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Amanda Butterfield Reporting From the early days of World War I, through World War II, and into the present time, "Uncle Sam" has always wanted you to join the military. But Uncle Sam never wanted his recruiters to lie or forge signatures. Well, that's what the Army now admits happened to a young Utah recruit.
Eyewitness News broke this story a few weeks ago, and at the time, a lot of people doubted the young man's story.
When you're only 17, you need your parent's signature to get into the army, but for an Ogden teenager, a recruiter forged his Dad's signature.
Dean Price couldn't be more proud of his son, a private first class in the Army.
Dean Price: "Awesome, he's awesome. He's above and beyond."
But he couldn't be more upset with the Army.
Dean Price: "I'm pissed. I'm upset. I feel violated."
Violated because a recruiter forged his signature to get his son in the army, and the Army Recruiting Command center out of Fort Knox, Kentucky admits it.
Reporter: "Is it true, did a recruiter admit to forging a signature?"
Douglas Smith/PIO U.S. Army Recruiting Command Fort Knox Kentucky: "Yes that is true."
Steven Price was only 17 when he wanted to join, so he needed written parental permission. When it came to getting that permission, a recruiter forged the signatures needed and off Price went to boot camp. His parents found out, complained, and the army appointed an outside officer to investigate.
The investigation is not complete, but was leaked to the media by an army spokesperson out of Salt Lake.
Douglas Smith/PIO U.S. Army Recruiting Command Fort Knox Kentucky: "A spokesperson should not have revealed details of what was found during an ongoing investigation."
Now that the truth is out, the Army is doing damage control.
Douglas Smith/PIO U.S. Army Recruiting Command Fort Knox Kentucky: "I want to reassure folks in Salt Lake City that our recruiters should be trusted; it's very unusual for a recruiter to do what was done here."
And though Dean Price wants whoever forged his signature to be held accountable, he doesn't want it to affect his son's career in the military.
Dean Price: "He wants to stay in the army, he's proud of what he's achieved."
Steven Price is currently stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia.
The official results of the investigation are expected to be made public anywhere from a few days, to a week from now.
