Posted on 12/27/2007 7:44:51 AM PST by SmithL
The new director of the Three Valleys Municipal Water District in Claremont introduced himself with tales so harrowing, so seemingly courageous, that people took notice.
Fellow board member Dan Horan said Xavier Alvarez told him he saved a U.S. ambassador – and the American flag – while wounded by gunfire during a daring rooftop helicopter rescue in Lebanon.
Horan said he was puzzled when Alvarez, a board member elected in 2006, later changed his story to say it happened in Iran. And he was skeptical when his colleague also bragged of rescuing Marines pinned down by Viet Cong gunfire in Vietnam.
On Sept. 26, authorities charged Alvarez, 49, with violating a 2005 federal "Stolen Valor Act" by standing up at a gathering of water officials in July and announcing he was a wounded veteran, 25-year Marine and a recipient of the fabled Congressional Medal of Honor. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Missakian, who is prosecuting the case, said Alvarez never served in the military.
To state Assemblyman Paul Cook, R-Yucca Valley, the case represents just one of many – far too many – episodes of people impersonating veterans, embellishing service records or claiming medals they never earned.
Cook, a Marine Corps veteran and a Purple Heart recipient in the Vietnam War, this year pushed through a California version of the Stolen Valor Act.
The law, which takes effect Tuesday, adds another tier of enforcement to the federal act by allowing state and local law enforcement to cite anyone who falsely dons or claims a military medal or decoration the person didn't earn.
Expanding upon an existing state statute allowing misdemeanor citations against people who falsely claim to be active service members or veterans, the law makes it an infraction to lie about military awards...
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
What is ironic about all the phony "heroes" is that they feel compelled to tell, and retel, their "exploits" over and over...in larger and more public forums. That is almost a sure sign that they are at the least, embellishing..at the worst, complete liars. Every comabt vet I've ever know..whether or not they've been highly decorated...is usually loathe to talk publicly about wartime experiences or medals..
Would this law apply to Kerry if he ever visits California and says his Nam lies.
“To state Assemblyman Paul Cook, R-Yucca Valley, the case represents just one of many – far too many – episodes of people impersonating veterans, embellishing service records or claiming medals they never earned.
Cook, a Marine Corps veteran and a Purple Heart recipient in the Vietnam War, this year pushed through a California version of the Stolen Valor Act.
The law, which takes effect Tuesday, adds another tier of enforcement to the federal act by allowing state and local law enforcement to cite anyone who falsely dons or claims a military medal or decoration the person didn’t earn.
Expanding upon an existing state statute allowing misdemeanor citations against people who falsely claim to be active service members or veterans, the law makes it an infraction to lie about military awards...”
Kerry is safe in Mass. and DC. The anti Americans in those areas would never pass a bill like this.
[I quickly corrected her, saying that I was a Vietnam-era Veteran.]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I concur.
I also make sure to point out that I was a Vietnam-era service member.
Did you get caught?
Just don’t call these imposters “phoney soldiers” or you’ll have DingyHarry after you.
“...that would make him 12 years old when he served in the Revolutionary War.”
Every able-bodied male who can carry a rifle, as they say. Sounds like your many-greats grandfather was a true patriot, and my genuine thanks to him for his service.
As another convicted criminal, Martha Stewart, would say... “It’s a good thing!”
My wife had Martha on for a few minutes yesterday to get a recipe from a visiting chef.
Martha looks like she could play middle line backer for USC, Oklahoma or some other pro football team.
Agreed. I think these "phony soldiers" are disgusting and falsely claiming medals is very offensive. But I don't think governments should be in the business of regulating offensive speech.
I guess he will be OK as long as all he actually wears is his Distinguished Rice’n’bun and Daisy medals.
Glad to see medal liars getting jacked up.. It’s despicable to see punks claiming honors that others fought and died so gallantly for..
“I received at least two more medals than my DD214 shows...”
Easily corrected by sending documentation and “Correction to Records” form...
More fruit salad for ya’....
Well, I always want verification before I accept information such as this so I was able to obtain the guy's personnel record and checked out his DD-214. While the guy did serve in the Marines in Vietnam, there was no indication that he received any medal other then the Vietnam service medal and a couple other basic ones.
I then checked all over the internet looking for info on this guy relevant to his medal status but there was absolutely nothing.
That being the case, the only conlusion left for me was that the guy was a phony and I told my friend this information. Unfortunately the guy was laid off in 2002 when the plant closed so my friend was never able to confront the guy with this information.......
LOL! That was a good one! Considering the fights I was in while stationed in Panama I'm thinking I should have qualified for some sort of Combat ribbon.....
The important medals (like the Navy Cross) can be verified on a couple of websites who list all the recipients of same. Next time the guy starts bragging, try to nail him down as to exactly what kind of medal he may have received then try to verify it on the web.
I also wore that uniform - proudly.
My "war stories" consist of the shenanigans we participated in as Divers and Pipefitters aboard a Destroyer Tender. Though we never sailed into Yankee Station, we did render services to the fleet when they went through a Tender Availability in our WESTPAC ports-of-call - Subic Bay, Kaosiung, Yokosuka and Sasebo. Three WESTPAC tours (64-67) plus our time in our homeport San Diego.
We were in Yokosuka at the time of the Tonkin Gulf incident. By nightfall, liberty had been cancelled, most of the ships in port left for Vietnam and we left two days later for Subic to be closer to the fleet.
My "war stories" would be more accurately described as "Sea Stories" of which there are plenty.
And that is the difference between a Fairy Tale and a Sea story right?
Fairy Tales begin.. “Once upon a time....”
Sea stories (and War Stories) start.. “This is no $h!t!”
Maybe, but the problem is, I was recently told that isn’t how it works. They said “You get a DD214 for ACTIVE service. Anything you received on your Reserve duty doesn’t count on that, unless it’s active duty”.
Oh well, it’s not like it really HAS to be there, I am not gonna get paid more for more medals, and it’s not gonna make any difference to anyone else :) (There were two more AF Commendation medals that aren’t showing there, and something else, I forget).
I’m a volunteer at the local airport, and in honor of all the GIs I see coming and going, I stuck my Vietnam and Korean service ribbons on my uniform vest last Veteran’s Day. Haven’t taken them off. I’ve been digging on the internet and can’t find whether this is legal or not. My retired Navy captain buddy says it is, and that guidelines have been recently promulgated. Has anyone found them?
“it’s not gonna make any difference to anyone else :)”
“AF Commendation medals”
Trust me...they give those to everyone....
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