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Phony ‘Forsake Our Troops’ Site
A new shock site called Forsake Our Troops is doing the rounds. It purports to be the homepage of an organization "dedicated to the notion that our nation's military is grossly overcompensated, at the expense of the American taxpayers." In actuality, it's just an attempt to be outrageous. Apparently it was created by a White Power activist called Michael Crook (according to the True or Better blog). Crook seems to have a history of doing things like this. Last year he created a fake group called Citizens Against the Troops. Seems like a charming fellow. Of course, this character could insist that he sincerely believes everything he's saying. But I would contend that he only sincerely wants to be obnoxious. (via Malkin Watch)
Update: This is the same Michael Crooks who once claimed to find a soldier's digital camera at a football game and told the media that he would return it for a 'finder's fee' of $1000.
Categories: Military
Posted by Alex on Sun Feb 20, 2005
Comments (99)
More from the Hoax Museum Archives:
According to forsakethetroops. info

On Monday evening, the webmaster of Forsake The Troops was brutally assaulted by two men, thought to be members of the military, in response to their opinions about this website. Mr. Crook had been the target of numerous death threats and trespassers at his residence. All of these threats were saved and have been turned over to the authorities.
UPDATE:

At 6:19pm Eastern time, Michael Crook died of his injuries, after being rushed by ambulance to the leading hospital in the area for head trauma. The two men who allegedly assaulted him are currently in the custody of police. Mr. Crook died with his wife and infant daughter present.

It is therefore the decision of his family, and associates that Forsake The Troops goes offline, to prevent further incidents of violence and threats against his family. Therefore, this domain will permanantly go offline at around 5pm Eastern time, on Tuesday, May 17th, 2005.

Comments, and well-wishes may be addressed to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Media inquiries (no interviews with family at this time), or sincere inquiries from well-meaning people may be directed to (315) 558-4372.

Leave a voice mail message and your call will be returned by our media representative. The family requests privacy at this time.
Posted by Airman Eric X  on  Mon May 16, 2005  at  08:30 PM
air men x you are making the rounds with this whats up with that
Posted by sstg hope  on  Mon May 16, 2005  at  10:03 PM
is that true? or is that bull shit? come on, he knew what he was doing and he even asked for it by saying what he did all this time. who wouldn't be pissed off at what he did? He sat there and said the miltary was freeloaders and all that crap he said on his website. If he was that scared he wouldn't have said all of that. so my guess is until I'm proven wrong, is that he did get scared and ran and faked this so he can show up later after all of it has died down.
Posted by tye  on  Tue May 17, 2005  at  12:01 AM
I don't know anything about the site, but I will check it out later to find out exactly what he did to piss off everyone so much.

Just because I don't support George W. Bush's poor decisions does not mean I don't support the troops. And instead of just pasting a little label on my truck, I'll assemble CARE packages instead. NOW ISN'T THAT BETTER!?
Posted by Goat King  on  Tue May 17, 2005  at  07:58 AM
Goat King,

Ya can't check his site, it is no more. His family took it down. I have checked obits for Syracuse NY and the Syracuse newspaper and can find no mention of an attack or of his death, using any of his various names.

So, could be a way for him to have just disappeared off the face of the earth.

Mebbe I'll call the Syracuse NY PD and ask them.
Posted by selab  on  Tue May 17, 2005  at  08:05 AM
It's fake. If there were an actual attack, it would have been all over the papers. There would have been some mention of it in the daily police reports. There is nothing. This guy is a fraud.

Here is most likely what happened. Someone tracked down his address, probally sent him some not nice emails. This guy probally started thinking about his actual safety after all that he has said and done. He has probally decided that for his own protection he'd better go crawl back into the shit filled sewers he climbed out of.

It's not that hard to actually trace an address and telephone number for an unlisted Michael Crook down. With all the information he gave in his site and weblog it really does lead back to a physical home address not that phoney one on the main page. He probally had the shit scared out of him and now is hiding like the pansy ass he is.

On a side note. People need to watch how much information they give out. You tell someone your age, what town you live in and grew up in. You tell them how many kids you have, you talk about work and where you work. The internet has all kinds of information and search tools. For $10 anyone can know your past driving record, your social security number, your past address's, your marriage date, who your married to.. it goes on and on. Becareful with who and how much of your information you give out.
Posted by Wife of an airman  on  Tue May 17, 2005  at  09:31 AM
For any of you still monitoring this website
Posted by Joe  on  Tue May 17, 2005  at  11:51 AM
Some 25 years ago or so there was a story going around the religious radio stations about a young man from a "small town near here" who was involved with D&D who went through various horrible stages until he finally committed suicide. I was stationed in upstate New York, Platsburgh AFB, at the time I first heard it and checked out the various small towns and counties around the city of Plattsburgh and could find no mention of the incident. Granted, since the young man was alleged to be a minor, his name would not have been available, but the fact of the incident would have been. Later, after attending my grandmother's funeral I heard the exact same story in Kentucky and Tennessee on the same day, in different radio markets, and two days later in Arizona. I suspected then and still suspect a false story making the rounds. I suspect that the story of this guy's death is something similar. From all I've seen and heard about this guy, primarily here, I believe he has a psychological fix against the military and has concocted this story to further his aims in that regard. If this story is real, it should be easy to prove. Crimes investigated by any police agency are public records. Not all the details obviously, the the fact of the crime. If this guy was killed, it is on the record, the death certificate is also a public record, and if people have been taken into custody it is also on the record. If it is true or a hoax, either way I hope it gets a lot of publicity.
Posted by Christopher Cole  on  Tue May 17, 2005  at  03:28 PM
Chill peeps, it's a hoax. Of course I was pretty pissed when I first saw it too. The guy isn't dead he is just posting that to get the heat off of him...

http://forums.military.com/eve/ubb.x/a/tpc/f/409192893/m/526108975

God Bless America
Posted by Just a girl  on  Tue May 17, 2005  at  03:40 PM
I've searched for the story of his death as well, nothing turned up. I checked the newspaper and TV websites around Syracuse and nothing turned up. The guy doesn't quit, even in his own "death" he blames the military!

Rick
Posted by Rick  on  Tue May 17, 2005  at  06:35 PM
Has anybody tried emailing or calling the number left on the website?
Posted by Joe  on  Wed May 18, 2005  at  06:05 AM
Mike is revived!
Submitted by mike on Tue, 2005-05-17 20:32.
Well, I suppose the cat's out of the bag, so....I'm not dead.

To those that sent heartfelt messages, and felt that this was a true story, I truly apologize. This situation quickly got out of hand, when national media outlets called looking for clarification.

I honestly thought people would shrug it off, and go on their merry way. I even got a kick out of the numerous hate messages from people, including an e-mail message from this numbnuts:



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Hollingsworth, Benjamin L SFC USAOC&S (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address))
Yea, I am sorry that I couldn't have been there to watch you die. Go Army.

SFC Hollingsworth, Benjamin
Recovery Department NCOIC
"Leading the Train"
410-278-2765 / 7606
DSN 410-297-2765 / 7606



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Real nice guy, he. In any event, this story got way out of hand. The Troops site has, indeed, been taken offline, because quite frankly, I'm tired of the time it takes to maintain it. It's not from a lack of hosts; there are plenty of companies willing to take my money, but enough is enough. Let the drunken rednecks from Weapon Depot think they won. They had nothing to do with it. Nor did anyone else, but myself. I alone chose to take the site down.

But, hey, if it gets your rocks off to make you think you're so important that you had anything to do with it, knock yourself out.........please. Then jump off a tall building with your children in tow.

And, people overreact. Take for example, one Mr. Mike James, webmaster of Newsblues, which is a media insider website. Having worked in the media industry, he felt it imperative to mention the story. Unfortunately, he got the story wrong. He also chose to fire me as one of his researchers, because of the fallout from this story, apparently. Of course, it's fallout he created himself by running the story-- I haven't worked in the TV industry for quite some time now. It's truly unfortunate that he apparently does business this way, but whatever. Life's too short to stress over mean people.

Have a nice night.
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(C) Copyright 2000-2005, Michael Crook
Posted by Rangermom  on  Wed May 18, 2005  at  10:46 AM
So Mikey, if you are taking down your website... how will all your big fans like myself keep in touch? Snail mail?!?!
Posted by Joe  on  Wed May 18, 2005  at  01:48 PM
This guy seems to be attempting to copy "The Best Page in the Universe", located at http://www.maddox.xmission.com.
If you haven't been there, it is an outrageously funny and profane site that gets the majority of its' laughs at the expense of the liberal left, Vegans, PETA, and any and all things popular.
The difference is, Maddox has talent.
Posted by abncav  on  Fri May 20, 2005  at  08:19 PM
After doing some research, I have learned that this idiots website is hosted through "enom.com".

The phone # is, 425.274.4500
The general email is, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

If anyone would like to complain, this is the correct contact info.
Posted by Fuddpucker  on  Sat May 21, 2005  at  05:05 AM
A little more about Mike Crook check this out
he likes to use the name silentmike.

http://www.stormfront.org/forum/showthread.php?t=167750
Posted by Venomous  on  Fri May 27, 2005  at  01:20 PM
What a dork! another profile:
http://www.rickjames.com/cgi-bin/ubbmisc.cgi?action=getbio&UserName=Silent+Mike
Posted by Venomous  on  Fri May 27, 2005  at  01:32 PM
Strange,if this guy is dead he must have a twin. A Michael Crook (PUKE) was on Hannity and Colmes (FOX NEWS)Friday,27 May,2005.I would personally like to see the draft reinstated and PUKE'S like this would be the first to be called up.
Posted by chuck  on  Sat May 28, 2005  at  07:52 PM
Looks like Crook just up and moved...

http://www.forsakethetroops.net/

(http://www.forsakethetroops.info was old site URL)

Web site is back up and running...bottom of page states Last Update May 21, 2005
Posted by beej  on  Thu Jun 02, 2005  at  03:06 AM
Did anyone see the FOX News broadcast with our boy Mikey? They lit him up!! The man looks like Marylin Manson after a severe hangover. I have the video, if anyone is interested in seeing it... post your email and I'll send it your way.
-Cheers
Posted by Joe  on  Fri Jun 03, 2005  at  06:55 AM
Check this video about him out:
Fox lit him up, only good thing they've ever done:

http://www.putfile.com/media.php?n=050521_FoxNews_HannityColmes_ForsakeTheM
Posted by SOMC  on  Sun Jun 05, 2005  at  05:11 AM
Thanks SOMC, I wasn't sure how to link the vid...
Posted by Joe  on  Mon Jun 06, 2005  at  05:57 AM
i saw the video clip, and this guy is even more out of his mind than ever. clearly he doesnt like the government, but using us veterans and the actively serving military as a scapegoat to try to voice and assinine opinion. i really appreciate the new casters standing up for us and telling the world how stupid this character is. i truely hope that someone takes a pop shot at him and takes him out, let god decide his fate. i didnt mind putting my life on the line for this country, but at times it is people like this it makes it hard.
Posted by gbm  on  Mon Jun 06, 2005  at  10:40 AM
When I returned home from Iraq, I was warmly welcomed by the majority of the people I met. But as I neared the baggage claim, I had my beret ripped off of my head, and was spat upon by two AMERICANS that seemed to be around my age. I was called all sorts of names...vulgarities were flying from their mouths. I just recently saw the Hannity & Colmes with that "Forsakethetroops" site. I was outraged. It brought back the memory of that day in the airport. The feeling of picking up my beret with a footprint on it...wiping the spit off of my shirt and face...I just thought I would share my experience...as I read the stories on anti-war demonstrations.
Posted by Chris  on  Tue Jun 07, 2005  at  08:24 PM
I just got done seeing the video that was posted on here. As a US Marine I cannot explain the outrage I am feeling right now. What makes it worse is they way he makes our pay sound. My whole squadron is at work performing maintence on our jets 12 hours a day 6 days a week. THATS 72 HOURS A WEEK. And thats if you get off on time and dont work Sundays (which happens atleast twice a month). If this was a normal pay by the hour job we would be making so much more money. There is no way you can justify the base salary as being excessive. It just blows my mind that there is actually people out there that believe this stuff so strongly. Im so worked up and frustrated I dont even know how to put it in words
Posted by Bob  on  Tue Jun 07, 2005  at  09:23 PM
This is still an issue:

http://forsakethetroops.net/
Posted by Navy First Class  on  Thu Jun 09, 2005  at  02:46 PM
The pay is excessive??? No it's not. It's a joke. I make less than 30,000 a year! I work 12 hours shifts, 5 days a week, and every other Sunday. I know how you feel Bob. But you know what? There's nothing else in this world more important to me than my jet.
Posted by chris  on  Thu Jun 09, 2005  at  04:45 PM
When I was on active duty, and I've been on the retired list for almost 20 years now, the maximum hours allowed in the Air Force was 16/12. That is, sixteen on and twelve off. And days off were optional. However, this was PACAF and I don't remember if the rest of the AF had the same limits. Given the number of hours that can be worked, most GIs get less than minimum wage. I can remember junior NCOs on foodstamps. But the job I did was worth it. I loved those birds, most of them anyway. I hated the U-2R.
Posted by Christopher Cole  on  Fri Jun 10, 2005  at  05:31 PM
It's not about the money, anyone serving knows that. Granted, there are people doing less and making more but they will never experience the feeling of serving their country. The deep sense of pride... And even though there's plenty to complain about in the pay department I wouldn't trade what I've made in the military. Great opportunities, great friends, great experiences... Things most people wouldn't understand.
The guy hasn't a clue. He propably tried to enlist and was rejected. He'll get his.
It's a job, a life. and I love it!!! ohrah!
Posted by CORPSMAN UP!  on  Fri Jun 10, 2005  at  07:09 PM
I dropped MC an email asking him to come visit us at this website. Assuming that he responds, make sure everyone you know has access to this website (especially you military types). Maybe we can open up a two-way communication with this nut.
Posted by Rob  on  Mon Jun 13, 2005  at  07:50 AM
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