Fake war hero from Houston area gets 30 days in prison

Veteran Paul Schroeder falsely claimed to have graduated from several elite Army schools. Veteran Paul Schroeder falsely claimed to have graduated from several elite Army schools. Photo: Melissa Phillip, Staff Photo: Melissa Phillip, Staff Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Fake war hero from Houston area gets 30 days in prison 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

A Woodlands man who claimed to be a Special Forces soldier with a chest full of medals while counseling traumatized combat troops will spend 30 days in federal prison after admitting he was a fraud.

Paul A. Schroeder, 41, was the former director of counseling at the PTSD Foundation of Texas, leading group therapy sessions around the area and lecturing cadets at the Houston Police Academy as part of a post-traumatic stress awareness program.

According to the military records he presented, Schroeder had the necessary credentials - a Silver Star and three Bronze Stars. He also claimed to have graduated from several elite Army schools, including Special Forces, Rangers, Pathfinder and Jumpmaster among others.

Iran, Afghanistan? No

But on Monday, Schroeder admitted it was all a sham. His true records showed 10 years of Army service but as a military policeman stationed in New York, Panama and Texas. He was discharged before the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan even began.

The investigation against Schroeder began after April 2009 when he applied for a set of special military meritorious service license plates with the Texas Department of Transportation.

While filling out the application, Schroeder indicated he had received the Silver Star - the nation's third-highest decoration for military valor.

Authorities said Schroeder presented state officials his military discharge papers, which showed he had been awarded the Silver Star.

No Silver Star

FBI agents compared the document Schroeder presented with his actual service record from the Department of Defense. The legitimate forms showed no Silver Star or a record of attending the elite military schools he claimed, officials said.

Schroeder resigned from the PTSD Foundation of America after confessing to a Houston Chronicle reporter that he had lied about his record.

In June, a federal grand jury indicted him on charges of altering a military discharge certificate.

On Monday, he admitted altering his discharged papers in federal court. In addition to serving 30 days in prison, Schroeder will be on supervised release for a year. Also, he must pay a $3,000 fine.

mike.glenn@chron.com