Tim Poe was the drama AMERICA’S GOT TALENT dreamed about every night. He was a decorated war hero who suffered a traumatic brain injury while serving in Afghanistan. He earned the Purple Heart, and during speech therapy for his stutter, he learned he could sing incredibly well. He even gave pictures to NBC to show on the program.

The problem? It was all a bunch of crap, and now AGT’s dream contestant has turned into a nightmare.

It turns out that the only truth Tim Poe spoke on the stage was his name and that he once served in Afghanistan.

Did he get hit by a grenade in 2009 while on patrol in Afghanistan? Not according to his fellow soldiers in the Minnesota National Guard. They say he was indeed shipped home early, but for a non-combat injury. As such, the Purple Heart claim is bogus as well. Those are only given for combat injuries.

So, certainly nobody would be stupid enough to use a photo of someone else on the show, right? Wrong again. Poe submitted a photo to NBC, but it wasn’t him in full gear. It was a soldier named Staff Sgt. Norman Bone, and the photo was taken in 2006. It’s even posted on the Department of Defense website and properly coded to show when the photo was taken.

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Norman Bone directs movement as his patrol turns around on a narrow path in the mountains of Parwan province in Afghanistan on Oct. 25, 2006. Bone is a patrol leader for the 561st Military Police Company, Fort Campbell, Ky., attached to 10th Mountain Division. DoD photo by Sgt. 1st Class Dexter D. Clouden, U.S. Army.

I write under a pseudonym on The Hub Now, but I can tell you that I am a military veteran. I served my country for six years, and I served in war zones where people regularly tried to kill me. So, what I’m about to say reflects my opinion and not necessarily that of THN… although I’m sure the rest of the fine folks here would back me up.

Tim Poe, you may have actually been injured in the line of duty according to your copy of the Army’s medical documents, but there’s no excuse to lie about your medals or your prior service. In fact, you admitted you misrepresented yourself on AGT, and that’s inexcusable. Saying you received the Purple Heart makes you look good, sure, but you look like an ass-clown when that lie is eventually exposed.

Tim, I only have one question for you. Why isn’t being a combat veteran enough for you?

I didn’t run into battle with guns blazing a la Rambo, but every person who knows me tells me that they are proud of my service to the United States and that I was very brave to put myself in harm’s way to accomplish an important mission. You know what? That’s enough for me.

My mother tells people she’s proud of my service, and I have a wall of awards and decorations so that my son can be proud of his pencil-toting, article-writing, combat journalist of an old man. Again, that’s enough for me. Why isn’t it enough for you?

Had you walked out on that stage and said, “I’m Tim Poe. I am an Afghanistan combat veteran, and now I’m going to sing for you,” that would have been enough to get you by. In fact, if you had only stated your name, you would have gone to Vegas because your singing was that good. I hate country music, and I thought it was great.

No. You lied, and now you’ve got a credibility problem. The only thing that people hate about heroes is when they lie about being heroes. Nothing else they say can be taken at face value anymore, and that’s what you’re going to have to deal with for the rest of your life. It’s the same way people look at Amy Fisher. She will always be the “Long Island Lolita” from now until way past the end of her porn career.

We wish you luck on your singing career. It’s just sad that you shot it dead with your embellishments.