Claims of medals amount to stolen valor

[n2doc]

Tribune investigation reveals hundreds of unsupported claims regarding veterans with war medals

By John Crewdson | Tribune correspondent
1:53 AM CDT, October 26, 2008

WASHINGTON - Scores of Americans, from clergymen to lawyers to CEOs, are claiming medals of valor they never earned.

A Tribune investigation has found that the fabrication of heroic war records is far more extensive than you might think.

Take the online edition of Who's Who, long the nation's premier biographical reference. Of the 333 people whose profiles state they earned one of the nation's most esteemed military medals, fully a third of those claims cannot be supported by military records.

Even in death, these stories live on. A look at 273 obituaries published in the past decade alone found that in more than four of five cases, official records didn't support decorations for bravery attributed to the deceased.

The Tribune also found bogus decorations, including at least two Medals of Honor, engraved on headstones in military cemeteries across the country.

In all, more than half the medals for bravery examined, including the exalted Medal of Honor, are unsupported by official military records obtained by the Tribune from federal archives under the Freedom of Information Act.

The men whose obituaries or profiles in Who's Who make these claims are mainly individuals of note and accomplishment: lawyers, physicians, clergymen, CEOs, business executives, company presidents, university professors, career military officers, teachers, policemen, elected officials, even a psychiatrist.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-valor-oct25,0,4301227.story

[Jackpine Radical]

1. EVEN a psychiatrist?

Now, if a PSYCHOLOGIST (other than maybe Dr. Phil) were to make a false claim like that, I'd be surprised.

[baldguy]

2. Even Presidents

According to his ANG22 (The Air National Guard discharge papers), received NO Texas National Guard Medals. This means he did not faithfully execute his duty for five years in the TANG.

Furthermore, in the following photograph he wears two Air Force ribbons, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, and the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon :
Neither of which show up on this line of his ARG22:





Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (verified via photograph only)
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (verified via photograph only)

more
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/8/23/113152/124

[n2doc]

3. kick n/t

[Orsino]

4. America's cult of militarism demands sacrifices...

...of rational thought and self-respect. Knee-jerk "support our troops" stances ignore the harsh reality of endless war's erosion of military readiness. We have to lie to ourselves to get on board this bus--why is it surprising that some will want to steal a bit of that reverence which comes so cheap?

[tammywammy]

5. That's horrible

They should be prosecuted for Stolen Valor.