"Stolen Valor"

June 9th, 2018

By Jim Culp

"Stolen Valor" is a relatively new term, but the issue it covers is as old as when the Greeks attacked the City of Troy 2500 years ago. The term refers to a person portraying himself as a soldier of some sort, or even a soldier portraying himself as a more glorified soldier, such a mechanic telling people that he is/was a Navy SEAL or an Army Green Beret.

I can easily think back to my early teens...and the persons of this type that I had encountered.
I knew a guy that was about 23 when I met him...I was about 14 or 15. We were instant friends, and I loved his Army stories. My best guess now is that he was a transportation type, probably a truck driver, and his unit moved missiles from base to base in what then was West Germany under US Army control. I assume he ran into Special Forces types on these bases, because he used to make that known; ever to a dumb ass kid that had never been further than a few states away from home. But as time passed, we (friends, brothers, and co-workers) could even figure out how much the guy was bull-shitting; simply by the claims he would make such as single-handedly killing 200 or even 400 men by himself. He also claimed to be personal friends with David Bowie and Jeff Lynne. Well, needless to day, the old boy was a joke to most of us, but he could buy us beer.

When I arrived in Korea in early June of 1985, I was immersed into the Army life, and the day to day drudgery of peace-time soldiering. We worked six days per week, and had training exercises every time we turned around. But one thing I knew in that unit was this...I knew where each and every man in my platoon stood, and I knew their abilities. Some guys were better at the boats, some the bridge....but we always kicked those missions in the ass and had the medals to show for it.

One day I was in Yong-san, a part of Seoul; and was looking around in the sword shop.
A guy walked past me, and we bumped into one another. I immediately turned around and saw Colonel rank on his jacket, and snapped to attention.
"Sorry Sir! I belted out."
There is no mistaking that big silver eagle on a Colonels shoulder bar. It stands out proud as if to say "you better get that way!"
"It's ok, troop. Where you stationed?"
"Camp Pelham, Sir...2nd Engineers."
"Well, we're just going to have to come up there one day and see you."
"Yes sir! I belted out again."
"Ok, kid...carry on..." he said as he walked out of the shop."
I turned to the old man that ran the store, and asked him "hey Pop...is that guy a regular Joe?" {Someone that comes in often}
The old man made the sign that elderly Koreans make with his hands. The sign means 'taboo" or "false person."
I returned to my unit, but I kept thinking about that guy, and sure as shit stinks...that night...it popped into my head. I had gone through the In-processing Center at Dongducheon with this asshole that past summer. The guy was a frickin' PFC! (The same rank I was presently...)
Time went by, and I forgot all about it. It wasn't until the next May, and I was out-processing at the same camp (called the Turtle Farm.) I read a newspaper, and in the corner of the first page was a photo of "the Colonel", and the details of his Court- Martial. He was headed to the disciplinary barracks at Fort Leavenworth for five years. Stolen Valor sure didn't work for that old boy.
While contracting with Allied Container Systems in 2011, I was on a job at a Naval Test Station.  I spent a long day out in Fallon, Nevada with three Navy SEALS, because I was building a specialty range for them. They were very ordinary guys, and none of them had been shot 67 times, nor had they dragged six wounded guys to a helicopter 14 miles away in the dark.
I know guys that spent three tours of Vietnam, and have less medals on their chests than most Corporals do today.
I've learned to live with Stolen Valor, because it is rampant in our electronic and uncaring society. Actors and Singers get more praise than teachers, surgeons, or people that genuinely care for the elderly. People play Call of Duty, then go to the mall and think they are something they are not. They're chumps....don't let them bother you.
I don't ever wish prison or Court-Martial for anyone, but there is an old saying that says "Shoot One...the Rest will Listen...."