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According to the blog This Ain't Hell, Ruiz's discharge form that he filed with Westchester County claims that he earned a combat action ribbon and a Navy and Marine Commendation medal, but his actual discharge form doesn't contain those awards.
"It was a mistake I made 46 years ago," Ruiz said. "I feel like an albatross has been lifted off my shoulders. I served honorably, but what I did was dishonorable."
Ruiz was a marine during the Vietnam War though he never saw combat. During Vietnam, Ruiz was part of the 1st Marine Division and his job was to implant and monitor sensor strings to detect the directional movement of the Vietcong.
"We were the pioneers of electronic warfare," Ruiz said.
Ruiz joined the Marine Corps a few months after turning 17 and said he contracted malaria twice while in Vietnam.
Ruiz, who wrote a book about Pleasantville and worked as a journalist and on Wall Street, said he never used his service time to get ahead in life.
"I'm a person of faith and I believe in forgiveness," Ruiz said. "I've done a lot of community service and I've helped others. I've done a lot of good."
Ruiz, who has won awards for his service and was honored at a Brooklyn Nets preseason game in October 2014, said he plans to contact those organizations to correct the record.
"I made a mistake and am filled with contrition," Ruiz said. "I'm not ashamed of my service or of being a marine. I'm not ashamed of the men I served with. I'm not a dirtbag. I'm not a bad person."
John Lilyea, who runs the This Ain't Hell blog and served in Desert Storm, said Ruiz was very nice about the situation and he felt he was contrite. Other people who have been exposed have threatened Lilyea with lawsuits or sent death threats, Lilyea said.
Lilyea said people who served in the military often embellish their service because they feel they could've done more.
"Not everyone can kill Bin Laden," Lilyea said. "Everyone has a job to do. Be proud of the job you did."
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