Stolen Valor

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Double-O-Dave

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I am absolutely amazed, and appalled at the vast numbers of stolen valor cases these days. Seems like everyone wants in on the act as I've even seen females guilty of trying to dress and act like veterans as well as active duty service members. Me, I'm a pretty easy going guy, and frankly, I am content to watch the "show" whenever I see a phony in action. The one thing I wish those who like to confront and "bust" the phonies would do is to quit educating them. As in: "you know your flag patch needs to be on top of your shoulder", or "you know you're not supposed to wear your ribbons and medals at the same time", etc.

No matter how clever the phonies are, I think anyone who has ever served for any length of time will be able to spot them. I would just advise making the phony's job harder, not easier.

Rant off. Carry on.

Regards,

Dave
 
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I've found that more often than not, one veteran will gravitate towards other veterans even without any obvious outward signs such as veteran hats or badges. I just finished a course of twelve weeks of physical therapy. We were each wearing gym gear in the class and yet before a couple of weeks passed, the three of us that were vets picked each other for friendship. We were only three in a group of twelve and yet we were drawn to each other. I've seen this happen time and again. Vets just seem to be drawn to each other to the exclusion of non-vets or posers.

When I'm around someone who is an obvious fake, I make a real concerted effort to snub them in such a way that they recognize my displeasure without me having to say anything.
 
Military service-including Vietnam-is once again seen as noble and honorable-and a resume enhancement. My experience with poseurs is that they miss all the little subtle bits and coded behaviors and usually get small but important details wrong.
 
Never served...."I"really get "upset"with the fakes.Couple of yrs.ago a fake SEAL was at my gym.Seems like people want to associate with Spec Ops.people.All I did was ask him a few questions(couple of "old"SEALS are friends).Number of guys were around when I asked....this "Fake"couldn't remember his class # didn't know where SEALS did their training & couldn't tell me anything about weapons!!He couldn't leave fast enough!! Can anyone explain to me "why"someone wants to be something he is not.Why steal from someone who has paid the price??
Jim
 
amazingflapjack said:
I know that there probably isn't any correlation between imitators and those hats with all the stuff on them that you can by all over the place, but it sure seems that way to me.
Click to expand...


I have a couple of those caps, bought at the VA hospital. They aren't phony, and neither am I.


I don't wear the caps much, but they 're useful at times, like when I go to Applebee's for a free meal on Veteran's Day.


I was standing in line there a couple of years ago, using a cane, and a cop who had a table to himself invited me to join him. We talked and I found that he had been in the 3rd Infantry Div. in Iraq when my son was attached to that outfit.
Small world!


I've been thanked for my service several times while wearing one of the caps. That felt good, but I was a little embarrassed, too.


I usually wear a hat much like those typical of what were once called white hunters in Africa or one that Carl Zeiss Optik gave me at a seminar in Virginia some years ago. So far, no one has commented on that, although Zeiss is a very famous optical firm. I have a few other "gimme caps", but those vet caps arouse the most interest. So far, I haven't seen any on a person that I didn't think was qualified to wear one.
 
The last of the service caps I saw said "WWII Veteran", and was worn by a man who had to have been in his late eighties. I walked up to his table in the restaurant, came to attention, and snapped off the best salute I could manage. He was delighted, as were the women with him--apparently his daughters. I had to leave because I was riding with someone else, but I wanted to stay. He had begun telling me in which campaigns he had fought, and I believed him. He may have been a fake, but I doubted it.

I have only the greatest contempt for the phonies, and love to see them unmasked by the genuine article.
 
Many eateries offer free meals on Veteran's Day. That's always a good time to trip up posers. From time to time, one will try joining my VVA chapter. "When/where were you over there?" They can't say, it's classified. Sure, after 50 years? "Do you have a copy of your DD-214?" Two answers here. Either "What's that?" or "We never got one. We were too far under cover." Either way, at this point, they're strongly encouraged to leave.
 
PatriotX said:
Normally I abhor increased legislation, but could easily support making stolen valor a felony.
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It is a federal crime: Stolen Valor Act of 2013 - Wikipedia But I don't know if it's a misdemeanor or felony.

I work around the military every day. I see enough active duty guys who don't take their uniform seriously. I don't have the energy for the buffoons who think they'll look cool by putting on a few ribbons or by wearing cammo.

I don't wear any outward insignia that denotes my veteran status. I don't ask for discounts. I'm not trying to impress anyone. Neither do I wear Harley gear even though I own one. I didn't join up to get a discount. I don't continue to work for the Air Force to make others see me in a particular light. I joined because I didn't want to go to college. I stayed because I love serving my country even when people bad mouth it.

I will not put up with someone who is trying to take advantage of someone else. If some poser is trying to get a discount or glean respect by pretending to be a vet, I'll have a "chat" with him. Neither do I like it when real vets try to flaunt their service.
 
Rastoff said:
It is a federal crime: Stolen Valor Act of 2013 - Wikipedia But I don't know if it's a misdemeanor or felony.

I work around the military every day. I see enough active duty guys who don't take their uniform seriously. I don't have the energy for the buffoons who think they'll look cool by putting on a few ribbons or by wearing cammo.

I don't wear any outward insignia that denotes my veteran status. I don't ask for discounts. I'm not trying to impress anyone. Neither do I wear Harley gear even though I own one. I didn't join up to get a discount. I don't continue to work for the Air Force to make others see me in a particular light. I joined because I didn't want to go to college. I stayed because I love serving my country even when people bad mouth it.

I will not put up with someone who is trying to take advantage of someone else. If some poser is trying to get a discount or glean respect by pretending to be a vet, I'll have a "chat" with him. Neither do I like it when real vets try to flaunt their service.
Click to expand...

It's only a crime if the offender receives something of value. That Act was the subject of a lot of litigation, including a Supreme Court case . . .
 
Rastoff said:
It is a federal crime: Stolen Valor Act of 2013 - Wikipedia But I don't know if it's a misdemeanor or felony.

I work around the military every day. I see enough active duty guys who don't take their uniform seriously. I don't have the energy for the buffoons who think they'll look cool by putting on a few ribbons or by wearing cammo.

I don't wear any outward insignia that denotes my veteran status. I don't ask for discounts. I'm not trying to impress anyone. Neither do I wear Harley gear even though I own one. I didn't join up to get a discount. I don't continue to work for the Air Force to make others see me in a particular light. I joined because I didn't want to go to college. I stayed because I love serving my country even when people bad mouth it.

I will not put up with someone who is trying to take advantage of someone else. If some poser is trying to get a discount or glean respect by pretending to be a vet, I'll have a "chat" with him. Neither do I like it when real vets try to flaunt their service.
Click to expand...


First, thanks for your service.


I would like to have served, as did my father and grandfather ~ both of whom were in WWII, interestingly enough. I was told in no uncertain terms that severe dyslexia was a disqualifying condition by the recruiter in Boston.


While there may be those active members who don't take their uniform seriously, I would respectfully opine that that's their choice - and they've earned the right to make that choice with no judgement from anyone, least of all me.



I volunteer for a Veteran's Charity that helps Vets with severe PTSD and/or TBI by providing them service dogs at zero cost to them.

WAR DOGS - MAKING IT HOME

The idea of someone attempting to steal or dilute the valor of these great men (and women) is sickening, and deserves real consequences IMO.



Again, thanks for serving our great nation; this thanks goes out to all Vets reading this, as well.
 
Last edited:
STCM(SW) said:
Flaunt my service? BS!
Hey, 32 years and I do take the discount of $3 at the food store I use.
And I don't like guys who say they were someplace I know they have not been.
Catch them all the time.
I either Ignore them or call them out.
Depends on how I feel. Not going to get agita over it.
Click to expand...

Hey Master Chief..LOVE your correct use of Agita:eek:D:D.
 
I served from 1975 to 1980, and I often think I was the rarest of all soldiers in that I was just an average guy. I was not Special Ops, heck, I wasn't even special ed! While I am a Viet Nam ERA veteran, I am quick to let people know I was never in Viet Nam. I was proud to serve and tried to do my duty to the best of my ability.

It saddened me that back in '75 we were often told not to travel in uniform to avoid problems with idiots wanting to create problems. I remember one guy in an airport that called me "baby killer" and when I laughed at him, he was getting ready to throw his drink on me. At that point I told him that babies weren't the only thing I was trained to kill. He found somewhere else he had to be, and I got a good chuckle out of it.

It took over 20 years after leaving the service before anyone ever thanked me for my service. My response then is the same now - "Sir, it was my genuine pleasure, and thank you for your support." I've got Disabled Veteran license plates on my car and I am quite touched when people see the plates and come up to thank me for serving our great country.

The only time I really got mad was once when they had a veterans recognition event at one of my kid's school one day. They asked all of the veterans to stand up to be recognized and there was one guy who was an obvious phony. He was telling his kid what a big and important guy he was and of all of his heroic deeds. I'm old now, so my ability to hide my feelings are pretty much gone. When he caught me giving him the stink eye, he asked me what my problem was. I quietly told him that I had actually served, and that both of us knew he hadn't. He quickly and quietly left the school. I guess some of the ol' Sarge is still inside of me.

Regards,

Dave
 
Rastoff said:
It is a federal crime: Stolen Valor Act of 2013 - Wikipedia But I don't know if it's a misdemeanor or felony.

I work around the military every day. I see enough active duty guys who don't take their uniform seriously. I don't have the energy for the buffoons who think they'll look cool by putting on a few ribbons or by wearing cammo.

I don't wear any outward insignia that denotes my veteran status. I don't ask for discounts. I'm not trying to impress anyone. Neither do I wear Harley gear even though I own one. I didn't join up to get a discount. I don't continue to work for the Air Force to make others see me in a particular light. I joined because I didn't want to go to college. I stayed because I love serving my country even when people bad mouth it.

I will not put up with someone who is trying to take advantage of someone else. If some poser is trying to get a discount or glean respect by pretending to be a vet, I'll have a "chat" with him. Neither do I like it when real vets try to flaunt their service.
Click to expand...

I agree, I don't have service related hat or patch that I wear. All my hats deal with shooting and I have a rule that I never buy one. I usually get them free at major shooting matches (so I guess in a way, I paid for them:rolleyes:, but I never handed over money) If I walk in a place that advertises a discount for veterans I'll use it (retired on a fixed income) I have a picture of my DD-214 on my phone if needed. I actually wore my Campaign Hat (yes I still have that after 40+ years, hangs in it's press in the closet) There was a Halloween match last weekend and I took the band and the DS insignia off and put a label with "Smokey" on it and went as (you guessed it) Smokey the bear. This was the first time I've worn it since I took it off at the end of BCT where I was a Platoon Sgt in 1974. I still have a box of patches and medals somewhere in the house, but all the clothing got sold in yard sales in the early '80s. ( got out in '79). I've never been tempted to "play" Army, 10 years was enough, even though it was a memorable time. Enough rambling. Sorry for the hijack. I just ignore posers, karma is a bitch.
 
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