A Female Captain is Humiliated for 'Stolen Valor.' After Numerous Ugly Insults, the Truth Comes Out

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 15:23:39 -0500

I came across this article in another forum and wanted to share. The article seems to bring together two current/relevant social issues in the military today, stolen valor, and sexism. While many reading the article may assume this is reality, I was surprised by the message. I even wonder if some of the negative comments were from true military members, or (more likely) someone looking for cheap drama.

During my military career, I can say with conviction that I have found the men in the military to generally be more inclusive, respectful and collaborative than men in the general population.

I specifically wanted to share with the Rally Point community, because I have seen this professionalism proven time and again in the various discussions and threads. So while these comments in the article may have truely been posted, I don't for a minute think they are representative of our great force.

Thanks to you all!

A Female Captain is Humiliated for 'Stolen Valor.' After Numerous Ugly Insults, the Truth Comes...

"You see that?? It's a kitchen. Get the f*** back into it."

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 30 at 2015 3:24 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 15:24:36 -0500

Wow

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jan 30 at 2015 3:46 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 15:46:17 -0500

Whenever I'm asked if I miss "it" (the service), I always say I miss the people. The community, the Esprit de Corps, whatever you want to call it.

Having been out over a decade now, and living just outside a military base, it's not too bad, because the Veteran, Retiree, and Dependent population ratio is so high you almost forget that you're not still "in" sometimes. Not really in, but "Window shopping" in.

But sometimes, you step just far enough outside and you end up in a toxic place.

I don't get it. I don't think I'll ever understand it.

There are places like that on facebook and other social media, where the benefits of "perceived anonymity" (as opposed to real anonymity) come up.

People who shouldn't be trusted with a fork without a cork on it, have the full ability to question anyone's credentials, regardless of cause.

Response by SGT Steven Eugene Kuhn MBA made Jan 30 at 2015 3:52 PM

SGT Steven Eugene Kuhn MBA — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 15:52:09 -0500

I just read the article about an hour ago and I feel for her becasue being attacked more than once on Facebook when entering new Military pages; some people flame you immedietly and accuse you of not being military (becasue I dont hang it in everyone's face) then they ask for a copy of your DD214 and when I said no way, they copy 20 other butt-hurts into the mail and the character slaughter begins.

That is the point where I tell them to simply Google me and the rest clears itself up, so yes, it happens to more than is reported, it WAS NOT done becasue she was a woman.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 30 at 2015 4:00 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 16:00:54 -0500

Thank you for sharing the article. I don't think the actions of those people really come as any kind of shock to any female veteran or to those still serving. It's a shame that still happens in this day and age.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2015 9:11 AM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 09:11:37 -0500

Yes, amazing. I bet half those complaining didn't even serve in military
dave

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2015 11:36 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 23:36:59 -0500

Interesting that the situation escalated so quickly. The only plausible explanation is the synergy with her online article writing. All sorts of freaks and goons feel the need to pompously blather on self-righteously about how the author or other commentators have it wrong.
She'll be alright. She doesn't have anything to prove to these people. They are a bunch of tools with no job other than write stuff on the internet.
Wait. What am I doing right now? Oh...

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2015 7:25 AM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 06 Feb 2015 07:25:23 -0500

BLUF: Bored, angry people shouldn't be given keyboards until they do some proper fact checking.

I read about this over at thisainthell. The moral of the story is that there are glory hounds out there that always want a piece of "the action," whatever that "action" is. In this case it's going after Stolen Valor, but the glory hounds are too lazy to realize that there is a right way to do things, the DoD way, and the wrong way. Their talent is in finding the wrong way to do everything.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Feb 6 at 2015 4:14 PM

SGM Erik Marquez — Fri, 06 Feb 2015 16:14:44 -0500

This story is a few days old now, I read about it on FB when Stolen valor wrote a post trying to clear her name and tell the idiots to knock it off.. CHECK, Verify before you open your mouth.

Her story was plausible to me when i first read it, because i was in enough units, positions and worked with Guard and Reserves deployed to know, anything can and does happen when it comes to unit missions, assigned, changed, modified and combined as well as personnel assigned to non traditional takings.

At the same time, someone less diverse in service experience would likely have read her story and tosses the BS flag .. which is fine as well.. the next step is where the idiots went worng... The BS flag tossed should have caused them to RESEARCH the issue to confirm there "suspicion" or as it would of in this case, shown them they were mistaken.
Some did that... many did not and inserted foot into mouth.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 11 at 2015 3:28 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 15:28:05 -0400

Surprised they did not say the 214 was fake like some birth certificate. It is crazy how the community is trying to do right by others and shine light on stolen valor, but do not try to verify before "outing". We will tear ourselves apart with this kind of behavior. The fact it was a female I feel is not relevant. The article though goes out of their way to label her just like those on the Facebook account. Quit labeling and we will not have sexism or racism and just have us.

Response by SPC Thomas Lema made Mar 11 at 2015 3:33 PM

SPC Thomas Lema — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 15:33:28 -0400

I have not read the article other than that LTC comment, I always looked at the rank not who is wearing it!

Response by LCpl Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2015 9:56 PM

LCpl Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 21:56:45 -0400

As a Veteran, the Stolen Valor crowd is one I actively don't hang out with. I mean, there's only so much evil in the world, and active posers do need to be taken down, possibly with criminal charges if they're committing fraud by wearing the uniform, so I agree with such groups in theory, but in practice it's more of a witch hunt with all the negative connotations that phrase entails. A senior SNCO in Washington state got the short end because the schmucks couldn't recognize the patch he was wearing on his right arm. That cleared up a lot faster, and was a lot less disgusting than what the Captain endured. Either way, I have to wonder about the folks who get into such a frenzy about this shit.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 19 at 2015 3:15 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 15:15:54 -0400

I pride myself on understanding people, but at the same time - I just don't understand them at all.

I've had the pleasure of working with some kick-ass women in my time in the military, just as I have worked with some kick-ass blacks, Asians, Muslims, Christians, straights, gays, etc etc etc. And yes I can name at least one from each group that was a dirt bag, but come on - the vast majority of everyone I come across is far better than your average American citizen. Why are people still giving a sub-classification of people a hard time because of that sub-classification. I feel myself as a pretty tough guy that can always hold his own in any testosterone fueled confrontation, but I am also man enough to know there are plenty of CHICKS (from another post, ha ha and all that) in the services that could hand me my ass easily.

That all said - the military is changing for the better. Women in combat? Sure - if you can do it and live with it by all means. Gays in the military? Again...why the hell not? I want qualified, team oriented, motivated PEOPLE working with, for, and leading me. Don't give a crap about your lifestyles or religion or the color of your skin.

Personally and professionally I don't see my superiors, my colleagues, my coworkers, or my troops as anything but what they are: rank and people. If they want to share with me that they are gay, muslim, bi, jewish, female trapped in a man's body, attracted to earthworms, whatever - I'll listen, but honestly I don't care. Show up, do the job, be the best, press on. Now if they come to me with a problem they are experiencing because of who they are - I listen and I care and I get fired up. Leading means not caring about who they are until someone gives them crap for it. I don't need my team distracted by someone else's ignorance.

When I get to know someone and learn they can take a joke and know I can take a joke back...we'll joke. I'll rip on anyone that I know will laugh it off for what it's worth and rip on me back...because we all understand that at the end of the day or when it matters - we have each other's backs and we can do the job that needs to be done.

Recently had a female that I told should be in the kitchen making sandwiches, and she shot back at me that if my brain wasn't between my legs and so small I might have made E8 this cycle (all paraphrased of course). Good times. If we set boundaries, boundaries are respect both ways. If we set no limits, than no limits are set both ways. At the end of the day, we all know who is in charge and who to listen to, who to follow, and who to smack in the as...whoa wait a minute now. :D

Disclaimer: These jokes are mostly said in private or in front of others that can handle them. I have no shame in admitting I am wrong, and if someone comes to me and says they are bothered by what I said in front of them, I man up and apologize and mean it.

Response by PO3 Steven Sherrill made Apr 18 at 2015 10:26 AM

PO3 Steven Sherrill — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 10:26:38 -0400

That is so sad. It is one thing when it is someone in an obviously cobbled together uniform. It is another to attack someone who is posting photos from their time in service.