Stolen Valor Kenneth Riege

STOLEN VALOR

By Kenneth Riege USAF 1985 – 1993

This is a very sore subject to all military and veterans and should be Stolen Valor to all citizens. Unfortunately it is By Kenneth Riege very common for veterans and even USAF 1985 – 1993 This is a very sore subject to all military and veterans and should be to all non-veterans to either exaggerate citizens. Unfortunately it is very common for veterans and even non-veterans about their own military service to either exaggerate about their own military service or to flat-out lie about or to flat-out lie about being in the being in the military. Most of us have heard those braggadocious stories of military. Most of us have heard those these great “one-man” missions they were on, but unfortunately since the braggadocious stories of these great mission was “classified,” they were not allowed to talk about it or it was left “one-man” missions they were on, off of their DD Form 214 (discharge form). A very dear friend of mine, H. but unfortunately since the mission Miyamura (who, of course, is a highly decorated veteran), told me this, and it was “classified,” they were not is so true; he said, “You hear guys talking about their military service and how allowed to talk about it or it was left they did this, that, or the other. Well I have come to the conclusion that those off of their DD Form 214 (discharge form). A very dear friend of mine, who did the least, talk the most.” H. Miyamura (who, of course, is a So, what is Stolen Valor and is there a law against this? The Stolen Valor Act of 2005 was signed into law by President George highly decorated veteran), told me W. Bush on 20 Dec. 2006 and was a United States Law that broadened the this, and it is so true; he said, “You provisions of the previous United States Law addressing the unauthorized hear guys talking about their military wear, manufacture, or sale of any military decorations and medals. The law service and how they did this, that, or the other. Well I have come to the conclusion that those who did the least, talk the most.”

So, what is Stolen Valor and is there a law against this?

The Stolen Valor Act of 2005 was signed into law by President George W. Bush on 20 Dec. 2006 and was a United States Law that broadened the provisions of the previous United States Law addressing the unauthorized wear, manufacture, or sale of any military decorations and medals. The law made it a federal misdemeanor to falsely represent oneself as having received any United States military decorations or medal. If convicted, defendants might have been imprisoned up to six months, unless the decoration lied about was the Medal of Honor, in which case, imprisonment could have been up to one year. In the United States v. Alavarez, the United States Supreme Court ruled on June 28, 2012, that the Stolen Valor Act was an unconstitutional abridgment of the freedom of speech under the First Amendment, striking down the law in a six to three decision. So, all this being said, it’s not against the law to lie about yourself. However, in 2013, a new Stolen Valor law was amended to make it a crime for a person to fraudulently claim to having received a “valor award” specified in the Act, with the intention of obtaining money, property, or other tangible benefits by convincing another that he or she actually received the award. The following is a list of Valor Awards as described by the United States Military and the Stolen Valor Act of 2013. • Medal of Honor • Distinguished Service Cross • Navy Cross • Air Force Cross • Silver Star • Bronze Star • Purple Heart • Combat Action Ribbon • Combat Infantryman’s Badge • Combat Action Badge • Combat Medical Badge • Combat Action Medal Most of these medals and awards are well documented. For example, if someone is claiming to be a Medal of Honor Recipient (and you do not know if they are) just go to CMOHS. org and look up their name. Every Medal of Honor Recipient and their Medal of Honor Citation are listed on this website. Or of course another easy way is to just google them. This also holds true for anyone claiming to have been a Prisoner of War. It is well documented on the internet everyone who was or is still listed as a Prisoner of War. There are some amazing books out there regarding Stolen Valor: Stolen Valor: How the Vietnam Generation Was Robbed of Its Heroes and Its History by B.G. Burkett and Glenna Whitley and Restoring Valor: One Couple’s Mission to Expose Fraudulent War Heroes and Protect America’s Military Awards System by Doug Sterner and Pam Sterner with

Michael Mink.

I have read both of these books and find them very fascinating and also very sad that there are people out there who, for some unknown reason, just flat-out lie about their own military service or make up some elaborate story just to make a buck or to achieve fame.

I for one am very proud of my own military service, and while my “rack” does not contain any “Valor Awards,” I worked hard for what I earned and have them proudly displayed in my home.

In closing, does this mean if you see someone in or out of uniform wearing a bunch of medals and ribbons or other military items you approach them and accuse them of Stolen Valor? My answer to that is no; please do not do this as you may not know this person and wouldn’t want to accuse someone of wearing something they actually earned. You also would not want to put yourself in a dangerous situation.

The best advice I can give is for those of us who have worn the uniform of our country is to be proud of your own military service. I am very proud of all my brothers and sisters who have taken that solemn oath to protect and defend this great country. And for those who did not serve, but are claiming to have done so, please stop. I know the First Amendment gives us the right to freely express ourselves, but do not dishonor those who have given their lives to protect this freedom. If you wish to express yourself in an honorable fashion, please do so in the following ways. Fly a flag at your home, or if you see a torn or tattered flag, offer to replace it. Visit the Gallup Veterans Helping Veterans post just to say hello or to have a cup of coffee, or just enjoy the freedoms we have in this country by being a great American.

kenneth reige

This month’s Medal of Honor quote comes from Mr. Lucian Adams, who received our nations highest award for Valor during WW2. I never had the honor of meeting Mr. Adams, but as I was looking through the Medal of Honor “Quote” book, I found this one to be so pertinent to this month’s story.

His quote is as follows:

“The legacy of brave men and women who fought and died for their country is the freedom we enjoy as Americans.”

This and many other great quotes from America’s greatest heroes can be found in the Medal of Honor “Quotes” Inspiration from American’s Military Heroes and is available from the Center for American Values in Pueblo, CO. Here is their website: http:// www.americanvaluescenter.org/

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