Stolen Valor

Here in Tacoma, there is a blog called "Lights & Sirens" .  It's a newspaper blog staffed by the local crime reporters and they report on all things "lights and sirens" related.  The report on crime, accidents and related topics that happen in our county.  The other day, they asked a question concerning  an op-ed by Jonathan Turley in USA Today. 

Should wearing unearned military medals continue to be a crime?

They cite a couple of local idiots that got caught and convicted.

There have been at least two men with local ties convicted of wearing unearned military medals during the past few years: Reggie Buddle and Steve Bennest.

Reggie posed as a Marine Chaplian and Bennest tried to squeeze out a few extra VA bennies.  There is another local twit they forgot about named Jesse MacBeth who got involved with the Iraq Veterans Against The War (IVAW).  Jesse told tales of slaughter and war crimes before being outed as a fraud. 

Mr. Turley argues:

We can all agree that false claims of military honors are repugnant and worthy of social condemnation. These men deserve to be social pariahs, but there remains a serious question over whether they deserve to be criminal defendants. We should spend our time and resources on creating easily accessible resources to uncover false claims. We also need to remember that, in the end, true valor cannot be stolen. It can only be earned. What is left are pathetic pretenders who should not add constitutional injury to social insult.

In other words, we should make it easy to expose them.  And once they are exposed, we should just look down upon these misguided twits and not invite them to our next cocktail party.  Right. 

Some folks try to make the claim that we will make criminals out of halloween costume wearers and actors performing on a stage.  If the law is written that loosely, then it needs to be changed. 

I remember back in the seventies when it was tres chic for the hippies to wear military uniform pieces, medals and the like.  I didn't like it, but I saw it as harmless.  The harm (and this is where any legal guns should be aimed) is when someone uses unearned medals, rank or official recognition in order to pad their resume, or receive some financial benefit (either government or private) and or for some some criminal purpose.  If you think it will get you elected by falsley claiming that you won a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart, then you should be subject to a fraud charge.

Mr. Turley is correct, you cannot steal true valor, you can steal the adulation and rewards  To me, its a lot like counterfeit money.  It just doesn't rob the person you pass it to, it robs all of us.  It literally can weaken currency if someone prints enough (Like North Korea tried to do a while back) and it then makes every other 50 dollar bill in your wallet suspect.  If a soldier who truly was a combat veteran with awards for valor comes along, instead of taking him at face value, we look at him with a certain amount of skepticism.

Yes, it should continue to be a crime.  It is a misdemeanor, but I would suggest that if you falsely claim a Bronze Star and above, or receive some tangible benefit, then it should be a felony. 

VW

Comments

[FlagGazer]

Why is this less of a crime than pretending to be a lawyer or an architect or an engineer or a doctor -- anything that you have to EARN? People who pretend to be some professions are charged with crimes if they benefit from it - I don't see this as any different.

I would like to know why people are so reticent to charge fraudsters with crimes.

[John Hampton]

After reading the articles about these guys and totally "getting it" regarding what those guys did, I can't understand why so many of the other readers who left comments still don't get it. In fact, upon reading Mr. Turley's complete article, I'm not sure that he gets it either.

The guy who was posing as a military chaplain was performing weddings and funerals! The other guy's intent was to commit monetary fraud. There's a big difference between those sorts of things and a professional (or unprofessional) actor on a stage, or someone at a halloween costume party.

The costume party thing is kind of intriguing to think about, though. I don't have any problems with someone dressing up in fun as SGT Rock of Easy Company or Rambo. I would really have to wonder, though, about someone who attended a costume party with a complete and authentic military dress uniform, posing as a decorated NCO or commissioned officer. Hmmm...he might not be able to gain anything monetarily, but I bet he'd pick up a good-looking babe before the night was over.

There shouldn't be any question in cases involving fraudulent representation for the purpose of monetary gain that it is a crime.

[Scott]

It's all said and done by you, VW, and your other posters: posing for monetary or social gain should be a punishable criminal behavior. A costume is one thing, but anything beyond that is fraud, and should be treated as such.

[Bloviating Zeppelin]

I'm with Scott; if it's utilized in order to acquire a level of service, trust, accommodation, benefit (monetary or otherwise) above the norm -- then yes, it should be a crime. Displaying medals to make others think you're a big shot only. . .not so much.

I would submit it revolves around a fidiciary or benefits fraud.

BZ

[BobF]

Excellent post.

Don’t know if VW remembers the case of CMSgt Spenser Dukes who claimed to be Battan Death March survivor and former POW during WWII. Chief Dukes was a featured speaker at enlisted Professional Military Education banquets and Enlisted Dining-In’s all over the United States. He spoke at Malamstrom AFB while I was there and his story would literally bring tears to your eyes. Stories had been written about him in the Air Force Sergeants magazine and the First Sergeant of the Year award was about to be named after him. Chief Dukes also had a very powerful supporter, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force David Campanlae, who ridiculed other Death March survivors who tried to expose Chief Dukes.

Chief Dukes was eventually exposed for the fraud he was. This man had the senior Air Force leadership fooled. Nobody at that level bothered to look into his records; they just took him at his word. If this man, who was wined and dined at Air Force expense all over the United States cold fool the Senior Leadership, just think what someone could possibly get out of a civilian or local veterans organization.

http://www.us-japandialogueonpows.org/Stolen%20Valor.htm