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What was the situation you encountered, and how did you handle it? I'll start it off.
It wasn't your typical, what you hear these days, type of stolen valor. This man wasn't in uniform, wasn't parading around touting his affiliation. He was an elderly gentleman, who appeared to be homeless. Who claimed to be homeless.
I was out on the town (a casino on Fremont Street in Las Vegas). My buddy and I were headed back to the bar when this elderly gentleman approached us. He asked for some money, and in the spirit of the holidays we told him we'd help him out.
As we were walking with him to the ATM we struck up a conversation, asking him about himself. At some point in the conversation he asked us if we were military. Mind you, we weren't discussing military things or our personal life with him, I had longer than normal hair as I hadn't gotten a haircut in almost three weeks, and my buddy is retired with a beard and long hair. Why he asked if we were in the military, is still beyond me.
We told him our respective situations, what we do, etc. He then told us that he was in the military too. What then started striking us odd, is when we asked him about his service, he wouldn't tell us what rank he was when he left the military, what branch he was in, where he served, what his job was, anything specific at all. He just adamantly repeated that he served, got offended, became agitated, and then left us before we even could make it to the ATM.
We ended up looking for him, found him, and confronted him about the whole thing. He admitted that he lied, and that he in-fact had never served. He apologized for it, said he did it because he thought we would only help if he told us that he served, and promised he wouldn't do it again to others. We gave him some money and went along our way.
This whole event really ate at me for a few reasons. The first, was just seeing someone in need. Everyone could use some help every now and again. It could be someone's dad, brother, uncle... It then bothered me even more, because the thought of those that HAVE served, and made the ultimate sacrifice, and lost their lives. Here is this individual, attempting to get the honor, but never having made ANY sacrifice.
What about you guys? Any situations to share? How did you shake the lingering feeling of anger, disgust, and just generally being upset?
It wasn't your typical, what you hear these days, type of stolen valor. This man wasn't in uniform, wasn't parading around touting his affiliation. He was an elderly gentleman, who appeared to be homeless. Who claimed to be homeless.
I was out on the town (a casino on Fremont Street in Las Vegas). My buddy and I were headed back to the bar when this elderly gentleman approached us. He asked for some money, and in the spirit of the holidays we told him we'd help him out.
As we were walking with him to the ATM we struck up a conversation, asking him about himself. At some point in the conversation he asked us if we were military. Mind you, we weren't discussing military things or our personal life with him, I had longer than normal hair as I hadn't gotten a haircut in almost three weeks, and my buddy is retired with a beard and long hair. Why he asked if we were in the military, is still beyond me.
We told him our respective situations, what we do, etc. He then told us that he was in the military too. What then started striking us odd, is when we asked him about his service, he wouldn't tell us what rank he was when he left the military, what branch he was in, where he served, what his job was, anything specific at all. He just adamantly repeated that he served, got offended, became agitated, and then left us before we even could make it to the ATM.
We ended up looking for him, found him, and confronted him about the whole thing. He admitted that he lied, and that he in-fact had never served. He apologized for it, said he did it because he thought we would only help if he told us that he served, and promised he wouldn't do it again to others. We gave him some money and went along our way.
This whole event really ate at me for a few reasons. The first, was just seeing someone in need. Everyone could use some help every now and again. It could be someone's dad, brother, uncle... It then bothered me even more, because the thought of those that HAVE served, and made the ultimate sacrifice, and lost their lives. Here is this individual, attempting to get the honor, but never having made ANY sacrifice.
What about you guys? Any situations to share? How did you shake the lingering feeling of anger, disgust, and just generally being upset?
Honor
Service
Stolen Valor
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 28
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What I don't do is act irrationally, pull out my cell phone, record video in portrait mode while chasing and screaming at the possible faker just to upload it to receive LIKES and e-attaboys from people I don't know.
The last time I encountered such a person, I introduced myself, showed the guy my Blue ID card and simply stated, "You should rethink your decision to pose as a member of the military. The next guy may not be so nice."
The last time I encountered such a person, I introduced myself, showed the guy my Blue ID card and simply stated, "You should rethink your decision to pose as a member of the military. The next guy may not be so nice."
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It used to piss me off, but now I have better things to do than worry about some schmuck that has to lie to give his life meaning. Not worth the air.
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I actually posted my VA card and my Brown Military ID that states I am 100% Disabled. Within seconds he left facebook
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I work with seniors and disabled in housingnprogram and have some with mental issues. One man claims to have been in all militaries, etc and when a newveteran moves in have to discuss his comments. We have made chgs with this man asno longer wearing Vietnam Vet on hats and talk about his service is diminishing but we all mostly redirect the subject when he starts talking. There are mentally ill folks out there that you cant explain it to them and see change but reaction by peers has shown some chg.
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I would turn the individual over to local law enforcement. Veteran or not, we cannot beat some guy up. Let the cops handle this.
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I have encountered some instances of this even with people who have served. More I wonder what is the motivation to be compelled to create this false universe around oneself? I get angry at first about the deception but then try to figure out what makes a person not feel as part of something or no value to their life. I'm no liberal bent in any way and don't "feel their pain" but I have to wonder about what drives somebody to assume an identity which is not even close to them, try an lead the life of a lie and think eventually they will not be discovered and then look even worse as a person. I know one person who was in the Navy for 3 years, wears a SE Asia Campaign ribbon wit two stars. Do the math, it is impossible to do 3 tours in 3 years as you have to count time in boot camp and A School into the mix. Every liar will eventually give themselves up with a few specific questions and "the words coming out of their mouths".
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PO1 John Miller
CPO David Sharp
Chief, sometimes people honestly don't know the regs. On my last ship, a Chief came onboard to speak with another Chief. She was a pretty young BMC, yet she had 2 stars on her NDSM. I only rate ONE star on my NDSM, as I came in the Navy during the Desert Storm era and got my second one for Post 9/11 era. The ONLY way someone would have 2 stars on their NDSM would be if they served during the Vietnam era and this Chief was NOT old enough. She was MAYBE in her early 30's, more likely her late 20's.
So I politely asked her why she was wearing 2 stars on her medal and then explained why she was wrong. I got a dirty look from another Chief but oh well, I educated a young Sailor. Yes she outranked me but I still had been in the Navy longer than she had and had valuable/valid training to offer her.
Chief, sometimes people honestly don't know the regs. On my last ship, a Chief came onboard to speak with another Chief. She was a pretty young BMC, yet she had 2 stars on her NDSM. I only rate ONE star on my NDSM, as I came in the Navy during the Desert Storm era and got my second one for Post 9/11 era. The ONLY way someone would have 2 stars on their NDSM would be if they served during the Vietnam era and this Chief was NOT old enough. She was MAYBE in her early 30's, more likely her late 20's.
So I politely asked her why she was wearing 2 stars on her medal and then explained why she was wrong. I got a dirty look from another Chief but oh well, I educated a young Sailor. Yes she outranked me but I still had been in the Navy longer than she had and had valuable/valid training to offer her.
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PO1 John Miller
CPO David Sharp
If I remember correctly, she thought she rated multiple stars because she had deployed a couple of times. I informed her that the award criteria for NDSM didn't work like that, that you were only awarded it once for a specific period. In her case, Post 9/11 service. I also explained why I had a star on mine (Desert Storm era) and the only people with 2 stars were EXTREMELY senior, like Admirals who had 30/40+ years of service.
If I remember correctly, she thought she rated multiple stars because she had deployed a couple of times. I informed her that the award criteria for NDSM didn't work like that, that you were only awarded it once for a specific period. In her case, Post 9/11 service. I also explained why I had a star on mine (Desert Storm era) and the only people with 2 stars were EXTREMELY senior, like Admirals who had 30/40+ years of service.
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CPO David Sharp
PO1, That is correct as the NDSM. What I referred to was the Vietnam Campaign Medal. He had the ribbon and two stars. 3 years of service, includes boot camp and A school in that time period, does not leave time for three tours. Enlisted tours in Vietnam were usually one year, Seabees did two 9 month back to back tours. Does that clarify what I was speaking about?
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MAJ Ronnie Reams
CPO David Sharp - 6 months per star on VCM. The campaigns were all 6 months with things like Phase I, Phase II etc. on the end of the name. So 1 year got you the medal and two stars.
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