I wore my Dad’s field jacket from his time at the Infantry school. It had his jump wings and the “Follow me” patches sewn on. No one ever mistook me for “stolen valor.” And I never suggested for a second that I had served.
I understand times have changed. I was proud of his service. But too many people like to pretend the are something they are not.
I don’t know when “back then” was for you but “stolen valor” wasn’t probably much known or thought of. I think it has become an issue since the internet has enabled folks to claim it, politicians willing to lie about having served to get votes, or the idiots who are so self-centered that they need attention. The latter are, in what I’ve seen, created their outlandish dress uniforms that mix service insignia, etc, that an military ignorant populace doesn’t recognize as frauds. And who don’t know enough history to realize the Bravo Sierra they are being fed.