True stories of liars in violation of the stolen valor act. If awards are given with no evidence of valor or combat and claims of action and fighting are made in the same paragraph where the awards are referred to, we develop a problem known as stolen valor. Stolen valor names names and backs up the uncovering of these honor thieves with facts. The men who impersonate military personnel for stolen. So, that make getting a 20% discount at starbucks a federal crime. Army investigating we were soldiers legend for inflating. Thanks to the stolen valor act of 20, it makes it a federal crime to fraudulently claim to be a recipient of certain military decorations or medals in order to obtain money, property, or other tangible benefit. Please dont post videos of homeless people or the mentally ill, this subreddit will not tolerate bullying. She was caught pretending to be a male soldier who had been. You can wear a uniform and tell tall tales, but you can never b. In 2012, the supreme court struck down the stolen valor act, which made lying about military honors a.
In 2009, a 61yearold man joined an annual remembrance day parade wearing an impressive array of medals. They had just concluded a rare general court martial for that command, attempted murder. How the vietnam generation was robbed of its heroes and its history, b. Military lies are harmful to actual veterans the denver post. The fake history from a real historian that fooled presidents and publishers. Our friends at this aint hell uncovered john david guess who has bought out every pawn shop in his area so that he can claim to be the most famous marine in history. But the case takes a mysterious turn when the lead suspect is found with the navyissued jacket of an officer believed to have been killed in the line of duty in afghanistan. Stolen valor will now get you up to a year in the slammer. The stolen valor act of 20 was introduced into the house by rep. It had ended with an acquittal and the entire jag staff was outraged.
The book was moving account of the november 1965 battle of ia drang valley in the vietnam war and the heroic fight that 450. Fake marine busted for stolen valor after a retiree spotted. Our mission at guardian of valor llc, is to out those who falsely claim military service andor claim unauthorized medals or tabs. The ncis team investigates the murder of a retired seal who tracked down individuals impersonating military personnel. Posts about stolen valor written by militaryphonies. When any normal person reads action and fighting they are meant to assume combat. Decked out military groom to be sent to the brig news. Stolen valor act of 20 signed into law the american legion. Mat best accused of stolen valor stolen valor, army rangers. How to spot a fake veteran a story of stolen valor the. Makers for veterans helped charles zollicoffer ride a motorcycle for the first time in eight years. Twotime stolen valor creep gets sentenced to federal jail.
Best is seen depicting both characters, in which he wears the famous green beret of the army special forces as well as the eagle, globe and anchor of the marine corps in his costumes neither of which he has earned. Fake marine busted for stolen valor after a retiree spotted him at a graduation ceremony. The law amends the federal criminal code to make it a crime for a person to claim they have served in the military, embellish their rank or fraudulently claim having received a valor award specified in the act, with the intention of obtaining money. It almost always goes beyond pretending to be something you werent and gets into areas of fraud whether its to get some political leverage.
Jun 16, 2010 stolen valor is a term applied to the phenomenon of people falsely claiming military awards or badges they did not earn, service they did not perform, prisoner of war experiences that never. We provide expertise in all forms of stolen valor investigations that take place inside and outside the veteran community. Burkett, a vietnam veteran, and glenna whitley, an investigative journalist. This is a case of stolen valor when the service of jews, hindus, muslims, atheists, and others are gathered to defend specifial privileges for christians. The stolen valor of michael flynn veterans today military. On june 3, president barack obama signed into law the american legion backed stolen valor act of 20, which now makes it a federal crime for an individual to fraudulently hold oneself out to be a recipient of any of several specified military decorations or medals with the intent to obtain money, property, or other tangible benefit. Clyde police officer, sheriff candidate resigns following. Clyde police officer, sheriffs candidate foley resigns. Meet the countrys most prominent stolen valor detective. The military service of callahan county sheriff candidates leroy. The defense department will unveil a stopgap stolen valor website this wednesday designed to help citizens see if someone is lying about military medals. How to check records of military service plenty of.
How the vietnam generation was robbed of its heroes and its history 1998 is a selfpublished book by b. How the vietnam generation was robbed of its heroes and its history. It reveals that numerous people claiming to have been mentally injured by serving in the vietnam war never served there. Burkett and glenna whitley, the authors of stolen valor, a book that exposes phony vietnam veterans, have put together some helpful hints on the book s web site. Weve put together a list of the top 5 most outrageous stolen valor incidents. How the vietnam generation was robbed of its heroes and its history by burkett, b. Marine imposter rick strandlof exposed on anderson cooper 360. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Top 5 most outrageous stolen valor incidents the sitrep. Pretenders, liars and frauds claiming military honors they didnt earn. I arrived at my new duty assignment in japan in february, 1972. Jun 14, 2017 anderson may be the countrys most prominent stolen valor detective. Since 155millimeter aka thekingsofbattle went back on his word and never came up with any documents, i thought id help him out thats right folks, come on down and cutpaste to your hearts. The camp pendleton cross and the feature below on the mt soledad easter cross provided additional commentary, but the tactic is the same in each case.
Real veterans dont advertise their deeds and claim unbelievable acts of heroism. We read or hear much about the false heroes and veterans claiming honors that they never earned. Stolen valor proof submitted 1 year ago by cnorwk8 a new coworker 34yrs old claims to be a navy vet special forces, oil tycoon, exfirefighter, millionaire, etc. Stolen valor is the act of pretending to be a service member or veteran with the intended effect of personal benefit. Stolen valor is one book that every vietnam veteran should read. Kelsie denise hoover gained national attention in 2015 when she was the first person to be arrested under the stolen valor act of 20. The 2005 stolen valor act, which doug sterners wife, pam, helped draft, made it a crime to falsely claim military decorations, but the supreme court overturned the law in 2012. Every veteran, regardless of duty station, or mos has made sacrifices, some more than others but none the less that service was provided under oath to defend and protect the interest of this country and its people. John david guess, us marine, phony everything, blog of shame. Dod will unveil website to combat stolen valor this week. The stolen valor act of 2005, signed into law by president george w. Army investigating we were soldiers legend for inflating awards.
A trio of stolen valor phonies the american legions burnpit. These incidents keep happening for a few reasons, sterner said. Interesting video from ryan berk, a veteran of easy company 2506 calling out a fake ranger at oxford valley mall in langhorne, pa. Usmc stolen valor points out fraudulent citizens that claim they have earned the title of marine. With scott bakula, lucas black, zoe mclellan, rob kerkovich. Prime minister justin trudeau said harjit sajjan has his full confidence amid a growing controversy over the defence ministers exaggerated claim he was the architect of a major assault on the. This subreddit was established as a community to discuss matters related to stolen valor. The fellow who beat this rap was a decorated sergeant e5 who, after his tour in vietnam had been reassigned to a cush job at the nearby army hospital command. His 199page service record, obtained by the american spectator, contains no mention of the marine. How the vietnam generation was robbed of its heroes and its history burkett, b. A man dons on a marine corps uniform at the graduation of his new girlfriend. Oct 28, 2015 stolen valor, its illegal, and yes they are making arrests. Jan 06, 2015 for example, the stolen valor facebook page, which exposes people who lie about their military service, has over 370,000 followers. In 2012, the supreme court struck down the stolen valor act, which made lying about military honors a crime.
Navy, finished buds in 1988 which implies us navy seal, blog of shame. See more ideas about veterans discounts, military benefits and women figure. Growing up i had a friend with a severe case of autism. Jun 05, 2015 these incidents keep happening for a few reasons, sterner said. Apr 09, 2015 stolen valor is about identity theft, and lack of moral respect for those that served, in hostile states and those who did not. Since 155millimeter aka thekingsofbattle went back on his word and never came up with any documents, i thought id help him out thats right.
Undercover army ranger sniper tries to recruit veteran. Burketts book stolen valor, for whom the act is named, dennehy was a marine from 1959 to 1963 but claimed he was in. To the extent that your assessment of the lincoln memorial confrontation relies on the word of nathan phillips, its time to rethink your assessment. Stolen valor is illegal, this is how you get an arrest. Stolen valor is a sensitive issue do we need to adjust fire on the topic. Stolen valor is a term applied to those who falsely claim military service, either to gain recognition or, in some cases. They say imitation is the highest form of flattery, and im cool with that. Why this disservice to veterans remains an ongoing problem stolen valor, where people impersonate military personnel or. Jul 10, 2010 doug sterner vietnam veteran and a stolen valor investigator in my years of working with this, i have only found one common theme in the stolen valor cases.