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Phonies
Exposing the PosersCommentary by your Webmaster
C. Douglas Sterner
October 1, 2003
Recently I received a rather irate email from a gentleman who had been accused in a chat room of being a "poser"...a phony veteran. In his email he stated something to the effect that, "I am contacting you to find out if this guy (accuser) is part of your organization, as I know that the purpose of your organization is to find and expose phonies."
That email really rubbed me wrong. Quickly I responded that there is NO ORGANIZATION--that HomeOfHeroes.com is simply a one-man project, and that our purpose is NOT to find and expose phony veterans or phony heroes. From the day I launched this site nearly five years ago I've had but one purpose:
To preserve and share the stories of our TRUE heroes.Though that goal and purpose has never changed, unfortunately, much of my work over the last couple of years has been related to exposing phony Medal of Honor recipients and fraudulent claims to other high awards (DSC, Navy Cross, AFC) or prisoner of war status.
Quite frankly I would have much preferred to leave this dirty work exclusively to someone like B.G. Jug Burkett whose book Stolen Valor has done much to restore integrity to the term "Vietnam Veteran", or to FBI Agent Tom Cottone whose pursuit of phony Medal of Honor recipients is legendary. Quite unwillingly I've been pushed into joining their efforts simply by doing what I wanted to do, recording the history and exploits of our true heroes.
Several times each month I get emails from someone wanting to know why their husband, or father, or grandfather, or uncle--is NOT listed as a Medal of Honor recipient (or recipient of other high awards.) In most cases I am regaled with accounts of that loved-one's exploits of valor; stories that have been told in the family time after time. One such account, related by a man claiming the Air Force Medal of Honor, was that he was shot down over North Vietnam, taken to the Soviet Union as a POW where he escaped and stole a M.I.G., which he then flew to safety to land on an American aircraft carrier. (Seems quite similar to a movie I saw once.)
I fear that the prevalence of such war stories, the fraudulent claims to awards never earned, and the claims of war service by people who often never even wore a uniform has created a sad situation that requires a careful balancing act.
On one hand, I've noticed myself become cynical to the point that if I am not careful I could easily offend a true veteran and genuine patriot. The pursuit of phonies when it is one's primary objective can create a mindset in which one seeks to prove every story, always looking for the villain lurking around the corner. To do so is to short-change all who have served. I believe it is important to accept our fellow veterans at their word without a constant effort to "check them out." No veteran should ever have to prove himself. He or she has already done that.
On the other hand, when something is amiss, it is every veteran's responsibility to expose the phonies who steal from all of us. I regularly receive emails about individuals wearing awards, or even claiming a Medal of Honor, from persons who want to verify but don't want to confront. "This guy is a real nice guy and an important person in our community, so I don't want to stir up trouble. I just want to find out if he really ________."
Regardless of how nice a person may be or who influential they are in the community, a THIEF is a THIEF. Anyone who steals an identity that is false should be promptly reported and exposed for the liar they are. Doing that is every veterans responsibility.
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