Editor-In-Chief
LA FERIA, Texas - A weird judge in Colorado yesterday threw out a case involving a man who had told friends, family and everybody he met that he was a war hero, that he had all kinds of medals of valor and deserved heaps of thanks from a country slow to show its gratefulness.
Here's what happened: The judge decided the brazen fake vet was merely exhibiting his right to free speech, and so he ruled the existing law against lying about military service as being unconstitutional.
The man's name is Rick Glen Strandlof, resident of Denver. He claimed to be an ex-Marine who served - and was wounded - in Iraq. For his service, Strandlof said he was awarded the Purple Heart and Silver Star. When a check was made, it was discovered that the military had no record of his service. Strandlof was then charged with violating the Stolen Valor Act, which makes it a crime punishable by up to a year in jail to falsely claim to have won a military medal.
That's just one problem America's vets have these days. They're mad, as they have been for years. Is it because their service is often ignored, set-aside and then here come these guys - politicians, included - who steal their thunder under false pretenses. Faking service has been around since the first time soldiers trudged off to war. It is the coward's way of re-writing his personal history.
But, you know, it does upset me when I hear veterans in the Rio Grande Valley forever griping about not having a V.A. hospital in the region. They get no-questions-asked coverage from the area's press whenever they ask for it. They get support in letters-to-the-editor of all RGV newspapers. On national holidays, they are the first to march into the streets in faded military garb from the Vietnam Conflict or Gulf War I, always graying men with looks that say they survived the vicious Tet Offensive in Vietnam, or the initial charge into the Iraqi desert under Bush I.
Yet, I don't get too worked-up about their bitching. It strikes me that things would likely go better for them if only they would tone down their me-me-me rhetoric. Perhaps they do need a hospital in the RGV. And perhaps they do need more benefits. But, dang it, so do a lot of other people here.
So you served in the Army...well, does that mean that the taxpayer is on the hook for whatever these veterans want from here on out? Hell no! Most of them get disability paychecks. All of them have access to medical clinics. What's the Big Deal? Yeah, I agree with those who say real veterans of the military generally do not gripe about anything. They hate to talk about war because they do not wish to glorify war. War is Hell, and they know that, yeah, you'd have had to have been there to freakin' understand.
So the next time you hear a veteran telling you about his many exploits along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, tell him to shut up already...
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6 comments:
Most U.S.A. veterans joined the Military service with [and a lot of " B. S." from their Recruiter; He will get a lot of extra income for each new Ignorant, poor and Naive Servicemen / women that signs In ] just a G.E. or H.S. diploma, no degrees as soon as they Pledge alliance and sign [ from 2, to 4 years, depending wich branch ]their name on top of the Bible--- Well, They start to get into debt, credit cards will be arriving daily at their mail box, Internet e- mails..etc.. 95% come from poor rural places, high crime - inner city urbanities. They Start to get " Real stuff for the first time "
That is the main reason most
" Have to make a Military Career / Lifers " . They get into debt and bills / child - support
[ due to the very high adultery , alcoholism , stress and divorce cases are also so high, then , resentment and rage towards evrybody and everything -- Most have to go thru Anger management].
Sadly and unfortunately, Very true and all this For MINIMUM - WAGE MONTHLY SALARY.... While " WE / PROPERTY of THE U.S.A. GOV."
Give away Billions of dollars to our " Allies and friends", just to keep them as Such !!!
> We Need Real- great paying Jobs.
I remember while in the Army in Lawton Oklahoma, Fort Sill, most of the female soldiers would get super drunk at the 1-2-3 Club bumming drinks and dancing with anyone that would buy them beer on Friday nights, Saturday nights and sometimes on Sunday afternoon.
The families of the soldiers lived in housing similiar to public housing.
The pay was very low, $540.00 spec 5 under 3 years.
NO wonder all the GI's are full of anger and hatred.
I left and when thoughts come into my mind of the military. I listen to music. It was a hard life.
Got You Brother, Peace !!!
Jerry Deal, is being led by someone other than himself. He isn't smart enough to be keeping up with city politics. Some of K/M supporters are pulling his strings.
Oh well, I am sure there will be plenty of comments characterizing him as the mouth of Commish K/M.
He is like the wind he goes nowhere, right now he is probably kissing Eddie Dennis behind. A loser just like Deal.
(telling you about his many exploits along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, tell him to shut up already...)
When I went in it was still called the Vietnam era. But all of my sargents (who I became very friendly with) never talked about their Nam exploits. Now, about the girls on D street in Killeen, hell yes. Especially those highly decorated for killing gooks. Just kept it to themselves.
ralphy
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