Retired Marine's uniform: Is this stolen valor or is there another reason?

Very real, but the door you opened was never the door you thought you opened;)

If he's "retired" then he should still be required to follow uniform regs,
and Marines police ourselves by bringing that situation to his attention out of respect for each other our traditions and our beloved Corps! Carry on and Semper Fi!

I agree with many comments about politely pulling him aside to help him get aquared away. And to politely ascertain wether he was legit. Not everyone knows the uniforming regulations and they can change quite a bit over time. My uncle earned a Navy Unit Commendation while serving with the 21st Marines in WWII. He would have worn that award on the left side of his USMC uniform along with his other ribbons. When he joined the Army during the Korean War, that same award would also be worn on the left side of his uniform with the other ribbons. He was also authorized to wear his Third Marine Division patch on his right shoulder as a former wartime unit. A few years later in the early 1960's the Army moved the wear of unit awards/citations to the right side. So if he wore his Army uniform to a veterans event in the 1970's he'd appear out of uniform to a new generation of soldiers. I also recently saw a great photo of a former commander of mine (COL, USAF) with his son, a recent graduate from USAF Basic Training. The Col was wearing an award in the wrong location. I politely called it to his attention privately, he thanked me for it. I am surprised that none of the "Sierra Hotel" Training Instructors at Lackland AFB caught it while he was there.

Regulations do change over time, and this might be a case of that. When I was a Legal Clerk in the Army National Guard, many years ago, I was awarded (on orders) an Infantry Shoulder Cord and wore it on my Class A's. I was just chatting with an employee of mine who is a retired COL who served at the same time and he mentioned that he also was awarded the cord as a medic in an infantry battalion. During that time, it was awarded to any soldier serving in an infantry unit, whether or not he had an Infantry MOS or was branched Infantry. The regs changed to "Infantry only" a couple of years later (mid 1980's).

Anyone who has been in the military more than a day knows that once you meet the "standards" you don't go below it, you only improve on it!

I know I am late on this but oh well. I don't think he is hurting anyone especially if he is talking to scouts about what an honor it is to serve this great nation, especially in a time when patriotism is fleeting and no longer PC. He is at least 70, when my dad was 70 he would call me and ask if I had forgotten about him because I haven't called him this week even though I talked to him the day before. The point is he is old, he isn't trying to gain anything and I would say he is a positive influence if the scouts are letting him speak to the pack/troop, the scouts in my limited experience just don't let you show up to speak they either verify your story at the troop/pack level or if he is very active he has been back ground checked by the council. Memories fade over time, and if putting that uniform on even if it is screwed up allows him to recall both the good and bad then so be it. I wouldn't scrutinize someone that much more senior in age than I am, to me even questioning him would be disrespectful in my humble opinion not to mention the civilian sector would probably feel the same way, they could care less about stolen valor, they would see a much younger person bullying a senior citizen and that is all they would see. Anyway just my 2 cents.

I think people have become a bit TOO MUCH all about jumping on anyone even remotely suspected of any Stolen Valor. I'm not saying I'm ever happy about it. Especially when it comes to our older folks...they aren't likely to even remember every little detail about ribbon order of preference etc. In the last 25 years we have made leaps and bounds in terms of identifying and beginning to deal with PTSD treatment. You want to call out a 'Nam or Korea era Veteran for anything...shame on you...they got no "treatment" when they got home, if they were even lucky enough to make it home. No PTSD meetings, regular people spitting on them, calling them "baby killers", etc. They had one vice. Smoking Pot. If even that. If you are under 50 years of age...I don't care where you were or what you think you seen, you didn't have it like those guys had it, nor were you uprooted from your families against your own will. Not to mention, some of you went in and took on the least risky jobs in the least deployable capacities just to snag some college money, and never really did anything heroic yourselves. Yes, you may be military or a veteran, and Thank You for that service. But if you do not sport awards above the Presidential Unit Citation yourselves, and/or your only Bronze Star is an Admin version, Id suggest chilling out on the white-haired folks who might simply be desiring to show some of their own Patriotism and Appreciation for our current military folks (which in an of itself is a likely indicator they are a veteran, whether they got all their uniform ducks in a row or not). Just my 3 cents.

Semper Fi.

This might be an unpopular thought. If (IIIFFFFFF) this gentleman is a veteran who has been out of service very long time...I give him a pass! He earned a pass. Now as his peers we could help him out with uniform regs and placement rules. Kinda like "Hey thanks for your service. Would you mind if I showed you some tips on wear of those awesome medals you have?" Hey if not, I salute, smile and move out. If not stolen valor.. he earned the right to make newer "War Fighters" like me cringe a little!

GySgt John O'Donnell,
This is definitely not a case of stolen valor, but the case of a elderly veteran who is proud of his country and his service and wants young boys to know what an honor it is to serve their country. Perhaps someone with some gentile tact could assist the elderly gentlemen with corrections to his uniform, but with all due respect to his age and distinction as well as honor for his service.

GySgt John O'Donnell

Maybe at one time he was part of the Marine Corps Band. I know there was not a blood stripe on those trousers but they do where white or blue with red blouses. Maybe he added it to show that part of his service. Just an observation and trying to make sense of things.