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

I wouldnt worry about having all of that stuff to get them to "back off". I go to Lowes here in OKC all the time, and they have veteran parking. I have never run into an issue of someone claiming I wasnt a veteran. If they were to say something to me, I would smile at them, and say " I feel sorry for you and your ignorance", and walk away. They WANT confrontation. Deny them of it, and they will scurry away.

Personally, they're going to get the big ignore from me. I know what I did, when I did it and my family and friends know. So unless they're in one of those groups, they just go take a long walk off a short pier.

If you did your time who are they do say anything? Never mind the fools whos mouths move before their brain activates.

Don't worry about what if. I have a retired AF tag on my car so it is never an issue with me. My wife does not but when I am with her I park there. Should someone approach me and ask, I would tell them first, it is none of your business what/when/or if I served, Second - I don't have to prove anything to you or anyone else, Third - go piss up a rope and then walk off. I don't challenge others but I have seen some that I thought well but it is not my place to ask, it is an integrity issue for me...I served so I can and will park there...if they didn't then well that is on them, not my place to challenge. I will and have challenged folks parking in Handicapped spots that there is no way they are handicapped physically at least, plus they don't display any placards or license plates to show they are eligible. That bothers me more because I have family members in wheel chairs and elderly who can barely walk and get by and need those spots and are legally able to use them and then some @$$ hat comes along and takes the spot that they need getting out of an unlicensed car and running in the store.

Alot to say here but please refer to the DR. Seuss comment as it should be the only thing you NEED to take from this. This is how I would play this, just stay with me for a min. I am SGM Underwood 1st of the 9th couch batt. Out of Ft. Living room. I am pulling Into the parking lot at my Hy-Vee. I pull up to my parking spot only to see you exiting your POV, I exit my POV to either get me some Stolen Valor, or a dish of crow. I call you over, "Hey Troop"! As you turn around I correct you on the fact that you just exited your POV without 3 points of contact then proceed to ask why your in my spot. I am presented with an ID card that has the word VETERAN in the bottom right hand corner. Painted all that for you to just read this. If its for veterans, and your a veteran, YOU GET YOU SUM!

From your post I would say that you are the one looking to invent a confrontation. My total advice is to grow up (something you clearly failed to accomplish while in the military).

If that space is designated for people that include vets, and you want to park there, just do it. Guess what? No one is going to say a damn word to you about it. If you manage to find someone to even look at you funny - just do the adult thing: ignore it and go about your business.

Personally, I'm more disappointed at MEB for trivializing our services to our country by labeling us with a cartoon character moniker.

As far as being questioned about our service, a simple and polite response to their mistake should answer appropriately. If it doesn't, show them your id and asking them not to be so rude next time. Use it as a teaching experience if you can.

Ignore them, anyone that is that hard pressed to do that is probably a civvy that wishes they could have been you... fuck 'em, ignore them... if they call the police on you, then show the police your Vet Card, or your Drivers License... other than that, no one needs to know anything more than you are a human being and they can fuck the hell right off.

If it is over a Parking spot, I say choose your battles. If, say, it is claiming you are lying about if you were in, or what you did while in, then decide if it worth the time and effort to argue the point. People that claim to be Special Forces when they were scrubbing heads prior to being tossed out deserve to be exposed. I served, and I talk very little of what I did or what I saw. That is my story. Some people think they need to point out everything wrong that they see. Trolls are not just on the net.

Confusion can fall upon a veterans legitimacy today due to the changes in equipment and terminology amongst service. A more recent veteran refers to M.R.E.'s as "Meals Ready to Eat". Or " Meals Rejected by Ethiopians/Everyone"!
My era was Viet Nam, and Post Viet Nam. It was "K Rats", with it's required "P-38". No, not the W.W.2 Fighter plane, but instead the little hinged aluminum, sharpened manual can opener.
The military should provide a guidebook on era's, equipment, terminology, especially "In country terms, or God forbid, you may kill another vet.