Stolen Valor seems a bit heavy on this issue. He did serve in uniform. He went off the rails in two areas: Claiming he carried weapons of war “in war” and claiming a rank/title that he didn’t fully earn, so it was therefore rescinded.
What bothers me most is his claim that he had any actual war experience - He didn’t. Technically, neither did I since Somalia and the former Yugoslavia were not declared as anything but UN Humanitarian missions (UnProFor and Op Restore Hope) But I guarantee you, I have more combat experience than he does.
I despise people who embellish their military experience, on behalf of all those folks that lived a more dangerous day to day life than I did. Fallujah would be a good example. Those young men saw more action in a single week than I did in a whole 20yrs.
There’s no shame in not going into battle - Most folks don’t, but they stand ready to do so or actively support those that do. The uninitiated fully deserve their Veteran status and honors, in my opinion. Combat is different. It should never be claimed unless you were their - boots on- in the dirt, or on a ship being targeted.
Excellent post 👏
I always understood that after a person retires, they revert back to the highest rank held.
My neighbor across the street was a Command Sergeant Major who transferred to the Air Force Reserves and because there was no open slot for a Chief at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, he served as a Senior Master Sergeant. When he retired after 31 years of service, he reverted back to his E9 Command Sergeant Major rank.
This shouldn't be rocket science.
If he was reduced in rank and still had an Honorable Discharge, then it's a nothing burger. If he was reduced in rank and had an Administrative Discharge or a Dishonorable Discharge, his vileness should haunt him forever.
The claim of shouldering a firearm in battle when he didn't is the true sin.