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Phony Heroes
Topics: Military, Veteran
Posted by tinyminton Tue Oct 2, 2007 09:43:46 PDT
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Recently, federal authorities charged a member of the Three Valleys Municipal Water District board of directors, with falsely claiming he won the Medal of Honor. The charge, a misdemeanor, carries a maximum penalty of a year in prison. It seems lately, that more and more of these phonies are making the news. While the debate on the validity of the War in Iraq remains a heated topic, support for the troops is omnipresent. Perhaps it is this overwhelming support for today’s service member that is creating this surge in phony heroes.

 

The web site Hometown heroes affirms that thirty years ago returning Vietnam veterans were told not to wear their uniforms into town, due the negative responses the unpopular war often evoked. Today, Vietnam veterans are (finally) becoming recognized for their dedicated service to the extent that large numbers of veterans who served in other theaters, and even men who NEVER served in uniform, present themselves as Vietnam veterans. The problem is not confined to non-Vietnam veterans either.

 

Virtually any military patch, pin, ribbon or medal can be easily and cheaply purchased on the Internet or in local military surplus and supply stores.  This has made it easy for anyone who wants to (illegally) upgrade a Bronze Star to Silver, obtain and wear a Purple Heart never earned, add a colorful "Ranger Tab", or sport a Green Beret.  There are organizations among Rangers, Special Forces, and Navy Seals that aggressively pursue and expose the "fraudulent elite".

 

There is no more aggressive pursuit of impostors however, than that conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to expose, prosecute, and even imprison the very worst of all phonies....Medal of Honor impostors. They range from a sitting judge in Illinois (who claimed TWO Medals of Honor for heroism in Lebanon), to a truck driver in Florida, to a California real estate executive.  The phonies are sometimes veterans, sometimes even combat veterans. There are others who have draped our Nation's highest award for military valor around their neck, who have never served in uniform.

 

It is often said that imitation is the greatest form of flattery; however, fallaciously representing yourself as a military veteran (combat or not) should be considered treason and those found guilty of such an offense need to be punished accordingly.

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Comment From: Screemy1

I hate fakers, I am a disabled vet life member, yet I would never advertise it or get plates on my car that say such. There are a lot of people that try to get recognition for stuff that is real and should not get it (i.e. fire fighters with plates or stickers, it is there job) let alone fakers trying to benifit from stuff.