Harrisburg police officer wrongly accuses veteran, 75, of 'stolen valor'

pennlive.com ^ | Christine Vendel

[Dallas59]

An Army soldier attending Artsfest on Memorial Day thought something was fishy with the Marine uniform worn by 75-year-old Robert Ford, who was strolling along Front Street.

Ford's hat bore some wrinkles, according to the soldier's assessment, and his belt buckle looked too ornate for his rank.

The soldier enlisted the help of a Harrisburg police officer working at the event, who was a Marine, and together, they accused Ford of being a fraud.

"He's not a real Marine!" the officer shouted to the crowd gathered for the PennLive/Patriot-News Artsfest of Greater Harrisburg. "Stolen valor!"

"I was humiliated," said Ford, of Marysville.

[Salamander]

Yep.

[ansel12]

The woman said the ordeal lasted about 10 to 15 minutes. She described the officer as being antagonistic and said she believed the officer was trying to get Ford to make a move.

That could be true, today.

[Milton Miteybad]

Ford returned to shopping, but 10 minutes later was again confronted by the officer in front of The Patriot-News booth.

"Where did you go to boot camp?" the officer said.

Ford said he couldn't figure out why the officer was questioning his service. Ford hadn't claimed any war heroics and his uniform bore no combat medals.

"What am I trying to do?" Ford said. "Impersonate a lance corporal who never served in combat?"

I like this Marine's response. Not sure what point the cop thought he might make with the question about boot camp, though. Last I heard, there were only two recruit training centers for the USMC, and both are pretty well known.

[VRWCarea51]

Only if it was after they were both kicked in the nuts by a female Russian Olympic weight lifter.

Cowards hiding behind the badge. Experts on everything based on a hunch. They then lie afterwards about their behavior!

[DemforBush]

BTW, I think I’ve posted this story before, but I just have to share it again.

In a former life, I was an HR manager for a private security company. One time, at one of our job fairs, I interviewed this old timer who tells me about his military service. Specifically, he told me that had been a fighter pilot in the U.S. Navy. My first thought was “Fighter pilot? When, in WW1 ?!?”, but I kept it professional and let the guy tell his story.

Apparently, this *brave soul* started off flying the F-4 Phantom, then switched to flying F-16’s, and finished his career in the F-14 Tomcat. At some point during all of that, he was shot down over Vietnam by a SAM, and spent 5 years in rehabilitation before returning to the cockpit. All ended well, though, as he retired, in his words, “a full Colonel.”

I didn’t laugh at the guy, but oh man, did I have to fight the urge to ask him about the optimum lift-to-drag ratio on a Tomcat...

[familyop]

I was a retail clerk among other things during the ‘90s while serving in a combat platoon in the Guard. An old man recognized me as possibly one who’d been trained in light combat work (something about how initial training specific to that kind of MOS affects many of us) and told me that he’d lost his silver star long ago.

I sometimes know a former enlisted combat soldier, when I see one, too (or Marine infantry/small arms for that matter). Also sometimes could tell when someone was being honest. If my rusty memory serves, he’d been in the Korean Conflict.

I met quite a few men who’d been there (including some of the “Frozen Chosin”) and others who’d been in World War II. I was *not* qualified to be a member of the VFW, but they simply liked talking to me around work, home and coffee. They only had light combat training in common with me as soldiers and Marines. I was only a weekend warrior (while being a proud graduate of 13 weeks of total control, one-station unit training at Ft. Lost in the Woods).

I told him that we could probably call records and get a replacement. I contacted records. Seems the office was in St. Louis back then, if I remember correctly.

Not sure how long...seems that there was a little paperwork that I helped him with...maybe about six months. The old man came in with a big smile on his face and tears in his eyes to show me his silver star. He passed away not long after that.

I wonder what he’d been through with REMFs calling him a liar.

[golux]

“Ford did serve in the Marines from 1958 to 1964. He earned the rank of lance corporal.”

[healy61]

I am wondering, do the Harrisburg locals expect any better from the officers and Mayor’s office. The clownees were looking to take Mr. Ford out and hurt him. Someone needs to be protesting at the cop shop.

[Romans Nine]

I like your style.

It is truly ashame when they do hide behind a badge and exhibit no humility at all.

They will get theirs someday I am confident.

[Always A Marine]

This was never any of the police officer's business. All of this "hero" and "stolen valor" bullshit is getting way out of hand. This disgraceful incident shows that these silly Valor Vigilantes need to get on with living their own lives. The phonies don't really bother me, and sooner or later they always trip up and expose themselves.

Those of us who are veterans and even combat veterans are no better than anyone else. It might be appropriate to respect one's honorable service, but an occasional, sincere "Thank you" and a humble "You're welcome" square the account. Anything more is undeserved and just embarrassing.

Today's fawning Military and Veteran Worship is not only ridiculous but dangerous. At best, it reveals a society so unaccomplished and insecure that it must invent and overly sentimentalize "heroes" who are nothing of the sort -- it simply cheapens the word. At worst, it risks establishing a new class of privileged people who might begin to like the idea and actually behave like they are better than "ordinary" Americans. There are good and bad soldiers, and good and bad veterans. Good soldiers and good veterans ought to be respected, but history proves that strong armies are to be feared at home.

Let's grow up and act like adults.

[familyop]

"God D**n dog face should stick to looking for other dog faces committing acts of stolen valor. As a former Marine, I find his actions to be utterly repugnant."

"I am a former Marine and it wouldn’t be slander if be after, I’d be after the Army dog who attempted to rat me out and tell him he doesn’t rate to blow his breath in my presence and then proceed to dress down the “officer” like he’s never had an ass chewing before."

Were you two in rifle platoons in rifle (infantry) companies or another specialty altogether? From what Ford said (probably true), he might have been in a weapons platoon in a rifle company.

From the article,
"The soldier enlisted the help of a Harrisburg police officer working at the event, who was a Marine,...Ford said the officer waved his hand over his holstered weapon as if he were ready to draw it on Ford...Eventually, Moody, also a Marine, reportedly told Ford "it would be best if he just left,..."

The cops might have been REMFs or officers.

[familyop]

From the reporting about Moody in the piece, he may be investigating Ford more than anything else. Might be looking for any dirt he’s hoping to find on Ford. Dirty.

[Figment]

“What am I trying to do?” Ford said. “Impersonate a lance corporal who never served in combat?”

This should have been a clue to the dickheads messing with him. What valor am I possibly stealing?

[Ronin]

The old guy could have answered the questions. Five minutes of jawing would have convinced anyone that he wasn’t a fake.

[M1911A1]

Always A Marine nailed it.

So the guy had on the wrong waist plate. Guess what, old folks forget stuff. Hell, for all I know they changed the Uniform regs since I got out, or it was different before my time.

There’s no excuse for the inquisition. That’s a serious allegation to make, and you had best have your ducks in a row to make it.

On the other hand, I’m easy going enough that if a cop at a vet’s event told me my uniform was out of regs and then asked me where I went to boot camp, I’d tell him instead of cussing at him. Of course, It’d be a miracle if I could fit in my Blues today, so that’s all unlikely.

As to venerating vets, all well and good, but it is a good point to remember that in the US of A, we are all citizens together. At least, that used to be the idea.

[dragnet2]

Today's fawning Military and Veteran Worship is not only ridiculous but dangerous.

Those are great comments and I very much agree.

Vietnam guilt syndrome, when those returning home were ignored and even attacked for their trouble. I agree they need to get over it. It's become down right embarrassing.

I suggest they say thanks by targeting some energy on those who spend more tax dollars on millions of illegal aliens than our veterans.

[RetiredArmyMajor]

They really handled the situation wrongly in just about every possible way. Poor old fellow. God bless him for his military service and his ongoing work on behalf of his fellow vets.

That said, military regulations state that a veteran or even a fully retired military member may only wear their uniforms during certain prescribed situations and . . . it must be worn in exactly in accordance with regulation — just as if they were still serving themselves. Clean, pressed, perfectly aligned, every ribbon, badge and patch in its proper place. When the uniform isn’t worn correctly, it invites the skepticism of others, especially from currently serving members and also generates OTT responses from self-proclaimed vigilantes like these.

[Homer1]

disgraceful on the part of those officers and the mayor...

[familyop]

"Today's fawning Military and Veteran Worship is not only ridiculous but dangerous."

I've only seen the opposite of that in my locale on the CO Rockies. The only ones who are treated with any respect here are a couple of characters who brag about smoking dope and being Wiccans.

"...history proves that strong armies are to be feared at home."

We had very large military forces at times in the past, while our nation's moral character was the best in the world. Of my father's generation and the generation before him, most men enlisted.

Today, we have a much smaller military force. Look at our nation's moral character now. Not saying a large military force necessarily makes a cleaner nation, although initial training, if rough enough, is good for young men. But a country full of corruption might be more to fear than anything else.

[RetiredArmyMajor]

Those of us who are veterans and even combat veterans are no better than anyone else. It might be appropriate to respect one’s honorable service, but an occasional, sincere “Thank you” and a humble “You’re welcome” square the account. Anything more is undeserved and just embarrassing.

Today’s fawning Military and Veteran Worship is not only ridiculous but dangerous. At best, it reveals a society so unaccomplished and insecure that it must invent and overly sentimentalize “heroes” who are nothing of the sort — it simply cheapens the word. At worst, it risks establishing a new class of privileged people who might begin to like the idea and actually behave like they are better than “ordinary” Americans. There are good and bad soldiers, and good and bad veterans. Good soldiers and good veterans ought to be respected, but history proves that strong armies are to be feared at home.

---

Absolutely correct. I did 30 years and not until after 9/11 did all this bizarre idol worship begin.

1. You’re not a hero unless you actually do something heroic . . . and merely serving in the military isn’t heroic. Example: Every job in the military has its value, but what is heroic about being a top-notch military telephone lineman or base housing clerk who never serves abroad? (Nor does it demean his service or its value because he was never a direct combat troop who heard shots fired in anger.)

2. The military is, as you said, full of good folks and bad folks. They’re human beings. Those who actually served know this as fact.

3. Just give us our earned benefits. Don’t freak over us . . . in a good way or a bad way. Somehow we’ve gotten to where the civilian public thinks all veterans are either (a) damaged PTSD/TBI headcases ready to explode in violence or (b) the love child of Chesty Puller and Audie Murphy. True is, 99% are in between those two and concentrated in the center of the bell curve.