Man wearing unearned military medals is seen by Navy commander at HS reunion

[ScubaGuy]

When I saw the title I was sure this would be a thread about their own TomInTib.

Not about Tit

Liberal_in_LA  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Wed Nov-11-09 11:52 PM
Original message
Man wearing unearned military medals is seen by Navy commander at HS reunion
   
Palm Springs man charged with wearing unauthorized military medals to surrender
November 11, 2009 | 8:50 am

A Palm Springs man who has never served in the military is expected to surrender to authorities Thursday to face charges of wearing military medals he did not earn, authorities said today.

Steve Burton, 39, has agreed to surrender at the U.S. District Court in Riverside. He was charged Friday by federal prosecutors in L.A. with the unauthorized wearing of military medals after he was allegedly seen and photographed wearing military uniforms and decorations.

The FBI was contacted by a Navy commander after she attended her high school reunion and saw Burton wearing a Marine Corps uniform displaying several medals, including the Navy Cross, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and others, according to an affidavit filed in United States District Court.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/11/phony-nav...

The misdemeanor offense of unauthorized wearing of military medals carries a statutory maximum penalty of one year in federal prison.

-..__...  (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Thu Nov-12-09 10:22 AM
Response to Reply #1
67. Stolen Valor Act
   


The Stolen Valor Act of 2005 (the Act), signed into law by President George W. Bush on December 20, 2006,<1> is a U.S. law that broadens the provisions of previous U.S. law addressing the unauthorized wear, manufacture, sale or claim (either written or verbal) of any military decorations and medals. It is a federal misdemeanor offense, which carries a punishment of imprisonment for not more than 1 year and/or a fine; the scope previously covered only the Medal of Honor.

The Act was first introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on July 19, 2005 by Representative John Salazar, a Democrat from Colorado, as H.R. 3352.<2><3> It was introduced into the Senate by Senator Kent Conrad, a Democrat from North Dakota, on November 10, 2005 as S. 1998.<4><5> The Senate version was passed unanimously on September 7, 2006.<5><6> The Senate version then went to the same House Judiciary Committee that held the House version. The Act briefly stalled, but the House subsequently passed the Senate version, S. 1998, on December 6 2006.<7>

The purpose of the Act is to strengthen the provisions of 18 U.S.C. § 704 by broadening its scope and strengthening penalties. Specific new provisions in the Act include: granting more authority to Federal law enforcement officers, extending scope beyond the Medal of Honor, broadening the law to cover false claims whereas previously an overt act had to be committed, covering mailing and shipping of medals, and protecting the reputation and meaning of military heroism medals.<3><5> Under the act, it is illegal for unauthorized persons to wear, buy, sell, barter, trade or manufacture "any decoration or medal authorized by Congress for the armed forces of the United States, or any of the service medals or badges awarded to the members of such forces." In the 18 months after the act was enacted, the Chicago Tribune estimates 20 prosecutions. The number is increasing as awareness about the law spreads. <8>

The Act was likely passed in order to address the issue of persons claiming to have been awarded military awards for which they were not entitled and exploiting their deception for their personal gain. For example, as of June 2, 2006 there were only 120 living Medal of Honor recipients, but there were far more known imposters.<9><10><11> There are also large numbers of fake Navy SEALS<12><13> and Army Special Forces,<14> among others.

niyad  (1000+ posts)  Journal  Click to send private message to this author  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Thu Nov-12-09 12:05 PM
Response to Reply #67
79. so this lovely little act was promulgated by two dems? and they didn't charge georgie boy
   
with violations for wearing that damned flight suit and pretending to fly that plane?

That much stupid should hurt.

Kansas Wyatt  (1000+ posts)  Journal  Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Thu Nov-12-09 01:17 AM
Response to Reply #7
36. Freeper looking to score with the chicks.
   
Edited on Thu Nov-12-09 01:18 AM by Kansas Wyatt
Desperately trying to make it look like he is somebody...

'Well, since I just got back stateside, mom is letting me live in the basement, until I'm shipped off on another classified mission.'

Looks like the 'Moran' Brigade just lost it's Colonel.

bullwinkle428  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Thu Nov-12-09 12:15 AM
Response to Original message
9. I wonder what his Freeper username is?

Like your own heroes TomInTib, MonkeyMan, Jessie MacBeth?

[NHSparky]

Seems that the libtards are the ones more prone to being phony vets, if you look at the VVAW/IVAW types.  Maybe I should drop a line to the boys at Blackfive and TAH, see what they think.

ETA: Just off the top of my head, who was  Rick Duncan/Rick Strandlof appearing in commercials for?  Oh, yeah--DEMOCRATS!!!

[TheSarge]

Seems that the libtards are the ones more prone to being phony vets, if you look at the VVAW/IVAW types.  Maybe I should drop a line to the boys at Blackfive and TAH, see what they think.

ETA: Just off the top of my head, who was  Rick Duncan/Rick Strandlof appearing in commercials for?  Oh, yeah--DEMOCRATS!!!

Who was the ex-Marine running around with Cindy Lou Who claiming to be a combat vet that really wasn't?  Was he with IVAW?

[BlueStateSaint]

Seems that the libtards are the ones more prone to being phony vets, if you look at the VVAW/IVAW types.  Maybe I should drop a line to the boys at Blackfive and TAH, see what they think.

I'd say yes, you should.

[NHSparky]

Who was the ex-Marine running around with Cindy Lou Who claiming to be a combat vet that really wasn't?  Was he with IVAW?

Dunno.  Just hit the "Phony Soldiers" tab on TAH and prepare to be amazed.

[JohnnyReb]

That much stupid should hurt.

It does.....why do you think they need so many drugs.

[jukin]

I have a Franklin that says, Obama voter.

[vesta111]

Dunno.  Just hit the "Phony Soldiers" tab on TAH and prepare to be amazed.

OH-OH  I think I may be in trouble.

I have a special vest that I have pinned my sons ribbons and medals on, a few from my Dad  and a couple that my grandfathers EARNED in WW1.

I wear the vest a couple times a year at patriotic occasions, ------Am I going to go to Jail????

[Texacon]

OH-OH  I think I may be in trouble.

I have a special vest that I have pinned my sons ribbons and medals on, a few from my Dad  and a couple that my grandfathers EARNED in WW1.

I wear the vest a couple times a year at patriotic occasions, ------Am I going to go to Jail????

Are you wearing a full uniform and telling folks you earned them?  If not you are fine. 

Personally.......when I see someone wearing or claiming to be Airborne they are going to get some hard questions from me.  That is an award I'm VERY proud of and I don't take folks claiming it lightly.

KC

[vesta111]

Are you wearing a full uniform and telling folks you earned them?  If not you are fine. 

Personally.......when I see someone wearing or claiming to be Airborne they are going to get some hard questions from me.  That is an award I'm VERY proud of and I don't take folks claiming it lightly.

KC

Were you a Jumper Tex.?   

[Texacon]

Were you a Jumper Tex.?   

Yes I was. 

KC

[NHSparky]

OH-OH  I think I may be in trouble.

I have a special vest that I have pinned my sons ribbons and medals on, a few from my Dad  and a couple that my grandfathers EARNED in WW1.

I wear the vest a couple times a year at patriotic occasions, ------Am I going to go to Jail????

Let's put it this way--if I see you wearing dolphins, I'll know they're not yours, and ask you whose they are and that would be that.

I'm not averse to showing respect towars our veterans, but pretending to be what one is not, well, there's a world of difference there.

[dandi]

Kansas Wyatt  (1000+ posts)  Journal  Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Thu Nov-12-09 01:17 AM
Response to Reply #7
36. Freeper looking to score with the chicks.
   
Edited on Thu Nov-12-09 01:18 AM by Kansas Wyatt
Desperately trying to make it look like he is somebody...

'Well, since I just got back stateside, mom is letting me live in the basement, until I'm shipped off on another classified mission.'

Looks like the 'Moran' Brigade just lost it's Colonel.

Well, as a come-on in a singles bar it beats, "Yep, just got back from the Gay Pride parade, showing my solidarity with my Pink brothers. Not that I'm gay...I mean...there's nothing wrong with that, obviously, or I wouldn't have spent all day in these assless chaps. Well, there was that weekend with my Sociology prof at his beach house. But that was college, you know, and...ahem... Anyway, wanna come to my place for some chamomile tea, granola and 9/11 Truth blogging? I've got some rockin' Joan Baez records...

[AprilRazz]

OH-OH  I think I may be in trouble.

I have a special vest that I have pinned my sons ribbons and medals on, a few from my Dad  and a couple that my grandfathers EARNED in WW1.

I wear the vest a couple times a year at patriotic occasions, ------Am I going to go to Jail????

If you are not wearing a uniform and claiming they are yours then you have nothing to worry about.
What WWI ribbons do you have?