How often do legit vets get accused of Stolen Valor?

MAJ Jim Steven — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 13:12:08 -0400

I was reading something on FB from the SV page...some of the commenters said that they would get approached and questioned (accused) for wearing a certain hat or T-shirt.
Your thoughts? How would you react??

Response by SFC Daniel Faires made Mar 27 at 2016 1:32 PM

SFC Daniel Faires — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 13:32:44 -0400

I got questioned once for a hat I was wearing.

Told the guy to ***K himself I don't need to justify or prove my service to anyone

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Mar 27 at 2016 2:26 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 14:26:58 -0400

I would look the dude in the eye and ask him if he served in the military at all himself.

Response by Cpl James Waycasie made Mar 27 at 2016 3:16 PM

Cpl James Waycasie — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 15:16:26 -0400

I keep a copy of my DD214 in my glove box in my truck. I guess I could show it to them, but in all honesty I would probably laugh at them and walk off. I don't have anything to prove to idiots.Of course if they put their hands on me it will go a whole different route.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 27 at 2016 5:44 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 17:44:49 -0400

I can't say that I have ever been accused of this. I really don't like calling out people on this. The few times i have called them out it was extremely evident.

Response by CPL Cody Hampton made Mar 27 at 2016 6:28 PM

CPL Cody Hampton — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 18:28:11 -0400

I was stopped by a guy at Walmart and asked questions about a hat I was wearing and his friends were filming it on there cell phones. I took my phone out and started drilling him on his military time they lost interest fast and moved on. Like the other guy said we should not have to justify our service to anyone and not at Walmart with people looking on.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 27 at 2016 6:50 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 18:50:53 -0400

I actually, have had the opposite. I wear a Vietnam Era vets hat. Often someone starts asking where I served. I tell them Japan. If I served in Vietnam I would be wearing a Vietnam veteran's hat.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Mar 27 at 2016 7:12 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 19:12:30 -0400

I've got a Virginia Vet card, as well as my DeptVA card on me. If all else fails, I have a thumb drive on me that's got my DD214 as well as a bunch of other things that would prove who I am.

However I'd more than likely tell the person to piss up a rope first. It depends on how they approached me.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 28 at 2016 9:06 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 09:06:03 -0400

It's pretty sad if this issue has become so serious that vets are feeling the need to carry their "papers" with them...Frankly, I'd be more than happy to supply anyone questioning me my full name and contact information and advise them to "fire away"...their ultimate embarrassment isn't worth my time to concern myself with.

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Mar 28 at 2016 10:04 AM

SGM Steve Wettstein — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 10:04:31 -0400

I would probably look at them then smile and walk away.

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Mar 28 at 2016 11:39 AM

Capt Mark Strobl — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 11:39:59 -0400

MAJ Jim Steven - As a Colorado resident and a vet, I am a USAFA fan. Went to the Wyoming-Air Force football game three years ago. Weather was gorgeous, so I wore shorts and my AF-ball cap. A Cowboy fan noted my EGA in on my left calf ...and compared it to my Falcon ball cap. I guess it didn't pass his litmus test for being a vet. His issue, not mine. My course: Ignored him and enjoyed the game.

Response by SGM Mike Hardin made Mar 28 at 2016 12:53 PM

SGM Mike Hardin — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 12:53:05 -0400

Never had someone question my time in service or if I had ever served before. But then I don't wear tee shirts or ball caps with military stuff on them and I don't have any tattoos so it never came up. When the folks at my civilian job found out that I had spent 30 years in the military I started having everyone and their brother asking me all sorts of stuff, but in a respectful way. The way they found out was when our HR rep singled me out during Veterans Day last year as being the only Iraq Vet at our job place. It is just not that important to me anymore, my time in the service was rewarding and I always strived to work hard and do what was best for my Country, my Army, and my Soldiers but it cost me, and cost me dearly. More than 3/4 of my last 15 years in the Army was deployed. Never got many holidays, birthdays, school things, my kids football games... and the list goes on and it cost my marriage. Spend as much time as I can now with my kids and my grandkids.

Response by PO3 Sandra Gomke made Mar 28 at 2016 2:58 PM

PO3 Sandra Gomke — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 14:58:02 -0400

I believe we all try to take someone at their word when they say they're a Vet. People who feel compelled to ask for verification of service are just being nosy or hope to catch someone in a lie. For their own "glory", of course. Most of the time, the other guy couldn't tell the difference anyway. The one Stolen Valor I dealt with claimed Army service. Being in the Navy, and not having ready access to my Army son, I couldn't really tell the truth from the lie. It wasn't until we asked his (now-ex) wife how she liked being an Army wife that she told us he had never been in the Army. Or graduated college. He hadn't started his bragging until after they were divorced. That's when I started making inquiries. Surprise!! He's a fake.
I don't feel the need to carry my DD214 around or explain my military hats. I only wear 2. My Army Mom and my US Navy Woman Vet. If they can't read, it's their problem. My response to questions about my hats is "Yes! Thanks for noticing!" Smile and walk away.
I would hope we're not all walking around looking for fakes. I'd rather encourage and support anyone wearing a Vet hat. We should all be able to wear ours with pride.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 29 at 2016 11:16 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 11:16:51 -0400

I would probably have some fun with this. I would act like I never served, let them record it on their phones, wait until the video went viral, then go to the media with the video and my DD214 and let them have fun with it. I bet I get an apology.

Response by SPC Rick LaBonte made Mar 30 at 2016 11:41 AM

SPC Rick LaBonte — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 11:41:08 -0400

My response would be "My DD214 has been registered publicly in the Alpena County Courthouse since 1993-where's yours?"

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 15 at 2016 3:01 PM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 15:01:33 -0400

Too many times by people that have no clue.

Response by SPC Rick LaBonte made May 25 at 2016 10:56 PM

SPC Rick LaBonte — Wed, 25 May 2016 22:56:00 -0400

Problem is nowadays social media has posted so many no brainer cases of actual stolen valor that many young currently enlisted and some civilians that don't have a clue are getting a case of the stupids! I've been out 25 years, I can't remember half the shit I memorized back then! Things that are protocol today are different than they were in my time, just like the Vietnam guys had a different military world from mine. There was an actual case I read about recently of a Air Force vet being accused and attacked by two active airmen, hope it was reported up the channels!

Response by 1SG Michael Blount made Jan 7 at 2017 7:28 PM

1SG Michael Blount — Sat, 07 Jan 2017 19:28:30 -0500

The problem is, this crap has been going on for so long that the general public cannot distinguish between a legitimate vet and a wannabe

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Jan 7 at 2017 8:25 PM

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter — Sat, 07 Jan 2017 20:25:32 -0500

Simple enough, I have a DD Form 2 (Retired) Air Force identification Card, takes a minimum of 20 years to get one of those, not that i have to prove anything to some idiot anyway ! I've never had the experience though of being questioned about it in the first place. Most the time If I got in a conversation in the first place it most likely be with another Veteran.

Response by Sgt Ramon Nacanaynay made Jan 7 at 2017 9:15 PM

Sgt Ramon Nacanaynay — Sat, 07 Jan 2017 21:15:33 -0500

I've been asked what branch, station or unit when I wear my "Veterans For Peace" gear once in a while. I've never been accused. I've never been asked to produce my DD-214, nor considered it necessary to carry a copy of it.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 8 at 2017 11:23 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Jan 2017 23:23:13 -0500

Had a Soldier in my office once (I went DA civilian after getting out of the Army) asking why I would hang my husband's Army stuff on my office wall. I asked him why he made that assumption, especially considering the stuff had *MY NAME* on it. Oy. Pretty sure he was just an idiot.....

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 25 at 2017 9:03 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Nov 2017 09:03:30 -0500

I’ve been accused, It was at a Starbucks at 11 at night on Christmas Eve. on my way into shift picking up coffee a lady confronted me and starts saying something about how her Newfew was in and he gets every holiday off and whatnot unless he deploys. I showed her my ID and told her that I work on a trauma ICU as a medic and that some of us have jobs where we have to work the weekend and that her Nefew is extremely lucky if that’s his case.