AMVETS launches ReportStolenValor.org
Jerry920 sends us a link to a FoxNews story about the launch of a new reporting system at AMVETS for reporting Stolen Valor cases.
The Stolen Valor Act, signed into law by President George W. Bush in December 2006, amended the provisions of previous laws concerning unauthorized usage, manufacture or sale of military decorations and medals. A violation of the law is a federal misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in prison and a $150,000 fine.
“What we’re doing is creating awareness of this crime,” Agg said. “We think it’ll be a very good deterrent for those contemplating stealing the valor of others.”
Aside from violating federal law, Agg said, the “real harm” when someone impersonates a veteran is the lasting effect on how the public views former and current service members.
Our buddy, Just A Grunt, who also writes at jammiewearingfool, wrote about the new website and mentioned us.
While I think prosecuting these Stolen Valor cases is important, the media and the public in general, don’t understand and don’t report the connections some of these phonies have to anti-war organizations. For example, where, besides This Ain’t Hell, have you read that Richard Strandlof was deeply steeped in the anti-war organizations like Iraq Veterans Against the War and VoteVets. It’s been virtually overlooked, but it’s important because it speaks to the character of those organizations who seem to be more interested in the anti-war message than the messenger. False but accurate is their guide.
Category: Phony soldiers
So can we report Millard now?
What I don’t like is how they’re playing up the link the the Military Times Hall of Valor as “comprehensive” and whatnot. It might make people think that they have ALL the citations uploaded when they don’t.
For example, I looked up my great uncle’s Silver Star award from Gavutu and it wasn’t on there. And I know it exists since USMC History handed me a copy of it.
I think the whole thing is a good idea, but just because somebody’s award isn’t on the Hall of Valor doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist (so long as it isn’t the MoH and probably the next ones down as there aren’t a lot of them).
Spade, Shoot me your great-uncle’s Silver Start citation so I can add it. The MT Hall of Valor is the closest thing out there, despite it’s incompleteness. I estimate it to be 99.9% complete for the Service Crosses but we’ve only got about 5,000 of the estimated 150,000 Silver Stars posted to date. (We do have the names of about 90,000 Silver Star recipients in the off-line database I use for research.)