Stolen Valor on the Today Show?

2015-02-16T11:15:20-05:00

You betcha! This is a pretty good report from this morning.

http://www.today.com/video/today/56980279/#56980279

Imposters pose as soldiers for personal, financial gain

TODAY national investigative correspondent Jeff Rossen reports on people who have pretended to be soldiers, sometimes to impress women and make money. These imposters wear uniforms and medals they never earned, which has led real soldiers to confront these phonies in public.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2015 12:16 PM

2015-02-16T12:16:42-05:00

That's a good report, TSgt Joshua Copeland. Thanks for sharing it with us. I was glad to see that Jonathan Short spent a year in jail for stolen valor and that he was arrested again at the end of the report.

I guess it takes all kinds of people to make up this world of ours, and that includes scumbags like the guy highlighted in the report. God bless Don Shipley as he "hunts down" these criminals.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Feb 16 at 2015 12:43 PM

2015-02-16T12:43:28-05:00

It is great to see something like get aired and to bring awareness. Just keep in mind as, TSgt J.D. Hall pointed out, "one down, hundreds to go".

This is why I feel that we as leaders should never be scared to approach someone that looks odd where the uniform. I think by now, we all have a way of smelling them out.

Response by CSM Michael Lynch made Feb 16 at 2015 1:01 PM

2015-02-16T13:01:06-05:00

Here is another one that was recently caught as well by Military Phonies on twitter and spread by GI Jenn#warriortalk radio to oust them to the public. Salutes to them for letting the nation know about these frauds.

http://linkis.com/blogspot.com/fd8Ho

Another one brought to light again today.

http://www.app.com/story/news/local/ocean-county/2015/02/13/stafford-mayors-stolen-valor-problem/23390119/

Response by SFC Boots Attaway made Feb 16 at 2015 1:19 PM

2015-02-16T13:19:00-05:00

Hunt them ALL down and embarrass the hell out of them in public. Then give them to real soldiers after making them enlist.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2015 1:34 PM

2015-02-16T13:34:42-05:00

That was priceless when the cop had him hemmed up on the hood of the car! "Ow ow ow!" LOL

They should create a unit to put all these clowns in and send them to do route clearance.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Feb 16 at 2015 2:53 PM

2015-02-16T14:53:58-05:00

I'm glad RallyPoint doesn't bend to peer pressure and have medals/ribbons posted on the profiles. It has the potential for having huge cans of worms opened. Besides, some of us don't look like North Korean Generals...lol

Response by MSgt Keith Hebert made Feb 16 at 2015 4:29 PM

2015-02-16T16:29:40-05:00

Surprisingly good report from NBC

Response by SPC David S. made Feb 16 at 2015 7:19 PM

2015-02-16T19:19:08-05:00

I don't understand why wearing an unauthorized military uniform is not a felony. This is a serious security risk as he went onto Fort Knox, and an MP arrested him for impersonating a Soldier.

Response by SGT Steven Montgomery made Feb 16 at 2015 8:33 PM

2015-02-16T20:33:20-05:00

Wow, what a low life!

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Feb 16 at 2015 9:48 PM

2015-02-16T21:48:02-05:00

Every faker I have seen in ACU, wear the mandarin collar up and velcroed. Not once in 10 years of this uniform have I worn the collar like that...nor could I imagine getting ten linear feet with it that way without another soldier jumping dead in my Sh!t.

Response by SSG(P) Matthew Bisbee made Feb 17 at 2015 12:58 AM

2015-02-17T00:58:23-05:00

The major issue with stolen valor is that civilians do not understand what that little piece of ribbon and medal means. They see the sparkling medal and colorful ribbons, not comprehending the sacrifices that service members have made to earn the right to wear them. Fake heroes cast suspision on the legitimate heroes placing all of us on the defensive. Unfortunately, the police and courts do not view stolen valor cases as serious. This attitude needs to change!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 10 at 2015 1:09 PM

2015-03-10T13:09:50-04:00

I'd like to ask him where he got his authentic uniforms. Dummy me ordered from AAFES when they didn't have XS/XS in the local base and it has been 5 weeks and no uniforms and can't even get through to Ft.Sam Houston and no one can/will help at the Exchange. But glad these guys could get them....ha!

Response by SFC Ian Lumgair made Mar 10 at 2015 1:48 PM

2015-03-10T13:48:04-04:00

this is what needs to occur.