Stolen Valor Act (anti Wannabees)

[Berta]

From Colonel Dan Cedusky email:

WASHINGTON - A bill mandating tougher punishment for military imposters

gained final approval from the House on Wednesday, and will now go to the

president to be signed into law.

The legislation, dubbed the "stolen valor act," calls for up to six months

in prison for anyone who falsely claims to have earned a military honor, and

up to a year in prison for fraudulently wearing a Purple Heart, Silver Star

or other high military honor.

Both crimes would also be classified as felonies, which can carry additional

penalties such as limits on gun ownership and disqualification from certain

public offices, depending on the state.

Under current law, anyone caught wearing a military medal they did not earn

faces a misdemeanor charge and up to six months in prison, but law

enforcement can't do anything to someone simply displaying or claiming to

have earned the honor.

House officials on Wednesday said the change closes that critical loophole

and helps protect the integrity of the military awards.

"These frauds have diminished the honor of our military heroes," said Rep.

John Salazar, D-Colo., who introduced the original version of the measure.

"They use it to gain credibility for themselves, and often go on to commit

even worse crimes."

Along with cases of individuals using the fake medals to gain speaking

engagements and community leadership roles, Salazar referenced crimes

committed in 2004 by retired Marine Sgt. Gary Lakis, who claimed fake combat

experience and nonexistent Silver Stars in order to gain $66 million in

defense contracts to provide training to the service.

The military revoked those contracts once Lakis was found to be lying about

much of his military career, but he fled the country before FBI

investigators could arrest him and charge him with fraud.

Rep. John Kline, R-Minn., said awards such as the Purple Heart "hold a

deeper meaning and value for servicemen that far outweighs their monetary

worth," and called the bill a chance to honor the sacrifice of all troops by

preserving the military's legacy.

The tougher penalties are backed by a number of veterans groups, including

the Vietnam Veterans of America and the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

As of late last week, supporters thought the bill likely wouldn't pass this

session because of House Republican leadership's resistance to moving a

measure proposed by Salazar, a first-term Democrat.

The measure approved yesterday was a nearly identical bill sponsored by Sen.

Kent Conrad, D-N.D., which was approved by the full Senate in September.

The White House has not released any timetable for when the bill could be

signed into law.

C 2006 Stars and Stripes. All Rights Reserved.

Stolen Valor Act of 2005 (Engrossed as Agreed to or Passed

by Senate)

S 1998 ES

109th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 1998

[betrayed]

Dear John,

I too am a vietnam era vet and although I never had to step foot out of the US, why is it that I should feel bad that I was not chosen to go over when I had volunteered for duty?

Josh

You shouldnt feel bad at all fcuk anyone who says you should you did your time, I was in 28 years a vet is a vet is a vet....................................

[john999]

No one should feel bad because they did not serve in Vietnam. My point is that people should not claim to have served in Vietnam if they did not serve there. I am sick to death of people telling me all the glory stories of spending three tours in Vietnam in combat and winning Silver Stars and Purple hearts and being in Special Forces or being SEALS. I don't care if someone was in Vietnam or not but why lie about it.

[Guest fla_viking]

Dear Fellow Veterans & Friends

In 1973 when I enlisted. Veitnam was winding way down so I felt safe I would not go there. Then a few months before I enlisted. North Veitnam invaded the south. Everything was up in the air. I at that time did not want to go to veitnam but enlisted anyways knowing I would go if ordered to do so. When I enlisted I knew I would not have control if I did or did not go to veitnam. I feel I did take a stand by possibely exposing myself to duty in veitnam but to this day im glad I did not have to go.

Terry Higgins

[kkp]

From Colonel Dan Cedusky email:

WASHINGTON - A bill mandating tougher punishment for military imposters

gained final approval from the House on Wednesday, and will now go to the

president to be signed into law.

It's amazing to me how subjects can be distorted from there original meaning. If you'll look above you'll notice it says Military imposter. not combat imposters. I'm here to tell you if you served on a ship delivering supplies or any other support groop, or was in the military during this era or any other era of war. YOU ARE A WAR ERA VETERAN.

Those who might have short memories may remember there were other hot spots in the world at the same time as nam.

My brother served in Germany the same time I was in South East Asia, Why ; because thats where his orders said he should go. While we were where we were, doing what our orders said, He was in Germany holding the Soviets at bay. remember( Gorby tear down this wall) If his orders said go to Nam, He would have went, and possably came home in a body bag, crippled, or who knows maybe even a Hero with a silver star. (I SUGGEST WE QUIT EATING OUR OWN AND REMMEMBER) SOME WERE CALLED, SOME WERE SENT, AND SOME JUST PACKED THEIR BAGS AND WENT TO CANADA. I think these latter ones and those who didn't serve, but pretend now that they did are the ones this bill was directed at. There may be a few vets that exagerate there statis, and it may not be right, but even that dosn't take away the fact they are VETERANS

[Tower_Rat]

yeah my father was a WWII veteran but, never had to step foot outside the US. Im glad he didnt have to fight in europe because he probably wouldnt have came back as many of our soldiers during that era did not.

[Hoppy]

Five years ago a friend of mine asked me to go on line and send an email to Presedent Bush explaining that a former congressional medal of honor reciepent was hospitalized and dying and that a card from the president would really cheer him up. I asked my friend if he was sure the guy had a congressional medal of honor. He said that the guy had a folder with pictures of the guy being awarded the medal by a former president and the medal itself.

I went online and found several sources for names of persons who had been awarded the medal of honor. The guys name was not on the list. I explained to my friend that I could not verify that the guy had a medal of honor that was legitimate. I told him if he could verify it then he can send an email to the president himself. I was not doing it.

Edited December 9, 2006 by Hoppy