This really is just plain sad. My grandfather was a veteran of the second world war. He never lied to me about his service as a cook onboard a destroyer. It wasn't glamorous, but he was proud of what he did, and we were proud of him. That's ultimately what its all about. I don't understand what compels people to go this far in their lies. We all have stories about how we 'caught the biggest fish...' but this is miles beyond that.
Just wanted to add that being a cook aboard a US Navy ship isn't an easy job, and unlike many jobs in the military. EVERYONE aboard that ship sails her in harm's way and cooks also filled roles in gunnery, medical and damage control during WWII.