74°F
weather icon Clear

Marine guards California school

HUGHSON, Calif. - A former Marine applauded for voluntarily showing up to guard a central California elementary school apparently misrepresented his service history.

Craig Pusley showed up for a second day of guard duty Thursday at Hughson Elementary School but departed mid-morning as questions arose about his military background.

On Wednesday, Pusley told the Modesto Bee he was a sergeant in the Marine Reserves and had deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

But Marines spokesman Captain Gregory A. Wolf said Pusley never served overseas and was discharged in 2008 as a private after serving less than a year. He also is not in the reserves.

Pusley did not respond to calls for comment from The Associated Press.

MOST READ
Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
THE LATEST
Pentagon accepts anonymous $130M donation to help pay military during the shutdown

The Pentagon confirmed Friday that it has accepted an anonymous $130 million gift to help pay members of the military during the government shutdown, raising ethical questions after President Donald Trump had announced that a friend had offered the gift to defray any shortfalls.

MORE STORIES