When "Stolen Valor" Goes Wrong: 75 Year Old Marine Accused Of Being Fake Veteran...

General General Discussion
1

As with all “well intentioned” ideas, you can always count on the dipshit squad to come along and do the worst possible thing.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2015/06/05/the-problem-with-publicly-accusing-someone-of-stolen-valor-what-if-youre-wrong/

On Memorial Day, Robert D. Ford took part in a wreath-laying ceremony in Pennsylvania. The 75-year-old wore his Marine dress uniform and played a bugle, according to the Patriot-News.

But after the ceremony, Ford stopped at a local arts festival. And that is where he apparently drew some unwanted attention.

At the festival, an American soldier, along with a Harrisburg police officer, publicly questioned Ford’s military service, according to the Patriot-News. Ford was labeled as a fake, the newspaper reported:

“He’s not a real Marine!” the officer shouted to the crowd gathered for the PennLive/Patriot-News Artsfest of Greater Harrisburg. “Stolen valor!”

“I was humiliated,” Ford told the newspaper.

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2015/06/harrisburg_artsfest_veteran_st.html

Robert D. Ford, 75, wore his Marine uniform on Memorial Day to participate in a wreath-laying ceremony in Harrisburg. He then went to ArtsFest, where a Harrisburg police officer accused him of being a fake. Here, Ford, at left, provides identification to police Capt. Deric Moody, while others watch.

Ford’s hat bore some wrinkles, according to the soldier’s assessment, and his belt buckle looked too ornate for his rank.

The soldier enlisted the help of a Harrisburg police officer working at the event, who was a Marine, and together, they accused Ford of being a fraud.

The only problem is Ford did serve in the Marines from 1958 to 1964. He earned the rank of lance corporal.

One would think a “peace officer” and a member of the military would know better. Hopefully they both get “straightened out” properly.

2

I’ve never understood these fukks who obsess on proving some guy’s service claims. Retards.

3

Being a “peace officer” does not mean you know jack shit about Marines. A Marine should have an idea whether someone else is a fake Marine. Until you can ascertain with reasonable certainty someone did not serve, you should not call them out in public.

I read the article and found the officers’ names, but could not find the Soldier’s name. If someone could provide the information it would be appreciated.

4

maybe teach that cop and the other guy a lesson in humility is in order :slight_smile: make them wear a diaper and suck a binky and have a sign saying what they did :slight_smile:

5

That is an NCO dress blues buckle, our honor guard and burial details wore them regardless of rank, so probably kosher if he was doing burial details, etc. That was in 1972.

6

True, but a “peace officer” should know quite a bit about discretion. Old timer in dress blues participating in a memorial event aren’t like the guy running for election claiming to have won a MoH. It’s one of those “you better be damn sure before you say anything” situations.

The entire premise of “stolen valor” concerns are presumably out of respect for veterans, what these two tards did was the exact opposite. Their actions were pretty high up on the “disrespectful” list.

7

I’m thinking a couple hundred “I really am truly sorry”, a few dozen beers, one really nice steak dinner and obligation to drive the veteran in question to and from any memorial event for the remainder of his natural life. Having to sit in silence while the veteran explains to them what a complete jackass they are during the entire ride is at the veteran’s option.

8

People should also keep in mind veterans, especially old timers, are known to wear all kinds of “unofficial” adornments on their uniforms. Everything from VFW pins to things that belonged to a “buddy” who might have served in a different military branch altogether and worn in “remembrance.”

9

Given how many fakes are running around and how it’s a nearly out of control problem, I can understand the obsession with this. Not just from a disrespect standpoint, but also with the type of fraud and scams so many of these guys are running.

But publicly disrupting a Memorial Day service, humiliating a man in front of an entire city based on a few things being a “little off” about his uniform?? Yes, that’s about trying to create a YouTube video, not protecting the integrity of veterans.

10

I’ve come across several fakes in my time. Some people seem to really jump the gun with these things. I’m guessing so they can get some recognition.

11

So they based their complaint off of a wrinkled cover and a EGA on the dress blues buckle? The buckle changed even when I was in from plain to the EGA for everyone and that was 20 years ago. I have no idea what the standard is now. Talk about open mouth and insert foot. AND that officer needs to get on a PT program before he tried calling anyone else out for uniform deficiencies. David

12

True. And it is not the cops place to get involved in it while on duty anyways.

13

I understand the desire to ‘out’ a fake and all, but one needs to exercise discretion.

I saw this very thing a few years back where I work…someone claimed to have been in SF in VN, people were quick to claim BS, he brought in indisputable proof. Once you are labelled with the Scarlet Letter it’s hard as hell to undo all of that.

14

What was that about a certain road being paved with good intentions??? This is what happens when stupid people are allowed discretion. They generally **** it up.

I haven’t kept up with the stolen valor laws, but I seem to recall the SCOTUS ruling that wearing uniforms and medals and what nots were free speech, so unless a guy is claiming benefits as in medical, financial or using his faked service for financial gain, like getting elected he wasn’t breaking any laws. Maybe instead of running is fat pie hole the cop should have used the time to run his fat ass around a corner. Society would have been better off. As for the other dipshit; maybe he needs to remember that uniforms change over time. Id like to see him in a remedial class on historic military uniforms from then Revolution to current.

Even one of the guys who championed the stolen valor concept is on the record as wanting to be certain before making accusations. You know like that whole concept of better to have 10 criminals go free than 1 innocent man in jail thing.

15

The soldier and cop were idiots, I agree, but I’m not sure what the Stolen Valor Act has to do with any of it. This easily could have happened without it. At least the gentleman in question wasn’t prosecuted.

16

Stolen Valor act had nothing to do with it, which is exactly the reason the idiot cop should have moved on and raided another donut shop. Even if the guy was a fake, he wasn’t doing anything illegal AFAIK. Not cool, deuchebagery yes, but that isn’t illegal yet.

17

The incompetence of local LEO’s seems to be on the rise, I’m a firm believer it is time to institute federal requirements before hiring…

18

Clowns going over the top like this looking for “stolen valor” to “expose” are worse attention whores than the douchebags pretending to be prior service for attention.

both groups need a few teeth knocked out.

19

In this case “Stolen Valor” is a concept, not really the specific act.

20

An apology to the Marine is in order.