said Quantico spokesperson 1st Lt. Joy Crabaugh.

Budwah, 34, of Springhill, La., is charged with making false official statements, malingering, misconduct and larceny. He claimed that he was on his second tour of duty in Afghanistan when a homemade grenade exploded, wounding his face and arm when he dove to shield a buddy from the blast, according to the Associated Press.

But the Marines say that Budwah was never in Afghanistan, was not wounded and did not earn the combat medals he wore. Prosecutors also say that Budwah accepted invitations to rock concerts, major league baseball games, banquets and other events meant to fete wounded warriors.

Budwah is also accused of faking post-traumatic stress disorder in hopes of leaving service early and was sent to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, where he bluffed his way into 33 events from late July through November 2008, according to charges obtained by the AP through an appeal of its Freedom of Information Act request. Budwah is also charged with making false statements, malingering, misconduct and larceny.

According to the AP, Budwah declined to enter a plea at his arraignment on Aug. 5 and denied wrongdoing in a brief telephone interview in April.

Budwah joined the Marines in October 1999 and spent nearly all of the next six years with a radio communications unit in Okinawa, Japan, according to Quantico Marine Corps base, where Budwah has been stationed since February 2006.

Of nearly 3,100 courts-martial last year in the four major armed services, only 27 were trials for wearing illegal decorations. Just two involved Marines.

Military editor Julia LeDoux can be reached at 703-369-5718. The Associated Press contributed to this report.