Being drafted you must of been close to having to risk it all, I have so must respect for people that were drafted pulled from your lives and shipped god knows where. It's all up to God after that then dropped of at a bus station to figure it out for yourselves, that's alot for a young man. Thanks for whatever you done.
I totally agree with these veterans. My father was in ww2. Can't even imagine at 18 going to the war. My thanks to all who have served our country. Thank you
Stolen Valor ..... It's disgusting and the people that pretend that they had served or still serving when they never even served at all is disheartening and very disrespectful shame on them
i won the iraqi freedom medal 3 times and i won the war on terrorism expeditionary medal 1 time. im a disabled veteran with 100% 5 years after i retired and p&t 5 years after that. im only 47 and i did 11 years in the marines. true story. im schizo.
So unedifying not to say embarrassing. If it's an issue of mental health then maybe some 'clemency' should be offered. Otherwise just find yourselves a hobby that doesn't cause such offence.
My grandfather was a naval veteran of WW1, I even found an Admiral's memoir who pointed out the signalman on his ship was the best in the fleet- it was him. He never bragged, just said he was a navy man. His obituary merely stated he was a retired milkman. That's real service, not some douchebag imposter.
both of my grandfathers were veterans one was in ww2 and the other was in the korean war. i never even saw them ever tell people about it, but i wish i had talked to them more about it before because it would have been super interesting to hear some more stories.
Yep, my grandfather was in Vietnam, he did and experienced a lot of hair raising shit and I've not once in my life heard him speak about it, brag about it, or explain exactly how much of a badass he was during his time. It was only a few years ago when one of the guys he served with wrote a memior about his time there, where he made it vividly clear the only reason he or his fellow soldiers survived their time there was my grandpa's badassery, there was one chapter where the patrol boat they were in (which my grandpa captained, he was a Lt. Col.) was ambushed by VC, and apparently he had a bad feeling shortly before it happened and called in Puff the Magic Dragon, as my grandpa called it, aka a C-130 gunship, to butter up the area he suspected. His premonition came true and apparently it was only two minutes after the VC opened fire before a burst of 20mm hellfire came roaring down 150 yards in front of the patrol boat, and my grandpa screamed at everyone to get inside the boat cabin, about 10 seconds after they got in several hundred 20mm casings rained down on the boat doing about 300 mph, they would have killed as easily as a bullet at those speeds. The gunship obliterated the roughly 200 VC soldiers hiding on the riverbanks and saved everyone's lives on that boat, they would have been shot to pieces if it weren't for his gut feeling, and that was only one of many times he hauled their asses out of the fire. I asked him about it (dragged it out of him in fact, he doesn't want to share his trauma with anyone, keeps it to himself "where it belongs" as he said) and he totally downplayed it, said anyone would have done the things he did, but that's what true heroes always say. He was and is a man of utmost integrity, as most _real_ veterans are, unlike these Stolen Valor ratbastards running around telling anyone who will listen how much of a badass they are. Despicable humans.
Same with my Grandfather. He was stationed at Pearl Harbor during the attack, was decorated, and saw more death than any man should. He NEVER talked about it to me, I only heard these stories after his death from my father, I couldn’t even believe it. I knew my Grandfather as a loving, funny, family man, I knew he had been a navy man back in ww2, but didn’t know the extent of his service. I found it hard to believe that my own Grandfather was at Pearl Harbor, but my dad showed me a picture of him and 3 other survivors meeting President Franklin D. Roosevelt, they were being honored as the survivors of Pearl Harbor. I’m sure my grandfather didn’t want to be honored, he survived, all of his brothers in the service died except one, I’m sure he would’ve wanted them to receive the honor, not him. Just a tremendous man and I miss him dearly. Rest In Peace Grandpa, you were, and still are my greatest hero. Edit: capitalizations
As a former Marine who thinks Don Shitley is a real obnoxious turd I would love to challenge him to a fistfight. If you read this post Donny boy please contact me. I wanna see just how elite you Navy SquEALS really are.
You didn’t earn the right to claim valor. In reality the ones that deserve valor keep their mouths shut, because as long as they know it, that’s all that matters.
I was sitting next to, in a study group with & eating lunch at the same table with a guy for 3 months before I found out he was a retired & well decorated army ranger. The real deal don’t brag
@@stephenturner757 Yes! Just looked it up and it is. Stolen Valor Act of 2013 makes it a crime for an individual who - with intent to obtain money, property, or other tangible benefit - fraudulently purport to be a recipient of certain military awards, including the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and others. The penalties for stolen valor under the 2013 act can include fines and/or up to six months imprisonment.
What happened to men who just took care of their own business? "You stole my valor" is something that should never come out of a man's mouth. Bunch of snowflakes.
@@bruceleroy8063 - I can't speak for them, but I think it has something to do with their pride and seeing their friends die in that uniform. I'd probably be pissed off enough to confront someone too. No one is saying "my valor", they're saying all military's valor, there is a difference.
Passionate attachment to another nation produces a variety of evils ... the illusion of common interests where no real common interests exist; adopting the enmities of the other; and participation in the quarrels and wars of the other without any justification. Still another evil is that such a passionate attachment gives to ambitious, corrupted, or deluded citizens the facility to betray or sacrifice the interests of their own country. - George Washington
Overgrown military establishments, which, under any form of government, are inauspicious to liberty, and which are to be regarded as particularly hostile to Republican Liberty.” - George Washington
We are right to take alarm at the first experiment upon our liberties." "No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare." "The means of defense against foreign danger historically have become the instruments of tyranny at home." “James Madison”
@@cjsteele9594 I seen you're profile picture, is that you? If so may I ask what did you do when you served and what branch did you join? I'd love to hear about it if you have the time too explain. God bless you
@@MelousiPousi I was an Air Force Security Forces Specialist, "Military Police" Served at Kelly AFB in Texas, Eielson AFB Alaska, from 1982-1986. Cold war days, guarding Priority aircraft. Miss those days. Id sign up again right now if i could. Take care.
I'm Canadian. I want to thank the US military as well. I realize that my frame, my outlook, my way of life, would not survive by as much as a week without the US military. I know it and I am grateful. Thank you!
Canadian military here. 35 years RCAF, 1981-2016. We have those types in Canada also. There should be a law with fines and jail time. Thank you to everyone for your service.
Retired Petty Officer First Class here. Thank you and your fellow countrymen for standing too with us always! Hand salute and congrats on a long fruitful career! Thank you!
I've seen a video of a guy in Canada doing that and being called out on it. It happens everywhere and its sad that people have to stoop so low. I always keep my VA card in my wallet in case I need to prove it. Anyway thank you all for your service.
My dad was an MP in the Air force during Korea, but he ended up serving in North Africa. The only reason he graduated from high school was the nuns figured he would get killed in Korea. One year in our little town they were looking for a veteran to be the grand marshal of the Veterans Day parade. My dad told the guy, " No way, I can't do that. That's for guys who saw combat. I didn't do anything." I remember one guy who lost his son in Afghanistan heard this and said he had a lot of respect for my dad for that.
Someone should remind your dad that every job is just as important as the next one. He may not have thought his job was very glamorous but I promise you that don't have any jobs that are just make work jobs. I would have lobbied that he carry that flag even for just that little bit of glamor that he missed.
Absolutely shameful!! The Supreme Court is not making any sense with some of their decisions anymore! Thankyou to all the veterans for their service and sacrifices 🙏🏻
Agree. It's no surprise that a conservative leaning SCOTUS is okay with people being liars and frauds. My Army service was honorable and mostly insignificant, but I'm proud of it. No need to embellish. Peace!
@@gregvetter5070 You wouldn't make it five minutes as a researcher. This decision was from 2012. It was Kennedy, Roberts, Bader Ginsburg, Sotomayor, Breyer, and Kagan who voted to strike down the stolen valor law. Three on the left, one moderate, and one conservative. All three who dissented were conservatives. So take your uninformed attack and turn it back on your own tribe, where it belongs.
Bless these gentleman who served in the USA forces and those that are still serving. Also those who served and are serving in the U.K. forces. True heroes one and all. 🙋♀️🇬🇧
My 45 yo daughter just found out I was awarded P.H. in Nam...her reaction was open-jawed...said "Wow Dad...you never talk about your time in Nam". We don't talk about it...even with hesitancy with other vets...horrific memories...so many buddies dead...the enemy was just kids...not sure we should have even been over there...for what? Braggarts looking for applause are usually lying. I don't even own guns now. Peace to my brothers in arms.
@Deplorable Redneck 2.0 Guns back in MY hands? Too old and beat up...will leave any battling to be done to my grandsons and their buddies if they are needed...hope not. As far as the illegals go...how awful must their lives be in their native land if parents send their babies, alone with nothing, to a foreign country in the desperate hope that they will live and thrive. Mind numbing desperation. We take so much for granted here with no inkling of how horrible their living conditions are back home. Just a toss of the dice that we were born in the greatest country in the world. So much to be thankful for. Peace to you and yours. Happy Easter
My friend who was a service related amputee Korean Veteran just passed away at the age of 91. He had actually walked on a mine in Korea when he was 21. The most amazing part was that he never complained about his disability and worked like everybody else till he retired at 65. His leg situation had completely changed how he lived most of his life. You would think he'd be the most bitter person because of it, but that couldn't be any farther from the truth. To think people want to claim the prize for the pain and suffering that others went through, just sickens me. This should be absolutely illegal.
@VicDw5000 You almost sound like u support stolen valor. Almost. Should be easy to punish a stinking little coward who stabs vets in the back for they're own sick gratification. And I wouldn't go as far to as to say it's intangible although you're correct that it's not physical. It carries physical repercussions that co-inside with mental abuse from doing this cowardly act against soldiers who severed and often suffer from PTSD. I've seen it first hand w/ a family member who served in Vietnam. Purple Heart recipient. It makes him physically ill when he sees this happen. At the very least, I think some jail time or road work and have to wear a sign saying that they steal valor and lie about being something they're not to get respect and admiration for something they never did.
@VicDw5000 You have much better things to do w/ your time yet your writing. Not assuming anything - but any combat vet and most non- combat vets would have sympathy for any combat vet with PTST. I guess you don't care. I do care.
I'm retired. I always felt it is not about what you accomplished. Its about what you do with it that speaks to your character. I stay in shape and educated, so I can still help others where I can to "pay it forward".
@@MissionaryForMexico This decision was from 2012. It was Kennedy, Roberts, Bader Ginsburg, Sotomayor, Breyer, and Kagan who voted to strike down the stolen valor law. Three on the left, one moderate, and one conservative. So you can blame the left for this one.
I saw a big dude while on vacation in Colorado a few years back. This dude had "Seal" tatooed all over him, was wearing a Walmart type T-shirt that had Seals all over it and also a Seal cap. It didn't take me long to figure out he was a fake. His stories just didn't add up.
How can stolen valor be OK? Then I should be able to claim I'm an MD, or anything else that's a big lie... including being a cop. Impersonating a police officer is a crime, but impersonating a hero isn't?!?!
It took 500,000 battle trained troops 20 years and $4 trillion tax dollars to bring Democracy to Iraq and Afghanistan, but by golly, they did it. Now the citizens of those free nations will always love American troops and chant the Pentagon approved slogan, Thank you for your service. I urge all employers to hire a Vet and pay them an extra $50,000 because they saved America from those Taliban who would have turned Americans into Muslims. Oh wait, wrong script. The Taliban did win. Darn it.
I would rather have the war in their country then in our back yard. Most of the world hates the United States of America, but everyone wants to live here. Go figure? I will always appreciate the men and women who have served this country and never forget the fallen who have sacrificed everything so that I can have democracy and freedom. Since you dont care about our combat veterans you can F@#k yourself and go live with Taliban.
Passionate attachment to another nation produces a variety of evils ... the illusion of common interests where no real common interests exist; adopting the enmities of the other; and participation in the quarrels and wars of the other without any justification. Still another evil is that such a passionate attachment gives to ambitious, corrupted, or deluded citizens the facility to betray or sacrifice the interests of their own country. - George Washington
I'm not a veteran but I have an extremely deep respect and appreciation for those that served and continue to serve. I'm able to raise my son in the greatest country this planet has ever known and do it safely because of these great men and women. So from the bottom of my heart, Thank you for your sacrifice and service to this great nation!🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
As a Vietnam veteran my Sergent told me to dress in civies going home, I found out pretty quick he was right. First American gal that was not in the military that I had seen in 9 months spit on me. To this day it bothers me when someone thanks me for my service, I think about that. I guess they don't spit on us anymore.
I was told that our reception might get a little rough upon our arrival at Travis AB and not wear our uniforms. People were changing clothes in the airplane aisle but I had no civvies to change into. We were told that the press would be there so we better behave. On my watch out while standing in line I received a welcome home full Sprite soda can alongside my head. I dont know what that was all about, there's a lot more to the story. That throw was over 50 feet away. Welcome back home. Only since that time I've been mostly homeless and feeling like there's no home here for me. Everyone is dragging their feet. And I'm living in a motorhome down by the lake. I'm still homeless.
My Grandfather was in WW2 as a March Marine . He stormed Normandy Beach with high Octane Fuel and survived..He's in Arlington National Cemetery.. it's discusting that people pretend to be Military.. Men wnd Women have given their life for us.. it's also discusting the way The supreme Court ruled.. Thank you all true Heros for your service and sacrifice
People seem to forget about Sen. Blumenthal, said he was in Vietnam and never was. How can people vote for the guy? How can he look in a mirror? How can he talk crap about Trump or any Republican?
Stolen valor affects surviving family members. Just had a guy who I knew to be a fake die with his widow looking to the military for a military funeral. She was informed "no record of service exist" then began contacting the V.A., American Legion, V.F.W, all with the same response. Seems he told her his service was -- you guessed it -- "classified". She's satisfied with his lie. As an Army vet, I knew he was telling tall tales. He blamed his drinking on seeing "so much death" including the killing of children, a common lie with these types. Shame on him.
Can I make up outrageous shit about my used car when I sell it? Can I give a false name to a cop? Can I make false claims about charitable contributions to the IRS?
Though the original 2005 is talked about here the newer 2013 Stolen Valor Law is still in effect: The law amends the federal criminal code to make it a crime for a person to fraudulently claim having received a valor award specified in the Act, with the intention of obtaining money, property, or other tangible benefit by convincing another that he or she received the award.
That really urks me. My Dad US Army WW2 Pearl Harbor, discharged the day before. My Brother fought in US Army Vietnam, cousin US Army, Ex Bro in law US Army/Ex US Air Force and plenty of men in the church I attend that served. I never did, but I have the utmost respect for all Men and Women who served and are serving. Don't disgrace the FLAG by pretending to be a service person. You should be arrested, fined and jailed.
No. Not even close. A LEO can pull someone over, put them in cuffs and out them in the back of a car. If someone is faking this, they're literally kidnapping that person. And if they're purposely doing it to kidnap someone, they probably have other felonies planned. That is FAR different and more dangerous than some old dude lying to other old dudes smh
@@ivanleterror9158 The revised Stolen Valor law in 2013 (after the 2012 Supreme Court ruling saying it was "free speech") now makes it illegal if anybody is trying to gain any benefit, monetary or otherwise, from the fraud. So if a clown is dressing up no more like kids to for Halloween and just making claims, that's OK now (unfortunately). But if there is an intent to commit a fraud for benefit, that's illegal.
@@BeachsideHank The only time I have actually seen this is at a rememberence parade such as Armistice day, usually the person wearing the medals is in civilian dress & knows some history of the recipient.
My grandfather James Hall did as well..he was 1st marines big red one. I had a hat with the blue diamond red one.and the word Guadalcanal down the 1 with a skull on it..he used to take me shark teeth hunting.. I don't know.how he was able to walk with such huge balls. He has a silver star and two purple hearts. I wouldn't do anything but hang.his hat on the wall in honor of a man I am proud to even be related to.
I am not one to speak much about things I want to forget. I served 20 years in the U.S. Navy. I retired as a Aviation Ordnance Chief Petty Officer naval Aircrewman. I flew in the P-3 Orion patrol plane. 8500 hours of flight time. And served one tour on the flight deck of the USS Ranger CV-61. I like to remember the good things that happened. The camaraderie we shared as fellow sailors. I dislike people who claim honor when they have none. My life is not based solely on what I did when I served in uniform. I love my family and am very proud to have done what I was supposed to do when I was called to act. I have never asked to be treated special. Or to be given something I did not earn. I do not know how some folks live with themselves when they claim something that they did not do. I guess that’s a question they will have to answer one day. God bless everyone. Amen.
We gota guy at work said he was in the Marines. I say? How long, where etc. He say "Well, the Navy, same thing" I say wtf, no it's not, at all. Then I say Navy, where, how long etc. He say " 6 weeks, out on a medical". and was wearing a Navy ball cap. Liar, fraud and stolen valor.
@Deplorable Redneck 2.0 You should report me to the FBI. Tell them "someone educated me on TH-cam and made me look silly. Based off of that and his screen name, I believe it's a case of Stolen Valor." I'm sure the FBI will be pounding on my door any second.
I'm with these true HEROES here. It should be a crime punishable with a prison sentence also make anyone doing it clean bedpans in the Veteran hospitals.
I may have served in the military but I don't even consider myself a veteran because I was blessed to have never seen combat. I was ready at the time and had the mindset to go if I was called but looking back, I'm thankful to have never had to see the horrors that these true heros have seen. When I see a veteran out in town or a person in uniform, I tell my kids that they are the real life superheroes
I hear what you are saying...but just because you never saw "combat" does not mean you are not a veteran. You signed on the dotted line? You were discharged honorably? Then you wear the title. Most people in the military never see combat. I am a "combat veteran" and would never say somebody is NOT one for not seeing combat or being deployed.
William Wilson: "Why would someone tell bs stories to a bunch of combat vets, makes no since to me". This is a great comment. I have a buddy that served in Vietnam in the engineers. He always says give him 2 minutes with a so called VNV and he will tell you if he is truly a combat vet. He would get so traumatic when he would say this that I would not want to be this person. I was never in combat but I was drafted in 1958. I was lucky not to see combat. I was also in the Combat Engineers. Ft Campbell Ky. Support of 101st Airborne.
When people lie about serving it doesn’t diminish what I did or steal valor from me. At the end of the day it makes no difference to me if someone lies about service.
My great grandfather on my dads side served as a Combat Engineer and helped build clean up Pearl Harbor and built airfields in the Pacific. I am 23 and hope to join the United States Coast Guard very soon here and give back to this amazing country that has done me well.
As an ex Army Ranger who was decorated with a Medal of Honor and 2 Purple Hearts for saving 3 of my men and a whole village..I salute the SCOTUS for striking down the stolen valor law...now I can continue getting free coffee and women with my tale tales!
Same with my dad, and most of the WW2 vets I grew up around, which were many. A lot of the time, no one even knew what they did until their funeral. Some folks OTOH, never miss an opportunity to tell you all about it, and after hearing the same stories related for about the 332nd time, word for word, it gets old.
Some horrors are unexpressable. It's near impossible to not open up old wounds by trying to tell someone who wasn't there how horrible it was. There's no words sometimes.
I was an aircraft mechanic on Okinawa from 69-70. To say I was lucky not to see combat I was,and I thank God. To think I was not in that war would make you very wrong. My war was time. We pushed everything that was needed to fight a war, but mostly we shipped people. People, I still see their faces. Young men. Most really didn't need to shave yet. Young faces scared beyond belief. This is what I shipped to Vietnam. I saw these face when they returned. Gaunt, hollowed out cheeks and aged. The fear was gone, replaced with a stare that knew no limits. This wasn't the worst of it. Airplanes came in carry metal coffins. Sometimes that all the airplane carried. Wall to wall, floor to ceiling. The labels on the coffins said it all. The majority were 19-20 years old. My God. I was just playing football with them a year and a half ago in High school. I was 19 . Coffin carriers always had an honor guard on it as long as the plane was on the ground. And then came the med-vacs. Wounded, the wreackage of war. The sound of wounded men,asking for their mothers, the smell of burnt flesh and disinfectant. And the sight of bloody bandages. These airplanes had total priority over any other plane. We had two of every piece of equipment we need to do the job, encluding mechanics. And do the job we did. We turned these birds with minimal ground time. Your lives depended upon us and we took it serious. My worst memory was a young man who was suffering pretty bad. He was mumbling and crying. He reached out for me asked for his mother and died right there, and there wasn't a fucking thing I could do about it. I was an aircraft mechanic who didn't have to fight a war
The US Government doesn’t really care how veterans feel. If you lie to a police officer it’s a crime. If you lie about the MOH, it’s freedom of speech.
I was in the army, never saw in action, when I tell people I was I the service I tell them I was not in a war. I think the airborne ranger badge is beautiful but I would not take one if you tried to give it to me, because I would be afraid that if it was in my possession when I died some would think that I earned it, I have a friend who has been in every war since the late 70s when I talk to him, I knew him as a second lieutenant I still call him Sir. I respect what the fighting men and women of this country have done for this nation, the honor belongs to them and God
You realize that stolen valor itself isn't a crime right? Should it be? I don't know that's your opinion. But it is protected by the 1st Amendment. You just can't use it to make money.
@@AceofDlamonds " The Stolen Valor Act of 2013 was signed by President Barack Obama on June 3, 2013. The Act 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." So yeah, it IS a crime.
@@Rainman270 I should have been more careful about the wording but yeah exactly that. But stolen valor in colloquial usage, before that term was incorporated into a bill is what I'm saying.
@@Rainman270 There is a word "stolen valor" that was commonly used to describe this impersonation. The "Stolen Valor Act" is a law, I know. But the common usage isn't illegal, it's free speech at the moment. The LAW "The Stolen Valor Act" says you can't use it to make money or get a discount or something.
There’s no way you can steal someone else’s valor or honor or actually diminish it in anyway. Mostly I feel sorry for these sad sacks, unless they’re doing it for gain whether it’s getting government bennies or panhandling by the road, then they need to be called out. And yes, I served, so did my partner, my kid, a bunch of my uncles, and several of my nieces and nephews. My dad was career Army and while I may not agree with the goals of every single conflict we’ve gotten ourselves into I’m proud to have done my share and respect everyone who served.
The front line troops are NOT 'given' medals. They EARN them. It annoys the hell out of me when I hear ...was given the bronze star, or the military medal or the purple heart. Like they were being handed out at the local fair. Same as, the trooper was injured in battle. NO! You're injured, falling off a ladder, in combat, one is wounded. And yes, stolen valour should be very much illegal. Or the arsehole should be handed over to a group of vets so he can be 'readjusted' into becoming a better person.
Never knew that the problem was so extreme. Most likely those that were dishonorably discharged or are starving for attention and discounts are the main perps.
Horse shit. Someone pretending in Modesto (hypothetically) doesn't detract one bit from what they did and earned. This is pure exclusionary policy. "You can't pretend to be a part of my group!!!!" Why the fuck not? Your honor is not diminished one iota. There's a reason this doesn't climb to the level of slander. Because that's specifically codified in law. Fuck these guys. Yes, I served. No, someone saying they are something they aren't doesn't affect me in the slightest.
What about all the guys who ladled soup in the military and pretend like they've seen combat? I grew up with WWII 101st Airborne Purple Heart recipient and a Vietnam Purple Heart recipient who got his eyes blown out. These men never bragged. They got drafted into war. They never cared if someone wore old fatigues. In fact the WWII Vet used to take me to a surplus store and buy me fatigues, some of which I still wear today because the material lasts forever. These men never expected anything in return. They were humble because they survived the war unlike many of their friends, fathers and brothers that died in the same hell hole they were fighting in. If you wanna talk about stolen valor, let's start with military personnel who never see combat but act like the world owes them something because they wear a uniform.
Don Shipley is dumb AF. He claims stolen valor when it's not stolen valor most of the time, because he's an old dude with nothing to do...except too lazy to look up the actual law. Stolen valor only pertains to people using service/medal to receive money, land, or other tangible goods. Someone sitting around and telling lies is constitutionally protected free speech. It's embarrasses the f*$k out of me that any vet would be so ignorant and too lazy to know the law before screaming it.
My grandfather from Poland was working in Scranton Pennsylvania in the coal mines. When Germany invaded Poland September 1st 1939 then the Russians September 17th 1939. He try so hard to go back to Poland to fight alongside his brothers he could not make it back to Poland. So he joined the American Military he served six years on the battleship North Carolina as a Navy corpsman. Grandpa you'll always be my hero rest in peace Paul Peter zaleski
my dad, his 2 brothers and their father were all combat vets from ww1, ww2 to Korea. Gramps got machine gunned in the leg in the trenches. One uncle lost a foot to frostbite in the Bulge the other uncle got grenade shrapnel all over his back. My dad was never injured. Something i learned early on as a small child was that real combat vets are forever trying to forget what they went thru. No bragging, very short stories with little details when they did talk about it and never talked about themselves as important heros. Funny that ALL the things real combat vets avoid are the very things the fakes are constantly boasting about.
I served 11 years in the military. I have a few friends that also served that I see daily. We don't brag about it. We love this country and would gladly give our lives if need be to protect our constitution and people. When I see someone in full dress bragging about their service, it sends red flags. God bless these true veterans. They deserve more than they will ever get. Stolen valor needs to be illegal.
When I wear my cover that says "Vietnam Era Vet" I'm quick to point out I was never in country and the word ERA. That's the classification of the time period I served in.
@@ivanleterror9158 and are all civilians going to get this and understand this? Or see "vietnam" and "vet" and assume you saw combat in Vietnam? I have an honorable discharge from two branches, and a OEF and OIF vet. I think it's silly to advertise in the first place, but that's beside the point. Due to serving, I know civilians think differently because they're not always aware. I don't tell civilians "my MOS was", because a lot don't even know what MOS is. "my job in the military is". Have to dumb it down for them.
@@SuperMontsta Sorry you have a problem with it. So many I see and work with at the VA ( 7 years volunteering) don't. Don't judge my motives until you know me. And it gives me a chance to dialogue with civilians who have not served to understand what they see and what it means. nuff said
@@ivanleterror9158 I don't have a problem with others wearing hats. Do you. My preference is mine. I'm just saying, isn't it a little misleading to civilians and might confuse them.
We as Vets can usually tell if your "BS" ing any of us! Look out when you get caught! Can't stand morons that have to lie about being in the military! Go earn your right like we did! "Boots on the ground"!!
In what fucked up place would stolen valor be ok and defended? Oh yeah america. This country is gone to shit. Thank you actual veterans for all that you do and have done for us.
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻Thank you gentlemen and ladies of the various United States Military Forces for keeping the rest of us Safe. Out of harm's way of foreign aggressors and those who wish to destroy our way of life and steal our land, and enslave us. It's impossible to feel 'too much' gratitude toward you folks. Thank you very much and God bless your Souls.
Something I find rather profane and downright insulting, is the fact that the people that commit stolen valor fail to understand the suffering that some vets go through after returning home, the toll of ptsd on the individual, not to mention the family. They don’t just pretend to be someone they’re not, but someone they fail to even understand.
I know a pos who goes around with a ball cap on that says, “Combat Wounded” and I know for a fact he was dishonorable discharged from boot camp. His DD214 says it. He pretends so he gets discounts and free meals. It makes me sick knowing that these people get away with it. I never served. My dad served in the Navy WWII aviation electrician. My Great Uncle served in the Marines WWII Raider and was stationed in Japan. Toughest man I’ll ever know and he taught me a lot. God Bless those who serve, have served and those who Gave All. ❤️ POW/MIA Never Forgotten
I agree 💯 it should be against the law. You great men fought for my freedom I wish I was brave enough to fight myself. I thank you very much. But it goes to show you how much our politicians and our courts respect what you did. Remember it at the ballot box please..
I am proud to have served this Nation for 26 years, WE are the III%. We have fought for this Nation since Concord and Lexington and it just pisses me off every time I see a wannabe. I have been told that I am wrong to confront those POS💩💩💩💩💩💩💩, guess what, I DO NOT CARE, I WILL BERATE AND HUMILIATE EACH AND EVERYONE I FIND. From my Great-Grandfather to my youngest son, all of us have served this Nation, my Brother and I both to Retirement as a Command Master Chief and I as a Sergeant Major. Each of us served in combat multiple times and will not tolerate anyone who steals valor from our fallen Brothers and Sisters.
It was the left-leaning justices who did it. Kennedy, Roberts, Bader Ginsburg, Sotomayor, Breyer, and Kagan voted to strike down the stolen valor law. Three on the left, one moderate, and one conservative. All three who dissented were conservatives. Clown comment.
Every time I hear a MEDAL of HONOR backstory it makes me proud and sad at the same time. Proud because I love this country and understand what has been given to keep and protect it. Sad because most of the stories are posthumous. What I hear are stories of love, brotherhood, devotion, selflessness. I never served and consider myself just a little less by comparison to all these heroes. So I do my part by respecting veterans who did serve and secure provide me my freedoms. Because Freedom is never Free. It cost someone something if not everything. So very humbly Thank You.
@@onlythewise1 Yeah I did it for the money. I got paid 85.00 once a month for soap, tooth past, boot polish, hair cuts, laundry and to take care of my mother. I was 18 years old and in the Army. The difference between myself and you, I served you didn't and I would go back today without question just so you can have the freedom to sit behind a keyboard and make statements like, "they fought for money". Enjoy.
@@fido3561 ass i fought in Vietnam my dad ww2 nine battles he got 50 cents a day to fight in battle unlike a worm like you who was the cook hiding in a nice safe place , my family fought at james town in 1640
I was drafted, knew it was coming, I’m no hero, never saw combat, but did everything I was told to do, proud to be a Veteran.
proud to invade another country... while I am quiet when it comes to democrat policies.
I was backdoor drafted, still hits hard.
Being drafted you must of been close to having to risk it all, I have so must respect for people that were drafted pulled from your lives and shipped god knows where. It's all up to God after that then dropped of at a bus station to figure it out for yourselves, that's alot for a young man. Thanks for whatever you done.
Thank you for your service
Same for me. Drafted and served overseas for 31 months in Korea. Served an extra year. Did not want to be an a cook.
I totally agree with these veterans. My father was in ww2. Can't even imagine at 18 going to the war. My thanks to all who have served our country. Thank you
I wish I could thank your father myself for everything I have. 🙇🏻♂️
As a Veteran, free speech is still free speech. I don't like it but that is a slippery slope we don't need to start.
Mine too. He spent over a year in a German POW camp.
@@tullybascombe2107 Now thats a whole different story being in a concentration camp. That, I can't imagine. Hope he had a good life after that
@@justsomeguy6474 Thank you for your service
Stolen Valor ..... It's disgusting and the people that pretend that they had served or still serving when they never even served at all is disheartening and very disrespectful shame on them
i won the iraqi freedom medal 3 times and i won the war on terrorism expeditionary medal 1 time. im a disabled veteran with 100% 5 years after i retired and p&t 5 years after that. im only 47 and i did 11 years in the marines. true story. im schizo.
Read my post in the comments and understand that some are conmen and some are just misunderstood.
@@misteryummyearth1055 We the people is a higher rank than any military. i dont get why people are stealing lower ranks?
@octuu Shady trollop.
So unedifying not to say embarrassing. If it's an issue of mental health then maybe some 'clemency' should be offered. Otherwise just find yourselves a hobby that doesn't cause such offence.
My grandfather was a naval veteran of WW1, I even found an Admiral's memoir who pointed out the signalman on his ship was the best in the fleet- it was him. He never bragged, just said he was a navy man. His obituary merely stated he was a retired milkman. That's real service, not some douchebag imposter.
both of my grandfathers were veterans one was in ww2 and the other was in the korean war. i never even saw them ever tell people about it, but i wish i had talked to them more about it before because it would have been super interesting to hear some more stories.
Yep, my grandfather was in Vietnam, he did and experienced a lot of hair raising shit and I've not once in my life heard him speak about it, brag about it, or explain exactly how much of a badass he was during his time. It was only a few years ago when one of the guys he served with wrote a memior about his time there, where he made it vividly clear the only reason he or his fellow soldiers survived their time there was my grandpa's badassery, there was one chapter where the patrol boat they were in (which my grandpa captained, he was a Lt. Col.) was ambushed by VC, and apparently he had a bad feeling shortly before it happened and called in Puff the Magic Dragon, as my grandpa called it, aka a C-130 gunship, to butter up the area he suspected. His premonition came true and apparently it was only two minutes after the VC opened fire before a burst of 20mm hellfire came roaring down 150 yards in front of the patrol boat, and my grandpa screamed at everyone to get inside the boat cabin, about 10 seconds after they got in several hundred 20mm casings rained down on the boat doing about 300 mph, they would have killed as easily as a bullet at those speeds. The gunship obliterated the roughly 200 VC soldiers hiding on the riverbanks and saved everyone's lives on that boat, they would have been shot to pieces if it weren't for his gut feeling, and that was only one of many times he hauled their asses out of the fire. I asked him about it (dragged it out of him in fact, he doesn't want to share his trauma with anyone, keeps it to himself "where it belongs" as he said) and he totally downplayed it, said anyone would have done the things he did, but that's what true heroes always say. He was and is a man of utmost integrity, as most _real_ veterans are, unlike these Stolen Valor ratbastards running around telling anyone who will listen how much of a badass they are. Despicable humans.
@John Smith You must be a lot of fun at parties🙄. Ohh wait, nobody ever invites you to them, nevermind...
Same with my Grandfather. He was stationed at Pearl Harbor during the attack, was decorated, and saw more death than any man should. He NEVER talked about it to me, I only heard these stories after his death from my father, I couldn’t even believe it. I knew my Grandfather as a loving, funny, family man, I knew he had been a navy man back in ww2, but didn’t know the extent of his service. I found it hard to believe that my own Grandfather was at Pearl Harbor, but my dad showed me a picture of him and 3 other survivors meeting President Franklin D. Roosevelt, they were being honored as the survivors of Pearl Harbor. I’m sure my grandfather didn’t want to be honored, he survived, all of his brothers in the service died except one, I’m sure he would’ve wanted them to receive the honor, not him. Just a tremendous man and I miss him dearly. Rest In Peace Grandpa, you were, and still are my greatest hero.
Edit: capitalizations
@@giusepperesponte8077 🍻 to our forefathers🙂
Don Shipley isn’t bothered by the ruling. He’ll keeping calling people up saying “Hey, it’s Don Shipley bro.”
As a former Marine who thinks Don Shitley is a real obnoxious turd I would love to challenge him to a fistfight. If you read this post Donny boy please contact me. I wanna see just how elite you Navy SquEALS really are.
This is 12 years old. It has since been reinstated.
You didn’t earn the right to claim valor. In reality the ones that deserve valor keep their mouths shut, because as long as they know it, that’s all that matters.
This is eight years old, I do believe it's a felony to steal valor nowadays. As it should be.
I was sitting next to, in a study group with & eating lunch at the same table with a guy for 3 months before I found out he was a retired & well decorated army ranger. The real deal don’t brag
@@stephenturner757 Yes! Just looked it up and it is.
Stolen Valor Act of 2013 makes it a crime for an individual who - with intent to obtain money, property, or other tangible benefit - fraudulently purport to be a recipient of certain military awards, including the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and others.
The penalties for stolen valor under the 2013 act can include fines and/or up to six months imprisonment.
What happened to men who just took care of their own business? "You stole my valor" is something that should never come out of a man's mouth. Bunch of snowflakes.
@@bruceleroy8063 - I can't speak for them, but I think it has something to do with their pride and seeing their friends die in that uniform. I'd probably be pissed off enough to confront someone too. No one is saying "my valor", they're saying all military's valor, there is a difference.
For ALL that serve and served our Nation, Thank You. 🇺🇸
Passionate attachment to another nation produces a variety of evils ... the illusion of common interests where no real common interests exist; adopting the enmities of the other; and participation in the quarrels and wars of the other without any justification. Still another evil is that such a passionate attachment gives to ambitious, corrupted, or deluded citizens the facility to betray or sacrifice the interests of their own country. - George Washington
Overgrown military establishments, which, under any form of government, are inauspicious to liberty, and which are to be regarded as particularly hostile to Republican Liberty.” - George Washington
We are right to take alarm at the first experiment upon our liberties." "No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare." "The means of defense against foreign danger historically have become the instruments of tyranny at home."
“James Madison”
To all those who served and are still serving THANK YOU and God bless
You are Welcome.
@@cjsteele9594 I seen you're profile picture, is that you? If so may I ask what did you do when you served and what branch did you join? I'd love to hear about it if you have the time too explain. God bless you
@@MelousiPousi I was an Air Force Security Forces Specialist, "Military Police" Served at Kelly AFB in Texas, Eielson AFB Alaska, from 1982-1986. Cold war days, guarding Priority aircraft. Miss those days. Id sign up again right now if i could. Take care.
Gods not real so....
I'm Canadian. I want to thank the US military as well. I realize that my frame, my outlook, my way of life, would not survive by as much as a week without the US military. I know it and I am grateful. Thank you!
This video is over 11 years old, its heartbreaking to know that some of these heroes have undoubtedly passed away by now.
Majority are gone now. Stories we will never get back and hear again
Always talk to the older guys, their stories are golden.
@@danevertt3210 maybe they all meet again in Valhalla These gentlemen are walking history books
sad facts that impersonating an officer of the court by saying you are a lawyer is illegal but veterans are ok to mock. So f'd up.
Like Hank Williams used to sing: "No matter how you struggle and strive, you'll never get out of this world alive."
Canadian military here. 35 years RCAF, 1981-2016. We have those types in Canada also. There should be a law with fines and jail time.
Thank you to everyone for your service.
Thank you for your service. 22 year Army. 65 - 87. The difference between the real soldiers and those phony ones is I would go back today.
Retired Petty Officer First Class here. Thank you and your fellow countrymen for standing too with us always! Hand salute and congrats on a long fruitful career! Thank you!
Retired A F veteran 83 to 03 thank you for your service ! God bless you all!
I've seen a video of a guy in Canada doing that and being called out on it. It happens everywhere and its sad that people have to stoop so low. I always keep my VA card in my wallet in case I need to prove it. Anyway thank you all for your service.
legends
My dad was an MP in the Air force during Korea, but he ended up serving in North Africa. The only reason he graduated from high school was the nuns figured he would get killed in Korea. One year in our little town they were looking for a veteran to be the grand marshal of the Veterans Day parade. My dad told the guy, " No way, I can't do that. That's for guys who saw combat. I didn't do anything." I remember one guy who lost his son in Afghanistan heard this and said he had a lot of respect for my dad for that.
Someone should remind your dad that every job is just as important as the next one. He may not have thought his job was very glamorous but I promise you that don't have any jobs that are just make work jobs. I would have lobbied that he carry that flag even for just that little bit of glamor that he missed.
Absolutely shameful!! The Supreme Court is not making any sense with some of their decisions anymore! Thankyou to all the veterans for their service and sacrifices 🙏🏻
Agree. It's no surprise that a conservative leaning SCOTUS is okay with people being liars and frauds.
My Army service was honorable and mostly insignificant, but I'm proud of it. No need to embellish.
Peace!
@@gregvetter5070 You wouldn't make it five minutes as a researcher. This decision was from 2012. It was Kennedy, Roberts, Bader Ginsburg, Sotomayor, Breyer, and Kagan who voted to strike down the stolen valor law. Three on the left, one moderate, and one conservative. All three who dissented were conservatives. So take your uninformed attack and turn it back on your own tribe, where it belongs.
Thank you to all the veterans who sacrificed their lives so others may live. These men and women are true hero’s. God bless you 🙏🏻❤️
Bless these gentleman who served in the USA forces and those that are still serving. Also those who served and are serving in the U.K. forces. True heroes one and all. 🙋♀️🇬🇧
My 45 yo daughter just found out I was awarded P.H. in Nam...her reaction was open-jawed...said "Wow Dad...you never talk about your time in Nam". We don't talk about it...even with hesitancy with other vets...horrific memories...so many buddies dead...the enemy was just kids...not sure we should have even been over there...for what? Braggarts looking for applause are usually lying. I don't even own guns now. Peace to my brothers in arms.
Welcome home you magnificent SOB. (said with love)
@@ivanleterror9158 Thanks...I think. BTW - what are you doing up in the middle of the night?...can't sleep? Drink more beer...you'll sleep. Peace
@Deplorable Redneck 2.0 Guns back in MY hands? Too old and beat up...will leave any battling to be done to my grandsons and their buddies if they are needed...hope not. As far as the illegals go...how awful must their lives be in their native land if parents send their babies, alone with nothing, to a foreign country in the desperate hope that they will live and thrive. Mind numbing desperation. We take so much for granted here with no inkling of how horrible their living conditions are back home. Just a toss of the dice that we were born in the greatest country in the world. So much to be thankful for. Peace to you and yours. Happy Easter
My friend who was a service related amputee Korean Veteran just passed away at the age of 91. He had actually walked on a mine in Korea when he was 21. The most amazing part was that he never complained about his disability and worked like everybody else till he retired at 65. His leg situation had completely changed how he lived most of his life. You would think he'd be the most bitter person because of it, but that couldn't be any farther from the truth. To think people want to claim the prize for the pain and suffering that others went through, just sickens me. This should be absolutely illegal.
😫 i wanna hear the long version of that potato field story!! I could listen all day!
Be careful when you speak to a combat veteran.
Memories are very painful.
@@dwaynejacobs9558 who cares they are all traitors
@blake bishop every USA military personnel
@blake bishop because they fight for the jews not for americans
@@carmineredd1198 🤡
I'm repulsed by anyone who would be so low as to steal valor. They should be punished for such a selfish and cowardly act.
Im willing to do the jail time for fixing the stolen valor..
@VicDw5000 You almost sound like u support stolen valor. Almost. Should be easy to punish a stinking little coward who stabs vets in the back for they're own sick gratification. And I wouldn't go as far to as to say it's intangible although you're correct that it's not physical. It carries physical repercussions that co-inside with mental abuse from doing this cowardly act against soldiers who severed and often suffer from PTSD. I've seen it first hand w/ a family member who served in Vietnam. Purple Heart recipient. It makes him physically ill when he sees this happen. At the very least, I think some jail time or road work and have to wear a sign saying that they steal valor and lie about being something they're not to get respect and admiration for something they never did.
@VicDw5000 Spoken like a true fucking asshole. But it is stealing. Perhaps if were a Combat vet you'd feel differently about this.
@VicDw5000 You have much better things to do w/ your time yet your writing. Not assuming anything - but any combat vet and most non- combat vets would have sympathy for any combat vet with PTST. I guess you don't care. I do care.
I'm retired. I always felt it is not about what you accomplished. Its about what you do with it that speaks to your character. I stay in shape and educated, so I can still help others where I can to "pay it forward".
As a veteran, it doesn't lessen our accomplishments, if some losers want to lie about their own lack of accomplishments.
100%
Jeremy DeWitte needs to watch this and feel extreme embarrassment.
He won't be getting out of his cell for a while hopefully.
Its a disgrace that the "so called" Supreme Court would make such a disgusting ruling but then this country isn't what it once was either.
Just wait.
They also ruled that porn is 1st amendment...
supreme court are a total joke!
@@MissionaryForMexico This decision was from 2012. It was Kennedy, Roberts, Bader Ginsburg, Sotomayor, Breyer, and Kagan who voted to strike down the stolen valor law. Three on the left, one moderate, and one conservative. So you can blame the left for this one.
I saw a big dude while on vacation in Colorado a few years back. This dude had "Seal" tatooed all over him, was wearing a Walmart type T-shirt that had Seals all over it and also a Seal cap. It didn't take me long to figure out he was a fake. His stories just didn't add up.
Big jackoff is what he is.
Jesse Ventura did the same thing
@@Squatch_Rider66 Jesse Ventura while mindless dummy was a navy seal.
@@richardstrongismokecigarsa7215 He was UDT.
@@patrickshaneomarra5162 okay the fore runner to a seal . He used to be allowed in seal bars.
How can stolen valor be OK? Then I should be able to claim I'm an MD, or anything else that's a big lie... including being a cop. Impersonating a police officer is a crime, but impersonating a hero isn't?!?!
NAVY Man here..IF YOU DIDN’T EARN IT - DON’T CLAIM IT..!
Seems simple enough.
To all my combat veterans. THANKYOU!🇺🇸
It took 500,000 battle trained troops 20 years and $4 trillion tax dollars to bring Democracy to Iraq and Afghanistan, but by golly, they did it. Now the citizens of those free nations will always love American troops and chant the Pentagon approved slogan, Thank you for your service. I urge all employers to hire a Vet and pay them an extra $50,000 because they saved America from those Taliban who would have turned Americans into Muslims.
Oh wait, wrong script. The Taliban did win. Darn it.
I would rather have the war in their country then in our back yard. Most of the world hates the United States of America, but everyone wants to live here. Go figure? I will always appreciate the men and women who have served this country and never forget the fallen who have sacrificed everything so that I can have democracy and freedom. Since you dont care about our combat veterans you can F@#k yourself and go live with Taliban.
@@lightningbrigade4722 - LMAO.
@@maxsmith695 Good
Passionate attachment to another nation produces a variety of evils ... the illusion of common interests where no real common interests exist; adopting the enmities of the other; and participation in the quarrels and wars of the other without any justification. Still another evil is that such a passionate attachment gives to ambitious, corrupted, or deluded citizens the facility to betray or sacrifice the interests of their own country. - George Washington
I'm not a veteran but I have an extremely deep respect and appreciation for those that served and continue to serve. I'm able to raise my son in the greatest country this planet has ever known and do it safely because of these great men and women. So from the bottom of my heart, Thank you for your sacrifice and service to this great nation!🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
I WANNA KNOW ABOUT THE POTATO GUY...WHAT HAPPENED?
Pretty sure they ended up baked potatoes
@@Carpenters_Canvas mashed.😎
I imagined the propellers chopped them up and the engine oil fried them nice and crispy.
He peeled out of there!
God bless all our veterans, dam to you people who are lying about being a veteran..
I declare I am a born again SEAL. Therefore I will wear a Trident.
This video is from 2012.
In 2013, Congress wrote up a new stolen valor act and passed it. The Stolen Valor Act of 2013 is still VERY MUCH in place!
I have a few friends that have been to combat. I’ve noticed their stories get better every time I hear them! 😂
Seems like the majority of these stolen valor cases involve people that were booted and demoted from service.
As a Vietnam veteran my Sergent told me to dress in civies going home, I found out pretty quick he was right. First American gal that was not in the military that I had seen in 9 months spit on me. To this day it bothers me when someone thanks me for my service, I think about that. I guess they don't spit on us anymore.
Sorry to hear that happened to yo. God Bless.
My name is steve this is my wifes profile! Similar story our sergeants told usNot to engage them, it was dificult!
DoD started the "support the troops" BS to sell their next war, and the rubes bought it.
I was told that our reception might get a little rough upon our arrival at Travis AB and not wear our uniforms. People were changing clothes in the airplane aisle but I had no civvies to change into. We were told that the press would be there so we better behave.
On my watch out while standing in line I received a welcome home full Sprite soda can alongside my head.
I dont know what that was all about, there's a lot more to the story. That throw was over 50 feet away.
Welcome back home. Only since that time I've been mostly homeless and feeling like there's no home here for me. Everyone is dragging their feet. And I'm living in a motorhome down by the lake. I'm still homeless.
My Grandfather was in WW2 as a March Marine
. He stormed Normandy Beach with high Octane Fuel and survived..He's in Arlington National Cemetery.. it's discusting that people pretend to be Military.. Men wnd Women have given their life for us.. it's also discusting the way The supreme Court ruled.. Thank you all true Heros for your service and sacrifice
Honestly..Bob did not look 91. Thank you guys for your service
People seem to forget about Sen. Blumenthal, said he was in Vietnam and never was. How can people vote for the guy? How can he look in a mirror? How can he talk crap about Trump or any Republican?
Yes sir, right there.
Committing fraud is much more than simply “lying”
Stolen valor affects surviving family members. Just had a guy who I knew to be a fake die with his widow looking to the military for a military funeral. She was informed "no record of service exist" then began contacting the V.A., American Legion, V.F.W, all with the same response. Seems he told her his service was -- you guessed it -- "classified". She's satisfied with his lie. As an Army vet, I knew he was telling tall tales. He blamed his drinking on seeing "so much death" including the killing of children, a common lie with these types. Shame on him.
In the store, on the street, anywhere I see someone in the military, I’m sure to thank them for their service. Let them know they are appreciated. 🇺🇸
I don't. If you aren't at war, shut up and take off the uniform. All they want is attention. They are NOT heroes!!
Can I make up outrageous shit about my used car when I sell it? Can I give a false name to a cop? Can I make false claims about charitable contributions to the IRS?
I got mine at the battle of Brainerd (Minnesota). I pulled a drunk Guardsman out the toilet. Alpha, Charlie Milkshake, over and out. ♠️☠
Though the original 2005 is talked about here the newer 2013 Stolen Valor Law is still in effect: The law amends the federal criminal code to make it a crime for a person to fraudulently claim having received a valor award specified in the Act, with the intention of obtaining money, property, or other tangible benefit by convincing another that he or she received the award.
That really urks me. My Dad US Army WW2 Pearl Harbor, discharged the day before. My Brother fought in US Army Vietnam, cousin US Army, Ex Bro in law US Army/Ex US Air Force and plenty of men in the church I attend that served. I never did, but I have the utmost respect for all Men and Women who served and are serving. Don't disgrace the FLAG by pretending to be a service person. You should be arrested, fined and jailed.
Isn’t stolen valor comparable to impersonating a LEO?
Or God forbid, a Scorpio!!!
No, but damn well should be if monetary incentives drive the behavior.
No. Not even close. A LEO can pull someone over, put them in cuffs and out them in the back of a car. If someone is faking this, they're literally kidnapping that person. And if they're purposely doing it to kidnap someone, they probably have other felonies planned.
That is FAR different and more dangerous than some old dude lying to other old dudes smh
Yep!
@@ivanleterror9158 The revised Stolen Valor law in 2013 (after the 2012 Supreme Court ruling saying it was "free speech") now makes it illegal if anybody is trying to gain any benefit, monetary or otherwise, from the fraud. So if a clown is dressing up no more like kids to for Halloween and just making claims, that's OK now (unfortunately). But if there is an intent to commit a fraud for benefit, that's illegal.
my father landed on guadalcanal when he was in the marines. i have his usmc ring. i want to wear it, but i don't. it's not mine to wear.
Here in the UK you can wear the medals of your father / grandparents etc on the right side of your chest out of a mark of respect.
@@ianlitchfield9273 A most sensible thing, thanks for sharing that.
@@BeachsideHank The only time I have actually seen this is at a rememberence parade such as Armistice day, usually the person wearing the medals is in civilian dress & knows some history of the recipient.
@@MegaRtty I doubt it as he wears them on the left.
My grandfather James Hall did as well..he was 1st marines big red one. I had a hat with the blue diamond red one.and the word Guadalcanal down the 1 with a skull on it..he used to take me shark teeth hunting.. I don't know.how he was able to walk with such huge balls. He has a silver star and two purple hearts. I wouldn't do anything but hang.his hat on the wall in honor of a man I am proud to even be related to.
I am not one to speak much about things I want to forget. I served 20 years in the U.S. Navy. I retired as a Aviation Ordnance Chief Petty Officer naval Aircrewman. I flew in the P-3 Orion patrol plane. 8500 hours of flight time. And served one tour on the flight deck of the USS Ranger CV-61. I like to remember the good things that happened. The camaraderie we shared as fellow sailors. I dislike people who claim honor when they have none. My life is not based solely on what I did when I served in uniform. I love my family and am very proud to have done what I was supposed to do when I was called to act. I have never asked to be treated special. Or to be given something I did not earn. I do not know how some folks live with themselves when they claim something that they did not do. I guess that’s a question they will have to answer one day. God bless everyone. Amen.
Your friends are either dead or being told their injuries are not service related so you could make the rich man richer. Thank you for your service.
Once a marine always a marine
Stolen valor is punishable by mob rule. At a very rural vfw.
I can't stand people who claim to be soldiers, or vets, when they actually were not. Just makes my blood boil!
We gota guy at work said he was in the Marines. I say? How long, where etc. He say "Well, the Navy, same thing" I say wtf, no it's not, at all. Then I say Navy, where, how long etc. He say " 6 weeks, out on a medical". and was wearing a Navy ball cap. Liar, fraud and stolen valor.
That's your issue, not theirs
@Deplorable Redneck 2.0 You should report me to the FBI. Tell them "someone educated me on TH-cam and made me look silly. Based off of that and his screen name, I believe it's a case of Stolen Valor."
I'm sure the FBI will be pounding on my door any second.
@Deplorable Redneck 2.0 You're probably going out way before I do old man. Going to finish about as ignorant as when you started, that's the goal, eh?
@Deplorable Redneck 2.0 Phone a friend, they might be able to help you.
Just a damn shame. Stolen valor is one of the worst things you can do. Period.
I'm with these true HEROES here. It should be a crime punishable with a prison sentence also make anyone doing it clean bedpans in the Veteran hospitals.
I may have served in the military but I don't even consider myself a veteran because I was blessed to have never seen combat. I was ready at the time and had the mindset to go if I was called but looking back, I'm thankful to have never had to see the horrors that these true heros have seen. When I see a veteran out in town or a person in uniform, I tell my kids that they are the real life superheroes
Same here. I did my time but just missed Vietnam and later, Grenada and Panama. Perfect timing. I feel humbled everytime I meet a combat vet.
Ifyou served you are a veteran. Period.
I hear what you are saying...but just because you never saw "combat" does not mean you are not a veteran. You signed on the dotted line? You were discharged honorably? Then you wear the title. Most people in the military never see combat. I am a "combat veteran" and would never say somebody is NOT one for not seeing combat or being deployed.
Why would someone tell bs stories to a bunch of combat vets, makes no since to me.
William Wilson: "Why would someone tell bs stories to a bunch of combat vets, makes no since to me".
This is a great comment.
I have a buddy that served in Vietnam in the engineers. He always says give him 2 minutes with a so called VNV and he will tell you if he is truly a combat vet. He would get so traumatic when he would say this that I would not want to be this person.
I was never in combat but I was drafted in 1958. I was lucky not to see combat. I was also in the Combat Engineers. Ft Campbell Ky. Support of 101st Airborne.
@@CorbinAce I totally agree with you brother.
When people lie about serving it doesn’t diminish what I did or steal valor from me. At the end of the day it makes no difference to me if someone lies about service.
My great grandfather on my dads side served as a Combat Engineer and helped build clean up Pearl Harbor and built airfields in the Pacific. I am 23 and hope to join the United States Coast Guard very soon here and give back to this amazing country that has done me well.
God bless our heros.
The sad truth is that all vets were used to enforce foreign policy, not to protect our freedom. Many brave men died fighting banksters wars
@@Bryce_C. The gas in our cars and trucks today was a soldiers blood in the sand yesterday 😞
As an ex Army Ranger who was decorated with a Medal of Honor and 2 Purple Hearts for saving 3 of my men and a whole village..I salute the SCOTUS for striking down the stolen valor law...now I can continue getting free coffee and women with my tale tales!
Very rare that those who have been in battle will even talk or brag about it. My father was infantry WW2 and never talked about the horrors he saw.
Same with my dad, and most of the WW2 vets I grew up around, which were many. A lot of the time, no one even knew what they did until their funeral. Some folks OTOH, never miss an opportunity to tell you all about it, and after hearing the same stories related for about the 332nd time, word for word, it gets old.
Some horrors are unexpressable. It's near impossible to not open up old wounds by trying to tell someone who wasn't there how horrible it was.
There's no words sometimes.
I was an aircraft mechanic on Okinawa from 69-70. To say I was lucky not to see combat I was,and I thank God. To think I was not in that war would make you very wrong.
My war was time. We pushed everything that was needed to fight a war, but mostly we shipped people. People, I still see their faces. Young men. Most really didn't need to shave yet. Young faces scared beyond belief. This is what I shipped to Vietnam. I saw these face when they returned. Gaunt, hollowed out cheeks and aged. The fear was gone, replaced with a stare that knew no limits. This wasn't the worst of it. Airplanes came in carry metal coffins. Sometimes that all the airplane carried. Wall to wall, floor to ceiling. The labels on the coffins said it all. The majority were 19-20 years old. My God. I was just playing football with them a year and a half ago in High school. I was 19 . Coffin carriers always had an honor guard on it as long as the plane was on the ground.
And then came the med-vacs. Wounded, the wreackage of war. The sound of wounded men,asking for their mothers, the smell of burnt flesh and disinfectant. And the sight of bloody bandages. These airplanes had total priority over any other plane. We had two of every piece of equipment we need to do the job, encluding mechanics. And do the job we did. We turned these birds with minimal ground time. Your lives depended upon us and we took it serious. My worst memory was a young man who was suffering pretty bad. He was mumbling and crying. He reached out for me asked for his mother and died right there, and there wasn't a fucking thing I could do about it. I was an aircraft mechanic who didn't have to fight a war
The US Government doesn’t really care how veterans feel. If you lie to a police officer it’s a crime. If you lie about the MOH, it’s freedom of speech.
I was in the army, never saw in action, when I tell people I was I the service I tell them I was not in a war. I think the airborne ranger badge is beautiful but I would not take one if you tried to give it to me, because I would be afraid that if it was in my possession when I died some would think that I earned it, I have a friend who has been in every war since the late 70s when I talk to him, I knew him as a second lieutenant I still call him Sir. I respect what the fighting men and women of this country have done for this nation, the honor belongs to them and God
All I can say is thank you!!!
As a tail gunner on the Space Shuttle I find this ridiculous!
Stolen Valor has to be the lowest of the lowest !!! And it should be a crime for sure. You can't impersonate a LEO.
John Roberts probably ruled on that.
You realize that stolen valor itself isn't a crime right? Should it be? I don't know that's your opinion. But it is protected by the 1st Amendment. You just can't use it to make money.
@@AceofDlamonds " The Stolen Valor Act of 2013 was signed by President Barack Obama on June 3, 2013. The Act 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."
So yeah, it IS a crime.
@@Rainman270
I should have been more careful about the wording but yeah exactly that. But stolen valor in colloquial usage, before that term was incorporated into a bill is what I'm saying.
@@AceofDlamonds Huh ? Its a felony dude.
@@Rainman270
There is a word "stolen valor" that was commonly used to describe this impersonation. The "Stolen Valor Act" is a law, I know. But the common usage isn't illegal, it's free speech at the moment. The LAW "The Stolen Valor Act" says you can't use it to make money or get a discount or something.
They should make the fakes go through bootcamp of military branch they claim to be
Priceless. And then air the footage on everything streaming.
There’s no way you can steal someone else’s valor or honor or actually diminish it in anyway. Mostly I feel sorry for these sad sacks, unless they’re doing it for gain whether it’s getting government bennies or panhandling by the road, then they need to be called out. And yes, I served, so did my partner, my kid, a bunch of my uncles, and several of my nieces and nephews. My dad was career Army and while I may not agree with the goals of every single conflict we’ve gotten ourselves into I’m proud to have done my share and respect everyone who served.
The front line troops are NOT 'given' medals. They EARN them. It annoys the hell out of me when I hear ...was given the bronze star, or the military medal or the purple heart. Like they were being handed out at the local fair. Same as, the trooper was injured in battle. NO! You're injured, falling off a ladder, in combat, one is wounded. And yes, stolen valour should be very much illegal. Or the arsehole should be handed over to a group of vets so he can be 'readjusted' into becoming a better person.
The Supreme Court took this case but couldn't be bothered with the Election Fraud case. Lol
Life Member VFW POST 6719, Raymondville, Texas
Doesn't the Supreme Court know that some of these phonies are receiving benefits fraudulently?
This adds insult to injury.
Supreme Court upheld that the law passed by Obama, that made it a crime for people to lie about service in order to receive benefits.
So probably
Never knew that the problem was so extreme. Most likely those that were dishonorably discharged or are starving for attention and discounts are the main perps.
Guess they should give Chiden the purple heart for learning to change his own diaper.
I AGREE WITH THE VETERANS THE LAW THAT DOESNT PROTECT THEIR HONOR IS WRONG
Horse shit. Someone pretending in Modesto (hypothetically) doesn't detract one bit from what they did and earned. This is pure exclusionary policy. "You can't pretend to be a part of my group!!!!" Why the fuck not? Your honor is not diminished one iota. There's a reason this doesn't climb to the level of slander. Because that's specifically codified in law. Fuck these guys. Yes, I served. No, someone saying they are something they aren't doesn't affect me in the slightest.
@@angoth so you think you should get the same respect for lying . Grow up and serve you loser.
@Oh Wait I took it you presumptuous fool.
@Oh Wait damn you are pointlessly stupid.
@Oh Wait I did no such thing . Are you stupid?
What about all the guys who ladled soup in the military and pretend like they've seen combat? I grew up with WWII 101st Airborne Purple Heart recipient and a Vietnam Purple Heart recipient who got his eyes blown out. These men never bragged. They got drafted into war. They never cared if someone wore old fatigues. In fact the WWII Vet used to take me to a surplus store and buy me fatigues, some of which I still wear today because the material lasts forever. These men never expected anything in return. They were humble because they survived the war unlike many of their friends, fathers and brothers that died in the same hell hole they were fighting in. If you wanna talk about stolen valor, let's start with military personnel who never see combat but act like the world owes them something because they wear a uniform.
There is no Valor in war.
It’s a crime now. Look up Don Shipley he has countless videos about stolen valor claims. Also this video is 8 years old now too. It’s different now
And some of his videos are humorous.
Don Shipley has been banned from you tube they are trying to censor all the real heroes out
@@markharris1526 don shipley has done nothing to deserve his TH-cam channel blocked. He did not make up crap and harm anyone. He not Alex Jones.
Don Shipley is dumb AF. He claims stolen valor when it's not stolen valor most of the time, because he's an old dude with nothing to do...except too lazy to look up the actual law.
Stolen valor only pertains to people using service/medal to receive money, land, or other tangible goods. Someone sitting around and telling lies is constitutionally protected free speech.
It's embarrasses the f*$k out of me that any vet would be so ignorant and too lazy to know the law before screaming it.
I m a General in the Foriegn Legion !
I received my wings after my first base jump while on tour with the Mongolian air force, in Russia...
Top secret of course...
Aw, thats nothing. I drink at the American Legion!! Generally
@@moses7874 I did most of my drinking at the EM Club, but now that I'm old, all I drink is water coffee and Kool-Aid LOL
The Stolen Valor Act should make the offense of stealing valor a 3rd Degree Felony and a Federal Offense! 👌🏻🇺🇸
How tf does that make any sense? What if the claim is satirical in nature?
My grandfather from Poland was working in Scranton Pennsylvania in the coal mines. When Germany invaded Poland September 1st 1939 then the Russians September 17th 1939. He try so hard to go back to Poland to fight alongside his brothers he could not make it back to Poland. So he joined the American Military he served six years on the battleship North Carolina as a Navy corpsman.
Grandpa you'll always be my hero rest in peace Paul Peter zaleski
You can thank the politicians, the likes of JOHN KERRY.
my dad, his 2 brothers and their father were all combat vets from ww1, ww2 to Korea. Gramps got machine gunned in the leg in the trenches. One uncle lost a foot to frostbite in the Bulge the other uncle got grenade shrapnel all over his back. My dad was never injured. Something i learned early on as a small child was that real combat vets are forever trying to forget what they went thru. No bragging, very short stories with little details when they did talk about it and never talked about themselves as important heros. Funny that ALL the things real combat vets avoid are the very things the fakes are constantly boasting about.
I won a medal of honor in Grenada. It disgusts me that it is now legal to claim an award falsely. I fought for that meal and I sacrificed so much.
Hey DICKHEAD, No MOH we’re awarded for Grenada. Just thought I let you know Mr Scumbag.
I served 11 years in the military. I have a few friends that also served that I see daily. We don't brag about it. We love this country and would gladly give our lives if need be to protect our constitution and people. When I see someone in full dress bragging about their service, it sends red flags. God bless these true veterans. They deserve more than they will ever get.
Stolen valor needs to be illegal.
When I wear my cover that says "Vietnam Era Vet" I'm quick to point out I was never in country and the word ERA. That's the classification of the time period I served in.
@@ivanleterror9158 So you slide by on a technicality and hope to trick people most of the time 🤣
Sad
@@ivanleterror9158 and are all civilians going to get this and understand this? Or see "vietnam" and "vet" and assume you saw combat in Vietnam?
I have an honorable discharge from two branches, and a OEF and OIF vet. I think it's silly to advertise in the first place, but that's beside the point. Due to serving, I know civilians think differently because they're not always aware. I don't tell civilians "my MOS was", because a lot don't even know what MOS is. "my job in the military is". Have to dumb it down for them.
@@SuperMontsta Sorry you have a problem with it. So many I see and work with at the VA ( 7 years volunteering) don't. Don't judge my motives until you know me. And it gives me a chance to dialogue with civilians who have not served to understand what they see and what it means. nuff said
@@ivanleterror9158 I don't have a problem with others wearing hats. Do you. My preference is mine.
I'm just saying, isn't it a little misleading to civilians and might confuse them.
We as Vets can usually tell if your "BS" ing any of us!
Look out when you get caught!
Can't stand morons that have to lie about being in the military!
Go earn your right like we did!
"Boots on the ground"!!
It is a crime if the imposter gets anything of value.
In what fucked up place would stolen valor be ok and defended? Oh yeah america. This country is gone to shit. Thank you actual veterans for all that you do and have done for us.
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻Thank you gentlemen and ladies of the various United States Military Forces for keeping the rest of us Safe. Out of harm's way of foreign aggressors and those who wish to destroy our way of life and steal our land, and enslave us. It's impossible to feel 'too much' gratitude toward you folks.
Thank you very much and God bless your Souls.
Something I find rather profane and downright insulting, is the fact that the people that commit stolen valor fail to understand the suffering that some vets go through after returning home, the toll of ptsd on the individual, not to mention the family. They don’t just pretend to be someone they’re not, but someone they fail to even understand.
I know a pos who goes around with a ball cap on that says, “Combat Wounded” and I know for a fact he was dishonorable discharged from boot camp. His DD214 says it. He pretends so he gets discounts and free meals. It makes me sick knowing that these people get away with it.
I never served. My dad served in the Navy WWII aviation electrician. My Great Uncle served in the Marines WWII Raider and was stationed in Japan. Toughest man I’ll ever know and he taught me a lot.
God Bless those who serve, have served and those who Gave All. ❤️
POW/MIA Never Forgotten
I agree 💯 it should be against the law. You great men fought for my freedom I wish I was brave enough to fight myself. I thank you very much. But it goes to show you how much our politicians and our courts respect what you did. Remember it at the ballot box please..
🥲🥲🥲. I cry because stolen valor is BEYOND HEARTBREAKING. God bless those who HAVE HONORABLY served!!! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
I am proud to have served this Nation for 26 years, WE are the III%. We have fought for this Nation since Concord and Lexington and it just pisses me off every time I see a wannabe. I have been told that I am wrong to confront those POS💩💩💩💩💩💩💩, guess what, I DO NOT CARE, I WILL BERATE AND HUMILIATE EACH AND EVERYONE I FIND. From my Great-Grandfather to my youngest son, all of us have served this Nation, my Brother and I both to Retirement as a Command Master Chief and I as a Sergeant Major. Each of us served in combat multiple times and will not tolerate anyone who steals valor from our fallen Brothers and Sisters.
Trump loves this new law. Now we will hear all the great stories of the Mighty Lieutenant Bone Spurs
It was the left-leaning justices who did it. Kennedy, Roberts, Bader Ginsburg, Sotomayor, Breyer, and Kagan voted to strike down the stolen valor law. Three on the left, one moderate, and one conservative. All three who dissented were conservatives. Clown comment.
No such thing as a former Marine. Our Supreme Court needs to be publicly disgraced.
This crusty old retired sarge salutes all of my brothers and sisters in arms. I will ALWAYS fly the BS flag when I hear a tall tale.
I used to tell girls at bars I fought in Algiers and it worked. But I don't think I'd ever lie to hang out with these old dudes.
It is still illegal to lie about service in order to con businesses and individuals into financial benefits or discounts.
I’m a British army veteran, and we call people who pretend to have served Walter Mitten’s. And we hate them for doing this
Every time I hear a MEDAL of HONOR backstory it makes me proud and sad at the same time.
Proud because I love this country and understand what has been given to keep and protect it.
Sad because most of the stories are posthumous.
What I hear are stories of love, brotherhood, devotion, selflessness.
I never served and consider myself just a little less by comparison to all these heroes.
So I do my part by respecting veterans who did serve and secure provide me my freedoms.
Because Freedom is never Free.
It cost someone something if not everything.
So very humbly Thank You.
they fought for money
@@onlythewise1 Yeah I did it for the money. I got paid 85.00 once a month for soap, tooth past, boot polish, hair cuts, laundry and to take care of my mother. I was 18 years old and in the Army. The difference between myself and you, I served you didn't and I would go back today without question just so you can have the freedom to sit behind a keyboard and make statements like, "they fought for money". Enjoy.
@@fido3561 ass i fought in Vietnam my dad ww2 nine battles he got 50 cents a day to fight in battle unlike a worm like you who was the cook hiding in a nice safe place , my family fought at james town in 1640