Stolen Valor among homeless vets - Choosing NOT to ask questions.

2015-03-22T13:13:55-04:00

Wondering if others are like me and have occasionally chosen NOT to ask additional questions to a homeless vet. The story:

I tend to pick up homeless people out begging on the freeways and take them to lunch. Just about every one of them claims to be a veteran. I picked up a guy today and his first words about military service were that he "was a ranger and 250 went in and 45 came out". Now, he was too young for Vietnam, and too old for OIF/OEF, (plus he admitted that he left service as a corporal and that's hard to believe with Ranger school) and I'm sure no casualties like this happened during desert storm. But he also mentioned that he wished he had his DD214 and told me about his SERE training, so I know he's a vet. I chose not to ask any more questions. I know he was lying, but I also know that he was prior service and so I bought him a few cheeseburgers and fries and drove on.

Response by PO1 John Meyer, CPC made Mar 22 at 2015 1:19 PM

2015-03-22T13:19:44-04:00

I wonder if this could have been a vet lying about his service. Or someone who knew a vet or two and is now telling their stories. Or someone who had done some research into the best way to pull off stolen valor.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 22 at 2015 1:20 PM

2015-03-22T13:20:30-04:00

Sir,

I do not judge the homeless for their military experience. I do not feel that stolen valor is the heart of their problems.

I do not condone stolen valor. I am however prone to looking the other way if that person is in dire need of assistance and rather then a person looking for 15% off at Macy's

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Mar 22 at 2015 1:35 PM

2015-03-22T13:35:39-04:00

Some people assume if you don't say anything or if you respond with, "okay cool" or "that's interesting" that you believe what they are telling you. I think its fine to listen for it might start confrontation you don't want in the wrong place and wrong time.

Response by SGT Francis Wright made Mar 22 at 2015 6:13 PM

2015-03-22T18:13:30-04:00

Everyone has a valid point; but you know maybe his cookie crumbled. Just hope the next generation will show patients with my generation. Sometimes things get a little foggy.

Response by SFC Christopher Perry made Mar 22 at 2015 6:15 PM

2015-03-22T18:15:33-04:00

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member I for one commend you for your commitment to the homeless and vets alike. I am with you and would simply not care to ask the question. Folks like this have enough issues to deal with in surviving life on the streets.

Response by SrA Charles Taylor made Mar 22 at 2015 8:48 PM

2015-03-22T20:48:09-04:00

Major, I believe you made the right call. There's a time and place for everything; that fella needed some chow.

Response by SGT Beau Thomas made Mar 22 at 2015 8:48 PM

2015-03-22T20:48:34-04:00

I haven't met a "homeless vet" yet who could answer a simple military question with any legitimacy, like "what unit were you in?" I know some vets are homeless, I just think a majority of homeless have never served a minute in the military, they're just playing people for an easy buck.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Mar 22 at 2015 8:56 PM

2015-03-22T20:56:53-04:00

First of all I want to say Thanks MAJ Private RallyPoint Member for showing human compassion, especially towards our veterans! I also believe you handled the situation like a class act, Hooah!

Response by CW2 Joseph Evans made Mar 22 at 2015 9:10 PM

2015-03-22T21:10:06-04:00

Situational ethics. Many of us are in a position to cast judgment on the "fallen". These are the stories that they have found will keep them alive or keep them fed as they move from one bad situation to another.
Basically, you can't expect a treasure like integrity from cheap people. Not that these people wouldn't work for a living if given a chance, but as long as that chance never comes, they do what works according to what life has taught them.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2015 9:34 AM

2015-03-23T09:34:18-04:00

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member, you were correct to not pursue the matter any further. Help a brother out and move on.
It is troubling to me that you have decided to help these folks by picking them up and buying them lunch. There are a lot of mentally ill folks out there, or ones that wouldn't think twice to releive you of your valuables if given a chance.
This situation may well have escalated had you confronted him about his Ranger exploits.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 31 at 2015 5:20 PM

2015-03-31T17:20:08-04:00

Since he did serve and probably has mental health issues I would tend to cut slack. If I see someone claiming to be homeless vet, I would ask for VA id card. If he doesn't, either hes lying or never applied. I would direct hem where to go to get one. I am usually very selective about helping homeless. Some of them (vet or not) have a racket where they are making a lot of many by pretending to look down and out. Others use the money to buy booze rather than food. (i would rather just give them some food in kind; one time I had a hamburger in a doggy bag from a restaurant and give it to a homeless guy) Another strategy is to point them to resources that help the homeless and veterans (San Francisco has many programs for both) ie soup kitchen, homeless shelters, social services, county or Vet org Vets service officer.

Response by SPC David Hannaman made Apr 30 at 2015 8:42 AM

2015-04-30T08:42:50-04:00

Honestly? It's not just homeless. My dad runs a small business and there's a couple of guys that show up that I've caught "embellishing" their military service. Usually a couple of minutes of conversation they'll back themselves into a corner and I'll give them a "You're full of $hit." Stink eye, but usually they've been telling the same lies so long that they might actually believe them.

Usually they're guys that haven't done anything with their life since they left the military and they're just pathetic looking to bask in a bit of glory days.