Share The "stolen Valor" Story Of The Day

[holdenmonty]

Yeah I'm with you there beth on your story. It does contribute because that is an instance where I would wear my uniform. For instance there has been several times where my wife has asked me to grab something from the grocery store on my way home so I would stop by in my uniform as I'm on my way home. But also if somebody asked you about why you were in your uniform you would have a true story and be able to prove that you belong in that uniform unlike the stolen valor people that are claiming what they have never had or never done. I saw one video on youtube that it was so ridiculous I had a hard time believing that the person was actually trying to look like somebody in the military... They had on the ACU's but had sneakers on and a trucker style hat and had ribbons where his name tag should be.

 

[Sludge]

Why not just ask to see ID. Anyone in any Service in the USA is required to have a valid CAC/Military ID on them. Can't use it to buy booze or tobacco though...

Not sure about the other branches, but Navy regs used to dictate anyone could request anyone elses ID at anytime and one was required to show it. Have things changed so drastically since I got out?

Also why don't you ever see a faker in Navy Dress Blue or Whites. Even the scum give the Sailors sh*t.;)

 

[Sludge]

Hence the stolen valor laws... we do not have time for this drama, we can only enjoy when it is manifested

A federal indictment handed up recently charges Crane with doing both. The indictment was handed up weeks after the Supreme Court ruled the Stolen Valor Act was unconstitutional. (From the S&S article above)

There are no stolen valor laws anymore. Of course "they" didn't announce that to anyone, either...

 

[Grizzly]

I saw one video on youtube that it was so ridiculous I had a hard time believing that the person was actually trying to look like somebody in the military... They had on the ACU's but had sneakers on and a trucker style hat and had ribbons where his name tag should be.

Not dissing the USAF at all. But at one stage I remember this was some form of dress code for the USAF. I couldn't figure it out. Camo trucker hat. White Tee under BDU jacket. Etc.

I recall if someone was going to formation with a sloppy uniform or their headgear out of regulation we would joke and ask if they'd enlisted in the Air Force.

 

[combatgoldfish]

ID and dog tags are part of the uniform.

Every time I see someone who gets confronted conviently don't have either.

 

[Spock]

A federal indictment handed up recently charges Crane with doing both. The indictment was handed up weeks after the Supreme Court ruled the Stolen Valor Act was unconstitutional. (From the S&S article above)

There are no stolen valor laws anymore. Of course "they" didn't announce that to anyone, either...

The way I've read the Court decided to protect Freedom of Speech so anyone can claim any service or medals BUT they cannot claim false service to gain money or benefits. Some guys I know state they have state laws and are reporting some guy that claimed he was a Nam vet.

 

[Lurch]

ID and dog tags are part of the uniform.

@CGF, dog tags not required for all Navy personnel. I have several sets but stopped wearing them, as they are not a requirement for our uniforms. You ask me for an ID, not an issue but no dog tags on most days.

 

[holdenmonty]

I remember seeing some stuff in the air force that if they were going through training back in the BDU day's there was different colored t-shirts I think it was mainly the TACP guys as they were going through their extensive process. We did have trucker style hats with our squadron's logo on it and it was called the squadron cap, and that was when we had patches on our uniform so you could tell where somebody worked. I do remember in basic training we had to wear these crap brown t-shirts under our BDU's when in basic training and once we got to tech school we were allowed to wear black t-shirts under our BDU's so it felt like we made it to the "real air force" when we were allowed to wear black t-shirts.

And in regard to what Lurch said. The air force is the same way. We don't wear our dog tags unless we are deployed and are usually kept in our mobility folder so we know exactly where they are with all the other paperwork that we need when we deploy.

 

[Sludge]

@CGF, dog tags not required for all Navy personnel. I have several sets but stopped wearing them, as they are not a requirement for our uniforms. You ask me for an ID, not an issue but no dog tags on most days.

Yeah, dog tags are a safety hazard on a ship. They issue them to us in boot and you never wear them. In some instances one is worn on a boot in the laces (such as ammo handling) so they have a chance at identifying what is left in the event of an explosion)

Hell I still have my original set, one in my boot and one on my keyring. I do that as I am prone to periods of lights on but nobody home and it is easier to find than a wallet. Saved my ass a few times from ending up in the drunk tank because some pig found me laying on a sidewalk or something. They tend to call the base or the VA when they find tags out here. Odd as this is an air force town. (And yes, we DO have awesome golf courses...)

 

[Sludge]

The way I've read the Court decided to protect Freedom of Speech so anyone can claim any service or medals BUT they cannot claim false service to gain money or benefits. Some guys I know state they have state laws and are reporting some guy that claimed he was a Nam vet.

Sadly, it is legit to claim anything you want. Good news is they cannot get any federal benefits if they try, then False Valor comes into play

. Those assholes that claim to be SEALs for instance...well the law is the least of their worries...

So, like the fatass above trolling in BDUs for military discounts- that is perfectly legal. The old dude getting paid to speak as a wounded vet, blah, blah, blah, does not fall under false Valor, it is just fraud.

Personally, I only ever ran into one faker myself. Guy wearing an LST-883 command ball cap. Irony was he was giving me shit for wearing an LST 1194 ball cap. He was the same age as my dad-they went to high school together- (and happened to be at the same bar we were at whilst I was home on leave...), and claimed I was wearing a fake hat and was a liar and blah,blah,blah.

Sure, both ships were called the USS La Moure County, but 883 was de-commed in 1945. My dad was born in '51.
When I pointed out the ship he claimed to have served on was gone before he was born, he left the pub in a hurry..

 

[Spock]

...Personally, I only ever ran into one faker myself. Guy wearing an LST-883 command ball cap. Irony was he was giving me shit for wearing an LST 1194 ball cap. He was the same age as my dad-they went to high school together- (and happened to be at the same bar we were at whilst I was home on leave...), and claimed I was wearing a fake hat and was a liar and blah,blah,blah.

Sure, both ships were called the USS La Moure County, but 883 was de-commed in 1945. My dad was born in '51.
When I pointed out the ship he claimed to have served on was gone before he was born, he left the pub in a hurry..

:LOL: That's hilarious Sludge. I can never get enough Sludge or Fargo stories...y'all could make a great movie

 

[Lurch]

I found it interesting that NCIS: New Orleans did a show about stolen valor this week. It makes me happy that others outside the military community knows that it affects the moral of those serving and those that have served. While I don't think the show was 100% accurate, it put this issue in mainstream viewing.