When stolen valor shaming goes horribly wrong. Your Thoughts?

Vigilantism = BAD. If someone is truly stealing valor, report it to the proper authorities and let them handle it. I read the other day about three air force guys jumping a Marine Fallujah vet because they thought he was faking the funk.

This is shameful. I'm as opposed to those pretend veterans as much as anyone else. I earned the title and have lifelong disability to show for it, so it burns me up to see civilians unwilling to put their own lives on the line trying to claim the title for themselves. However, crooked medals, or even slightly out of place medals, do not amount to evidence of stolen valor. I was medically discharged in 2003, much more recently than this Vietnam Era veteran, and I doubt I could remember how to line everything up perfectly today. I have barely even looked at my class A uniform in the last 12 years, let alone worn it. And as a civilian, I have more important things to worry about than AR 670-1. So, I assume other veterans who have been out 10, 20, 30, or in his case nearly 40 years, would naturally have some of the same issues. Further, for many of those serving in Vietnam, the uniform regulations were among the first things to be discarded as the realities of non-conventional warfare set in. They are none the less brothers in arms and worthy of my respect. Those Marines sound like they were just out looking to bully someone, if you ask me. They dishonored their own uniforms, and their service, when they assaulted combat veteran over something as simple as crooked medals. Stolen valor is shameful, but it isn't something we should be looking for, so we can make an example of someone. Even in a legitimate case of stolen valor, assault is beneath the character of a soldier. Those men should be deeply ashamed of their actions.

Figures that happened HERE. Bunch of stupid jerks in this area. There is no excuse for this kind of behavior, no matter where you live, however. When I encounter someone in uniform, I always extend to them the same benefit of the doubt that is extended to me when I discuss my service. I believe them until they give me reason not to, and even then, I do not confront. I have a neighbor down the road whose entire house is decorated in military paraphernalia. He is not well, and simply wishes military service had been an option for him. Not everyone who wears military uniforms or ribbons is a case of "Stolen Valor." Some of them are just not well, or are "wannabes." It's not up to me to judge or condemn. And it wasn't up to these idiots either.

Forgive me guys and gals, but is there a way we can help Mr.Hughes and show him and others that we are grateful to them because they made it possible for us to serve HORORABLY and help others learn respect???

They need to be 'Big Chicken Dinner', but before that-NJP their 'six' and have them do the gentleman's housework, and formally apologize for the world to see. These young people need to be educated and it sounds as if CO's are setting them for failure both in duty to counrty and private life.

We were spit on and humiliated in other ways when we came home from Nam, and now to be insulted by these feckless punks, in uniform & in public no less. It's disgraceful. I know several Nam era Marine vets who often say to we Air Force vets how thankful they were to have birds in the air for hot LZ extractions. Geez this ticks me off.

When I see a veteran like that, I go up to him and say 'Welcome Home and thank you for your service". Usually, if they are phony they give there on selves away.

While no excuse, unfortunately, there will always be jackasses amongst all of us. When something like this occurs, immediate corrective action needs to be taken by the closest person to the incident.

Jarheads aren't the brightest. ....

The new veteran is much more selfish than those of yesterday. I'm surprised at the level of self-entitlement some of these veterans return with from service. I suppose when the public pats your bottom, tells you that you're special and gives you privileges, I guess you start believing your superior. Our WWII, Korean and Vietnam veterans just wanted life to resume as normal when they came home. They just wanted a steady job and their families back in their lives. It's a shame that some younger service members cannot see passed themselves. I hope these Marines have their asses handed to them by their respective units and/or friends.