Stolen Valor

34,623 Views | 165 Replies | Last: 8 yr ago by Ag_of_08
VatoLocoAggie
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AG
From my experience, the people who really get upset most about Stolen Valor incidents are POGs, TOC Roaches, Fobbits, and civilians. Those who never seen combat.

The operator community typically could care less. Most of these fakers/posers have mental issues. I treat it like a little kid who is dressing up to play Army man. These people have bigger issues to tackle in their lives and maybe this is their mental escape which allows them to live longer and happier and not commit suicide.

That Air Force fake MSgt ended up killing himself shortly after that incident if I recall correctly. Allegedly, several other Stolen Valor impersonators have committed suicide as well after being publicly shamed, which may be a result of cyber bullying or just another element that led them down that tragic path.

At the end of the day, I don't care and it doesn't bother me. As long as they are not getting funds, discounts, or gifts from people who they are victimizing, I really don't care. And even then, sometimes allowing someone to say "thank you" or give them something, it is really the person with the warm heart who walks away happier than the person who receives.

If it bothers you, talk to that person discreetly and handle it at the lowest level while maintaining class, respect, and dignity. Public shaming campaigns is terrible and can result in death.
Smee
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Hola vato.
FNG
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Is it stolen valor if they say they served but never did, or is it only for decorated service that is claimed which makes it stolen valor?

Or if a guy did serve but was Radar O'Reilly but acts like he led campaigns all over the globe?
Joe Exotic
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AG
I feel the same way. I'm proud of my service and what I've accomplished. What I've done can't be taken away or made less in my own eyes because some guy throws on an eBay set of ACU's and gets 20 percent off at Denny's.
histag10
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AG
quote:

The operator community typically could care less.


Pet peeve of mine- couldn't care less
ThunderCougarFalconBird
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AG
quote:
quote:

The operator community typically could care less.


Pet peeve of mine- couldn't care less
to reiterate:

Couldn't care less = I do not care at all

Could care less = meh.

Both are correct but have different meanings
VatoLocoAggie
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AG
Hola.
Sorry. My grammar ain't always on point. I blame the south Texas education system. It was like Taming of the Shrew for me getting cultured and educated at college.

Stolen Valor is only a crime if someone profits monetarily (receive or gain monetary savings). Posing and wearing a uniform is protected under the First Amendment, Freedom of Speech and Expression.

If a person was truly honest ... The biggest stolen valor (not legal definition, just common man definition) violators are actual service members. They lie to family and friends and even to other service members about their "combat experiences." I bet every service member active or not immediately thought of someone or some people when they read that. Approximately 90% of the US deployed force never leave their base or camp into a hostile area. Over 97% of the deployed US force never engage in hostile combat actions.

Therefore, numerous service members who get upset really should think about the old pot and kettle comparison.

It is what it is. More important things in life and life is too short to be mean to others who are suffering.
Beer Baron
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AG
I bet some of these guys had amazing homecoming mums in high school.
Pirate04
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BostonAg74
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Michael McManus (back story)
CheeseSndwch
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quote:





This is my favorite poser. As I recall he showed up to his stepfather's graduation from basic and got called out and escorted off the base.
FriendlyAg
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Lol combat boots with a dress uniform
SapperAg
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AG
He looks a little young to have served in Nam.
GAC06
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AG
quote:
From my experience, the people who really get upset most about Stolen Valor incidents are POGs, TOC Roaches, Fobbits, and civilians. Those who never seen combat.

The operator community typically could care less. Most of these fakers/posers have mental issues. I treat it like a little kid who is dressing up to play Army man. These people have bigger issues to tackle in their lives and maybe this is their mental escape which allows them to live longer and happier and not commit suicide.

That Air Force fake MSgt ended up killing himself shortly after that incident if I recall correctly. Allegedly, several other Stolen Valor impersonators have committed suicide as well after being publicly shamed, which may be a result of cyber bullying or just another element that led them down that tragic path.

At the end of the day, I don't care and it doesn't bother me. As long as they are not getting funds, discounts, or gifts from people who they are victimizing, I really don't care. And even then, sometimes allowing someone to say "thank you" or give them something, it is really the person with the warm heart who walks away happier than the person who receives.

If it bothers you, talk to that person discreetly and handle it at the lowest level while maintaining class, respect, and dignity. Public shaming campaigns is terrible and can result in death.
Well if the "operator community" is too cool to care, then that settles it.
Ryan the Temp
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AG
quote:


Michael McManus (back story)
Also deceased. Not sure if it was suicide or not.
AggieDarlin
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AG
If you scroll near the end, it talks about his death.

quote:
Houston was sweltering on August 11, 2011, recording a high of 102 degrees and up to 85 percent humidity. After walking into a Subway in southwest Houston, McManus collapsed. He was transported to St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, where, in a coma, he was placed on life support. Doctors told McManus Sr. that his son had been taking a cocktail of drugsPercocet, Ambien, Celexa, Klonopin, Trazodone, and Zyprexatreating pain, depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues.

A week after his collapse, his family took him off life support. He was 45 years old. An autopsy determined he died from heart disease complications; his major coronary vessels were narrowed 50 percent. The report also noted his chronic prescription medication abuse as likely contributing to his death.

- See more at: http://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/to-tell-the-truth/#sthash.FpAWQpx6.dpuf
Fonzie Scheme
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quote:
In 2011, McManus's case was in pretrial phase. Fallon and a team of Yale law students were crafting his defense. Like many in the LGBT community, they argued, McManus had been deeply affected by Parker's victory. He'd attended the party in his outfit to symbolically express himself and "celebrate the LGBT community's progress." In his motion to dismiss, Fallon wrote, "Mr. McManus wore an army uniform and medals to the mayor's victory party in order to protest both his discharge from the Army and the continuing exclusion of LGBT Americans from the military under Don't Ask Don't Tell. Mr. McManus' possessing and wearing of a military uniform and medals were a form of political expression." The Alvarez decision the next year would prove them right.

So, because this pathological lying head case claims he was barred from further military service because he was gay, his misrepresenting himself is totally understandable? At least, that's what I learned from that article.
BostonAg74
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What I got from the article was a portrait of a pretty pathetic human being, who was probably lying about why he was booted out of the service, using an excuse that would engender sympathy in some quarters. He may very well have been gay, but I imagine there were others reasons, especially in light of the fact that he lied to his family about what his duties were.
Ryan the Temp
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AG
quote:
quote:
In 2011, McManus's case was in pretrial phase. Fallon and a team of Yale law students were crafting his defense. Like many in the LGBT community, they argued, McManus had been deeply affected by Parker's victory. He'd attended the party in his outfit to symbolically express himself and "celebrate the LGBT community's progress." In his motion to dismiss, Fallon wrote, "Mr. McManus wore an army uniform and medals to the mayor's victory party in order to protest both his discharge from the Army and the continuing exclusion of LGBT Americans from the military under Don't Ask Don't Tell. Mr. McManus' possessing and wearing of a military uniform and medals were a form of political expression." The Alvarez decision the next year would prove them right.

Complete and utter horse****. I ran into that guy twice - once that night when the photos were taken and once before when he wore a kilt instead of trousers. He wasn't protesting, he was being a imbecilic attention *****.
Claude!
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Yeah, but his defense team probably wanted to frame it as a speech issue to defend against the Stolen Valor legislation
AgCat93
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AG
My stepson is stationed at Fort Carson and he sees many stolen valor types in the Colorado Springs area. Most are insecure attention hounds who mooch off the perks that come with military service. Some will cower when they're confronted; others will get borderline violent.

There are folks out there who claim to have been firefighters at the World Trade Center on 9/11. One in particular has profited handsomely off his "exploits" and has members of the FDNY up in arms because of his version of stolen valor:

http://www.villagevoice.com/news/controversy-swells-over-9-11-nonprofit-event-and-its-founder-vincent-forras-6706712

Idiots who impersonate police officers and pull over unsuspecting motorists are power-craving scum as well.
BostonAg74
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Then there's this lady....

Marathon bomb victim fraud
Dr. Teeth
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AG
quote:
Men usually don't wear panties

/histag


But when I do, they're usually something unusual...
tbirdspur2010
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AG
quote:
From my experience, the people who really get upset most about Stolen Valor incidents are POGs, TOC Roaches, Fobbits, and civilians. Those who never seen combat.

The operator community typically could care less. Most of these fakers/posers have mental issues. I treat it like a little kid who is dressing up to play Army man. These people have bigger issues to tackle in their lives and maybe this is their mental escape which allows them to live longer and happier and not commit suicide.

That Air Force fake MSgt ended up killing himself shortly after that incident if I recall correctly. Allegedly, several other Stolen Valor impersonators have committed suicide as well after being publicly shamed, which may be a result of cyber bullying or just another element that led them down that tragic path.

At the end of the day, I don't care and it doesn't bother me. As long as they are not getting funds, discounts, or gifts from people who they are victimizing, I really don't care. And even then, sometimes allowing someone to say "thank you" or give them something, it is really the person with the warm heart who walks away happier than the person who receives.

If it bothers you, talk to that person discreetly and handle it at the lowest level while maintaining class, respect, and dignity. Public shaming campaigns is terrible and can result in death.


All of this for me. I served (not for that long, and not on the ops side, although my wife did), but I just can't find it in me to get worked up over posers. Not worth the time/energy for these folks who obviously have some personal issues afoot to deal with.
Pirate04
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AG
I tend to find it amusing, albeit sad. But then there's people like this who create a rage in me.

http://guardianofvalor.com/the-truth-about-deserea-hopkins-interviewed-by-local-news-about-being-deployed-for-three-years-first-christmas-with-children/
Goose83
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quote:

I like the American Defense Medal (first ribbon on the 7th row). Since the cutoff date for that was December 7, 1941, that mean he would be in his early to mid 90's at the very least.

I do give him credit for one thing - His ribbons appear (for the most part) to be in the proper order of precedence, something that many pretenders don't bother with.
Ag_of_08
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This woman makes me so mad!

Dude the no NSFW tag is bull****.
 
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