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Steady Hand wrote:
Speaking of men in uniform, I came across a video clip yesterday on CNN.
Having read a book a few years ago when I was interviewing vets from many conflicts and periods, I found that what one sees as appearances or reads or hears, may not be in fact completely true.
The book I recommend is titled "Stolen Valor." It is full of interesting cases like the one below. You can read more about it here:
http://www.stolenvalor.com/
After reading it, I gave my copy to my brother (a decorated Vietnam helicopter pilot and my personal and genuine hero, DFC, BSV, PH etc.) and we discussed it. He kept the book to show his friends.
I was particularly interested in this case (the one in the video link below). The book details (after exhaustive many years of research in records) the many cases of people (some not even really veterans) "adopting" the uniform and medals and such to create an image, partly or entirely false. In some cases they wear decorations they did not really earn. In some cases the people are even famous, such as movie actors who have claimed to have had combat experience and such.
You might find the linked video amusing, disgusting, or sad. If one did not know that this is not a rare instance, one might find it unbelievable.
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/crime/2009/11/12/kaye.stolen.valor.cnn
Unfortunately, his case is not the only one.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/10/12/fake.veteran/index.html
To see a long list of RECENT similar cases of fraud that have been prosecuted by the US Attorney's office visit this link:
http://www.justice.gov/usao/waw/press/2007/sep/operationstolenvalor.html
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As so many men and women serve in the military (of many countries) I tend to give them the benefit of the doubt....unless there is something that DOES cause doubt...and I have run across that several times when speaking to some "vets."
So, my opinion is that those who truly served their country in uniform are entitled to be given some "slack" or "understanding" regardless of whether they are young or old.
Those that do deserve shame are those that pose as veterans or use fraudulent claims (or wearing of medals mentioned in links above) to garner admiration or "stolen valor." For those people, I have no tolerance, but only contempt.
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On a more positive note...
Those "old" men were once young too.
And it is not unlikely that the young will grow more conservative as they grow older too.
Or they may grow more tolerant.
As I get older, I tend to get more tolerant. ...Show more →
This has all been very interesting - I just visited the sites you linked here and enjoyed the links as well, as well, very interesting.
By the way, my brother that was 60 last month and also my biggest hero from way, way, back spent 2 or 3 tours in Vietnam 67-69 - was in the 82nd Airborne and saw way more than he wanted to. He has never flaunted any of this to anyone and I mean never. I've had to pull the very few conversations out of him over the past 40 years..
He was the reason I went in the service 3 weeks after I graduated from HS - I spent 4 yrs in the USAF from 72-76. Fast forward to today. My 25 year old son is active duty US Navy serving on a destroyer and HAS BEEN deployed to the Middle East twice for 8 months each deployment and is heading back after the first of the year.
As far as the image of the guy in the uniform - personally I never gave the shot a second thought, but have enjoyed reading the post here and all the emotions and points of view.
As far as the uniform - you bet I'm proud to have worn it - even though Vietnam was a very unpopular war !
My son and his uniform - I COULD NOT be more proud and it literally makes the hair on my neck stand up when I see him in his Navy Whites with his awards and ribbons - to which he has earned each and every one !
I've been a member here on FM since way, way back ( 2002 ), but very rarely ever post here anymore. I just had to this time
Sorry for the rambling - regards - Tom
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