It Hits the Fan When a Military Vet Spots a Homeless Man in Uniform with a Badge That Gives Him Away

IJ Review ^ | 4/1/15 | Frank Camp

[Impala64ssa]

A newly released video shows a military veteran chasing down a Florida panhandler who thought he could get away with pretending to be a veteran.

According to Tampa Bay ABC affiliate WFTS:

“Garrett Goodwin, a military veteran, said he was driving to MacDill Air force Base on Sunday when he saw the panhandler and decided to confront him.”

In the video, Goodwin follows the panhandler, who is trying to walk away from him when he demands to see the panhandler’s military ID card. When the man admits he doesn’t have one, Goodwin tells him:

“You take my uniform off!”

While following the fraudulent veteran, Garrett Goodwin sums up the issue near the end of the video:

“That’s my uniform. My brothers died for that uniform.”

IJReview spoke with U.S. Congressman Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio), who’s a Lt. Colonel in the Army Reserve, served in Iraq 2005-2006 as a combat surgeon, and is a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs and Armed Services Committee and Chairman of VA’s Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.

Speaking of the Massachusetts “Stolen Valor” bill, which would go further than federal law, Wenstrup said:

“That we even have to take such actions is sad. I co-sponsored a similar bill in 2013, but it had to be something criminal and fraudulent. I think the [Mass. Bill] would hold up. Obviously, there needs to be harm to someone [for a stolen valor bill to hold up in court]. If they’re lying for financial gain.

We’re a country that tries to help those in need, but to misrepresent is something else entirely. Lying is always ugly, but there’s a free speech component. However, profiteering may be subject to criminal prosecution.”

It’s unfortunate that homeless persons are reduced to panhandling for money, but that doesn’t give someone an excuse for disrespecting the brave men and women in uniform who sacrificed for this country.

[gundog]

Is that you, Kosmo?

[Gamecock]

Or a shyster sponging a hustling money.

Give them a few bucks if it makes you feel better.

[gundog]

I ignore them utterly.

Well...there was a guy with an "I'll bet you can't hit me with a quarter" sign. Thought about going home for the slingshot, but...too much trouble.

[Rides_A_Red_Horse]

You can buy cammo anywhere. There is no law that says non-vets cannot wear cammo.

---

There’s no law against buying and wearing a white lab coat and a stethoscope but can you pose as a doctor?

[Rides_A_Red_Horse]

I will give a brother/sister a hand. But it is incumbent on them to convince me that they indeed served.

---

If someone truly served they can show up at the VFW, DAV or American Legion. They will get assistance.

[Rides_A_Red_Horse]

Even those who held restricted jobs and went to “DATA MASKED” locations have had training which is NOT classified.

Your MOS or AFSC is NOT CLASSIFIED!

I worked in a Combined/Joint organization with an international coalition and upon completing my tour I signed a fifty year non disclosure statement.

[Vigilantcitizen]

I dont remember my senior chiefs name from USN bootcamp in Orlando...but we were co. 006 and I was the olympic flag bearer we won amongst all recruit classes of our same time frame. Oct - Dec 1985.

Ill never forget leaving rtc orlando in dec 85 and landing at Ohare for two plus years of gunnery and missle scholl at great lakes.

I dont remember having an mos...but I was a gunners mate missles...or gmm3. My ship was cg-19...uss Dale.

[Repeal The 17th]

Who was your Drill Sergeant?
Sgt. Hernandez who was most often quoted as saying,
“Take care of your feets, and your feets will take care of you!”
1971

[dfwgator]

- Who's that? Who's there?

- Police! We've had complaints about con men pretending to be blind and crippled.

- I ain't seen nothing since I stepped on that landmine in Vietnam. It was very painful.

- You were in 'Nam? So were we. Where?

- I was in... Sang Bang... Dang Gong... I was all over the place, a lot of places.

- What unit?

- I was with the Green Berets, Special Unit Battalions... Commando Airborne Tactics... Specialist Tactics Unit Battalion. Yeah, it was real hush hush. I was Agent Orange, Special Agent Orange, that was me.

- Airborne, huh?


- I can see! I can see! I have...I have legs. I have... Oh ...., look at this. Legs! I can walk. Jesus, praise Jesus.I appreciate this. Oh, this is beautiful. I can't believe... Thank you.

[TXnMA]

Nope...

[gundog]

Just another “Seinfeld” reference...as if one were needed.

[piasa]

Down here in FL begging is a sport for the high school kids so they can get money without having to steal it from Mom’s purse again.

[gundog]

When I was down there, the Haitians would lay in the road and rob people that stopped to help. I think a couple of human-speed-bump incidents put a stop to that.

[piasa]

That’s an old Chicago trick too.

[ViLaLuz]

These days the VA won’t issue cards to all vets. You have to be retired or within 5 years of your last active duty.

[sarasmom]

If you can get them to go. Some won’t, no matter how often you try to help them get help.Some already get a little help, but prefer to remain primarily on the streets.

I’ve given cash, food, a jacket,and packs of smokes to a local panhandler I had “vetted”. He was the the only one out of hundreds in the area.

Very few panhandlers are military veterans.

Oddly enough, most panhandlers in Florida aren’t even poor, or homeless.
It’s a well known cottage industry scam, around here.
Particularly in the larger tourist trap areas.

It comes in waves...usually seasonal.

[Half Vast Conspiracy]

Avionics AGE? A good buddy of mine did that.

I was a 325X0...among many others.

[Half Vast Conspiracy]

Doesn’t the VA issue VA medical cards to veterans? Don’t know. .

Not to all, as far as I know. You will get one if you have a service connected disability and get care through the VA.

[Yo-Yo]

Integrated Avionics Component and Automatic Test Station Specialist. Worked on LRUs for the F-111A/E and the test stations that ran the diagnostics on the LRUs. Mtn. Home AFB 1978-81.

[longfellow]

Just the posers, whether or not they’re homeless.

Then Feed the homeless to the hungry.