If you're going to call out someone for stolen valor......

[Longshot231]

I watched a classmate from B-52 school convince a “valley girl” that he was a guided missile pilot.

It took every bit of self control for the rest of us to keep a straight face.

That was 37 years ago and I didn’t have any trouble predicting the demise of the state of California.

 

[Clearlight]

I watched a classmate from B-52 school convince a “valley girl” that he was a guided missile pilot.

It took every bit of self control for the rest of us to keep a straight face.

That was 37 years ago and I didn’t have any trouble predicting the demise of the state of California.

In the spirit of your story, and to answer the OP, there is the direct call out and then there is
the humourous way to let the person know you call bullshit. Recently I stole a phrase I first
saw on this site. Met a guy who claimed to be ex SAS. With my bullshit meter pegged, I
casually replied, ‘yeah I used to be a door gunner on the space shuttle, but my oxygen
mask failed and I got brain damage’. Thanks SH for that one.

 

[Longshot231]

 

[hankpac]

Posers disgust me. Went to the HOA Christmas Party, a couple of years ago, mostly to keep an eye on the HPOA board members, whichis an entire other story.
Wife and I sit at a table of people we didn't know, sort of just to get to know some new people, and while engaged in a conversation with an old duffer, overheard a guy to my right, saying he was a Navy SEAL. That caught my ear, and I turned slowly to eyeball him. Almost the right age for my era, but something not quite right. My wife was already looking at him with one eyebrow arched.
I excused myself from my previous conversation, and turned my full attention to the "SEAL". He was regaling the lady on his right with tales of daring-do, and etc.
I sat quietly and waited. He goes on, and eventually does it again: "I can take anything, I'm a Navy SEAL!". The lady is quite impressed. My wife is near retching.
I then engage in some safer talk, having recognized the lady he is talking to, as someone I once met at a yard sale. We discussed that a bit, then the SEAL invites me and my wife to the next room, where dinner was being served, to sit at his table, and swap stories. I was wearing a bright red Tshirt with Santa on it, in full D-day kit, jumping out of a C-47 over Normandy, with a sack of toys. He didn't recognize it.
We went to dinner, and I asked in passing, when did you attend Jump School. He said "I went but I never jumped. I got pulled by a Navy LT, in the middle of the night, and sent to Coronado on an empty 737, where I went directly to a SEAL team in the Delta, where they needed a Diver."
I said, WAFM, here, theres about 3 things , at least that don't quite jibe here." I won't go into it, as I am sure anybody who at least went to jump school, would recognize several things wrong with his statement.
My wife and I got up and left the room, and I quickly got in touch with Chief Shipley, with full name and address. Of COURSE, this turd came back as never haivng been to SEAL training, nor BUDS! He wasn't even a Navy Diver, let a lone a SEAL, and he had already satisfied me that he had never been to jump school. (If he got pulled in week three, he had to have learned a PLF, and been on the Nutcracker, or dropped from the tower, at least once. He didn't know a thing about any of it).
I took Shipley's letter to Doc Cox, who IS a Navy SEAL, and hosts the huge SEAL (and other Spec Ops) Bike Rally in Bandera, gave it to him. Cox's response was, "We'll take care of this."
I have only seen this turd one other time since then. He promptly turned tail and left.
F's fake-ass phonies.

 

[308pirate]

MSGT Soup Sandwich

That guy is legend

Meet Master Sergeant Soup Sandwich

UPDATE: Nicholas Androsky died on Saturday February 22, 2014. Someone at the RTB sent me these pictures with a story about how this guy showed up for his son’s stepfather’s graduation f…

valorguardians.com

 

[308pirate]

I watched a classmate from B-52 school convince a “valley girl” that he was a guided missile pilot.

If she was the intended target, then he wasn't lying

 

[Doc68]

Never been in combat, but remember a lot!

You arent missing anything.

 

[seanh]

Navy SEAL?
Oh, you're a Navy SEAL... Wow.
Yes...bla,bla,bla,

Well, you must really like sugar cookies then...

No, never eat sweets... They won't let us...

Funny thing. The only Navy Seals I've ever met that say that they're seals are those that teach classes or write books.

 

[hunter1959]

Not stolen valor really but maybe. I was in Home Depot the other day and this guy was wearing a Blackwater hat, Blackwater T-shirt etc. I was in the paint aisle looking for fucking paint, pissed off about having to paint. The guy looked like a methhead. So I asked him if he used to work for Blackwater. He said he couldn't talk about it. I said but " You can advertise just cant talk about it ?" He walked away and I made my paint selection. I got back to the truck and I realized I was wearing a Academie hat my nephew gave me. I had a good laugh.

I have a very good friend who did not serve, but who like me, is concerned about the nature of the country... he has been a gunner his entire life though, taught by his father, and a hunter like myself since he was 12 here in Pennsylvania.... a retired college professor, and yes, completely and totally conservative ... he has gone to Academie on several occasions over the past number of years, and I believe even before the name change, if I have it right... he is a frustrated Green Beret, just like I am a frustrated sniper, never was one, but look up to them as though they were on Everest ... he continues training with a local group of former Spec Ops people... he wears the Academie logo, as well... he deserves to wear it, for no other reason than that he has bought in, does the work and is prepared... in his case, I have no problem with him claiming the skills and exhibiting them... he is damn good at it, the skills level... I am proud of my friend, and regardless of his service record not being there, I look at him as one of us if the stuff hits the rotary oscillator... a man that can be counted on

 

[Longshot231]

Given today’s environment, whether or not one has seen combat or even have superlative skills with weapons it’s not a good idea to brag about it.

I never saw combat but have done a lot of things most people never get to do. I would rather have someone judge me for who I am and not a uniform I’ve worn or what I’ve done in the past.

Whenever some people find out about my profession they make a lot of assumptions about me that are really inflated. I usually have to set them straight on that and usually have a better connection with them afterwards.

My father saw combat in WWII but never talked with anyone in the family besides me about it. He only did that after I enlisted.

He also told me that most people who’ve seen combat don’t talk about it much.

For most of the combat vets that I’ve known that holds true. When they have talked about it, it was with other vets and the subject is short-lived conversation.

Those folks would rather be known for the content of their character and not the color of the ribbons on their chest.

 

[Foul Mike]

This has been an interesting thread. I don't see much as to posers being in here other than 1 or 2 and they know who they are and so do we and are ready to deliver an Asskick to them.

I was nothing special in RVN, I was a person that just filled a slot. I had attended AIT in training so had all of the skills that ANYBODY else did.

At the start of my tour I was put in a squad assigned to Perimeter Defense, the Greenline, go out and patrol outside the wire, and did 6 months doing that. It was the worst time in my life dealing with Sappers every couple or few weeks and getting ready for them as I knew they were coming, and got good at knowing when we were being probed on both large and small LZs. --depending where we were needed the most. Sgt. of the Guard every fucking night without fail. Walk that perimeter constantly and cut no slack. Tried to sleep through the day but that didn't work, too much to do.
I lived in a bunker a little but mostly in a hole I dug close to that bunker in case that bunker took a RPG.
Other than Ammo, ARA, Puff, Redlegs and Olives, support was not good.

After 6 months of that shit I was wired way too tight and the Lifers knew it so I was sent to a different part of E. Co. on the forward LZ, and went to the bushes.
OJT for my "new" MOS 11 F.

I thought I had died and gone to Heaven. There we got to pick our fights or just use ARA or Redlegs, or Olives or Fast Movers to take care of what we had going on and we knew when to run away.

To ALL of you support type troops, who feel they didn't contribute--Who do you think made it possible for us to have AMMO, helicopter rides, and C-Rations to get done what we did????

You were without doubt needed and without you we would have been overrun. or never even had a chance to start with.

I will still kick a Posers Ass, much like I did years ago down at the Library. That was the only one, I usually just give a grin and walk away.

I am OLD now so would so would probably not do much other than give them a hole they can't plug up with a fucking doorknob.
FM E.Co 5/7 Cav. 1st. Cavalry Div. 69/70

 

[Mike Casselton]

When I am asked if I ever served I tell them I was in the Air Force for 10.5 years, that is it. Most people then ask if I was a pilot, because of course that is the only AFSC in the AF, so I tell them what I did. I never tell them I was a 546X0 or the official title, Liquid Fuels Maintenance Specialist, because I would get a blank stare. I tell them I worked on fuel storage and distribution systems, e.g. tank farms, gas stations and when I was in RED HORSE I refueled heavy equipment and built mini tank farms on exercises. I then get an “Oh”. I can assure you I have never been accused of stealing valor with that AFSC.

So, your POL then?

Did anyone ever tell you what the acronym means?

A friend of mine that I met at RAF Bentwaters (I was at Woodbridge) said it meant Painting, Oddjobs and Landscaping.
His boss was obsessive about appearances to the detriment of actual training, so it was their inside joke.

I was Aircraft Fuel Systems Maintenance. (AKA Fuel Cell) Plenty of people thought I had the same job as you and I would have to explain the differences.
Oh well, the job needed everyone or shit didn't get done.

 

[Blue Sky Country]

Navy SEAL?
Oh, you're a Navy SEAL... Wow.
Yes...bla,bla,bla,

Well, you must really like sugar cookies then...

No, never eat sweets... They won't let us...

Funny thing. The only Navy Seals I've ever met that say that they're seals are those that teach classes or write books.

There are actual real deal, hardcore operators who in civilian life are schoolteachers, doctors/nurses, or chefs... And particularly humble and soft spoken guys who would just turn around and walk away without confrontation when facing troublesome, bullying students or very obnoxious street denizens... The reason why they are so humble is because they have been so thoroughly trained in the fine art of precision chaos and destruction, and have seen so much shit during their tours, that it is just not worth getting involved in petty nonsense. Real warriors like Miyamoto Musashi exhibited these personalities too. In Musashi's senior years, he was a Buddhist monk and nature painter... This was a man who was knighted by more than 3 imperial houses, fought in 4 nation-changing battles where over 800,000 men died in a week of fighting, and won 67 deathmatch duels where only one competitor can live...

 

[DustBun]

So, your POL then?

Did anyone ever tell you what the acronym means?

A friend of mine that I met at RAF Bentwaters (I was at Woodbridge) said it meant Painting, Oddjobs and Landscaping.
His boss was obsessive about appearances to the detriment of actual training, so it was their inside joke.

I was Aircraft Fuel Systems Maintenance. (AKA Fuel Cell) Plenty of people thought I had the same job as you and I would have to explain the differences.
Oh well, the job needed everyone or shit didn't get done.

LMAO. As soon as I started to read your post I was thinking, "no he is not going to go THERE", and you did. Too funny. Your friend was correct, we called them Painting Oddjobs and Landscaping too. They hated it. I was in CE (Civil Engineering) and POL was in Supply. They broke everything I had to fix and painted everything I had to work on and made it impossible to remove flange nuts and bolts because of the 1/4" of paint. Those poor bastards had to drive the un-air conditioned R5's and fuel the aircraft on a flightline that had a surface temp of +130º at Nellis AFB.

I knew some guys back in the day in your AFSC, Fuel Cell. Knowing that we both worked in fuels actually explains a lot about you. Too many vapors back in the day??? Remember going to the chow hall reeking of fuel and people would keep their distance or wouldn't smoke around you?

You are correct, every job was critical.

 

[hankpac]

so whats the consensus if someone was given a unit logo apparel item such as a ballcap from a family member who is in that unit? is the wearing of said item then posing? stolen valor? or just pride in the accomplishments of another? axking for a friend.

Simple: I spotted a guy wearing a 101 patch on a hat. I asked him about it. He said "I wear it for my son, who is in Afghanistan". I shook his hand, got he APO, and wrote to the son.
These things usally start off slow: "who'd you serve with?" "when were you in the outfit?", etc. That is the place for the person who is wearing it to say, "My dad gave this to me, He was a "fill in blank" or some other innocuous answer. It doesn't always have to go sideways.

 

[Mike Casselton]

LMAO. As soon as I started to read your post I was thinking, "no he is not going to go THERE", and you did. Too funny. Your friend was correct, we called them Painting Oddjobs and Landscaping too. They hated it. I was in CE (Civil Engineering) and POL was in Supply. They broke everything I had to fix and painted everything I had to work on and made it impossible to remove flange nuts and bolts because of the 1/4" of paint. Those poor bastards had to drive the un-air conditioned R5's and fuel the aircraft on a flightline that had a surface temp of +130º at Nellis AFB.

I knew some guys back in the day in your AFSC, Fuel Cell. Knowing that we both worked in fuels actually explains a lot about you. Too many vapors back in the day??? Remember going to the chow hall reeking of fuel and people would keep their distance or wouldn't smoke around you?

You are correct, every job was critical.

Were you doing mostly cryo stuff?

But yeah, people kept away from us, especially when we had on fuel soaked clothing. A few guys kept old smelly fuel soaked boots just to wear to the chow hall, CBPO, and any squadron building.
Made for short lines.

 

[DustBun]

Were you doing mostly cryo stuff?

But yeah, people kept away from us, especially when we had on fuel soaked clothing. A few guys kept old smelly fuel soaked boots just to wear to the chow hall, CBPO, and any squadron building.
Made for short lines.

No, we didn't work on cryo, that was yet another AFSC, not sure.

We worked on all the above and under ground equipment that contained JP-4, 100/130 and 115/145 AVGAS, Leaded and Unleaded MOGAS, Diesel, 10/10 oil for the Thunderbirds, PD-680 and anything else that dripped and could ignite.

 

[Mike Casselton]

Okay, gotcha. More like the physical distribution.
CASS systems, underground fuel delivery, storage tanks, plumbing valves and whatnot.

 

[308pirate]

Simple: I spotted a guy wearing a 101 patch on a hat. I asked him about it. He said "I wear it for my son, who is in Afghanistan". I shook his hand, got he APO, and wrote to the son.
These things usally start off slow: "who'd you serve with?" "when were you in the outfit?", etc. That is the place for the person who is wearing it to say, "My dad gave this to me, He was a "fill in blank" or some other innocuous answer. It doesn't always have to go sideways.

The problem comes when douchebags reply to that with " you didn't serve so take it off".

And they're out there. Youtube is your friend if you doubt it.

 

[Foul Mike]

I met a man at Home Depot that had a bill cap on with a Division patch on it. It was not my Division but one whose AO was next to us in RVN and I was familiar with it.

I asked him if he had been in that Division and due to his age I knew he could not have been in RVN but may have been someplace else over the many years, like the Sandbox, and I was interested in the history of where that Division and he might have served and what he had done.

His answer brought me to tears.

He told me that his Son who was E-5 11 B gave him that hat when he left on his last deployment, never to return. KIA near Fallugia.

Nothing else needs to be said and I gave him a big hug. and I was glad I wasn't in his shoes. FM