I have tripped up more than a few guys lying about combat service, including WW2 aged men.
I have what must be an above average knowledge of 20th century military history, and its pretty easy to trip guys up if its an area you know alot about.
For instance, this one old guy was telling me about his WW 2 adventures, which I always like to hear - Especially drunk at a wedding reception.
He was telling me how his battleship, the USS Houston, destroyed half the Jap navy, including other battleships, and also aircraft carriers.
He was also involved with Midway, Iwo Jima, Okinawa and the final surrender, courtesy of the USS Houston.
Many problems with a statement like that, as I was instantly aware.
Battleships were named after states, not cities.
There was a USS Houston, a heavy cruiser, which was sunk not long after Pearl Harbor after a gallant battle against impossible odds in the Java sea.
Those of the crew who were not killed in the battle itself or the subsequent sinking spent the rest of the war as prisoners ,,, So obviously this guys tales of his exploits throughout the war must have been fantasy.
I didn't feel like burning the old guy though, so I let him slide to tell a few more tales, then tried to show him that he wasn't fooling me.
I asked him how was his imprisonment under the Japs, I heard they were pretty rough.
Oh no he said, Japs never got their hands on him.
Really ? Wasn't the USS Houston sunk in Japanese controlled waters ?
Nope, must be thinking of something else, young man.