Marine chef cooked up details about his service

[CommunityEditor]

Former Marine Josh Adam Garcia has been cooking up some tall tales in the kitchen on his quest to win the title of “The Next Food Network Star.”

After a June 1 interview with the former Marine cook, Military Times began digging deeper into Garcia’s past. It seems that much of the story, provided by both Food Network and by the man himself, doesn’t check out.

Touted as a graduate of the New York Restaurant School and a former Marine who served in Afghanistan, Garcia’s record is actually much less stellar. For starters, he never finished culinary school in New York.

“He attended, but did not graduate,” said Midge Elias, director of public relations at the school, now known as the Art Institute of New York City.

Garcia, who turns 26 later this month, was a Marine, enlisting Aug. 15, 1999, for a four-year enlistment that should have ended in 2003. Instead, Garcia was discharged eight months early as a private for reasons that the Marine Corps declined to discuss due to laws protecting his personal information.

In a follow-up interview Monday, Garcia was asked to explain why he called himself a former corporal. He owned up to non-judicial punishments that cost him rank, but he blamed his military troubles on a hazing conspiracy at his former unit. Garcia also claimed that he fought his administrative separation and was ultimately exonerated, but none of that can be independently confirmed because of privacy rules.

The Marine Corps has no record of Garcia’s rank being upgraded from private by any review board.

Likewise, the service has no record of Garcia ever deploying to Afghanistan, and certainly not as a member of 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, the infantry unit Garcia said he accompanied to the war zone in 2002. In fact, Marine officials at the battalion’s home at Camp Lejeune, N.C., said the unit did not deploy to Afghanistan that year.

Marine officials said Tuesday that the only military occupational specialty listed in Garcia’s file is food service, and there’s no record of him holding an infantry specialty.

When confronted with the inconsistencies, Garcia said he never specifically told the Food Network he went to Afghanistan, but instead let producers there “believe what they wanted to believe.”

But, the former Marine admitted that it was during the final selections for the show that he let the “war hero” notion take hold.

“That’s my fault,” he said. “I let them believe it, that’s my fault.”

When contacted about the inconsistencies Tuesday afternoon, Food Network issued a brief written statement:

“Food Network conducted routine background checks on the competitors featured in the series,” according to the statement, attributed to Bob Tuschman, senior vice-president of programming and production for Food Network (and a recurring judge on the show). “It has come to our attention that some facts about Josh Garcia may have been misrepresented. We are currently investigating this situation and will have a resolution soon. His updated bio, pending further review, has been posted on the Web site.”

Full article: http://www.militarytimes.com/news/20...etwork_070612/


How did this go undetected during the background check? Should this matter when the show is about cooking? Whatcha think?

funny thing was that I was reading this article and thought to myself what a scumbag. then I clicked on the food network link to read what bio and lord and behold, I know this kid. I just want to square something away since I am a former marine myself. first this kid did NOT grow up in the Bronx he grew up in a small New Jersey town called Bergenfield, nj. he did NOT grow up in the Bronx. and he has always been full of hot smoke. he was always cocky as well. I find it insulting that he is on national TV saying that he is a war hero, the marine corps doesn't need this negative attention. he is giving active and former marines a bad name. anyways I just wanted to point out another of his lies.

Hey, it happened on Fox News, June 1st. Jim Angle interviewed a "Captain" Javier Sanchez, whom I knew, and know that he is not a Marine Corps Captain, he was enlisted. Here is a link to the transcripts, the interview is halfway down http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,277892,00.html

I wrote Fox News and expressed my disappointment in their failure to properly vet their guests. I also contacted people I knew within the Marine Corps and was told a PAO was sent to acquire the tape from Fox News.

I did my own poking around on the internet and found another news article where he was quoted and identified as an Iraq War vet, but I know he was out of the Marine Corps prior to the Iraq war, heck, prior to Afghanistan. And to top it off, he works for Armed Forces Foundation, a charitable organization that raises money for wounded warriors and their families, he's their director of Government Relations. That really made me angry - - because here he is working for an organization that supports our heros yet he is not being truthful about his own service. I was floored.

All I can say is how sad it is for someone to be so insecure about their own service to embellish it - - or to ride on the coat tails of those who actually served.

It is also unbelievable that they think no one they know is going to see them on national news and call them out. Well, actually the not calling them out isn't that unbelievable. We live in a society that goes through life not caring what others are doing as long as they aren't hurting "Me". Take for instance, crime victims calling out for help on a busy street but everyone walks by like nothing is happening. But of course, when someone does take a stand - - the good guy gets vilified.

I think if more people came forward and called these people out - - fewer people would lie.

I'm very upset to read this story about this confused young man, this young man worked for me as a Marine and I was key instrumental in his discharge from our beloved Corps I know of all the circumstances behind this Marines Discharge. He needs to understand what he does in the Dark will always come to light.
The only hazing conspiricy was in his mind and his mind only.

Let me start off by saying that I once worked with Garcia back in Cherry Point and looking back he wasnt a bad marine just very playful and there was alot of bad stuff going on there certain Marines that I wont name that if they had it in for you that was it they would do what ever it took to get at you. I remember alot of things that took place there also while at CAX. I think that Garcia went about things the wrong way trying to fight the system. I remember him as being a LCPL. I dont know anything about going to war or anything like that.

Garcia was a good Marine. Infact, I worked with him many times on Cherry point and CAX as well. I was also a victim of Hazing that the unit tried to cover up! I understand why he did what he did. I would not want anyone knowing what had happened in my past as well. The Marine Corp is not to blame for higher ups who abuse there rank! But I know this man and he was an awsome cook and an honerable Marine. He should not mentioned anything about the Marines and just left his past in the past! I was there and saw what he went through!

Every Marine is guilty of embellishing the truth to a certain extent. In Garcia's case... He was put on the spot. I agree that he should not have mentioned a thing. Especially letting a "WAR" notion take hold. This guys past was obviously to dark to talk about on national T.V. We all know what goes down behind the scenes! To protect the integrity of the Corps. I believe that many of us former Marines would have done the same thing or just kept quiet!

I knew this guy from way back; we worked together as Marine cooks at MCAS Cherry Point. Despite some setbacks pertaining to some disciplinary issues, he was certainly NOT a scumbag. I admit he was a bit childish at times, but like many of us who KNEW him well I figured that that was his way of dealing with some of the stresses of being a Marine. Although, it is questionable that he served overseas, but one thing is for sure is that he served, something only a select few are willing to do especially as a Marine. God bless those who have served, and those who are serving and protecting this great nation that allow us so many rights. Rights, such as the freedom of press.

It's difficult to believe someone could be so naive to think that the truth wouldn't come out in the end. It certainly is disappointing and reduces his credibility.

How many of us have not lied, or embellished situations in the past?? Is everyone guilt FREE of this situation??? No body is perfect!!! The point is he served then and he is not now! The show is about cooking and that we have seen as well as the judges that he can do. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone I think they say. He was wrtong that we could admit but lets get over it. They are bigger things to think about, what about the marines that are out there today fighting for our country. Let this show be what it is a cooking show. Must everthing be ruined!!!