Posted on Mar 22, 2015
Stolen Valor among homeless vets - Choosing NOT to ask questions.
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Wondering if others are like me and have occasionally chosen NOT to ask additional questions to a homeless vet. The story:
I tend to pick up homeless people out begging on the freeways and take them to lunch. Just about every one of them claims to be a veteran. I picked up a guy today and his first words about military service were that he "was a ranger and 250 went in and 45 came out". Now, he was too young for Vietnam, and too old for OIF/OEF, (plus he admitted that he left service as a corporal and that's hard to believe with Ranger school) and I'm sure no casualties like this happened during desert storm. But he also mentioned that he wished he had his DD214 and told me about his SERE training, so I know he's a vet. I chose not to ask any more questions. I know he was lying, but I also know that he was prior service and so I bought him a few cheeseburgers and fries and drove on.
I tend to pick up homeless people out begging on the freeways and take them to lunch. Just about every one of them claims to be a veteran. I picked up a guy today and his first words about military service were that he "was a ranger and 250 went in and 45 came out". Now, he was too young for Vietnam, and too old for OIF/OEF, (plus he admitted that he left service as a corporal and that's hard to believe with Ranger school) and I'm sure no casualties like this happened during desert storm. But he also mentioned that he wished he had his DD214 and told me about his SERE training, so I know he's a vet. I chose not to ask any more questions. I know he was lying, but I also know that he was prior service and so I bought him a few cheeseburgers and fries and drove on.
Posted in these groups: 
Stolen Valor
Homeless
Stolen Valor Homeless
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 12
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Sir,
I do not judge the homeless for their military experience. I do not feel that stolen valor is the heart of their problems.
I do not condone stolen valor. I am however prone to looking the other way if that person is in dire need of assistance and rather then a person looking for 15% off at Macy's
I do not judge the homeless for their military experience. I do not feel that stolen valor is the heart of their problems.
I do not condone stolen valor. I am however prone to looking the other way if that person is in dire need of assistance and rather then a person looking for 15% off at Macy's
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Major, I believe you made the right call. There's a time and place for everything; that fella needed some chow.
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Situational ethics. Many of us are in a position to cast judgment on the "fallen". These are the stories that they have found will keep them alive or keep them fed as they move from one bad situation to another.
Basically, you can't expect a treasure like integrity from cheap people. Not that these people wouldn't work for a living if given a chance, but as long as that chance never comes, they do what works according to what life has taught them.
Basically, you can't expect a treasure like integrity from cheap people. Not that these people wouldn't work for a living if given a chance, but as long as that chance never comes, they do what works according to what life has taught them.
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First of all I want to say Thanks MAJ (Join to see) for showing human compassion, especially towards our veterans! I also believe you handled the situation like a class act, Hooah!
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MAJ (Join to see)
CSM Michael J. Uhlig When I dropped him off, he asked me "why would a Major pick up a corporal like me?". I just told him, "one team, one fight".
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MAJ (Join to see) I for one commend you for your commitment to the homeless and vets alike. I am with you and would simply not care to ask the question. Folks like this have enough issues to deal with in surviving life on the streets.
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Some people assume if you don't say anything or if you respond with, "okay cool" or "that's interesting" that you believe what they are telling you. I think its fine to listen for it might start confrontation you don't want in the wrong place and wrong time.
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MAJ (Join to see)
SSG (ret) William Martin In this situation, I knew that it would take me about 2 questions to debunk his initial story - but I also know he's a vet, so I chose not to ask those additional questions.
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I wonder if this could have been a vet lying about his service. Or someone who knew a vet or two and is now telling their stories. Or someone who had done some research into the best way to pull off stolen valor.
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MAJ (Join to see)
CPT (Join to see) Most homeless people are sick. I've busted people for stolen valor in the past, but if they're really in need, I just choose not to ask too much.
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SSgt (Join to see)
Discretion being the better part of valour. The irony here is not lost on me.. lol
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Honestly? It's not just homeless. My dad runs a small business and there's a couple of guys that show up that I've caught "embellishing" their military service. Usually a couple of minutes of conversation they'll back themselves into a corner and I'll give them a "You're full of $hit." Stink eye, but usually they've been telling the same lies so long that they might actually believe them.
Usually they're guys that haven't done anything with their life since they left the military and they're just pathetic looking to bask in a bit of glory days.
Usually they're guys that haven't done anything with their life since they left the military and they're just pathetic looking to bask in a bit of glory days.
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Since he did serve and probably has mental health issues I would tend to cut slack. If I see someone claiming to be homeless vet, I would ask for VA id card. If he doesn't, either hes lying or never applied. I would direct hem where to go to get one. I am usually very selective about helping homeless. Some of them (vet or not) have a racket where they are making a lot of many by pretending to look down and out. Others use the money to buy booze rather than food. (i would rather just give them some food in kind; one time I had a hamburger in a doggy bag from a restaurant and give it to a homeless guy) Another strategy is to point them to resources that help the homeless and veterans (San Francisco has many programs for both) ie soup kitchen, homeless shelters, social services, county or Vet org Vets service officer.
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I haven't met a "homeless vet" yet who could answer a simple military question with any legitimacy, like "what unit were you in?" I know some vets are homeless, I just think a majority of homeless have never served a minute in the military, they're just playing people for an easy buck.
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CPT (Join to see)
I am currently working with a vast majority of the Homeless Veterans in Atlanta and I can tell you that most of them have spent time in the military. Most Homeless Veterans do not know the resources they have or can get. Heck, I did not know what resources I had when I first got out of the Army in 2001. I can tell you from experience that if you are not informed, you can get lost in ways. It is a good thing not to prove that a person who claims he was in Special Forces was not indeed in Special Forces or even have the capacity for SERE training; especially when they are having a hard time economically. One way to push someone over the edge is to disgrace them when they are talking about their glory days. Everyone has a different story with regards to their service. Some embellish. Some stay humble. In my experience, it is best to just nod and listen at that point. Major Dews, good job on keeping your composure and helping a Veteran in need.
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SGT Beau Thomas
I agree with you Lt Sims. I am speaking about the 8-10 pan handlers I've talked to claiming to be vets. I do know these particular guys were lying because of their wacky responses. I never shame them I just move on. I also have experience with real homeless vets also. I worked at a college doing educational benefits for vets. They had a vocational rehab program for homeless vets where the VA would pay for educational benefits for these individuals and five them a monthly stipend. You would not believe the grandiose stories 80% of these guys told me. I would just listen, smile and nod, little did they know I had their DD214 right in front of me. Most of them served less than two years and almost all were non combat MOS's. I just had a hard time believing that that many vets could lie to my face nonstop. It was an eye opener.
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