Georgia
Related: About this forumStolen Valor
On Saturday, at a gas station somewhere north Georgia, I saw a man with a biker vest covered with US Marine patches standing next to the cashier box. He was there visiting, as by the conversation he also worked there but was off that day.
One of his tattoos was of a Devil Dog, but there was something odd about it. I don't remember what was odd about it but it trigger an alert. I am retired Army that had the privilege to serve along side all other military services during my career. I started the conversation by asking "how are you doing, Devil Dog?" and followed the question with "Where were you stationed?" He responded with "I've been all over the place, Okinawa, Korea." Those were the only two places he mentioned.
I just got back from Iraq a few months ago and I served with a few US Marine units, none of the Marines ever mentioned serving in Korea. There is a small US Marine garrison in South Korea and when I served there a few years ago, we had visiting US Marine units that came for training and other missions, some support and other operational but South Korea is mainly a US Army post (ground troops).
So interested when this young man said that he had served in Korea I asked him; "Where in Korea?"
His response was "I want to stay alive so I cannot tell you." My immediate response was 'OK, thanks, have a nice day." I then walked away and told my wife so the gentleman could hear me: "That is bullshit, this fucker is lying." and my wife responded "I knew you were going to say that." He stood there in silence, looked down to the ground and walked away from us.
It bothered me.
Thank you for listening.
atreides1
(16,386 posts)He was wearing a vest with a bunch of patches and had a tattoo..not exactly "Stolen Valor", just a wannbe...the worst is that he's just your common everyday liar and a wannabe that couldn't make the cut!
Most veterans don't wear anything to show we served, some of us just wear a hat(I do)!
By the way:
US Army, 1978-1991
Sergeant
Desert Storm Veteran
SWBTATTReg
(24,085 posts)someone asked me where I served (when I was wearing it (I brought it at a salvation army store)), and I told them that I didn't serve, but had brought the jacket. Be honest with people, tell them the truth. And be respectful of those who did serve for all of us. In some states, this is illegal (claiming to have served when one did not, it is in MO).
Thanks again for your service.