That Valor Isn’t Yours To Defend -- Can you believe this garbage?

SSG Sean Gallagher — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 17:52:53 -0400

That Valor Isn’t Yours To Defend

Valor cannot be claimed and doesn’t need to be defended because it can’t be stolen, so stop beating people up over it.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 21 at 2015 6:28 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 18:28:01 -0400

B.S.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 21 at 2015 6:33 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 18:33:30 -0400

I am pretty sure that this has been posted before (not a problem for me...just saying), and I agree with the author.

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Aug 21 at 2015 6:49 PM

Capt Mark Strobl — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 18:49:20 -0400

I agree with author on two points:
1.) There was no need for the use of physical violence in addressing those who falsely represent themselves. We cannot become self-appointed vigilantes.
2.) Valor is something earned. One's act of stupidity does not infringe on another's valor. These cases of Stolen Valor, while they are offensive to most vets, reflect solely on the asshat themselves.

That being said, I would approve the employment of a non-observed, non-recorded, not-going-to-make-the-headlines type of throat punch.

btw: Ellen Harring, the author of the article, is apparently a Colonel in the Army Reserves.

Response by PVT Robert Gresham made Aug 21 at 2015 7:08 PM

PVT Robert Gresham — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 19:08:04 -0400

I can't count the number of Military members who have "elevated" their status, in a bar, with members of the opposite sex, who are willing to listen, for whatever purpose.

My main problem in this case is that three on one in never an honorable fight in any situation !! And one Ranger against most civilians should be a forgone conclusion as to what the final outcome would be. Finally, physical violence against one of the citizens that we are (were) sworn to protect is certainly a step in the wrong direction. A call to the local law enforcement may have saved these gentlemen from some bad publicity for themselves, the Rangers, the Army, and the US Military.

Every true Military member has his/her own Valor. No one can steal it from you. Certainly not some 130 pound civilian trying to get laid in a bar.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Aug 22 at 2015 3:45 AM

Capt Seid Waddell — Sat, 22 Aug 2015 03:45:17 -0400

True valor cannot be stolen.

Response by LCDR Rich Bishop made Aug 23 at 2015 3:16 PM

LCDR Rich Bishop — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 15:16:12 -0400

The colonel is entitled to her point, and the Rangers should not have committed battery on the individual. Although Valor cannot be taken from anyone, these imposters do have an effect on the force. Imposters wearing uniforms are usually wearing them wrong and many times disgrace the uniform and the service by doing so. Sadly many people that do not know better see these imposters and believe they are active duty or veterans thus provide a bad opinion of the force. Many states have laws for impersonating a military member, just like police officers...call the police and have them arrested.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2015 11:27 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 11:27:05 -0400

The subject of "Stolen Valor" is one I've not paid a great deal of attention to, but am beginning to take more notice of. For me, it's this simple-There's a HUGE difference between someone implying or down-right impersonating a military status they don't possess for gain...and someone either aggrandizing or exaggerating their true status to "look cool", fulfill some "delusion of grandeur", etc. I was at a bar once sitting next to a clean shaven, fairly fit guy who looked about twenty two or twenty three years old. Over the course of our conversation, I revealed I was a military officer, and he responded, "Me too...I'm a Second Lieutenant!" Now, he "looked" the part in civies, and even "sounded" like a "Butter Bar", so I took him at his word...until his answers to a few basic questions came up shady. When I asked what service he was in, he said, "The Infantry"...when I asked if he was from the closest infantry division, he said, "No, I'm from Georgia". At that point, I assumed he was probably at Ft. Benning. When he said, "No, I'm out in the field", I started to smell a rat. Finally, I just came out with it, "Hey man, what unit are you with?" He looked me dead in the eye and said he was with some "Somebody's Volunteers", in some unit of "Georgia Rifles", etc...etc. I felt like explaining to this guy that being a Civil War re-enactor is cool and all, but it hardly made him a serving officer. However, I realized I was speaking with a kid living a fantasy in his own mind, and chose not to "Cast my pearls before the swine". I bought him a round, slapped him on the back and said, "Good luck, LT...don't let the Blue Bellies get ya" as I moved over to talk to the blonde in the corner.

Response by SPC Sheila Lewis made Aug 24 at 2015 12:19 PM

SPC Sheila Lewis — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 12:19:35 -0400

If Veterans do not take a stand, people will take advantage of it.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2015 1:35 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 13:35:31 -0400

If military valor is not ours to defend - then who has that burden/privilege?