The Illusion of Heroism: Unmasking James Vasquez's False Claims and the Aftermath

A Connecticut man fighting for Ukraine on the front lines has lied for decades about being a US war hero — even to his once-loyal wife. He amassed a large following on social media and in the press was actually lying in order to make money. James Vasquez managed to gain over 400,000 followers on Twitter, and his false claims were even reported by reputable news outlets. He shared compelling pictures from the front lines and caused diplomatic controversy by asserting that he had access to US weapons.

This deception even extended to his wife, who has now ended their relationship. Furthermore, Vasquez fabricated his involvement with the US military. He falsely asserted that he had been deployed as a sergeant to Iraq and Kuwait, but the Pentagon confirmed that he was never sent on a military mission and held the rank of private first class, which is one of the lowest ranks in the Army, instead of being an experienced sergeant who has seen combat.