Stolen valor in Houston: man arrested

[DONT TREAD ON ME]

If I was his Lawyer I would just say it falls under the 1st and it was a Political Statement, and/or Freedom of Expression.

Are you serious?!?! Its illegal. If that were the case then we can just go out and impersonate LEOs and pretend to arrest people and say it was a political statement. It was a slap in the face to any and all who have worn or who wear any military uniform.

[nitrogen]

I'm so glad law enforcement spends their time and my money on cases like this.

[boomerang]

Its illegal.

So was having a gun in DC not too long ago. Same with parts of McCain-Feingold.

[psijac]

Its illegal.

So was having a gun in DC not too long ago. Same with parts of McCain-Feingold.

Its also illegal to impersonate a Cop

[Lodge2004]

If I was his Lawyer I would just say it falls under the 1st and it was a Political Statement, and/or Freedom of Expression.

I'd agree if he just showed up at a costume party or something similar. As I understand this case, he spent years representing himself as a soldier while appearing at events against the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy of the Military. I could care less what policy he was for/against. This, in my opinion, would be the same as if he had spent years representing himself as a highly decorated and retired Chief of Police while appearing at events for a new "assault weapons" ban. It's just plain wrong to push a political issue while representing yourself as an "expert" with first hand knowledge and wearing a uniform to gain support.

The book, Stolen Valor by B.G. Burkett, exposes numerous phonies who did the same thing during and after Vietnam. This type of behavior goes way beyond simply making a "statement" or having "Freedom of Expression".

[williamkevin]

If I was his Lawyer I would just say it falls under the 1st and it was a Political Statement, and/or Freedom of Expression.

Are you serious?!?! Its illegal. If that were the case then we can just go out and impersonate LEOs and pretend to arrest people and say it was a political statement. It was a slap in the face to any and all who have worn or who wear any military uniform.

+1!!!

Makes my blood boil!!!

[marksiwel]

If I was his Lawyer I would just say it falls under the 1st and it was a Political Statement, and/or Freedom of Expression.

Are you serious?!?! Its illegal. If that were the case then we can just go out and impersonate LEOs and pretend to arrest people and say it was a political statement. It was a slap in the face to any and all who have worn or who wear any military uniform.

+1!!!

Makes my blood boil!!!

Now did I say I support this dirt bag? No . Just saying what I think will probably happen. Simmer Down.
Anyone read about how he would go dressed in BDUs to get better Airline Flights? Tsk tsk.

[williamkevin]

If I was his Lawyer I would just say it falls under the 1st and it was a Political Statement, and/or Freedom of Expression.

Are you serious?!?! Its illegal. If that were the case then we can just go out and impersonate LEOs and pretend to arrest people and say it was a political statement. It was a slap in the face to any and all who have worn or who wear any military uniform.

+1!!!

Makes my blood boil!!!

Now did I say I support this dirt bag? No . Just saying what I think will probably happen. Simmer Down.
Anyone read about how he would go dressed in BDUs to get better Airline Flights? Tsk tsk.

My displeasure wasn't pointed at you or XtremeDuty.45.

[marksiwel]

My displeasure wasn't pointed at you or XtremeDuty.45.

Coolio, sorry


So how did they catch this guy, I didnt catch that part.

[williamkevin]

Coolio, sorry


So how did they catch this guy, I didnt catch that part.

He showed up in a military uniform at Houston Mayor Annise Parker's inauguration. As I understand it, photos of him were taken by someone that is retired military who was also in attendance, and those photos found their way to channel 13 in Houston. You know what happens when they get hold of something like that.

[gregthehand]

All it took was a very short glance for me to see this guy was fake. The goatee is glaring and the SAS pin above a CIB, Master Parachutist Wings (with combat jump), Air Assault, and Rigger wings is totally wrong. Also when I looked at his medals it looks like he just went down the list of personal decorations and bought everything someone could rate but not any service medals. I won't go into the differences between the two but if you want to know just go and wiki search US military medals and you will see what I talking about.

Also I think the guy at the house they interviewed was the same idiot. He even had some stupid CIA hat on with the Brigadier General rank and a Purple Heart lapel pin on. Noticed he tilted his hat down to cover his face but he finally shaved that goatee. He was also wearing a CIA patch on that uniform at the dinner and some kind of foreign jump wings. I'm not sure which country.

Getting dressed up for a party is one thing. I would even get mad if I saw this guy there dressed like this. However I wouldn't cause as much of a scene until he started saying how he was actually a member of the military service and earned all his medals, badges, etc.

People like this just absolutely disgust me. As a veteran I know how to spot these fakes from across a room and I think I would have done a lot more than snap a picture of him.

[marksiwel]

Wow, you got all that from a glance? I'm impressed. Heck I still get confused on Rank (3 stripes= Sgt?) and then the medals and all that confuse me even more.
Yesterday I went to Chuy's and I saw this on the back of a car

I must have stared at it for a full minute before I realized it meant the guy was in the 1st Infantry Division, which is sad because I read the book "The Big Red One"

[gregthehand]

The badges and the pins yes. The awards I had to look at the picture of him up close to tell for sure. I did notice right off the bat though that he was wearing a Distinguished Service Cross (DSC), Distinguished Service Medal (DSM), Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart.

The DSC is not easy to come by. Not many people have been awarded one since Vietnam so when I see a very young person wearing one it always catches my eye. Same thing with the other services and their crosses. Sometimes the DSC is awarded to soldiers who would normally rate the Medal of Honor but all the people who witnessed their heroic acts are dead. This is because in order to be awarded a MOH there have to be witnesses.

I'm no war hero by any stretch but I have served with a few. Most will tell you they are no *blanking* hero and never sit their and brag about all their medals and achievements. I shook the hand of a Gen. Raymond Davis http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Davis_%28general%29. He was touring the Marine Military Academy, which I attended, and he wasn't in uniform showing off his awards nor did he tout that he was a MOH awardee or a general. He just complimented me for being at a good school that would build my character. I also worked on a training mission with Navy SEAL Team 5 while in the Army. Before I showed up to meet them before the training exercise I expected a bunch of very intimidating and scary bunch of guys. Far from it though as every single one of them was cool as could be and totally respectful of me and my troops. When they asked what I did in the Army and I told them (I was a HQ/REMF type guy that did targeting via satellite and UAV. Air conditioning and three hot meals a day type Army gig.) I expected them to laugh or mess with me. Just the opposite though. They seemed truly interested and somewhat impressed by what my unit did and wanted to learn all they could to better utilize our work to their ends. Truly some of the most professional yet HUMBLE people I have ever met. That's how REAL military heroes are to me.

That's what idiots like this don't understand. They put on these uniforms because they lead a pathetic life and have probably never accomplished anything that they can show. So what they do is they take away from those who have. Why is it a crime? Because when someone puts on these awards they undermine anyone who has ever actually been awarded them. The people who truly have can't wear their uniforms or awards with out being possibly called into question. Also people get the wrong impression of what people who have achieved things that this guy pretended to get the wrong image of what a veteran or highly decorated veteran really is. Thus the name of the offense. They STEAL valor from real military men and women. They ride on the backs of real heroes, some of which were not even alive after their acts to receive the small thanks that their nation could muster, because they are cowards and can't muster enough fortitude to go out and join up themselves.

Others have said push him into service. I disagree. Men of such cowardice and poor moral fiber have no place in the military as they are a risk to all those around them. They will wine, steal, and lie to their own ends in order to save their own worthless lives. So when the chips are down and the lives of their fellow serviceman are in the balance they will cut and run, give up information, or whatever they see fulfills their own requirement for safety. Then they will lie later to protect their reputation as not being a coward.

I wouldn't let this guy scrape mud off my HMMWV because I know he would find someway to mess it up and get the other soldier's riding in the vehicle or myself injured or killed the second he needed to out of selfishness should his safety or ours come into question.

Sorry for the long rant folks.

[TLynnHughes]

+1 with gregthehand

T.

[williamkevin]

The badges and the pins yes. The awards I had to look at the picture of him up close to tell for sure. I did notice right off the bat though that he was wearing a Distinguished Service Cross (DSC), Distinguished Service Medal (DSM), Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart.

The DSC is not easy to come by. Not many people have been awarded one since Vietnam so when I see a very young person wearing one it always catches my eye. Same thing with the other services and their crosses. Sometimes the DSC is awarded to soldiers who would normally rate the Medal of Honor but all the people who witnessed their heroic acts are dead. This is because in order to be awarded a MOH there have to be witnesses.

I'm no war hero by any stretch but I have served with a few. Most will tell you they are no *blanking* hero and never sit their and brag about all their medals and achievements. I shook the hand of a Gen. Raymond Davis http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Davis_%28general%29. He was touring the Marine Military Academy, which I attended, and he wasn't in uniform showing off his awards nor did he tout that he was a MOH awardee or a general. He just complimented me for being at a good school that would build my character. I also worked on a training mission with Navy SEAL Team 5 while in the Army. Before I showed up to meet them before the training exercise I expected a bunch of very intimidating and scary bunch of guys. Far from it though as every single one of them was cool as could be and totally respectful of me and my troops. When they asked what I did in the Army and I told them (I was a HQ/REMF type guy that did targeting via satellite and UAV. Air conditioning and three hot meals a day type Army gig.) I expected them to laugh or mess with me. Just the opposite though. They seemed truly interested and somewhat impressed by what my unit did and wanted to learn all they could to better utilize our work to their ends. Truly some of the most professional yet HUMBLE people I have ever met. That's how REAL military heroes are to me.

That's what idiots like this don't understand. They put on these uniforms because they lead a pathetic life and have probably never accomplished anything that they can show. So what they do is they take away from those who have. Why is it a crime? Because when someone puts on these awards they undermine anyone who has ever actually been awarded them. The people who truly have can't wear their uniforms or awards with out being possibly called into question. Also people get the wrong impression of what people who have achieved things that this guy pretended to get the wrong image of what a veteran or highly decorated veteran really is. Thus the name of the offense. They STEAL valor from real military men and women. They ride on the backs of real heroes, some of which were not even alive after their acts to receive the small thanks that their nation could muster, because they are cowards and can't muster enough fortitude to go out and join up themselves.

Others have said push him into service. I disagree. Men of such cowardice and poor moral fiber have no place in the military as they are a risk to all those around them. They will wine, steal, and lie to their own ends in order to save their own worthless lives. So when the chips are down and the lives of their fellow serviceman are in the balance they will cut and run, give up information, or whatever they see fulfills their own requirement for safety. Then they will lie later to protect their reputation as not being a coward.

I wouldn't let this guy scrape mud off my HMMWV because I know he would find someway to mess it up and get the other soldier's riding in the vehicle or myself injured or killed the second he needed to out of selfishness should his safety or ours come into question.

Sorry for the long rant folks.

Thanks G.....well said!