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America's Got a Talented Liar?

National Guard asserts stuttering country singer never injured by grenade

By Corey Levitan Jun 6, 2012 8:55AM
dailymail.co.uk

The stuttering country singer who wooed the crowd and judges on "America's Got Talent" is apparently a fraud.

Sgt. Timothy Michael Poe, who introduced himself during the first night of auditions in Austin on Monday night, said he was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade while serving with the National Guard in Afghanistan in 2009. He said the brain injury he received was responsible for his stutter, and that he only started singing after it was recommended to him as a form of speech therapy.

 

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“Sgt. Poe’s official military records do not indicate that he was injured by a grenade in combat while serving in Afghanistan in 2009, as he reports,” a spokesman for the Guard  said in a widely reported statement.

Exactly what else is not true about the story is unclear. Records indicated that Poe did serve as a supply specialist for the Guard from Dec. 2002 through May 2011, a month of which he served in Afghanistan in 2009.

 

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However, AGTNews adds that his ex-wife, an Air Force veteran, claims Poe is a compulsive liar whom she "never heard have a stutter like (he had on the show)."

On his Sirius radio show, Howard Stern blasted Poe this morning.

"You never lie about your military service," he said. "This lie is wrong on so many levels … This really sickens me."

There wasn't a dry eye in the house as Poe performed a rendition of Garth Brooks' "If Tomorrow Never Comes." Check out the video.

 

"America's Got Talent" airs Mondays and Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.

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122Comments
Emplate
Jun 6, 2012 2:15PM
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He should make a run for Congress.  He'd fit right in.

Soldiergal18
Jun 6, 2012 2:07PM
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As a current member of the Army National Guard, it infuriates me to read about fellow "service members" lying about their occupation and military experiences.  One of the army values instilled in us from day one is INTEGRITY....which this gentleman apparently does not take seriously.  He is not only doing himself a disservice by publicly lying, but he is negatively representing the US military as a whole by doing so.  I take great pride in my job, my uniform, my country, and fellow soldiers, and I am so disheartened to read about someone doing otherwise.
HungryMammal
Jun 6, 2012 2:06PM
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Wow, if true what a slap in the face to anyone wounded in service.  Definitely should be grounds for disqualification.

It is funny that Howard Stern was "sickened" by it though, considering his antics over the years.  That's showbiz, I guess.

seeker1362
Jun 6, 2012 2:06PM
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I agree with cjw, military can also lie about such things to. Anyway, the guy is good, he has a nice voice, I see no reason why he would lie about it, especially on TV, with millions of people watching. And Howard Stern, is a jerk, I do not listen to him, let alone want to look at him. 
Ranger76180
Jun 6, 2012 2:04PM
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Lying piece of crap supply clerk who served in country for one month?   He dishonors the brave men and women who are actually fighting the war.   Another wannabe warrior! 
Jeff NJ
Jun 6, 2012 2:04PM
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I happened to see the show and I also was moved by his story.

 

If he IS LYING about his service he must be disqualified immediately. Hopefully the show will do a real thorough investigation before throwing him under the bus. Just be sure first.

 

If he is LYING then his wife is complicit in his lies as well.

 

I hope to God he is telling the truth.

htrodr2
Jun 6, 2012 2:04PM
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If he did lie about this, whethere he is a good musician or not, he should be immediately kicked off.  Our service Men and Women do a great thing for our country and for him to use that status to his advantage is just horrible. 
2lgit
Jun 6, 2012 1:58PM
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It just kills me that stupid people go onto reality shows with interesting/ sad/ sob stories that are complete lies and don't think that they will get caught.  Really?  The Internet makes it almost impossible for these kinds of things to be gotten away with.  Coming for a proud military family with a family member over in Afghanistan right now, this guy's lie pisses me off to no end.  However, there are asshats in every profession and the military, unfortunately, isn't immune.

PACK fan
Jun 6, 2012 1:56PM
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Wow, if this story is true he should be disqualified. How can you lie about something as important as the military? Also, if he lied about that, what about that stutter of his? Does he really have that or did he just put that on for show too? You have to wonder, I saw his performance and it was funny backstage he talked to nick and he didn't stutter once in a single sentence. Really hope this story isn't true.
chief schussler
Jun 6, 2012 1:56PM
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It will be interesting to see the outcome
distrust in America
Jun 6, 2012 1:51PM
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If all this can be proven then he should not be able to contiue on the show. No matter how great of a singer when one makes false statements of military injuries for some form of support they need to taken off the show. Any one that is caught in lies on shows like AGT need to be taken down.

 

After reading other comments, I hope that there is more investigation into his story. Even if records of his injury is not found there will be medical records that need to be completed while in hospital. If these records are not found the whole story is false. Or maybe our military is just incompetent in record keeping.

 

I just wonder why we funnelled hard earned American workers money to the likes of Manuel Noriega, Osama bin Ladin, Gadafi, Mubarik(?) and many others that the US now do not support because they are now dead or in prison.

chief schussler
Jun 6, 2012 1:47PM
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He also siad he served 14 years but according to the National Guard he only served 7.
Iserved2
Jun 6, 2012 1:47PM
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Being a supply specialist he would be in the rear with the gear. Not up front doing combat operations.
Someone
Jun 6, 2012 1:45PM
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I really enjoyed his performance, but now to find out parts of his story may not be true? SHAME ON THE LIAR'S. I really hope AMT takes him right out of the competition. He needs to appologize to every American for trying to fool us. I am so proud of what our military does to keep us safe. This person doesn't deserve anything but SHAME!
Jenny509
Jun 6, 2012 1:44PM
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Look..everyone get onto these shows and passes thru cause they have some heart wrenching story of how bad life was or how much they need a million dollars.  No one has a good pick me up story on any these shows..But you know..so many young men and women have died or been wounded for our country..and even with that..alot of brave young women and men still sign up to serve our military for a better tomorrow..This Poe guy better watch his back if none of this is true..I sense a couple serious a** whompin's coming his way if not!!!!! 
chief schussler
Jun 6, 2012 1:42PM
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I believe the term is stolen valor. If this is true he should not only be disqualified but he should be prosecuted!

Chief

alleypanther
Jun 6, 2012 1:38PM
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My 76 year old mother was telling me this guy's story just last night. I dont think I can bring myself to tell the truth about him, I think I'll let her find out on her own. She has more honor and integrity in her finger than this guy will ever know and I'll reserve for her the right to be quiet about it if she wish's. I'm bettin' money she has a story about a " real Jerk " in the next 48 hours.
VTCARGUY
Jun 6, 2012 1:38PM
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Other than the fact that my daughter currently serves in the US ARMY reserve and I am ex-military myself and lying about your service is wrong on soooo many levels, does anybody remember the movie "PRIMAL FEAR" ?? Thats what the stutter reminded me of, anyone else ???

Gscale man (gscalemanx)
Jun 6, 2012 1:37PM
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Howard Stern also lies: he claims he is talented and handsome !!!
Joe
Jun 6, 2012 1:36PM
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If it is not true and he is a liar would some local Marines please visit him and explain to him ( as only a marine can do) why you do not lie about things like this. this guy needs to take a long look at himself and then go underground because he is gonna catch hell.  

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