Posers

A few years back I received a book for my birthday titled, "Stolen Valor : How the Vietnam Generation Was Robbed of Its Heroes and Its History" by B.G. Burkett and Glenna Whitley. It was a book that attempted to attack the stereotypes of the Vietnam veteran. Which is they are a drugged out, homeless, psychotic person similar to John Rambo. Yet that wasn't true. During the process of research Mr. Burkett stumbled on a sub-type of person those living up the Vietnam Vet stereotype. That is the faker, the wannabe, the poser. Who is this person? Well most of them were found out to be ones who found their own military service lacking so they made something up, to pick up girls so they made something up, or to defraud the government they made something up. What is really interesting is how those in the military are obvious to spot these posers and fakes. Usually because something that the poser says about their service, when cornered about a certain moment or how they set up their uniform, or just how the poser carries themselves.
Why do I care about the posers? Well it seems as though there seems to be a certain trend recently again of certain people to claim that they are (or in) the military as a way to get something for free (such as VA benefits) or as a way to make a political statement and earn their 15 minutes of fame. It it s a total shame that these sorts of people come up and rob from the real experiences of those real soldiers who did do heroic things or just do their job day in and day out.

It is just sad that there are those who feel the need to commit fraud and spread lies to make themselves feel better.