Report Stolen Valor

Felinepeachy · Dec 4, 2009

For anyone interested:

Mission Statement:
AMVETS' intent as a leading veterans advocacy group is to protect the valor and honor of our true American heroes and the integrity of their hard-earned awards. ReportStolenValor.org is a new public awareness campaign initiated by concerned veterans to safeguard our proud culture and the values of our community. We accomplish this by presenting an accurate and reliable tool to educate concerned citizens about the Stolen Valor Act of 2005 and help facilitate the reporting of suspected Stolen Valor offenders to federal authorities and the news media.

http://www.reportstolenvalor.org/ :cat:

DigginThePast · Dec 4, 2009

Nothing lower than that form of fake.

Shortstack · Dec 4, 2009

Pawnshops and yard sales are the usual sources for those medals. Anyone buying a medal at the uniform store on any military base must present a copy of his / her orders assigning them the medal. At least the combat / valor medals.

There's a federal law that forbids anyone from even possessing a CMH unless they are the person who received it by orders. Each CMH has a seral number inscribed on the back that is also assigned to the person who received it.

Siegfried Schlagrule · Dec 4, 2009

A former president ordered the sale of valor medals to the general public.
Don't want to turn this into a political post so research it if you wish. On a lighter note these folks and the medal of honor society and the Society of the Purple Heart are deadly serious about this. They have even forced the removal of medals of honor from tombstones where the fraud died and the family believed the phony stories. In some cases the tombstones were the special ones provided by the government. Special Forces; SEALS;' Marine Recon and other special units have been investigating claims also and those folks have an interesting way of expressing themselves. What is left over frequently ends up in prison. siegfried schlagrule

paratrooper · Dec 4, 2009

One of the forums I post on is www.usparatroopers.us . They have guys that know guys that can look up the records of guys that claim AIRBORNE , RANGER , SEAL , UDT , MARINE FORCE RECON etc. . If you ever were a BTDT it can be done in only a few words and paying attention to the answer . If not just jump over to the site and check the poser out . I had to check out the husband of an RN that worked at my DR's office . She said he should go for VA medical since he was military . He claimed Navy SEAL "secret squirrel" status whose missions were so delicate that his records were purged . The group known as VERISEAL checked him out . POSER !!!!! I told her that I couldn't find anyone to help . She was a nice person . I couldn't bear to tell her . I know of that site (Stolen Valor) but haven't fully checked it out . I hope they explain the rules clearly . Telling some babe that you were a SEAL while trying to charm her in a bar is not really a crime . Even wearing some items don't pass muster for criminal POSER . BUT , there are things that can get your appendage in a ringer .

Shortstack · Dec 5, 2009

After the Viet Nam War, I started meeting so many guys claiming to be ex-SEALs I thought I'd puke. After reading Marchenco's memoir, I learned some minor details that I've been able to work into conversations and tell if the person is a phoney. Those fools are trying to cash in on the reputations of better men than they.

One reason I don't particularly like Sylvester Stallone is he was hiding in college on an education deferment during Viet Nam; then, made his Rambo series as a misunderstood "hero". PUKE!!!!!

I wasn't in Special Ops, but I am proud of my time as a Crewchief of a Weapons Loading Team in a Special Ops Squadron at Bien Hoa, AB, RVN.

Siegfried Schlagrule · Dec 5, 2009

Actually I don't know why Stallone was not drafted but I do know that
he and his mother were making porno flicks while I was in Vietnam. At the time it seemed like something most folks would do if given half a chance.
That was long before AIDS surfaced and the gay porn stuff. Stallone has
never claimed to be a Vietnam vet although he has portrayed them. Brian
Dennehy - the sadistic cop in First Blood - on the other hand has repeatedly claimed to be a Vietnam vet and he is not. I don't remember if he is a vet
and a wannabe or a total draft dodging fraud. Usually after they are publicly outed they stop that crap but Dennehy didn't and still publicly claims to be a vietnam vet. siegfried schlagrule

cybercop106 · Dec 5, 2009

Dennehey was in the Marines, but was never in Vietnam. He played football in Japan for the Corps. I think it started when he gave an interview in Playboy magazine many, many years ago, claiming to have been "In Country" for five years, to have seen combat and to have been wounded there. He did admit he lied, but not for a loooooong time after he was "outed".
Maybe he was channeling the Gunnery Sgt he played in "A Rumor of War"!? When you spend most of your life as an actor, pretending to be someone else, in most cases a LOT of someone elses, maybe it gets confusing to recall who you really are......

Libralabsoldier · Dec 5, 2009

One thing I write my congress people about regularly as well is the fact that we have yet to have a living CMH winner in the current conflicts, and many people who have died that deserved them have been passed over.

The way medals are awarded is also nearly criminal, at least in the Army.

As far as people claiming medals they did not recieve, especially those awarded for valor make me ill.

On another note...I had a shabby man come up to me outside the Greyhound station in San Antonio asking for money, saying he was a veteran. I started to blow him off, until he scrounged in his pockets and came up with a copy of his DD214. I changed in my bus ticket for a later one (headed home on leave at the time) and took him by cab to the Amvets office to try to get him some services.

This is one of the best posts I have seen in here in a long time.

paratrooper · Dec 5, 2009

Libralabsoldier said:
One thing I write my congress people about regularly as well is the fact that we have yet to have a living CMH winner in the current conflicts, and many people who have died that deserved them have been passed over.
The way medals are awarded is also nearly criminal, at least in the Army.

I have noticed a small difference in tactics between WW2 , Nam and The Sandbox .Many small units in WW2 and Nam were led by LT's . In The Sandbox many units are led by EM's . Now for the deal . In order for the CMH to be even considered the act must be (among some other things) witnessed by an officer . You can move Heaven and earth but if it is witnessed by an E-7 or E-8 the best you can do is the DSC . A small but important distinction .

Shortstack · Dec 5, 2009

paratrooper said:
Libralabsoldier said:

One thing I write my congress people about regularly as well is the fact that we have yet to have a living CMH winner in the current conflicts, and many people who have died that deserved them have been passed over.
The way medals are awarded is also nearly criminal, at least in the Army.

Click to expand...

I have noticed a small difference in tactics between WW2 , Nam and The Sandbox .Many small units in WW2 and Nam were led by LT's . In The Sandbox many units are led by EM's . Now for the deal . In order for the CMH to be even considered the act must be (among some other things) witnessed by an officer . You can move Heaven and earth but if it is witnessed by an E-7 or E-8 the best you can do is the DSC . A small but important distinction .

Don't you know that a "Ossifer and a gentleman's" word is solid gold when compared to an enlisted grunt? I got into a discussion with a Captain on my aircrew one day in our crew's office about why pilots are required to be officers. I told him that it shouldn't make any difference; that ability to learn to fly was the important thing. He got a little hot and claimed that it required an educated person to be able to handle all of the different requirements to be a fighter pilot. I calmly reminded him that there were CORPERALS flying fighters in WW 2 and he got hotter in the collar. By that time I was enjoying pulling his chain. I was a 20-year enlisted man at that time and therefore knew he couldn't do a damn thing but blow smoke.

I asked him if he could fly and he said "No" and I then told him I could; and asked if he'd like to see my license. That's when our MCC (Mission Crew Commander), a Lt. Col. told us to "can it". :laughing7:

I don't know which I enjoyed more; pulling his chain or knowing he couldn't do anything about it. (he was not in my chain of command, he was a WD on my crew) That Lt. Col. was a good guy and had flown F-4C Phantom IIs in Viet Nam. HE knew the point I was making and let us go for awhile until he saw the young Capt. didn't have the maturity to debate our subject without getting angry. The fact that the Col. and I had gone through Aircrew Training together, didn't hurt either. :laughing9:

We were on first name basis. He called me "Bill" and I called him "Col."

With so many TopKicks running missions in the ME, there should be changes made to the manual on Awards and Decs. At least for the interum. We were the only fliers in the AF who could be awarded Air Medals in peacetime because of our unique mission requirements, so changes CAN be made if the right "horsepower" gets behind it. I'll bet the Theater Commander could get it done.

paratrooper · Dec 5, 2009

I bet you're right about enough horsepower getting behind it BUT there will be a ton of problems . If the requirements are lowered there would be a million requests for review of DSC's , SS's and other awards . They will be looking for upgrades . Even if the new regs are "allegedly" air tight there will be those looking for exceptions . BUT if someone tries to get some kind of deal where guys could get more CMH's it might result in more LT's . Now there's a thought .

Shortstack · Dec 6, 2009

You have some good points there, Paratrooper. I just hope they don't start handing out the higher awards like chocolates. I saw a guy in my squadron in 'Nam get a Purple Heart for losing a toenail during a mortar and rocket attack. He ran out of his flipflops and kick something while running to the bunker outside our barracks. The doctor at the clinic put in the paperwork AUTOMATICALLY. I told him I'd be embarrassed as hell to take it. He told me, " well, that's 3 points toward promotion." I won't repeat, here, what I told him about THAT. >:(

I wonder if everyone on a team vouched for someone's qualification for a valor medal would make a difference.

If the Army still processes "Shake 'N Bake" NCOs; they should run more 90-day wonders through OCS to build up the number of teamleaders. Hell, send some of those experienced E-8s and E-9s through. But, that might make too much sense.........something the green machine doesn't always like to do.

Xraywolf · Dec 6, 2009

Check out the decorations this sad sack of feces awarded to himself.
He got busted at a high school reunion, when he ran into a former classmate that was in the USN and she suspected him of being a fraud.

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/1111091medals1.html

cybercop106 · Dec 6, 2009

What do you think are the chances of him showing up at his 25th year class reunion?!? :laughing7:

Xraywolf · Dec 6, 2009

Heres another guy caught playing dress up

http://tinyurl.com/yk69chy

These guys must have a self esteem problem, and are seeking to boost it parading as a brave fighting man.
You'd think they'd have the brains not to go so overboard though, with their self awarded decorations.

Libralabsoldier · Dec 9, 2009

I have actually read the regs on awards. Since our OIC in Iraq spent most of the tour gold bricking in Germany, and our SSG was too busy chasing tail...I put in most of the guys for awards. All of them got through, but also all got downgraded to AAMs.

I found out after the fact that I was put in for an MSM that got downgraded by the Hospital Commander. He decided that no one below the rank of Major was getting an MSM. He magically got a Bronze star. One of the big issues with the Army right now is that people are authorizing awards based on rank, not on merit.

My medals may not have V devices, or anything like that, but there is a story behind every single one of them. It makes me rage when I hear about these PX rangers.

fmrUSMC_0844 · Dec 11, 2009

Xraywolf said:
Check out the decorations this sad sack of feces awarded to himself.
He got busted at a high school reunion, when he ran into a former classmate that was in the USN and she suspected him of being a fraud.

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/1111091medals1.html

This sorry sack has slapped anyone that has served and earned those awards and the right to wear them in the face. I guess he couldnt figure out if he wanted to be enlisted or an officer either. What an idiot.

nsdq · Jan 9, 2012

Libralabsoldier said:
I have actually read the regs on awards. Since our OIC in Iraq spent most of the tour gold bricking in Germany, and our SSG was too busy chasing tail...I put in most of the guys for awards. All of them got through, but also all got downgraded to AAMs.

I found out after the fact that I was put in for an MSM that got downgraded by the Hospital Commander. He decided that no one below the rank of Major was getting an MSM. He magically got a Bronze star. One of the big issues with the Army right now is that people are authorizing awards based on rank, not on merit.

My medals may not have V devices, or anything like that, but there is a story behind every single one of them. It makes me rage when I hear about these PX rangers.

,

some of our guys got awards for action in iraq e6 above got bsm and msm air crews got air medals batt comander got silver star while still at ft campbell before we left the country , i was one of the few who got two arcoms while over seas for what i did, everyone else got a comander coins wtf ?

birdman · Jan 9, 2012

Nothing worst then a fraud !! The AF gives medals away like candy. I have a chest full of them and I have done nothing but go to work every day .. The ones that matter are the ones earned . I have seen a few people get bronze stars for logistic work vs combat... Just don't seem right.