The problem with calling out ‘stolen valor': What if you’re wrong?

2015-06-05T17:17:47-04:00

On Memorial Day, Robert D. Ford took part in a wreath-laying ceremony in Pennsylvania. The 75-year-old wore his Marine dress uniform and played a bugle, according to the Patriot-News.

But after the ceremony, Ford stopped at a local arts festival. And that is where he apparently drew some unwanted attention.

At the festival, an American soldier, along with a Harrisburg police officer, publicly questioned Ford’s military service, according to the Patriot-News. Ford was labeled as a fake, the newspaper reported:

“He’s not a real Marine!” the officer shouted to the crowd gathered for the PennLive/Patriot-News Artsfest of Greater Harrisburg. “Stolen valor!”

“I was humiliated,” Ford told the newspaper.

Ford is an actual veteran, the Patriot-News reported on its Web site, PennLive. He really did serve.

There was no stolen valor — just another false accusation.

“This is a major concern,” said Doug Sterner, who would know.

Sterner has worked to build a database of military awards and has also become pretty great at spotting frauds, which, for the record, isn’t something he particularly enjoys. He confirmed Ford’s military history for the Patriot-News, calling him “as legit as you can get.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2015/06/05/the-problem-with-publicly-accusing-someone-of-stolen-valor-what-if-youre-wrong/

Is a vigilante approach to outing fake veterans a bad idea? It was on Memorial Day in Harrisburg.