The U.S. attorney's office filed charges this week against two men from the Pittsburgh area, accusing them of impersonating Marine Corps officers, an offense that could result in fines and possibly jail time.

The men, John A. Eastman, 58, of New Galilee, Beaver County, and Albert T. McKelvey, 68, of Richland, are charged with a misdemeanor in federal court.

"There might be people out there who wonder why prosecute someone for this? Who does it hurt?" asked U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan.

"It deprives [members of the military] of the dignity they have earned when [people like] McKelvey and Eastman masquerade as decorated military officers."

She also believes that they could pose a threat to national security and public safety.

"We need to be careful people are correctly identified with the authority they possess."

The two cases involving Mr. McKelvey and Mr. Eastman are unrelated. In Mr. Eastman's case, he is charged with wearing the rank of a major at a military function on Nov. 4, 2004.

Mr. McKelvey is charged with wearing a colonel's uniform at an event on May 30, 2005.

Both men face a maximum penalty of up to six months in jail and $5,000 fine.

Ms. Buchanan would not say what the events were, but some information has come to light regarding Mr. McKelvey.

According to Bob Munhall, the commander of the American Legion's North Hills district, Mr. McKelvey did serve in the Marines and is a Korean War veteran. The two men have been friends for 30 years, Mr. Munhall said.

On Memorial Day this year, Mr. McKelvey showed up at a Richland park as part of the American Legion's commemoration. He wore the uniform of a Marine Corps colonel, Mr. Munhall said.

"I knew there was conversation about the legitimacy of his Marine Corps uniform," Mr. Munhall said. "There is some cloud as to what is his correct rank."

He warned his longtime friend about it.

"The next time I see you in uniform, I've got to report you," Mr. Munhall recalled telling Mr. McKelvey. "And you know I will."

He has never seen Mr. McKelvey in that uniform again, but someone must have turned him in.

Mr. McKelvey has repeatedly said in conversations with Mr. Munhall and others that he worked in the intelligence community during the Korean War and that his work was highly classified. He also claims that's the reason why there's no paperwork available to confirm his rank of colonel, Mr. Munhall said.

He can see where information like that might get lost. Mr. Munhall earned a Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry during the war in Vietnam, but, he says, the paperwork never caught up with him, so he does not have permission to wear that medal on his uniform.

"I'm not going to argue with the government over it," Mr. Munhall said.

But for Mr. McKelvey, he always believed he was right, his friend said.

"He is such a head-strong character," Mr. Munhall said.

Ms. Buchanan has prosecuted cases where people have impersonated law enforcement officers in the past, but not anyone pretending to be in the military.

Sgt. Thomas Lantz, public affairs officer for the Pittsburgh Marine Corps recruiting station, said he's offended by the idea of someone impersonating a Marine at all, whether an officer or enlisted personnel.

"It's a long, arduous process becoming a Marine," Sgt. Lantz said. "They're doing a disservice to the country and to the men and women who fought and have earned the uniform."

According to the FBI, this offense is not always prosecuted. It often varies on what judicial district it occurs in and how aggravated the impersonation is -- such as whether the person just wore the rank of an officer, or if there were awards involved, like a Navy Cross or Medal of Honor.

Mr. Munhall doesn't think that's the case with Mr. McKelvey, who he says has always been active in local veterans' organizations.

"I'm disappointed Al's gotten himself into a position where he's gotten charges filed against him," Mr. Munhall said. "He is a good, patriotic person.

"He's an old guy who thinks he's right."