MadMike Loc: SALT LAKE

Here in Salt Lake a man has been recognized, and honored for being a POW. Claimed to have been imprisoned in VIET NAM for 6months. Been on TV and several stories in the news. SOMEONE decided to check his facts, since they had been in the group he claimed to have served with, at the same time.
No records of him being a POW, or even serving in VIET NAM. He was drafted, and served two years statside.
So what should they do to him? There is a lot of talk of prosecutiing him. I know several Vets who served and I see vets at the VA who were injured, or imprisoned at one time. My vote of course is YES prosecute him. In honor of all those who were POW's or even served in the war. So what do you think?

photo guy Loc: Chippewa Falls, WI

PROSECUTE AND LET HIM ROT! He is a disgrace to do that to anyone let alone our fine men and women who have or are serving.

Jackinthebox Loc: travel the world

I have no sympathy for the jerk but he is not the only one. How about one impersonating the president of the USA just because he was elected?

MadMike Loc: SALT LAKE

I am hoping this will stay more about this person, not poletics. I support the President, and will support whoever wins in the upcoming election, but thanks for your input.

ward5311 Loc: Georgia

No don't procecute him...delpoy him to Afghanistan and let him serve as a human IED locator...

Frank T Loc: New York, NY

It is a violation of federal law to impersonate a war hero. I'm not sure who would arrest and prosecute him or even what the law exactly says, but I'd start by contacting the Office of the Attorney General and going from there.

Roger Hicks Loc: Aquitaine

But what is the appropriate punishment, as compared with, let us say, rape, murder, theft...?

Yes, it's disgusting. If we prosecuted everyone who does something disgusting, the courts and jails would be even more crowded than they are. What good is a prosecution going to do anyone? Will it stop him doing it again? Too late for that, I suspect. Will it stop others doing it? Again, probably not. So, apart from making some people feel good that they've prosecuted the guy, what good does it do? Consider also that no proponent of 'small government' should be advocating a massive waste of public time and money to deal with a nobody.

Sometimes, public denunciation is more effective than trying to use the law, and certainly, I'm all in favour of public denunciation here.

Cheers,

R.

Roger Hicks Loc: Aquitaine

Not all soldiers were (or are) heroes: is he claiming to be one? I've known plenty who hated war, especially the ones who were drafted. Even the volunteers will seldom classify themselves as heroes.

Of course, many didn't come home. Both my grandfathers were killed at sea in WW2. One of them got the George Medal before he died. From what my grandmothers said, neither of them regarded himself as a hero. Conflating 'soldier' (or 'sailor' or whatever) and 'hero' is mistake enough. Conflating 'hero' with 'deluded old man' is even worse.

Cheers,

R.

gmcase Loc: Galt's Gulch

Holy carumba Roger I think I need to go see a doctor because I agree more than disagree with your first post. We may part ways though after the rest of my post.

I think this guy should be ridiculed into oblivion in some third world shanty town. I have no respect for anyone that would make such false claims. Total scumbag.

The US has the highest per capita of it's population behind bars of any "civilized" nation. A good percentage of those are in for non violent, primarily Petty drug related crimes. How can this be in "the freest country on earth", a saying I have heard for decades but makes me ill. If it were true I would rally behind it but it is not even close to being true and is getting more untrue every day that passes.

We don't need a bigger prison population or a bigger government to put them there and should keep the cells reserved for violent criminals or those who commit theft/ fraud on a grand scale. The latter should be an especially fearful thing for the vast majority of politicians and lawyers.

Make a major public spectacle of him since he has chosen that as his venue to get attention. :twisted:

soupbone

Did this fellow see any gains from his impersonation, such as $$ benefits, pay for appearances, selection for a job, etc.? If so, by all means prosecute him. If, on the other hand, all he did was to use his assumed status to bolster a weak ego, don't prosecute him - pity him. For a military person - current or former - there is no worse offense than to steal valor. For someone without military experience, it's hard to explain; it has to be experienced.

I went through three phases regarding this stolen valor thing. The first was, of course, burn them. Next came the "expose this sorry sack of s**t and hold 'em up for ridicule" phase, but now, I've reached the point where I just want them exposed, then let them go and live their miserable little lives knowing that WE KNOW.

soupbone
CPT, USAFR, Ret.

Roger Hicks Loc: Aquitaine

The question is, how do you send him to that third world shanty town in any legal manner?

Cheers,

R.

Roger Hicks Loc: Aquitaine

Your opinion should be more informed than mine because of your background -- all opinions most assuredly aren't equal -- and I have to say that yours is the post I agree with most in all this thread.

Cheers,

R.

tkhphotography Loc: Gresham, Or, not Seattle

Makes you almost want to bring back public square 'stockades' and all.

gmcase Loc: Galt's Gulch

I wasn't advocating any legal course, public pressure only. No violating his right to life, liberty or property.

sinatraman Loc: Vero Beach Florida, Earth,alpha quaudrant

don't worry the aclu will get him off, if pole dancing is free speech then so is impersonating a pow.