How do you deal with someone trying to call you "Stolen Valor"?

I remember what Dr Suess said. Those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind

I don't think it will happen. Yes, there are the rare viral videos, but it's just not the social norm.

I'm sure I'm not the only one dreaming at the chance to lock up a crusty retired CSM calling me out for parking in the Home Depot veteran parking and then pull out my CAC and demand me he show me his.

But that's not how the world outside of my head works ;-)

In the day to day world your veteran license plate frame is enough credentials.

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The most I was able to do in terms of call anyone out was at a local gun range. They give military a discount, and the guy was trying to BS his way to a discount with the clerk. He pulled out dog tags or something.

I interjected into the conversation between him and the clerk, and showing my CAC ID I said, "she want's to see this".

It was a little bit of awesome but not YouTube worthy.

That's on them. You don't "owe" anyone validation. Other than a couple videos on facespace and twatter, I've never seen it happen in person. Personally, I'd pull my phone out and start videoing them. They're always brave when behind the lens. Flip the script on them.

I could give a fuck less what someone thinks of me. If someone had the gall to ask me about my service over a parking spot I would tell them to go fuck themselves. You know what you did during your time in service and that's all that matters.

Buy some cheap poker chips and put a few completely random drawings on them with a Sharpie. When challenged, present them with the "coin" and tell them congratulations and thank you for defending those who defended us. Tell them "This coin can be redeemed at any veteran organization/drinking post for a complimentary fuzzy navel." Render a proper salute and carry on.
It will blow their minds.

I wouldn't worry about a hypothetical argument or about a confrontation that hasn't happened. You have valid ID to support your claim. At the end of the day that is enough to be compliant within the letter of the law. You can't change human behavior. You might be confronted, you might not. They might believe you, they might not. You can't change how they will react or how they think. Don't twist yourself into a knot about it.

I refer to those parking spots as integrity parking. You are the only one who can truly judge if you can park there. If you fit the profile then park there. If you don't fit the profile then don't park there. The only one who can judge you is yourself. If challenged by someone politely tell them to call the police. Only handicap parking is legally enforceable. Walk away and keep an eye on your vehicle. Discretely take a picture of the person with your phone if you feel it is warranted. If you served, you do not owe anyone an explanation of service. Your integrity is your only judge.

Personally, I’ll never have that problem. When I wear all six of my ribbons, I call it REVERSE stolen valor. People say, “You should wear ALL of your ribbons and badges,” and I say, “This IS all of my ribbons and badges.”

But seriously, showing someone a VA Health Identification Card ought to settle it. (And if you don’t have one, you should get one. And if you’re not a disabled veteran (at least 10% disabled), you can get one anyway. And if you’re not at least enrolled with the VA...you really should be. Just to get your name in the system. Someday you’ll want benefits, home loan, GI Bill for college, something, and you’ll already be in.)

Or another score-settler may be your driver’s license. Some states will print something like the word “VETERAN” on your card if you show them a DD-214. Technically you could carry around a copy of your DD-214 with you, put seriously, who does that?

And then, not to blame the victim, but what was the veteran doing that made someone accuse them of stolen valor? Wearing the wrong uniform to the wrong locale? That’s how people get called out. Nobody will bat an eye if you wear your nice stuff to your sister’s wedding. They WILL ask questions if you wear half a jacked-up ACU to the community college.

But in general, if one vet calls out another, it ought to be easy to sort out. There are a lot of super-easy questions that can identify the imposter (“Where did you graduate from your MOS school? What Basic platoon were you?”) that can establish credibility. And if they still don’t believe you for some reason, and you’re going to see them later, tell them you’ll bring your DD-214. If you’re never going to see them again... forget about it. Like you said, just be polite about it and don’t get in a fist fight.

I have the "Veteran" identification on my Tennessee drivers license. They had to get a copy of my DD214 before putting it on there. Plus I have my V.A. ID. That is, if they pushed the issue. Very few go to that extent. Usually it is only the idiot attention seekers that bother. I choice would be to just ignore them and they will go away like a fart in the wind.

Ignore the ignorant and go on with life, there are those that search out power over others like a drug, just smile and walk away for those that constantly seek battle with windmills (Don Quixote) time is not to be wasted on them.