Posted on Nov 23, 2015
"Fallujah Marine veteran beaten over mistaken case of stolen valor"
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From: USMC Life
A Marine veteran who fought in Fallujah was attacked by an airman who believed he was lying about serving in the Corps. It happened over the weekend at The Long Shot, an Arden-area bar, according to CBS Sacramento.
The Marine veteran, Michael Delfin says he tried to show the airman his ID, but he believed he was looking for a fight.
“I noticed a guy had a fade and he asked me if I was in the service and he said, ‘Yeah, I’m in the Air Force,’ and I said, ‘Oh I was in the Corps,’” he said.
The airman was looking for an active duty CAC card, but since Delfin was a veteran, he only had this VA card – he was accused of lying about serving on the spot.
“So, I asked him to read my ID, and he was like nahh stolen valor, stolen valor; this guy’s a fake,” he said. “He’s ignorant. He needs to learn how to read an ID, plain and simple,” he said. “When a vet tells you he’s a vet and he’s obviously wearing a fallen brothers bracelet doesn’t even recognize that.”
Things started turning ugly and the Delfin tried leaving, but was jumped in the parking lot by the airman and one of his friends.
“And before I knew it I couldn’t get off the ground. My leg gave out; it was kind of a blur,” Delfin said.
Delfin’s tibia is broken, and his jaw might be too.
“I did over 12 years in the Marine Corps; I was a tracker and I was in combat in 2004 in Fallujah,” he said.
“Because everybody that’s in the service does their job, but when you go to combat it’s a different thing, so to claim on me I’m stolen valor, that’s a slap in every veteran’s face,” he said. “He needs to get caught. He needs to get made an example of, plain and simple.”
Sacramento Police have filed a report, Delfin has also heard from an Air Force investigator.
http://usmclife.com/2015/10/fallujah-marine-veteran-beaten-over-mistaken-case-of-stolen-valor/
A Marine veteran who fought in Fallujah was attacked by an airman who believed he was lying about serving in the Corps. It happened over the weekend at The Long Shot, an Arden-area bar, according to CBS Sacramento.
The Marine veteran, Michael Delfin says he tried to show the airman his ID, but he believed he was looking for a fight.
“I noticed a guy had a fade and he asked me if I was in the service and he said, ‘Yeah, I’m in the Air Force,’ and I said, ‘Oh I was in the Corps,’” he said.
The airman was looking for an active duty CAC card, but since Delfin was a veteran, he only had this VA card – he was accused of lying about serving on the spot.
“So, I asked him to read my ID, and he was like nahh stolen valor, stolen valor; this guy’s a fake,” he said. “He’s ignorant. He needs to learn how to read an ID, plain and simple,” he said. “When a vet tells you he’s a vet and he’s obviously wearing a fallen brothers bracelet doesn’t even recognize that.”
Things started turning ugly and the Delfin tried leaving, but was jumped in the parking lot by the airman and one of his friends.
“And before I knew it I couldn’t get off the ground. My leg gave out; it was kind of a blur,” Delfin said.
Delfin’s tibia is broken, and his jaw might be too.
“I did over 12 years in the Marine Corps; I was a tracker and I was in combat in 2004 in Fallujah,” he said.
“Because everybody that’s in the service does their job, but when you go to combat it’s a different thing, so to claim on me I’m stolen valor, that’s a slap in every veteran’s face,” he said. “He needs to get caught. He needs to get made an example of, plain and simple.”
Sacramento Police have filed a report, Delfin has also heard from an Air Force investigator.
http://usmclife.com/2015/10/fallujah-marine-veteran-beaten-over-mistaken-case-of-stolen-valor/
Stolen Valor
Air Force
Marine Corps
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 102
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This stolen Valor crap is getting out of hand by both sides. If you go out LOOKING for stolen Valor you are part of the problem. THAT'S like hunting for trouble. If you see it and can show that it truly is, then good for you.
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This totally pisses me off. I am a Vet, as well as my Father, two Uncles, Grandfather on Dad's side, and my Brother is now 24 years in service. My Grandfather and both Uncles have passed. One Uncle fought in WWII, my Dad served during the Korean war, I served during the first Gulf War, and my Brother has deployed I don't know how many times anymore. My Dad does not carry around anything to prove his Veteran status, nor do I. I signed up to serve my country and defend our constitution, our way of life and our Freedom. I never served with the anticipation of getting some kind of recognition from Civi's for doing so. I was taught from my family of service members before me, from my DS, my First Sgt, my Capt., etc... that this is a selfless service we provide and not one that we do for praise and prizes from those we protect. So... I don't go around wanting to flash ID's and so on and brag about being a Vet. In fact I rarely speak of it as it always bring the Thank You etc etc... I don't feel like that is necessary and almost makes me a bit uncomfortable.
That being said, if someone were to challenge my status as a Vet it would deeply offend me as I am very proud of the time I spent in the Army, and can still say to this day that it was the best thing I have ever done in my life, and the best time in my life. Those Vet's and Active Duty folks that feel it is there duty to somehow police people on their Veteran status are completely delusional and so caught up in there own ego that I would challenge their purpose in serving and question if they have any true honor as a soldier. Was it a self serving to get recognition or to be hailed as a 'badass', or do they have honor, integrity, discipline, dignity and selflessness that makes a true soldier? In my mind wearing a uniform does not make one a soldier deserving of valor. Being a soldier is much more than putting on the uniform and showing up. Our Civi's don't understand the world of a soldier and those people are easy to pick out if they are frauds, but in no way does that mean one should set aside their core values as a soldier and attack anyone. That is unbecoming behavior at every level. I hope that they make an example of the Airman. Court Marshall and dishonorable discharge preventing him from carrying a Vet ID card that he apparently thinks is some kind of golden ticket. He should never be allowed to claim status as a soldier as his behavior is not that of any soldier I would honor as a Vet myself. I hope all active duty and Veterans, when encountering someone guilty of stolen valor that they do the right thing. Make it known and contact law enforcement to have them charged. That is your duty, not to become judge, jury and ' executioner to feed your own ego under the guise of defending honor and valor. If you do that later you have disgraced the uniform and every other soldier out there that truly knows what it means to be a soldier and not just some asshole in a uniform.
That being said, if someone were to challenge my status as a Vet it would deeply offend me as I am very proud of the time I spent in the Army, and can still say to this day that it was the best thing I have ever done in my life, and the best time in my life. Those Vet's and Active Duty folks that feel it is there duty to somehow police people on their Veteran status are completely delusional and so caught up in there own ego that I would challenge their purpose in serving and question if they have any true honor as a soldier. Was it a self serving to get recognition or to be hailed as a 'badass', or do they have honor, integrity, discipline, dignity and selflessness that makes a true soldier? In my mind wearing a uniform does not make one a soldier deserving of valor. Being a soldier is much more than putting on the uniform and showing up. Our Civi's don't understand the world of a soldier and those people are easy to pick out if they are frauds, but in no way does that mean one should set aside their core values as a soldier and attack anyone. That is unbecoming behavior at every level. I hope that they make an example of the Airman. Court Marshall and dishonorable discharge preventing him from carrying a Vet ID card that he apparently thinks is some kind of golden ticket. He should never be allowed to claim status as a soldier as his behavior is not that of any soldier I would honor as a Vet myself. I hope all active duty and Veterans, when encountering someone guilty of stolen valor that they do the right thing. Make it known and contact law enforcement to have them charged. That is your duty, not to become judge, jury and ' executioner to feed your own ego under the guise of defending honor and valor. If you do that later you have disgraced the uniform and every other soldier out there that truly knows what it means to be a soldier and not just some asshole in a uniform.
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This SV vigilantism has to stop. Far too many innocents are getting caught up in this mess because the medal they are wearing is slightly crooked. Unless someone is trying to get a real benefit, and I don't mean 10% off at Dunkin Donuts, then move on.
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It seems every "Vet" I had talked to before I joined the service was 101st Sniper in Desert Storm. People need to get over themselves. You served great! Thank you for your service. You want to lie about the capacity in which you served, how am I to know, you can live your fantasy. The people I don't have time for are the no count individuals that did whatever they needed to do to avoid deployment. I know way more than I'd care to.
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MAJ David Wallace
That hurts!! Some of us were with the 101st ABN in Desert Storm, and only every other guy (or gal) was a sniper!
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PFC (Join to see)
The comment about avoiding deployment, that was one of the reason I joined because of Desert Shield/Storm was going on. By the time my delayed entry program, basic and AIT were complete, that was over. Trust me I didn't avoid any deployments by any means, I would have gone in a heart beat if I was called to do so. By the time my first son was born and my ex husband former Army as well, told me if I ever deployed and was killed in combat my child would not grow up knowing me, nor my side of the family. That right there told me it was time for me to get out because my ex couldn't be trusted raising my son. He made me chose family or military career, but so did the military by not helping me when I needed it.
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PO1 (Join to see)
Snip from Meal Team 6, rode Chair Force One into covert missions for the Salvation Army, where I served as a Master Gunnery Petty Officer 4th Class.
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They would have beat me up too, because I would have been laughing too hard, Air Force? I would have died laughing maybe. I guess I will definitely have to go armed if I ever wear any of my stuff again. I am quite disabled , so I can't "defend" myself by kicking people's butts anymore. Friggin Air Force,who'd thunk it.(no offence to any of you AF dudes here) This SV stuff and wannabe heroes is is getting out of hand.
Was there some kind of racial difference here? I suspect there was something else going on than SV.
To be honest, when I was still in and stationed in America, I always was armed off base and my friends were too.We even had our own unofficial shooting club. The SV BS is nothing compare to getting robbed and jumped by several MFer's, this case IMO went past SV.If guns ain't your thing, and they are a heavy responsibility, At least carry a good fighting knife or a good lock blade and learn some basic moves. We carried guns besides knives, it was dangerous off post , and that was Ft. Pork in the late 1980's, I am certain it is more dangerous now off post at any base CONUS.
And don't ever fist fight off base with fools you don't know. Dirty fighting can happened real quick. And in this case I think Marine got hit with a weapon. Tibias don't break readily. I 'd say a bat or a club was used.
That calls for the martial arts of "ching-chang", when you cock that slide. Then you can do a "survey" of who wants to die. Most people don't.
And don't party off post alone.
Was there some kind of racial difference here? I suspect there was something else going on than SV.
To be honest, when I was still in and stationed in America, I always was armed off base and my friends were too.We even had our own unofficial shooting club. The SV BS is nothing compare to getting robbed and jumped by several MFer's, this case IMO went past SV.If guns ain't your thing, and they are a heavy responsibility, At least carry a good fighting knife or a good lock blade and learn some basic moves. We carried guns besides knives, it was dangerous off post , and that was Ft. Pork in the late 1980's, I am certain it is more dangerous now off post at any base CONUS.
And don't ever fist fight off base with fools you don't know. Dirty fighting can happened real quick. And in this case I think Marine got hit with a weapon. Tibias don't break readily. I 'd say a bat or a club was used.
That calls for the martial arts of "ching-chang", when you cock that slide. Then you can do a "survey" of who wants to die. Most people don't.
And don't party off post alone.
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Take that non combat wish he was and send him to Marine Boot Camp , then to SOI. Then ask him. Do you want combat or is that little office in the supply warehouse ok. , this punk needs to be caught
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That punk airman is a disgrace to the Air Force and the Armed Forces as a whole.
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I'm not saying this didn't happen to this individual, and I hope they find him, but I'm have a hard time believing this is just over stolen valor, or he was attacked by AD (Any Branch) personnel... Just my opinion only...
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