It's the Law: Medal liars face new sanctions

Sacramento Bee ^ | 12/27/7 | Peter Hecht

[SmithL]

State law enforcement may now cite those who falsify their war exploits.

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...

[Gamecock]

KRAMER: Some taxidermy that’s been in my family for generations, my Tony, my... military discharge.

JERRY: (doubtful) You were in the Army?

KRAMER: Y- B-briefly. Now, I gotta find a good place to hide this key. Because if somebody finds this, they hold the key to all my possessions. (makes a clicking sound)

/cut

KRAMER: (stuttering gibberish, gestures that they should leave) A little... privacy, uh?

JERRY: Oh, come on!

ELAINE: Oh!

KRAMER: Come on, Jerry, this is a security issue! (Elaine laughs) Boy, you wouldn’t last a DAY in the Army.

JERRY: (walking towards door with Elaine) How long did you last? (opens door)

KRAMER: Well, that’s classified.