Posted on Jun 29, 2015
Thoughts on veterans calling for a LA Sheriff candidate to stop his run for office?
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http://www.militarytimes.com/story/news/local/2015/06/28/veterans-want-apology-sheriffs-candidate/29435661/
I stumbled across this article on military times this morning. After reading the story it comes off to me as a man who served his country honorably. He served in Iraq and was even awarded a Bronze star. I don't know why he is being attacked for apparently being proud of his service. I don't care he doesn't have a DD-214; I care about his service/ sacrifice to our country. If what he says is true and he wasn't trying to further his political agenda on the false pretense that he is a veteran then quite frankly I don't give a damn that he stood up at some seminar. I fell grateful for his service and sacrifice. Seems like sometimes we get too caught up in the technicalities....your thoughts?
I stumbled across this article on military times this morning. After reading the story it comes off to me as a man who served his country honorably. He served in Iraq and was even awarded a Bronze star. I don't know why he is being attacked for apparently being proud of his service. I don't care he doesn't have a DD-214; I care about his service/ sacrifice to our country. If what he says is true and he wasn't trying to further his political agenda on the false pretense that he is a veteran then quite frankly I don't give a damn that he stood up at some seminar. I fell grateful for his service and sacrifice. Seems like sometimes we get too caught up in the technicalities....your thoughts?
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Stolen Valor
Stolen Valor
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 16
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The veterans need to apologize to him, Our American citizen interpreters served along our teams going out the wire on all missions, they faced the same dangers and were exposed to the same attacks and were the subject of deliberate targeting by the enemy. In some fire fights we provided them a weapon in defense of the team. Any veteran that has an issue with an American Interpreter calling himself a veteran lack insight into what is asked of them; to make matter worse they do not receive the benefits that we get. This makes their life worst when the ravages of war come home.
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SSgt (Join to see)
I never even thought of that perspective. Thank you for sharing CPT Pedro Meza. This is why I don't get why we as a society get so caught up in the technicalities...they served along side us, died along side us, and in some ways gave more. Seems like a "veteran" to me!
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CPT Pedro Meza
SSgt (Join to see) - You need to talk to your AFOSI teams and learn from them, you are the future.
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SGT (Join to see)
CPT Pedro Meza, Pedro, I would assume most military personnel don't know about civilians being awarded the BS. I know I didn't. According to the rules of the award, the wording can be interpreted to include civilians. When I looked this up, only three civilians have been awarded the BS. Two in WWII, and Joe Galloway with. The 1/7 th battle at Iadrang Valley, in Vietnam. I learn something every day, and this is one of them. Now I know.
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CPT Pedro Meza
SGT (Join to see) - Thank you for adding to my knowledge, I survived out the wire in Afghanistan thanks to my Terps. I am sad to say that my American Terp cannot go to the VA with the same war injuries and that I have; for him it is assumed as a workman’s comp. He is further denied the respect that us veterans get, which is ironic because I am alive thanks to him. Also we had female terps on some teams!
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Weren't we just talking about knee-jerk reactions? I feel this is a great example of this. Yet, there are two sides of the coin here. While he did serve with honor in Iraq, according to the story, he was there as a civilian therefore the title of "Veteran" does not apply to him. If he is walking around saying he is a "military veteran" then he is in the wrong. If he is walking around using the award he earned as a civilian to help promote his run for office then good for him, he earned it.
Must like anything there are three sides to the story; some where in between all that lays the truth. I say, let him run and if the wrongfully represented himself than further actions should be taken.
Must like anything there are three sides to the story; some where in between all that lays the truth. I say, let him run and if the wrongfully represented himself than further actions should be taken.
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I didn't Internet search and supposedly there are a couple of civilians in history who were awarded the bronze Star and put that it's very few and far between
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