Why we bust phonies

I read an article today from the El Paso Times about a phony soldier in their area who was busted for his wild stories six years after he died;

Herring said he received the Navy Cross, a decoration for valor second only to the Medal of Honor; three Purple Hearts, each indicating combat injuries; and a Bronze Star, although not for valor. The biography also stated Herring left the Navy as a lieutenant commander.

The record shows that Herring received no awards for combat valor or for being wounded. It makes no mention of a Bronze Star for service in a war zone. And it shows he left the Navy Reserve as a lieutenant junior grade, two ranks below lieutenant commander, after 10 years of service.

This was another of our friend Doug Sterner’s busts. The heartbreaking part of the story is at the end;

“We will contact the family to let them know that changes have been made and why the changes were made,” Sayers said.

It reminded me of the time I called Captain Larry Bailey one night a few years back and he put me off for a few minutes and then called me back. He explained that he was on the phone with a family member of a recently deceased man. Captain Bailey had to tell this family that their dearly departed couldn’t be buried at Arlington because despite the lifetime of stories of daring-do, the man had been lying to his family. And that’s the family’s last memory of their husband and father – that he had lied to them all of their lives.

It’s been argued recently that Stolen Valor is a victimless crime and should be considered “free speech”. I’d argue that busting these guys while they’re still alive gives them a chance to redeem themselves in the eyes of their families and friends, to pay their debt and become whole again – and not leave a family and friends behind with no recourse but to remember them as fakes and liars. As always, families become the victims bearing forever the burden of the deception with no remedy.

And, oh, by the way, it looks like Captain Bailey is involved in a TV reality show along with B.G. Burkett called “Stolen Valor“. I’d better retract that expert driver badge statement I made before they come down on me.

Category: Phony soldiers