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.

Military

Posted on Sun Feb 20, 2005



Comments

So is it a hoax because the numbers are faked, or because racists are not known for mocking the military?
Posted by Strelnikov  on  Sun Feb 20, 2005  at  12:48 PM
Some conservatives like to claim that people who are opposed to the war are motivated by a hatred for the troops. I think that's the general idea this guy is trying to advance. He's pretending to be a troop-hating anti-war activist, but he's really a militant conservative. That's why it's a hoax.
Posted by The Curator  in  San Diego  on  Sun Feb 20, 2005  at  05:47 PM
But what if he is an anti-war troop hater masquerading as a militant conservative masquerading as an anti-war troop hater? Like a Double-Double Agent. Diaperbolical
Posted by Raoul  on  Sun Feb 20, 2005  at  07:21 PM
Sake for the troops? Sushi too?
Posted by Hairy Houdini  on  Sun Feb 20, 2005  at  07:27 PM
I see lots of ribbons that say "Support Our Troops", I wondered when there would be something like this to make fun. Silly.
Posted by Maegan  on  Mon Feb 21, 2005  at  07:19 AM
I just tried the link to the site and got the "site cannot be found" page, which I should have expected.
Posted by Christopher Cole  on  Mon Feb 21, 2005  at  05:03 PM
"I see lots of ribbons that say "Support Our Troops" ...
I do, too, and it always makes me ask, "What the heck is that supposed to mean?"
Mostly, it seems to be an easier slogan to market than "Support our unelected president's ham-fisted, criminal foreign policy."
To me, the people who really support our troops are the ones agitating to end the wars and bring the troops home before they get blown up and/or have to kill other people for the sake of Halliburton's profiteering.
Posted by Big Gary  on  Tue Feb 22, 2005  at  02:11 PM
Big Gary, the phrase "support our troops" stems from the Viet Nam War. Not that the phrase started there, but that during that war it was common for people to show their opposition to the war by attacking the military troops. Been there, lived through them. The people showing this sign are trying to be nice to the military people while opposing the war. And the "unelected President" bit is sour grapes. I don't like G. W. Bush but I realize that he was indeed elected both times. Every count of the Florida ballots showed that Bush fairly won the state, and would have won by a larger margin if the voting in the Panhandle - a heavily Republican area - hadn't been tampered with.
Posted by Christopher Cole  on  Tue Feb 22, 2005  at  06:39 PM
I lived through the Vietnam era too, and I am firmly convinced that the popular "everybody mistreated Vietnam soldiers/veterans" canard is a not-so-innocent, and unfounded, urban legend.
My family was active in the antiwar movement in those years, and so attended many rallies and demonstrations, at several of which I was present (when they weren't on school days or past my bedtime). During the same period, I had an uncle who was in the Air Force and did a tour in Vietnam, and another who was drafted into the Army and also served in Southeast Asia. So I saw both sides of the coin, so to speak, and while the war was actually going on, I never saw or heard of soldiers or returning veterans being mistreated or disrespected-- least of all by antiwar protesters (in fact, soldiers in uniform often participated in the protests). There may well have been a few such incidents, but it was not the general climate of the times. The people opposing the war usually made it clear that their grievance was with the big decision-makers, not the rank-and-file soldiers. At the same time, there were many heroic acts of resistance by those who refused military conscription, but even they usually did not criticize fellow draftees.

The massive vote fraud in both 2000 and 2004, and the judicial coup d'etat in 2000, are issues I guess we'll (or at least I'll) put off debating until another day.
Posted by Big Gary C  on  Wed Feb 23, 2005  at  09:58 PM
While we're on the subject:

http://theonion.com/opinion/index.php?issue=4108&o=2
Posted by Big Gary C  on  Wed Feb 23, 2005  at  10:23 PM
Oops, I don't think that last link works. I was trying to get to the column entitled, "I Support the Occupation of Iraq, But I Don't Support Our Troops." :red:
Posted by Big Gary C  on  Wed Feb 23, 2005  at  10:29 PM
Alas, suckers...Forsake The Troops is online!

http://www.forsakethetroops.info
Posted by Forsake The Troops  on  Wed Mar 23, 2005  at  05:23 AM
Uh-huh.
Posted by Boo  on  Wed Mar 23, 2005  at  05:34 AM
He is simply a coward...that is all.
Posted by Weapon Depot  on  Fri Apr 15, 2005  at  11:59 AM
If you go to his personal home page you will find a link to his web log. In it he announces that he is gay, as follows. Amazing how he slandered homosexuals on his "Shoot Back" section.

>Submitted by mike on April 23, 2005 - 08:22.
>There's no other way to say something like >this, other than to just say it.

>I'm gay.

>It's something that I've struggled >with ,and .even hid from myself for years.

>But now is the time for me to be honest with >myself, and others.

>I can hear the jokes now....people always knew >because I love club music, and things like >that, but the honest truth is, this is who I am.

>This obviously will mean the end of my >marriage, as it's not fair to her or myself to >continue a marriage just for the kid. Despite >that, my daughter will know her father, and I >will be in her life.

>I'm happier now that I've "come out" and I >guess I'll find out who my true friends are now.

These are his words direct from his web log.
Posted by Selab  on  Wed Apr 27, 2005  at  01:40 AM
Big Gary C,

I am a Vietnam veteran, and I can assure you that there was more than disrespect and dishonor shown to the troops who fought in Vietnam.

I excited Vietnam to the States twice. And twice at the point of entry in California demonstrators were there who spit on us, called us baby killers, threw objects at us and other such acts.

Further, you cannot imagine the feelings generated by coming home and not being welcomed back into society, by being outcast, by being labeled as a drug addicted, homicidal, criminal sociopath among other names. Many coined by John Kerry in his infamous speech. It plagues many even now, well over 30 years later.

Even veterans organisations refused us as members until they realized that their WW1, WW11, and Korea veterans were dying off and that dues were becoming depleted. But, their turn about didn't pull them out of the hole. They didn't want us then, we don't want them now is a common attitude.

The VA even gave us hassles and it is only in recent years that some of our service connected disabilities have been addressed. Agent Orange? In 1975 they put a 30 year study into effect to see if Agent Orange really caused cancers and other maladies. Needless to say that gave them a huge asset in not paying for treatment and benefits for those who fell ill with sicknesses that are now proven to be caused by Agent Orange.

For every "peacefull" demonstrator you can find who says they honored and respected the troops I can find you a Vietnam veteran who will place his hand on the Bible and under oath tell of having been spat upon, among other things. It was not overblown, it happened, it was real.

I'm not crying over spilled milk, Gary, just letting you know some of the things that Vietnam veterans faced, and are still facing even today.

Most vets I know would do it again.

Why?

Because our honor was in answering the call.
Posted by Selab  on  Wed Apr 27, 2005  at  02:03 AM
Michael Crook..aka..Michael Vogel...aka..Silent Mike..and SMIS..which is silent mike internet services WASHED OUT OF THE ARMY DURING BASIC! He tried and not only didn't make the cut but them went and cried like a baby about how bad it was..lmao here's the proof http://web.archive.org/web/20020809082035/www.silentmike.net/writing/army.html
Posted by Daisy  on  Mon May 02, 2005  at  09:38 AM
Daisy, I went to the link you posted, and just so everyone knows, this guy comes off as a total fraud!

Last time I was at Fort Benning, GA, where I lived between 2003-2004, it was the Home of the Infantry. Which translates as: combat arms, i.e. no females. There are no women in the training units there, not as instructors, not in any duty position. His article says that he was reassigned to the company orderly room where his commander, a female, gave him his discharge papers. By merely saying that, he instantly discredits himself, when he was alrady on "suspicious" status in my book for his little MEPS story, which, while probable, is highly unlikely.

There were too many discrepancies in that story and the other one that is linked to it. In short, he is a sympathy-seeking champion bullsh*tter, and a one man band proclaiming, "Look at me!! Look at me!!" who can't spell worth 2 licks.
Posted by Aimee H.  on  Mon May 02, 2005  at  12:06 PM
I agree with Aimee, MEPS doesn't do what he said about 'passing you by', there's no way. There were over 50 some odd people when I went there and even on the last day they didn't pass anyone by, they checked for everything and even stayed late due to the fact that there was so many at the time I was there. So I agree with with her on that point. I think his views are a 'look at me and what I can say' attention getter who is hiding behind the internet for safe keeping, if he's one that doesn't want the attention why does he do this? to get the feathers of peoples attention ruffed, to see how far he can go before someone shuts him down. He preaches freedom of speach but yet he doesn't remember who got him that freedom so he bashes people when and where he can. Let him have his 15 minutes of Shame, screw him, don't give him what he wants by going to his website and adding hits to it so he can be a child. And that's my freedon of speech.
Posted by HBright  on  Mon May 02, 2005  at  05:12 PM
I don't think this is a hoax. This guy ruined his career with this, will probably have to move, and has basically turned his life upside down. I think he likes the attention, and I think he may actually be mentally ill.
Posted by Michael, future marine  on  Wed May 04, 2005  at  03:15 PM
I support our troops but not exactly our president..

I respect our president and our troops..

I wear a support our troops bracelet and well, it stands for just that, support our troops, and most of them, not all, belive they should be over there, and they are doing good.
Posted by Hawklore  on  Thu May 05, 2005  at  10:33 PM
well my father is a veitnam vet, my grandfather ww1 korea and lastly veitnam, and all my family are military members, i just got out of the USMC in August 2004. i am very disturbed by the thoughts and actions of theis michael crook. if i saw my friends go overseas, and many of them are still there today. i am pleased that for every jerk-off like michael, that there are 100 people patting me on my back saying im glad you served and i honor you and your brothers in arms.

i am proud to serve and would serve again if i had to. i honestly feel that it is up to GOD to forgive him, but id happily arrange the meeting.

semper fi
Posted by geoff  on  Fri May 06, 2005  at  04:22 PM
edit WWII not WWI
Posted by geoff  on  Fri May 06, 2005  at  04:23 PM
What I find somewhat disturbing is that he has taken the time to look up information on some of the folks that posted messages on Shoot Back. Looking up their profiles and posting it to "prove" he has some information he can "hol over their heads". Makes one think twice about how much we should allow to be released when we are on the internet.
Posted by Rick  on  Fri May 06, 2005  at  06:49 PM
I raked in 10000.00 just in six month deployment. Oh and extra money for being away from my family. God I just love it. As I'm out there busting my ass for your freedom. LOL.

GO TO HELL. I earned every bit of that money. 😊:-):-):-}:-}
Posted by JOE  on  Tue May 10, 2005  at  05:52 PM
No amount of money is ever worth having to leave your family. My husband was offered an extra $200 a month to stay rather than to take R&R. He declined it flat out. I definately appreciate the extra money, and my husband has earned every penny of it. I still think it's not enough, but it does help.
Posted by Alison  on  Wed May 11, 2005  at  09:39 PM
WHAT LOONY BIN DID THIS GUY ESCAPE FROM!?!?! Did anyone click on the link at the bottom of his "My Days In The Army" site???? It is a TOTALLY different story!!!! WHAT A PSYCHO!!!
Posted by Angel  on  Wed May 11, 2005  at  11:31 PM
This guy's story about Ft Benning is complete BS as a couple of you have suspected. His story indicates that he pretty much began his training the morning after arriving. BS. He would have gone through at least a couple of days of various administrative processing. MEPS doesn't do all of that, only enough to get you sworn in.
Posted by John P  on  Thu May 12, 2005  at  03:05 AM
To Rick,

The information that this sicko is able to gain is because he maintains an aol account and he is getting information from aol profiles. There are also other ISP who may offer their clinets the opportunity to post a profile, that being the case anubody using that ISP is capable of getting that profile and knowing about you whatever you let be known. You can block the access to your aol profile, others I do not know about. This sicko has no magical powers that allow him to get information any different than any of us on this wonderful magical electronic playground.
Posted by selab  on  Thu May 12, 2005  at  10:15 AM
He forgot that there is no workman's compensation for OTJ injuries, that wages are less than minimum wage when you're on duty 24/7, that deductions are taken from your pay for meals and uniforms...

and... I've been to MEPS- quite recently-- he obviously doesn't know that you spend time there for processing- further processing takes place at every training or duty station (called Reception)

what a jerk.

I could make tons more $$ in civilian life doing the same job

If militaqry is so over comcpensated, how come so many live below the poverty line? How come so much on base housing is condemned? Not fit for people to live in?
Posted by GIJosie-Gonna-Be  on  Fri May 13, 2005  at  05:30 AM
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.
Who's online
There are currently 0 users and 67 guests online.

(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
Comments: Page 1 of 2 pages  1 2 > 
Commenting is not available in this channel entry.