Another fake Canadian hero

One of our ninjas sent us an article from Vancouver’s 24 Hours about another phony soldier up there. They don’t give this fellow’s name probably because he wasn’t charged – the statute of limitations for their stolen valor offenses is only six months. Nonetheless, the nameless, faceless “Surrey man” turned over his phony finery to the police;

Surrey RCMP told 24 hours Thursday that it was brought on to investigate after being contacted by the Royal Canadian Legion “about a male that had his photo taken in a ceremony wearing medals that were probably not his.”

A spokesman said police spoke with both legion and military officials and determined the man was a reservist, but the medals were not his.

Police said it’s likely he “did possibly buy some” of the medals in the past or “borrowed some from friends.” It’s alleged the man “started wearing them, mounting them, and had even been told a few times they weren’t his and he probably shouldn’t be doing that.”

The medals were returned last Tuesday to military personnel, RCMP said.

Canada takes their stolen valor a little more seriously than our federal government does. The Criminal Code of Canada states;

Unlawful use of military uniforms or certificates

419. Every one who without lawful authority, the proof of which lies on him,
(a) wears a uniform of the Canadian Forces or any other naval, army or air force or a uniform that is so similar to the uniform of any of those forces that it is likely to be mistaken therefor,
(b) wears a distinctive mark relating to wounds received or service performed in war, or a military medal, ribbon, badge, chevron or any decoration or order that is awarded for war services, or any imitation thereof, or any mark or device or thing that is likely to be mistaken for any such mark, medal, ribbon, badge, chevron, decoration or order,
(c) has in his possession a certificate of discharge, certificate of release, statement of service or identity card from the Canadian Forces or any other naval, army or air force that has not been issued to and does not belong to him, or
(d) has in his possession a commission or warrant or a certificate of discharge, certificate of release, statement of service or identity card, issued to an officer or a person in or who has been in the Canadian Forces or any other naval, army or air force, that contains any alteration that is not verified by the initials of the officer who issued it, or by the initials of an officer thereto lawfully authorized,
is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.
R.S., c. C-34, s. 377.

Category: Phony soldiers