Navy SEAL Impostor

[FlyTiger77]

With the cultural shift that has adopted the idea that all of our military, police, fire, EMTs, etc., are all "heroes" there is bound to be a group of people who are looking to cash in on that public recognition...

Frankly, I couldn't understand how someone who has been removed from the military for 15 years and has surpassed their position in the military on the civilian side (both in scope of responsibility and income) would hang onto that part of his life with such passion.  I just don't get it, move on already...

Just yesterday, there was a woman running around the neighborhood with a t-shirt on it that said nothing but "VETERAN" in HUGE letters on both the front an the back.  Why?!

After leaving the White House, President Theodore Roosevelt preferred to be referred to as Colonel Roosevelt in recognition of his service in the Spanish-American War and his ride up San Juan Hill.

I heard an interview with a gentleman that was a US Navy veteran of the Second World War. When asked to describe his life and successful career in retrospect, he went into great depth and detail about his three or four Navy years and then said, "...and then, I got this job and I was here for 40+ years." or words to that effect.

Sometimes we measure our life and remember best the things that mean the most which means in many cases serving a cause greater than oneself with people who become a new family.

Just last week, my son (now a Soldier on a large post out west) was walking down the street on post when a gentleman my age jogged up behind him and read his name on the back of his patrol cap and said, "Hey, did your dad go to flight school?" When my son told him "yes", he said, "Tell him Greg [so and so} said, 'Hi.'" I haven't seen or heard from Greg in over 20 years. The military is a small, close-knit fraternity.

Does that mean that everyone has their entire military resume posted in stickers on the back window of their vehicle? No. But, so what if they do. At some point in their life, they did something that meant something to them and they believe it mattered.

There are worse faults to have.

[Eclipse]

It truly is hard to describe.

I totally get it, and I thank CAP for the understanding.  I have to admit to a similar attitude before I joined, then I got to see just what it takes to be
truly successful in the military, especially at the level of any kind of special operator of higher-grade E or O.

It's the intensity of the experience, coupled with it being something the average person doesn't do or understand.  The camaraderie, the teamwork,
the idea that the guy next to you will have your back, etc., etc.

I've done things in CAP that pale in comparison to the average weekend for someone in combat, but are leagues above the average couch rider.
It makes me appreciate, and be somewhat jealous of those who had the opportunity to serve full-time, but I wouldn't ever consider faking things
just for an atta-boy or free drink.

In a lot of these cases, you see people with little else going on in their lives, or a life that "fell short" (for whatever reason), and part of that "falling short"
was a lack of mental preparedness to be satisfied with reality.

[Critical AOA]

Jimmydeanno,

I agree with a lot of what you wrote.  I know people who cling very tightly to a very small slice of their life, both military and civilian.   I spent three years in the US Army but I do not define myself by it.  I spent four years at Purdue University but do not define myself by it.  They both contributed to me being the individual I am today but neither one really defines me.   The 25 plus years since those endeavors have done so much more to make me into the person I am, for better or for worse.  I know people who, decades later, are all into their alma mater where they spent just four years of their life.   That's not me.   I don't follow Purdue's teams, I don't belong to the alumni association, I don't go back for homecoming, etc.   

Your story about the former Colonel wanting is name tag to reflect his prior status is almost as ridiculous as Senator Boxer chastising a General a few years back for calling her ma'am rather than Senator.   While she still held that position, her attitude was ridiculous.   People of all occupations seem to want to hold onto their prior titles.  High ranking military officers along with doctors, judges, governors, presidents, etc. just can't let go of it for some reason.   

The stickers on the back of my jeep represent who I am today.  I have CAP, EAA and AOPA stickers which are all organizations I currently belong to.  Nothing reflecting the Army or Purdue.  Those are the past. 

[Flying Pig]

I got an ICM, does that make me cool?

That depends... whats an ICM?  If its something cool then I have two more clusters than you do

[That Anonymous Guy]

I got an ICM, does that make me cool?

That depends... whats an ICM?  If its something cool then I have two more clusters than you do

Inter-Continental Minivan

[Flying Pig]

Oh.... darn.  Then nevermind.

[bosshawk]

Hey, Rob, do you have two clusters on your Minivan?  I don't even have a Minivan.

[SarDragon]

My Sweetie and I, with our 45 years of combined Naval service, have very little that advertises our service. There are base stickers to get us through the gate, and her car has a vanity plate that says 2NVVTS. That's it.

I wear my Midway hat when I'm doing things on the boat, or at the local airshows. Otherwise, I only have one other piece of clothing that advertises Navy - a sweatshirt with the Navy seal on it.

[That Anonymous Guy]

My Sweetie and I, with our 45 years of combined Naval service, have very little that advertises our service. There are base stickers to get us through the gate, and her car has a vanity plate that says 2NVVTS. That's it.

I wear my Midway hat when I'm doing things on the boat, or at the local airshows. Otherwise, I only have one other piece of clothing that advertises Navy - a sweatshirt with the Navy seal on it.

You keep a Navy SEAL on your sweatshirt? Im not messing wih you

[SarDragon]

Not funny. Don't quit your day job to become a comic.

[Critical AOA]

I think those seal sweatshirts are kinda lame.

[That Anonymous Guy]

Not funny. Don't quit your day job to become a comic.

I am genuinely sorry.

[Flying Pig]

WARNING to the wearer:  The above sweater requires the surrender of your man card and may result in the wearer being physically assaulted and/or verbally harassed at most sporting events.

[J2H]

My military resume is far more impressive than my civilian experience...  spent 9 years in  Security  Forces,  been to afew decent schools,  went to  Kyrgyzstan,  Iraq,  Germany,  etc.  Came  out  with a V  device, ARCOM  and some  other awards...   civilian:   security  guard...  I  am most proud of my military service. I was the 1%

[flyboy53]

With the cultural shift that has adopted the idea that all of our military, police, fire, EMTs, etc., are all "heroes" there is bound to be a group of people who are looking to cash in on that public recognition...

Frankly, I couldn't understand how someone who has been removed from the military for 15 years and has surpassed their position in the military on the civilian side (both in scope of responsibility and income) would hang onto that part of his life with such passion.  I just don't get it, move on already...

Just yesterday, there was a woman running around the neighborhood with a t-shirt on it that said nothing but "VETERAN" in HUGE letters on both the front an the back.  Why?!

After leaving the White House, President Theodore Roosevelt preferred to be referred to as Colonel Roosevelt in recognition of his service in the Spanish-American War and his ride up San Juan Hill.

I heard an interview with a gentleman that was a US Navy veteran of the Second World War. When asked to describe his life and successful career in retrospect, he went into great depth and detail about his three or four Navy years and then said, "...and then, I got this job and I was here for 40+ years." or words to that effect.

Sometimes we measure our life and remember best the things that mean the most which means in many cases serving a cause greater than oneself with people who become a new family.

Just last week, my son (now a Soldier on a large post out west) was walking down the street on post when a gentleman my age jogged up behind him and read his name on the back of his patrol cap and said, "Hey, did your dad go to flight school?" When my son told him "yes", he said, "Tell him Greg [so and so} said, 'Hi.'" I haven't seen or heard from Greg in over 20 years. The military is a small, close-knit fraternity.

Does that mean that everyone has their entire military resume posted in stickers on the back window of their vehicle? No. But, so what if they do. At some point in their life, they did something that meant something to them and they believe it mattered.

There are worse faults to have.

Don't forget that Dwight Eisenhower petitioned the Army Chief of Staff to be returned to full military service after his presidency in order to be called "General."

As far as why military service defines a person's life, I guess I understand. It's a lot about history and traditions of the service you join and the pride you feel in that service. It is also about the fact that for one possibly brief moment in one's life, you met a challenge or you measured up and did your duty -- what ever that was. All of a sudden your in a brotherhood or sisterhood of others like you that is based on an oath and cameraderie that isn't often found outside military service (which is probably why there are so many fakes).

I'm an Air Force veteran -- forever and always will be an Airman. For a relatively brief period early in my Air Force career, I was also a security specialist or Security Policeman and forever bonded to others by a blue beret -- and fiercely proud of that fact -- a bond that has transended crosstraining into other careerfields and assignments.

It becomes part of you. My wife always jokes with others about how you can take the man out of the Air Force but never the Air Force out of the man.

[SarDragon]

...you can take the man out of the Air Force/ [Army/Navy/Marines] but never the Air Force/[Army/Navy/Marine] out of the man.

Truer words have seldom been spoken.

[sarmed1]

......
After leaving the White House, President Theodore Roosevelt preferred to be referred to as Colonel Roosevelt in recognition of his service in the Spanish-American War and his ride up San Juan Hill.

A little drift; I had just found out the other day Col Roosevelt was awarded the medal of honor for his actions that day on San Juan Hill.... but not until recently.... under Clinton actually.  Apparently he pissed and moaned a little too loud about how troops were being neglected in PR after the war ended and (in theory) that derailed the awarding of the medal at the time.

mk

[FlyTiger77]

......
After leaving the White House, President Theodore Roosevelt preferred to be referred to as Colonel Roosevelt in recognition of his service in the Spanish-American War and his ride up San Juan Hill.

A little drift; I had just found out the other day Col Roosevelt was awarded the medal of honor for his actions that day on San Juan Hill.... but not until recently.... under Clinton actually.  Apparently he pissed and moaned a little too loud about how troops were being neglected in PR after the war ended and (in theory) that derailed the awarding of the medal at the time.

mk

With the award of the Medal of Honor to Colonel Roosevelt, he became the father portion of only the second father-son pair to receive the medal. Theodore Roosevelt's son, Theodore Jr., was the first general officer to go ashore on D-Day and thus secured his.

Then-1LT Arthur MacArthur was awarded the MoH for leading a charge up Missionary Ridge in the Civil War. "On Wisconsin" was the battle cry to his regiment. Of course, Arthur's son Douglas was awarded the MoH upon his return to the Phillipines in WWII.

[MSG Mac]

/quote]

With the award of the Medal of Honor to Colonel Roosevelt, he became the father portion of only the second father-son pair to receive the medal. Theodore Roosevelt's son, Theodore Jr., was the first general officer to go ashore on D-Day and thus secured his.

Captain (I think) Arthur MacArthur was awarded the MoH for leading a charge up Missionary Ridge in the Civil War. "On Wisconsin" was the battle cry to his regiment. Of course, Arthur's son Douglas was awarded the MoH upon his return to the Phillipines in WWII.

Actually he got it when he arrived in Australia in 1942.

[MSG Mac]

GA MacArthur got his MOH upon arrival in Australia, after departing the Philippines in 1942.