When stolen valor shaming goes horribly wrong. Your Thoughts?

I took a break from mowing the lawn in a very ragged 49th Armor NG issued camo shirt which also had a 173d Abn combat patch and CIB, went to grocery store for wife. A guy starts questioning me while in checkout line. I'm polite, but don't feel like giving military history lecture. I mean if he was so interested in militaria he should get on the internet. He had never heard heard of either unit, I look younger than I am, I knew he thought I was a poser. Sheesh.

Stolen valor has no place in this country! It's either acceptable in our society or it isn't. I'll tend to let it slide unless I can overhear the conversation & it's beyond ridiculous where you have to just call them out. If you can tell a fake & there wearing a combat action badge of some sort such as; a CAB, I'd call them out because those mean something to me that I wear with pride that they didn't earn. Before my last deployment, I actually call out this guy who was bragging about being a navy seal doing training exercises in front of these woman. He didn't appreciate it much, but I thought it was funny.

We should use this as a teachable moment. It is good that the young Marines care about their service. What is not good is their fanatical attack on someone they think is a poser. Instead of ripping them up lets get their minds wrapped around the idea that a Veteran does not always look or act like a stereotype. I once met a old humble African American gentleman who was serving Active Duty members in a airport. Something clicked that made me think he was a Veteran, but he said he just was there to show support for the troops. I asked his niece and she said I was correct but not to make a fuss he preferred to remain unkown. This humble man who did not look like a Veteran was actually a Tuskegee Airman in WWII.

Who cares??? They all look ridiculous anyway!

is there a video? I don't see anything

Psychosis sets in for some people I guess!!

You can always go to asshole. If you start there it is very hard to back track once you get the real story. I have no problem with the "Marines" asking, but it was how and being in public. As much as a stolen valor perpetrator wants attention and praise not due them, these asshats sure got a lot more attention than there 2 minutes of fame on youtube they would have gotten them if the Vet was a fraud. In effect these jerks were trying to steal valor by outing a fraud. Do your homework first, idiots. 30 days, 12 hours at attention, guarding this vets house is a nice start.

Those Marines will need a good Captain's Mast or more. How sad!!. I bet Jack Hughes was spit on like my belated uncle was when he came back as a 1LT from Vietnam. I hope those Marines get extra duty, rank pulled and hopefully go and apologize to him too.

As current events develop there is weight to the swing of the pendulum. First there is stolen valor, then there is the desire to correct those who would steal valor, then there is the over zealous abuse of true men of valor. Over reactions and mean spirited actions are never the mark of a professional. Professionals are cool, calm, and collected, even in the face of irritating stupidity. As many have posted already, temperance and kindness, whenever possible, are the ways of the professional. Faith, hope, charity, and love, are the way, Grasshopper.

This is what happens when we teach Soldiers that there's nothing more to leadership than being aggressive and punking other people out. What happened to the "gentle giant" concept? Leadership is not a contest; and the military is having a hard time imbuing these recent generations of Soldiers with the right values. If mommy and daddy can't raise you right...then Uncle Sam needs to put a boot of reality up your ass!