I heard a lot of restaurants are now requiring an ID. I am all for it. I quit going out in the past because of imposters (a nice way to say glory seekers).
I saw one idiot with Sergent stripes and a Major Oakleaf. YOU guessed it , A Sergent Major.
I actually called out one and told the hostess. She said she was not allowed to discriminate.
If my fellow Veterans see this when you go , C A L L them out on the disgrace.
Y E S , I have an attitude , sometimes a bad one.
ALL GAVE SOME ,SOME GAVE ALL
da prez 1966-1969 Army
Working for USDVA for 18 years, I saw it all the time. Non veterans claiming military service (with injury/disease attributable to service for VA benefits), or actual veterans claiming combat or other injury/disease, that had nothing to do with service (for VA benefits).
It is called "stolen valor" and even made a Federal crime. Though in my experience, rarely prosecuted.
My favorite was a non veteran who took an actual veteran's DD214 (the one page federal form that summarizes a person's military service). He copied it, used white out over the name, social, birth date, yada, then typed in his own name and information, with the wrong font ball on an IBM Selectric typewriter. I contacted our IG and tried to get them to refer it to the US Attorney for prosecution, but they wouldn't do it because the Feds considered it small potatoes and unworthy of their time.
Of course, VA pays for injury and disease and not medals for valor.
I suppose it has been happening since humans started fighting wars, but it seemed to really take off during and after Vietnam.
Here is just one notable story where they did prosecute (and convict) a VA social worker.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12360809/Last year on Veteran's Day I was riding way out in the VA countryside and happened upon an old decrepit American Legion Hall that was having a big celebration, and I stopped to watch as they had a bagpiper all kilted out playing to beat the band (I love bagpipes). I stood off to the side and a fellow came up and asked me to join in and I said I wasn't a member. But I showed him my military ID, and I was treated like a long lost brother and had a great time. I was thinking to do it again this year, but it was too frigid to go riding, and there was a pile of yard work to do.
I did not serve in combat and only got awards for being a decent shyster, and expert marksman in pistol and rifle.
USAF Apr 1984-Dec 1992 (best years of my life)
