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Becky Bruce and Sandra Yi reporting A Utah soldier who displayed his military achievements on his uniform is headed to federal prison. He didn't actually earn any of those medals. Anthony Calderone was punished in a civilian court because he was not active duty.
Calderone moved to Utah in 1993 and joined the Utah Army National Guard's 19th Special Forces Group. After a break, he joined the Army Reserve. Prosecutors say he wore false decorations of valor and falsified records to cover it up. He then got a promotion and a pay raise.
Calderone buried his head in his attorney's lap and cried when the judge sentenced him to five months in federal prison. Moments before, he tearfully apologized to the people of this country and all the servicemen. "If you put me in jail, it will save my life, but my soul is already destroyed," he said.
Lt. Col. Randy Watt, with the 19th Special Forces, said, "He's now a convicted felon, as he should be. To me though, there's nothing that can recover the lost honor for the U.S. Army."
Lt. Col. Watt is the kind of soldier federal prosecutors said Calderone pretended to be. Watt never knew Calderone but testified about his own military experience at the hearing.
Watt was involved in a combat mission against Al-Qaida forces in Afghanistan in 2002. He was nominated for the Silver Star Medal.
Calderone wore the Silver Star -- the third highest award for valor -- and many others.
Lt. Col. Watt said, "For him to falsify not only a silver star, but all the other combat on his badge, the special forces tag, the ranger tag, the combat diver and the halo awards, as well, is absolutely despicable."
The defense attorney described Calderone as a good soldier who defended his country. But prosecutors said he demeaned the service of real American heroes, heroes like Lt. Col. Watt.
"The military community will be grateful that the state of Utah and the U.S. government chose to prosecute him and has sentenced his as appropriately as they have, and has sent a message to others who fake these types of awards," Lt. Col. Watt said.
According to court documents, the process has started to discharge Calderone from the Army. However, he cannot be dishonorably discharged because he did not face a court martial, but rather, was punished in a civilian court.
