Monday, July 31, 2023
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8 Best Portable Generators for Camping (TOP 2023 Picks!)
TODAY'S ADVENTURE
8 Best Portable Generators for Camping (TOP 2023 Picks!)A great camping trip or a joyful RV vacation can be an amazing experience. You enjoy nature, as well as the people you are spending your time with, but you might be left without some of the things you are used to having virtually unlimited access to at home – electricity for instance.
Of course, that’s exactly the reason why some people spend their weekends camping in the woods. They want to get away from the rush of the modern world and reconnect with nature, enjoying the great peace it can offer.
Some people might enjoy spending a couple of days without electricity, but others can’t imagine spending even a mere one day without it. Luckily, there is a plethora of great portable generators you can take with you pretty much anywhere.
We handpicked 8 of the best portable generators, compared 4 of them side by side and compiled this list for you, so that you don’t have to spend countless hours browsing through online stores and make a difficult decision, picking one from many generators that might seem almost the same.
BONUS at the bottom of article: Portable Power Station with SOLAR GENERATOR!
So, here is a comparison of TOP 4:
NameWen 56200iChampion 3100-WattHonda EU1000iYamaha EF2000iSv2Starting Wattage 2000 Watts 3100 Watts 1000 Watts 1600 Watts Capacity / Run time 1 Gallon / 6 Hrs (@1/2 Load) 1.6 Gallons / 8Hrs (@1/4 Load) 0.6 Gallons 7.1 Hrs (@1/4 Load) 1.1 Gallons / 10.5Hrs (@1/4 Load) Rating (Amazon)4.5*/5 4.3*/5 4.1*/5 4.3*/5 Weight 48lbs/21.8kg 84lbs/38.1kg 29 lbs/13kg 44lbs/19.9kg Noise 51 dBA 58 dBA 50 dBA 51.5 dBA Connectors 2x120V (AC), 1x12V (DC - Auto Battery Charge) + 1x5V (USB) 2x120V (AC), 1x12V (DC - Auto Battery Charge) + 1x120V 30A (RV OUTLET) 2x120V (AC), 1x12V (DC - Auto Battery Charge) 2x120V (AC), 1x12V (DC - Auto Battery Charge) Parallel Capability YES NO YES YES Carb Complient YES YES YES YES
Wen 56200i (**BESTSELLING PORTABLE GENERATOR)
Wen 56200i is a 4-stroke portable generator capable of providing 1600 running watts and 2000 starting (surge) watts of power. It’s extremely quiet with a noise level rating of 51 dB, as well as reasonably light for a portable generator at 48 pounds or 22 kilograms.
That being said, one of Wen 56200i’s main strengths is connected to the value you get for your money. For example, when compared to Yamaha EF2000iSv2 mentioned later on in this list, the price you pay for this generator is a bargain. The Wen brand might not be as reputable as Yamaha or Honda, but hundreds of positive Amazon reviews can be considered clear evidence that the Wen 56200i simply works well.
It includes two regular electrical receptacles, as well as one 12V receptacle and one 5V USB port from which you can charge your USB-powered devices directly, so you just need a cable.
Wen 56200i has a fuel capacity of 1 gallon (3.8 liters), which seems to be somewhat of an average in the category of portable generators. It uses the fuel to produce “clean” power with low levels of distortion (3%), which means it shouldn’t cause any harm to your sensitive electronics and you don’t have to worry about what you use it to power or charge.
Champion 3100-Watt (BEST RATED)
On the opposite side of the spectrum stays a beefy 3100-watt generator by Champion with 3100 starting watts and 2800 running watts, which will provide more power than a regular RV or camping trip requires.
This portable inverter generator ships “RV Ready”, with a 120V 30A outlet used by recreational vehicles, as well as two “regular” 120V 20A household outlets and one 12V DC outlet. This selection should let you connect everything you might need directly into the generator, which is a great plus of this machine.
Just as Wen 56200i, Champion also boasts about their 3100-watt generator producing “clean” power, with deviations under 3%, which makes it safe even for sensitive electronics.
Another great thing about “the Champion” is how silent it is. Its noise levels are only at 58 dB, which is less than the aforementioned Honda capable of producing less than a third of Champion’s power capacity. What’s more, it has a great 1.6-gallon (6 liters) fuel capacity, which should last a long time without refueling.
The only drawback of Champion 3100-Watt can be found in its weight of 95 pounds or 43 kilograms. However, a higher weight can be expected given the 3100-Watt tag in its name.
Yamaha EF2000iSv2
Yamaha EF2000iSv2 is in many ways similar to Wen 56200i. It also produces 2000 starting wats and 1600 running watts. It’s also quiet, with only 51 dB of noise when running at a quarter of the full capacity.
Furthermore, Yamaha EF2000iSv2 is extremely eco-friendly. The machine’s “Smart Throttle” varies engine speed based on the current load, which improves fuel economy and reduces noise levels. It’s also CARB compliant, which means it can be used in California with the state’s strict restrictions against small power equipment engines.
It’s lighter than its main competitor in this list (Wen 56200i) with 44 pounds or 20 kilograms and it has a bigger fuel capacity (1.1 gallons or 4.1 liters). It also produces extremely clean electricity with deviations smaller than 1%. Yamaha EF2000iSv2 has two 120V AC outlets and one 12V DC outlet for charging batteries.
Yamaha EF2000iSv2 is undoubtedly a great portable generator, however, it’s also quite pricey. It’s up to you whether you want to spend a couple of hundred dollars more for its qualities and the big name of “Yamaha” or decide to go for something cheaper.
Honda EU1000i – Portable Generator for Camping
If you only need a smaller portable generator, Honda EU1000i is a great option. Is extremely portable at 32 pounds or 14.5 kilograms and it produces 900 running watts and 1000 surge watts of power.
EU1000i’s main strength lies in its portability. It’s a smaller inverter generator that produces less power than other options in this list but is much lighter. If you don’t need a lot of power and prefer a lighter load for your RV or camping trip, this generator might be the best option for you.
Although it’s less powerful than Wen 56200i, it seems to be louder with noise levels at 59 dB. It also has a smaller fuel capacity of 0.6 gallons (2.3 liters), however, it lasts pretty long thanks to lower consumption caused by less electricity being produced.
Generac GP2500i Inverter (Economy mode)
This portable generator provides an economy mode, which allows it to save fuel and sound whenever possible. It also has a number of indicators to ensure that you can keep on top of any oil or related needs that it may have. In addition, it will shut down when its oil level is low enough that it could cause damage to the generator if it were to continue running.
With all of that said, a feature that it offers that causes it to stand out amongst its competition while concurrently not standing out while in use is how quiet it is when at full power. This is caused by it being completely enclosed.
The dimensions of this generator are 19.7 inches by 17.9 inches by 11.4 inches, and it weighs 48 pounds. It starts out at 2,500 watts while its running wattage is 2,200. Note that it comes with oil, which you need to place inside it with a provided funnel.
One of its additional benefits is being able to use it to charge your mobile devices through its USB port. Additionally, its outlets are covered, which helps provide a safer environment during rainy or snowy conditions.
Westinghouse WH2200iXLT
Westinghouse WH2200iXLT is a slightly more powerful generator than the Yamaha and Wen mentioned in this comparison. It has 2200 starting watts and 1800 running watts. With only 52 dB of noise output at 25% load, it’s also extremely quiet and strong enough to run all of your essentials. What’s more, it’s even lighter than Yamaha EF2000iSv2 with only 43 pounds or 19.5 kilograms.
It also produces “clean” electricity and is safe for sensitive electronics, has two 120V AC outlets and one 12V DC outlet, and basically checks all the boxes for most people. The 1.3 gallons (almost 5 liters) of fuel capacity will go a long way with its efficient engine.
The “Westinghouse” brand name might not be as well-known as Yamaha or Honda, but that doesn’t take away anything from the qualities of this generator. It’s a great option for people who like the 2000-watt zone but want a bit more just to be sure.
BONUS, solar power stations: Portable Power Station – with Solar Generator
AVAILABLE: US & CANADA
So let’s talk about the BONUSES and maybe reconsider if you actually need a GAS-powered generator!
When it comes to the environment, this is the BEST portable generator for RV camping with no doubt! Jackery is specialized in portable outdoor power technologies which are becoming very popular.
As you can see on Amazon it’s a really booming option and comes with a full (5 out of 5 stars) rating. Previous customers appreciate mostly the flexibility, easy charging, and extra gadgets that come with it.
It comes with 3x charging options:
Solar generator (7-8 hours)AC outlet (7-8 hours)Carport (7-8 hours)Designed for charging outdoor electronics such as:
Laptops,Drone,Phones,Coolers,etc.Check out more tech. details about this generator on Amazon.
FlashFish 200W Portable Power Station
If you are a sustainable camper, we have another option for you. FlashFish is a super lightweight power station (it has only about 4.08lb) perfect for short camping trips, days out fishing, beach picnics, or as backup home power. It’s less powerful than Jackery but is much more compact and can easily fit in any backpack.
It also comes with 3x charging options:
Solar generator (6-10 hours)AC outlet (5 hours)Carport (6 hours)And is suitable for charging small devices, such as:
Cameras,Phones,Drones,Laptops,Car fridges.The wall socket and vehicle chargers are included but note that the solar panel is sold separately.
Check out, how much noise they make:
Having a portable generator can move your camping experience to another level. On one side, you can enjoy more technology but it can “disconnect” your from nature a bit. On the other side, you will become more independent and you will be able to spend more time in more remote areas where generators will become very handy! We highly suggest getting one of the best generators from above but make sure they don’t disconnect you from nature!
For more tips & hacks we have put together an interesting article about “RV hacks that makes you happy camper” which you might wanna check out as well. You will find cool tips on how to improve your camper van, spend quality time around your campground or how to get rid off flies.
If you would like to suggest an addition to this article or some personal review of any above mentioned invertible camping generators, feel free to comment below. We will highly appreciate any kind of feedback.
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Happy camping 
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The post 8 Best Portable Generators for Camping (TOP 2023 Picks!) appeared first on Traveling Lifestyle.
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By: Viktor Vincej
Title: 8 Best Portable Generators for Camping (TOP 2023 Picks!)
Sourced From: www.travelinglifestyle.net/best-portable-generators-rv-camping-trip/
Published Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2023 21:32:53 +0000
Top tips from a flight attendant to avoid the worst of summer’s travel headaches
HOSTED BY: 1 AIR TRAVEL
Editor’s note: This post has been updated with new information.
Summer has been frustrating for many travelers. July has seen multiple days of delays and cancellations, including Tuesday, July 25, when hundreds of fights were canceled at New York-area airports as thunderstorms moved through the area, according to airline tracking firm FlightAware.
Full planes, strikes, a shortage of air traffic controllers and overburdened airports are all contributing to mega travel snafus. In fact, it’s become common to see flights canceled or delayed for hours (sometimes even overnight) in addition to schedule reductions and staffing issues. All of this adds up to frayed nerves and long lines at airports across the country.
In light of summer travel woes, we have plenty of tips to guide you through delays and cancellations so you get the help you need before your flight.
However, it can’t hurt to seek additional guidance, so we turned to Lisa Kulpa, co-founder of the Basic Travel Couple blog who works as a flight attendant for a major airline. She gave us her best advice for how to avoid delays, what to do if you’re stuck this summer and how to make travel a better experience for everyone (spoiler alert: Being nice to crew members goes a long way).
Related:Unsung Heroes: A flight attendant talks grueling schedules, ‘commuting’ by plane to work and being an AvGeek
Editor’s note: This conversation has been abridged and edited for length.
When should you fly to avoid delays?
The first flight of the day will always be your best bet for a few reasons.
First, you have the least chance of flight delays on the first departure of the day. The plane was brought in last night, so it will be there waiting for you. This means you won’t have to wait for the plane to arrive from another destination.
Flights later in the day also have a greater chance of delays due to weather, maintenance and delays getting in and out of gates, which pushes back the entire flight schedule day.
If you live in a smaller city and not a hub, taking the first plane is also important because it means the crew members likely overnighted in that city and will be available for your flight. (The only time this could backfire is if a crew member became ill, then they would be short and have to fly in another crew member.)
Another benefit to taking the first flight: The plane will be thoroughly cleaned overnight, which means you get a fresh, clean aircraft.
What are some of the reasons flights are delayed and canceled?
There are plenty of reasons for delays, but the biggest one in the summer is definitely thunderstorms. We cannot fly through them because it is unsafe to do so.
Staffing issues have also caused major delays. Not only is there a pilot shortage, but there have been shortages of flight attendants, gate agents, ramp operators and everything in between.
It takes many people to get a plane off the ground successfully, and if one person is missing, it’ll delay the whole flight. For example, I was once delayed for baggage issues when ground ops was backed up because of staffing issues; we sat boarded on the flight for 45 minutes waiting for the baggage issues to be resolved.
We can also be delayed if maintenance issues arise, if air traffic controllers hold flights back due to weather or if runways are backed up. International flights can also hold you for border control. If they have too many flights landing, they will sometimes hold you on the plane to not back up customs too much.
How early should travelers get to the airport?
I’m seeing an increase in the number of people going through security. Give yourself enough time to get through!
If you don’t have TSA PreCheck (or Clear), allow time to take out your liquids and electronics, remove your shoes and so forth. Pack lighter than you need so it’s easier to breeze through security.
Plan to be at the gate at least an hour prior to your flight time, then add in time for security.
Related: 9 ways to get through airport security faster
How long should travelers allow for connections?
Travelers walk to their gate inside Terminal D at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Every airline is struggling with staffing and the uncontrollable factors mentioned previously.
If you cannot fly direct and have to have a connection, I would say at least two hours is going to be your best bet for travel time for connections. This gives you flexibility for delays on either end. Anything under an hour is cutting it close.
Keep in mind that for domestic flights, you typically board about 30 minutes prior to takeoff, and for international ones, it is usually 45 minutes. Then, you have to account for another 15 to 20 minutes to get off the plane, and walking through the terminal can even take time. If your flight is delayed, even 15 minutes, it could cause you to miss a short connection.
What’s the easiest way to rebook or get information about your delayed flights?
FlightAware is a great app to get ahead of the game. You can see any plane in the sky and details on when it is landing, where it is coming from and so on. It will show you if the flight is on schedule, which is helpful to know when determining if your flight will be delayed or not.
Your airline’s app is helpful as well since you might get notified sooner about any delays or cancellations.
If your flight does get canceled or delayed, call the airline immediately and/or get in line at the customer service desk. Most likely, they are both going to take a while.
I would even start searching for flights on other airlines if need be. Google Flights is a great resource to type in your destination and see same-day available flights.
Related: Even more reasons to download your airline’s mobile app — summer flight delays and cancellations
What should you bring on board, and what should you leave at home?
When flying, always bring a carry-on with necessary items such as car keys, medicine, electronics and whatever else you can’t replace easily or wouldn’t want to lose. If you check your bag, be sure to pack a change of clothes and a toothbrush to bring on board with you.
I also recommend a small blanket and/or a sweater. Airplanes can definitely be cold, and we most likely have no control over the temperature. If you really hate wearing shoes on an airplane, bring flip-flops; please don’t go to the bathroom barefoot.
Always bring headphones, especially for little ones with electronics.
Please, please, please do not bring personal alcohol and consume it during the flight. We need to know (for your safety and those around you) if you are intoxicated. By serving you alcohol in flight, we can monitor how much you are drinking. Alcohol affects you differently at higher altitudes, and if you are suddenly passed out or something goes wrong, we won’t know the reason. Also, it is a federal offense, and you can be fined thousands of dollars.
Other things to not do or bring in flight: nail clippers, nail polish, nail polish remover — these products will make the whole plane smell, and some people get sick from it. Other smelly things that are not really wanted include any extremely fragrant food. Even fast food sometimes stinks up a plane.
What advice do flight attendants want you to know?
Just remember: Please be nice. We are more willing to help you if you are nice, and there really is no need to be rude. We know you are upset about XYZ and missing whatever event. However, we don’t purposely delay and cancel your flight to ruin your trip. Things happen. If you absolutely have to be somewhere, fly out the day before to give yourself enough time to be flexible and not stress.
Also, whether it’s through a great premium travel credit card or on your own, make sure you purchase trip insurance. If your flight is delayed for hours or canceled, the insurance should help you cover a hotel and food (depending on the credit card or coverage).
If crew members are serving snacks or beverages, please wait for them to finish before using the restroom. It is not easy to push carts or carry trays of drinks while maneuvering around standing passengers. If you can hold it, do so.
Also, be prepared with your drink order. There is either a beverage menu in the seatback pocket or on the airline’s app that we told you to be prepared with. One flight attendant usually goes through 50 passengers, and sometimes, we have very short flights to work with serving everyone. Just be ready.
For those who have anxiety when flying, here’s one tip to help you out: Turbulence is as normal as a pothole in the road. It is safe, and planes are built to withstand the fluctuations.
Another tip: Watch to see when flight attendants are sitting. If they are strapped in, most likely, we are going through weather and were told to stay seated. You can expect bumps. This is not the time to use the restroom. Please be safe. If extreme turbulence does happen, you can get injured or fall on others and injure them. It is not worth the risk.
Follow Lisa Kulpa on Instagram @basictravelcouple or visit her blog at basictravelcouple.com.
Related reading:
Key travel tips you need to know — whether you’re a first-time or frequent travelerThe 18 best places to travel in 20236 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases13 must-have items the TPG team can’t travel withoutAdditional reporting by Clint Henderson.
Title: Top tips from a flight attendant to avoid the worst of summer’s travel headaches
Sourced From: thepointsguy.com/news/tips-flight-attendant-summer-travel/
Published Date: Wed, 26 Jul 2023 17:00:01 +0000
Sunday, July 30, 2023
What Is a Google Business Profile and How to Create One - Neil Patel
Stolen Valor: How the Vietnam Generation Was Robbed of Its Heroes and Its History
I
did not like the book as much as I would have preferred. I thought
that there would be cut and dry names of the individuals that claimed
to be the recipients of these much coveted medals, but that did not
earned them. Instead the book is a long dissertation of so many
aspects of the military that eventually I lost interest. As opposed
to another book that tells the personal stories of great heroes, what
they did, and what branch of the service they were part of when they
got their medals, basically the a-z of the courageous men that have
earned these distinguished commendations, this book does not have a
chronological list of names of those that try to say they did get the
medals under false pretense. No respect whatsoever for these
individuals, for if there are capable of lying in such a way with no
restrictions, who knows what else they can lie about.
Anyone can
buy medals and pin them on, but that is not what it is about. Takes a
lot more guts than that. There is the north and the south pole, an
insurmountable gap between actual heroic acts, and liars. That would
be the aspect I respect the most about this book, a well researched
book whose main goal appears to have been the unmasking of liars.
Service in war is too far serious of a subject to have fools running
around claiming they are heroes. As I mentioned, many angles to the
book, well written for sure, but could not find enough cases of
singled out false heroes. 3.5 Stars.
An
outstanding book that gives an honest analysis of the Vietnam era
and its veterans. Burkett shines a bright light on the truth, and
exposes the fakes hiding in the shadows.
Having been raised
in a military family, I was always frustrated by the depiction of
Vietnam vets in the media and culture. The people I saw on TV and
in the papers were not the same ones that I had grown up with. My
father, step-father, uncles, neighbors - they were not stressed
out victims. They were professional soldiers who served their
country with honor and pride.
Burkett does a fantastic job
of debunking most of the myths surrounding service in Vietnam. He
demonstrates how the anti-war crowd, liars and malingerers created
and sustained an alternate reality of what happened. The war has
been over for 30 years and yet the battle at home still continues.
This book goes a long way toward setting the record
straight.
Long and repetive at times, this is not light
reading and will probably leave you angry at those who have
pepetuated and profited from the myths. If you are interested in
the Vietnam era, this book would be a great starting point.
Burkett points out the flaws in many books and TV shows of the era
(i.e. he researched quite a few of the people who provided "first
hand" accounts and found they were frauds). Especially
relevant if you follow the events in Iraq/Afganistan since the
rhetoric against the war is exactly the same as what was used
during the Vietnam era and it is coming from the same people and
organizations.
Stolen Valor drifts into so many categories of military law, military justice, false records of " heroes" during the War, those who did not even serve in combat, but worse, Mr. Burkett has decided he knows a great deal about Agent Orange and P.T.S.D.; in fact, he comes off as a medical researcher, doctor, scientist, epigenetic researcher; but what angers me, is that intelligent, hard working, and thoughtful scientific researchers such as Dr.'s Jeanne Stellman and her husband, who have worked in Vietnam studying the amounts, toxicity ,and the effects of the various forms of Agent Orange on both U.S. soldiers and Vietnamese, those who were exposed to Ranch Hand in heavily concentrated spray areas are ignored, and promulgated as a " myth".....Burkett is no doctor, no genetic specialist, and obviously has not done his homework on the science of A.O., nor how it was made, he has not studied the independent reports of Dr. Stellman,the medical and scientific reports of the S. Korean Government, Australia Government, New Zealand Government, and Okinawa Government; his medical evaluation of P.T.S.D. is so bad, that he believes he has figured out the universal synaptic neuron transmissions in the human brain. P.T.S.D. impacts not only combat soldiers, but civilians in very severe accidents ,i.e., plane crashes. I have been back to Vietnam,( I served with the 25th Infantry Division), and 40 years later, there is nothing is growing in farming areas that was sprayed with A.O.; worse, third generation of Vietnamese are still born with horrible defects, epigenetics is not one of Mr. Burkett's strongest points. He drifts from valid points about " Stolen Valor" into areas of incomprehensible interpretation of " his " scientific and medical interpretations of P.T.S.D. and Agent Orange"....his evaluations, opinions, are to be considered a farce, and only lead to U.S. Government Agencies, such as our" Soylent Green" Veterans Administration to penalize Vietnam Veterans on falsehoods promoted by Mr. Burkett. The current news speaks for itself, with regard to the administration of the V.A. and V.H.A.; Mr. Shinseki and his minions are being asked to step down from their positions of power, thus it would not surprise me that books such as " Stolen Valor" contribute and assist the cause of the V.A. into treating Vietnam Veterans, Iraq Veterans, and Afghanistan veterans, with disdain about their supposed injuries, diseases, conditions, created in our new technological war that includes ionizing radiation, biological warfare, and chemical warfare. Sadly, this book does much harm to veterans with Mr. Burkett's chapters on what he thinks he knows of Agent Orange, P.T.S.D., depleted uranium rounds and the effects of war within the human character.
Guaranteed an excellent book on exposing the fraudulent pretenders that are hood-winking everyone that they can to receive 100% ex-servicemen pensions or with their fame to claim self-inflated egos of being real life "Rambo Types". More than a few wannabe heroes advertising themselves as so brought into the front & center along with their so-called Veterans Associations.The news media, documentaries, radio & TV talk shows not acquiring the documented facts from the Military, Medical Professionals, Chemical analysts, etc, but believing the cooked-up stories of whatever or whoever in the name of sensationalism. Strange to the uninformed but any of my Vietnam Veteran friends are all clean cut, respectable, successful, pillars of their communities. People I'm proud to know & associate amongst. And I should mention some were front line Combat men in action with more than one wound with scars to match. To these gentlemen war is a memory, they served their country like their fathers,uncles,etc before, believing in patriotic duty to their country & we all should salute them. Really, I could go on & on about what we've all heard from the media & certain Hollywood celebrities along with journalists looking for that story no matter how untrue. I'm sure all that any genuine Vietnam Vet would ask of anyone would be is to read this book "Stolen Valor" by B.G. Burkett & Glenna Whitley to read the actual truth. Exposure to the true facts through the FOIA (Freedom OF Information Act). You'll be surprised of who you thought was a Vietnam Vet as they themselves boasted. Actors, Politicians, even ex-servicemen of the era looking for hero status. If you are a fan of people such as Jane Fonda or John Kerry just to name a few, maybe documented proof in this book might hurt but if what ex-Army Lt.Burkett prints is an untruth I'm sure Jane's & John's as well as others lawyers would have long brought Mr.Burkett & Glenna to a court of law. If a person can face the truth on the Vietnam Veteran with both pros & cons this book will open your eyes up to the real story not something cooked up. The next time you hear or read of a crazed Vietnam Veteran I hope you might be watching "Wheel of Fortune" with Pat Sajak or NYPD Blue with Dennis Franz, could either one of them be Vietnam Vets, they don't look crazed to me ! DEFINITELY FIVE STARS & THANK YOU Mr.Burkett & Mrs.Whitley as well as all contributors to this book that brings out the truth. And again DEFINITELY FIVE STARS & Thank a Veteran sometime.
B.G.Burkett s account of the scams and deceit that followed the Vietnam war is an eye opener. He is passionate about protecting the legacy of genuine war heroes by exposing the fakes is commendabl
An
outstanding book that gives an honest analysis of the Vietnam era
and its veterans. Burkett shines a bright light on the truth, and
exposes the fakes hiding in the shadows.
Having been raised
in a military family, I was always frustrated by the depiction of
Vietnam vets in the media and culture. The people I saw on TV and
in the papers were not the same ones that I had grown up with. My
father, step-father, uncles, neighbors - they were not stressed
out victims. They were professional soldiers who served their
country with honor and pride.
Burkett does a fantastic job
of debunking most of the myths surrounding service in Vietnam. He
demonstrates how the anti-war crowd, liars and malingerers created
and sustained an alternate reality of what happened. The war has
been over for 30 years and yet the battle at home still continues.
This book goes a long way toward setting the record
straight.
Long and repetive at times, this is not light
reading and will probably leave you angry at those who have
pepetuated and profited from the myths. If you are interested in
the Vietnam era, this book would be a great starting point.
Burkett points out the flaws in many books and TV shows of the era
(i.e. he researched quite a few of the people who provided "first
hand" accounts and found they were frauds). Especially
relevant if you follow the events in Iraq/Afganistan since the
rhetoric against the war is exactly the same as what was used
during the Vietnam era and it is coming from the same people and
organizations.
Stolen Valor drifts into so many categories of military law, military justice, false records of " heroes" during the War, those who did not even serve in combat, but worse, Mr. Burkett has decided he knows a great deal about Agent Orange and P.T.S.D.; in fact, he comes off as a medical researcher, doctor, scientist, epigenetic researcher; but what angers me, is that intelligent, hard working, and thoughtful scientific researchers such as Dr.'s Jeanne Stellman and her husband, who have worked in Vietnam studying the amounts, toxicity ,and the effects of the various forms of Agent Orange on both U.S. soldiers and Vietnamese, those who were exposed to Ranch Hand in heavily concentrated spray areas are ignored, and promulgated as a " myth".....Burkett is no doctor, no genetic specialist, and obviously has not done his homework on the science of A.O., nor how it was made, he has not studied the independent reports of Dr. Stellman,the medical and scientific reports of the S. Korean Government, Australia Government, New Zealand Government, and Okinawa Government; his medical evaluation of P.T.S.D. is so bad, that he believes he has figured out the universal synaptic neuron transmissions in the human brain. P.T.S.D. impacts not only combat soldiers, but civilians in very severe accidents ,i.e., plane crashes. I have been back to Vietnam,( I served with the 25th Infantry Division), and 40 years later, there is nothing is growing in farming areas that was sprayed with A.O.; worse, third generation of Vietnamese are still born with horrible defects, epigenetics is not one of Mr. Burkett's strongest points. He drifts from valid points about " Stolen Valor" into areas of incomprehensible interpretation of " his " scientific and medical interpretations of P.T.S.D. and Agent Orange"....his evaluations, opinions, are to be considered a farce, and only lead to U.S. Government Agencies, such as our" Soylent Green" Veterans Administration to penalize Vietnam Veterans on falsehoods promoted by Mr. Burkett. The current news speaks for itself, with regard to the administration of the V.A. and V.H.A.; Mr. Shinseki and his minions are being asked to step down from their positions of power, thus it would not surprise me that books such as " Stolen Valor" contribute and assist the cause of the V.A. into treating Vietnam Veterans, Iraq Veterans, and Afghanistan veterans, with disdain about their supposed injuries, diseases, conditions, created in our new technological war that includes ionizing radiation, biological warfare, and chemical warfare. Sadly, this book does much harm to veterans with Mr. Burkett's chapters on what he thinks he knows of Agent Orange, P.T.S.D., depleted uranium rounds and the effects of war within the human character.
Lots of great statistics on Vietnam. I was a "ground pounder" with the 101st Airborne, 67-68, and saw a whole different side of the War. A great amount of research went into this book and I have to give "big kudos" to Mr. Burkett for that effort. It's great to see the "wannabees" exposed for what they are. Dan Rather is no exception, along with the Hollywood crowd. The honesty that Mr. Burkett wrote about his tour in the Nam, was indeed "heroic" in itself. Golf Clubs and Purple Hearts for a couple mortar rounds, is really tough for the "ground pounder" to swallow, but at the same time, very enlightening to hear the truth. I never knew that the Marines actually had a "War Correspondence Company", in Da Nang. Guess that's why they got all the great coverage they received. Great idea, as we now have some really great Documentaries. Too bad we didn't have some "War Correspondents" in the "Bush", with the U.S. Army. Or did we? If so, I didn't see any during the 18 months I was there.
Thank you B. G. Burkett for writing this book about Stolen Valor. No one wanted to go to Vietnam, now everyone wants to be a Vietnam Vet. Many have never even been in the military and yet they are stealing VA benefits from the real Veterans. It can also show you how the media shows people who never went to Vietnam and claim that they are Vietnam Vets. It is a good read and if you are of that generation, reading this may make you every angry.
The book documented the abuses of individuals, the media, and the VA in the handling of Vietnam Vets, particularly of those who claimed to have been in combat. The authors used the Freedom of Information Act to show the bias in many news accounts of returning vets, the bias in blockbuster movies, and the failure of the VA to check the stories of all the soldiers who claimed PTSD but were not in Vietnam or were not in combat roles. All of this was excellent. What the author did not include were the results from a large number of academic studies of Vietnam Vets with statistical comparisons of vets from other wars, soldiers who served during the same period but were not in Vietnam, and soldiers in Vietnam that saw combat and those who were in Vietnam but did not see combat. Had the authors included those studies, they could have shown us the forest as well as the individual trees. We would have seen the Vietnam veterans were no more likely to come back "damaged by war" than soldiers of other periods and that, on average, Vietnam vets have been more successful than persons of similar backgrounds and educations who did not serve.
7 people found this helpful
I sent a copy of this book as a Christmas gift to the retired Colonel who had been my Company Commander in Vietnam. He deserved it for his dishonorable and fraudulent actions. He plagiarized my flight log and awarded himself the 4 Air Medals and Army Aviation Badge (Crew Wings) I earned while serving as his Lieutenant. He was a Captain. He ordered me to fly many of the missions which got quite dicey due to the inordinate amount of ground fire we took. His excuse was he had a wife and child. I connected with him 40 years later through the power of the internet since I remained not only curious but rather bitter that I had not received what I had earned. He offered me money for my honor using the lame excuse that since I was not "career" he didn't think it mattered to me. Imagine the lack of character of wearing another man's medals on your chest for 20 years and that's what Stolen Valor is all about.
13 people found this helpful
Disclaimer,
up front: I served two tours as a Marine grunt rifleman in Vietnam
in 1969 and 1970. That said...
I love this book because it
exposes the sick, sorry S.O.B.s who pretend to be veterans,
disabled or otherwise,
just to get the attention and respect
real veterans deserve.
I hate this book, first, because
reading the stories of the dirtbags who impersonate combat
veterans, either
for attention or financial gain, infuriates me
to the point of craziness. And secondly I hate it that it became
necessary that this book be written. But written it was, and Jug
Burkett and Glenna Whitley did an exemplary
job of it. It was
no coincidence that a law making it a crime to make false claims
of being a decorated
veteran was called the "Stolen Valor
Act".
If you have any respect for the men and women
who have offered up their lives in defense of this country,
read
this book.
As a Vietnam vet, I was interested in the book, and quite shocked at the nerve of someone actually wearing an award that he never earned, (actor Brian Dennehy for instance). This cheapened the real heroes of our war, or any war. Burkett goes into the Armed Forces files and pulls out records of awards that exposed the phonies that wore the decorations. To my shock, I never realized that although illegal, the wearing of a Medal of Honor for a phony, got nothing more than a hand slap. There are hundreds of stories that are easy reading, of attendees in full uniform, that never went to Vietnam, wearing a chest full of decorations. Reading this book makes you angry, and yet feel sorry for a person who would do this to impress someone, or himself. Burkett does well in writing the book. I hope it unmasks some of the wannabie heroes around.
The
Author rightfully claims not all Nam Vets are suffering from PTSD.
Many have had no problems coming home but some have.
While
the Author spent his Nam time in the rear areas doing computer
projects and scrounging equipment there were others who spent
everyday in the bush catching hell. We should not characterize all
Nam Vets as stressed out and unbalanced. We should remember some
Nam Vets do have PTSD depending on where they served in Nam and
their own reaction to what they experienced in that hellish place.
The Author does a fine job of calling out the wannabees and
phonies who falsely claim what is not rightfully theirs. I applaud
him for that.
I am a Vietnam vet. and decided to preview the book thru my local county library. I could not finish the book in the allotted time and was unable to renew it so decided to buy the book. I'm about 1/3 thru it and it is a good read, amazing tales of people who were never near Southeast Asia and tried to make out like they were war heroes. Their bluster promoted by the media looking for ratings. You can tell a lot of research work went into this book. I will finish reading the book at my leisure
I
am amazed at the varying levels of deceit used to misrepresent
those who legitimately and honorably served in Vietnam, myself
included. To misrepresent yourself at the expense of the real
Vietnam veteran (or any veteran for that matter) is bad enough,
but to encourage this behavior by the media powers to support
their views and agendas is totally despicable.
This book
was a lengthy read for me, unlike a novel or memoir, as it's
essentially a record of cases which are thoroughly researched by
two obviously highly competent professionals. The accounts are
credible and very convincing.
Hats off to B.G. Burkett and
Glenna Whitley for their fine work. You have done the real Vietnam
Veterans a tremendous service regaining their lost
credibility.
David B. Simmons - Author
Our Turn to Serve
- An Army Veteran's Memoir of the Vietnam War
This is an amazing, well researched and clearly written non-fiction book. I would call this a must read for military veterans for all eras especially Vietnam era. I have read it twice so far and will most likely read it again. Excellent addition to any book collection. Mr. Burkett has presented with extreme accuracy all lot of information regarding the Vietnam era vets. I know it has been 42 years since I got out of the Army. When I first read this book I felt like, Thank You for putting all this in writing in an order that makes sense. Out of the entire book, chapter hurt the most - it is true! "Jug" Burkett helps us all. Finally to all VN era vets Welcome Home brothers and sisters.
"If your mother says she loves you-check it out!" This phrase,uttered by an investigative reporter,is the basic theme of this "necessary" book on the Vietnam War. Forget "Rambo" and the myriad other pretenders who were nowhere near Southeast Asia;the authors go to great lengths not only to de-bunk most of the hype about the war and,instead,give us a remarkable picture of the brave men who fought this unpopular conflict. Their valor was stolen by many,including Hollywood,and this volume does a great service in setting straight the record of the true,American fighting man. Anyone who served at the time will relish the research presented and those who weren't there will be reminded of more current incidents of "stolen" valor such as the Tilman dust-up in Afghanistan. I highly recommend this title to anyone interested in military history.
Stolen Valor clears up many misconceptions about the Vietnam War and those who served in it. Today the war and its aftermath is mostly a vague memory for those who were alive at the time and an unknown for those who weren't. But it still has relevance because the techniques used by much of the media to belittle those who tried to keep the communists from taking over are still being used today in other conflicts and against other groups.
Finally,
someone reveals the truth about what I have been feeling ever
since I returned from Vietnam. I could not understand why I didn't
fit into the media's view of "real" Vietnam Veterans. I
always felt many were truly phonies, but couldn't supply any
proof. Through B.G. Burkett's meticulous reserach revealed in
Stolen valor, the truth is out and the phonies are revealed. How
many more there are may never be known, but the thought that we
Veterans are demonized victims is blown wide open. I can never
thank Mr. Burkett enough for his work and can finally see that I
am the normal Veteran and those malcontents the media always
focus's on are not representative of us.
Thank you, thank
you, thank you, Mr. Burkett
I salute Burkett and Whitley, along with Chuck and Mary Schantag of the POW Network, for teaching me how to learn the truth about phony military elites. These watchdogs are like Toto in the Wizard of Oz pulling back the curtain and exposing the charlatan! Just how does the bogus Army Ranger or Navy SEAL down the street, the dirty, long-haired pothead who won't work and runs around in raggedy old fatigue jackets studded with unit patches, come up with a DD-214? Burkett tells us he doesn't need anything more hi-tech than a copy machine, a typewriter, and a pair of scissors! Never trust a DD-214 that has passed through a blowhard's hands.
I've
given this book as a gift to several friends. And I've read it
twice, and cherry picked it many times. B.G. Burkett and Emma
Whitley have done Vietnam veterans a great service. It's hard to
understand how anyone could wear unearned medals or claim military
service that never happened.
Pretty much everyone that was
physically qualified had a chance to go to Vietnam. One needed to
be proactive to avoid the service back then. So, some folks who
opted out then, "hold their manhoods cheap" today.
Hats
off to the authors and everyone else who has worked to expose
these frauds.
This book is well worth the long time it takes to read. The research tellls in detail how media hype has created the false stereotype of Vietnam veterans as troubled, drug addicted lost souls, while statistics actually show that the vast majority of Vietnam veterans honorably served our country and continue to be productive members of society. The authors shine the spotlight on and names names of those who either tarnish the repututation of the Vietnam veterans or try to profit by falsely claiming to have served. Everyone should read this book. We bought a second copy to loan out.
For me this was a hard book to read. Okay, so he wrote a book that exposes the total lack of integrity of hollywood and the media toward the way they treated (treat) Vietnam Veterans and exposed hundreds of liars, frauds and wannabes. I already knew that. I am a Vietnam Veteran. I served two tours in Nam as a combat helicopter pilot. Though I was not a grunt, I saw enough death and mayhem to last a lifetime. I was angered by the way Burkett sometimes seemed to make light of veterans with real problems with PTSD . I, like many others who did Nam, did not have the luxury of having my golf clubs with me. Early on it became obvious that Burkett was the ultimate REMF. His often cynicism, condescending and judgmental attitude toward other veterans slowly began to piss me off. After about 3/4 of the book, I'd had enough. I did not finish the book.Helpful
Excellent book. The war we all hate told in a different light. As usual, the politicians got in the way and mucked it up. Our neighbors are on both sides are Vietnamese families who survived and emigrated to the US. Listening to their stories it is clear we needed to be there, despite the peaceniks' opinions, we just did this poorly. If you like your history viewed through the lens of the liberal media, try this on for size.
As a widow of a man who fought in Vietnam and was a awarded the Silver star, 3 bronze stars, 2 with V device and oakleaf cluster, army commendation medal for valor and was a Ranger, It was disgusting to read about people who wore medals they did not earn. That is exactly like stealing the honor of those who earned the medals.
This book addresses a very serious problem with people assuming the valor of others through their resumes and qualifications. Sadly, it is easy to see how this is similar to someone purchasing cars, clothes, homes, and adult toys to enhance their image.
I lobby on Capitol Hill for Veteran's benefits and have witnessed the collusion between the Veteran's affairs committees and the big VSO's like the DAV, who's preservation is tied to perpetuationg the myth that US Veteran's benefits are underfunded.
Splinter
groups like the Veteran's Benefit Network, run by faceless and
nameless people witout real names and questionable work ethic
pervade this landscape.
The fact remains that no other
Nation has treated Veteran's this well, and now the Bush
administration has focused rightfully on those who fought.
As a former Navy doctor with the Marines in Vietnam (1966-1967), much of Burkett's material documented what I had experienced myself regarding so-called atrocities, dealing with the media, and the stability and successes of most Vietnam veterans. I was unaware however of the extent of the frauds, bogus claims, and deceptions which have contributed to popular misconceptions of servicemen from the Vietnam era. His material on the myth of Agent Orange effects and PTSD abuses ring very true in an objective view of the medical literature. Many thanks to Burkett and Whitley for their major contribution to help set the record straight
Absolutely outstanding! It brings to light all of the hppie dressed “soldiers” that weren’t soldiers at all. Research is there. Those who don’t like the truth don’t like it.
All
Veterans should read this book. It will change your mind on how
you perceive the alleged "war hero" who likes to brag
about his/her accomplishments.
It will also cause you to have
2nd thoughts about that scungy guy at the stop lite, holding a
sign, "Homless Vet"........
Because of this book,
Congress passed a Stolen Valor law to make it a federal crime to
impersonate a decorated vet.
A must read for anyone interested in the many myths of the Vietnam War, most of which came out of the Peace Movement. Chapter on PTSD is
My
husband served in Viet Nam and he saw first hand what this book
tells about.
Anyone who served in that war deserves all the
credit possible. It was a horrible war and what did it accomplish?
It just killed over 58,000 of our best young men and women and
ruined the lives of countless thousands of others, along with the
families.
Very informative and helpful book. Is a valuable tool in helping to determine if someone is indeed telling the the truth about all their "war" stories. I recommend it to anyone who is researching these types of stories and storytellers. Let's give credit to the true brave men and women who are due it and put the phonies and fakes in their places.
Many good stories about how the Vietnam Veterans service has been recreated by the media and liberal groups for their own self-serving agenda.
This book hits the nail on the head. As a veteran who gets tired of frauds, exaggerators, and whiners, this book was great to read. I wish they kept printing this because it is as true today as it was 20 years ago.
Buy this book and read it no matter who you are. Vietnam veterans will be buoyed up and heartened. Journalists will (or should) hang their heads in shame. Ordinary people will be amazed and enlightened. Burkett has done us all a huge favor by calmly, methodically and irrebuttably demolishing the sick myths surrounding Vietnam service and restoring the truth. I and every other Vietnam veteran owes him a huge debt of gratitude. Well-researched, well-written, well worth your time no matter what you think you might know about Vietnam and those who served there.
Xmas
Gift for my father-in-law
He liked this book very much!
It
exposed famous people who claimed they fought in this war and
received medals of valour when indeed they did not even go to this
war!
Overall a good book, however, it was hard to follow at times.
This is a must read for those who want to learn the truth about those who reported massive war crimes by our brave soldiers who fought in Vietnam. It exposes the lies, fabrications, and propaganda of antiwar activists in portraying returning veterans as bloodthirsty war criminals.
O
How true the Title is..
One person found this helpful
This is a must read for all. Especially those of us who grew during the Vietnam War. This book is well-written, never dull and will enlighten, educate and perhaps change your view of the role the media plays in our lives. As I've always suspected, the media is without honor.
Out standing book, opened my eyes to the problem some people have being honest.
Absolutely brilliant book. An honest account of the Viet Nam War. This should be required reading for all history classes, high school as well as college.
This
is a very well researched book. Lots and lots of phonies out
there. Sad our Gov looks the other way. Never served them selves
is the reasion I feel.
Mel Havener
Being a Vietnam Veteran I thought the book was well written and very interesting I just wish the supreme court would reverse it stand on this issue.
good winter project. My husband is a vietnam veteran and thought hed really enjouy reading this book to see thet ruth.
A telling about the Skumbags that pose as our American Heros. A must read.
Excellent and stunningly educational! A must for anyone who served in our US military!
Reviewed in the United States ?ﾟﾇﾸ on May 21, 2002
I've
read this book three times since buying it. I like the stories
about the phony vets. I'm mentioned in the book under the PTSD
section because since 1994 I've helped over 600 combat vets get
service-connected for PTSD. I believe they were trying to
discredit what I do because of their views on PTSD, but many
combat vets have contacted me for help after reading the book.
One
vet I helped had been shot in the face and was so disfigured he
couldn't get a job anywhere and was at the point of suicide. The
VA had given him a 10% rating for the wound. I knew each time he
looked in the mirror, the war and PTSD faced him. No one would
help him. I told him what to do, and within two months, he
received 100% rating for PTSD. He told me I had saved his life.
PTSD has been around forever: shell shock, combat fatigue, war
neurosis. It's not something made up to increase a VA budget. A
statement like that is ridiculous.
According to Stolen Valor, I
am helping to promote a sterotype because I helped a combat
veteran receive benefits for something that completely destroyed
his life.
I know there are phony vets. I've met and faced down
many myself while working for the VA years ago. I've found
doctored DD-214s, and I believe I can talk to a vet for five
minutes and tell if he was in Nam. I have always been instantly
suspicious when I see a vet wearing cammies and tons of different
elite unit patches plastered all over them. On one visit to the
Wall years ago, I felt totally out of place because I wasn't
dressed like an Army Ranger. I saw a guy in Ranger fatigues
limping around on a cane. He was wearing (actual medals not
ribbons) four Silver Stars and six Purple Hearts. Later on, I saw
him walking across the parking lot normal as hell with the cane
over his shoulder.
I might also add that when I worked at the
Cincinnati Vet Center we had three Nam vet clients commit suicide
in one week, which resulted in my boss having a nervous breakdown
and being medically retired because he couldn't forgive himself
for not noticing the signs they were suicidal.
I also know PTSD
exists, and that is where I find fault with the book. No one who
experienced combat is ever the same. Some deal with it better than
others, but to say those who can't deal with it are slackers is an
injustice.
I was in combat, and all I wanted to do was survive.
I did finally receive a copy of my service records, having never
seen them, and there are three medals I had that weren't on my
original DD-214. So using the DD-214 for a complete combat history
is useless without the rest of the records showing the combat
history page.
I applaud Stolen Valor for uncovering phony vets,
but grouping all actual combat vets with these ... because they
happened to have a disability is a terrible mistake and the fatal
flaw of the book.
after reading all the other reviews posted here, their isn't much left to say except to thank the authors for there work. As a Vietnam Vet I'm very glad to see the phoney vets and the inept VA bureaucracy exposed. The authors have done all of us a great service.
Many
reviewers have written that Mr. Burkett is telling the truth. Yep,
he is. My first confrontation with a "fake" Vietnam
Veteran was at an Awards Presentation at my High School. My son
was given the award for Excellence in Mathematics. After, some
fake Vietnam Vet was bragging to the single parent women gathered
for the ceremony. I listened for a minute, then I interrupted his
"line". I'm sorry, sir, but I was the Data Reduction
Specialist (DRS) from USARPAC Headquarters at that time. All of
your computer personnel records passed through my hands. There
were only two us. One punched the cards, the other verified them
for accuracy. I'm sorry, we processed your records when you were
removed from Vietnam. Only the Green Berets were permitted to
return to Cambodia, after that. What were your FOUR Military
Occupational Specialties (MOS)? He looked like I had just shot his
dog. He was so FAKE, he didn't realize that Green Berets have four
MOS's. He tried to pretend that he had forgotten them. Uh huh, a
Green Beret who forgot that he had to pass four different Army
Advanced Schools. Then, I turned to the young ladies he was trying
to impress. "This man is a fake. He never was a Green Beret,
and he probably never served in Vietnam." I went on to
explain that Green Berets must have an IQ higher than 132, must
have a Military Intelligence MOS with a language, must have
Medical MOS, must have a support MOS, and must have a Combat Arms
specialization (mortar man, artillery, tanker, etc.) I asked him
what his Military Intelligence specialty was, and what language
did he speak? He departed immediately.
-
My next
confrontation with a FAKE Vietnam Vet was in my local Olive Garden
restaurant on Veterans Day. He was talking to some girl at the bar
about how he was a "spook" in Vietnam. I asked him what
his specialty was. He said he looked at Satellite Photos. I turned
to his "pickup" victim. Those people were NOT known as
"spooks". They were known as "squints". If he
were real, he would know that. He insisted that they he was called
a "spook". I asked him to describe a SLAR photograph. He
didn't even know what a SLAR photograph was. He became agitated. I
explained to his "victim" that a SLAR photograph is a
black photo with white dots and dashes on it that comes from a
Side-Looking Airborne RADAR (SLAR) image. Interpreting SLAR images
is a very sophisticated specialty.
-
The good "squints"
have a genius intelligence and don't brag about their skills. I
related that when I first saw a squint looking at a SLAR image;
inside the SCIF at Goodfellow AFB, I asked him what he was looking
at. He said, "Oh, this was a training mission that was flown
by an OV-1D Mohawk from right here at Goodfellow. This shows the
traffic on the freeway." He went on to explain that the
pattern of seven dots that I was looking at was a semi-tractor
trailer driving down the Interstate.
-
Want to catch someone
claiming to be a "squint"? Ask them to describe the
platforms that can carry a SLAR. There are so few, most fake
Vietnam Vets cannot even name two of them.
Reviewed in the United States ?ﾟﾇﾸ on March 15, 2004
This
is a real stand up and cheer book for Vets and their friends and
families. A two-tour Army Nurse friend recommended it the last
time I sent her an email ranting about Wannabees and fakes, and I
am most grateful for the suggestion. Thanks, Chris.
At a time
when Vietnam Vets are finally beginning to receive something like
the respect and recognition that they always deserved, this is the
time to wage war on those who would cash in by pretending to have
served.
I am particularly angry with the fakes who have
actually managed to receive State help as a result of their false
claims. One of my American Red Cross Donut Dollie friends has
suffered from PTSD ever since her tour with the 101st Airborne,
yet because the ARC-DD girls were technically civilians, they are
not entitled to Veteran status.
Yet unlike the fakes and liars
who try to sponge off the system, the DDs Hueyed around VN,
supporting the troops in Fire Support Bases and Landing Zones,
which were not the safest places on Earth. Another DD friend, who
was with the 1st Infantry, once had such a narrow escape from the
VC, that she could feel the door gunner's M-60 casings hitting her
legs as she scrambled into the Huey.
It is quite chilling to
read the level of faking that actually goes on and has been
documented. Everything from exaggerating medal earnings and combat
records to out and out faking being a Vietnam Vet - in some cases,
by draft dodgers, which is perhaps the ultimate insult. From
coward to hero with one big lie.
We have all met people whose
stories don't quite gell - in my own case, I know one guy who is
about two years too young to have seen service in Vietnam, and
another who was supposedly on one of the hospital ships - about a
year after the last one, the Sanctuary, went off station in 1971
(the Repose left in 1970). Uh huh.
Some guys even reckoned to
have toured in 1975 - quite a feat, considering the US Forces left
in April 1973, after a frantic year of troop withdrawals in which
the medical services went down to 2 Evac. Hospitals - the 95th and
the 71st (after the 24th Evac. left in October 1972) and the US
Army Hospital in Saigon. Scary time.
Most real Vets can quote
their unit down to the Company and platoon level in a flash.
Rarely do real Vets mumble something vague about being 'Infantry'.
If you'd been with the 25th or the 9th for example, you'd be proud
of it, and say so.
Yes, the Press have been very gullible in
taking a lot of fakes and their lies at face value. Way back in
John Kerry's protest days, there was supposedly a demo by 1,000
Vets, many of whom are now thought to have been Left Wing
protesters - liars and fakes.
Stolen Valor goes a long way
towards raising awareness about these worms and in doing so, the
authors are defending the honor of the true Vets. The courageous
American men and women who EARNED the right to be called Vietnam
Vets.
114 people found this helpful
poorly written. Long winded. I wish I didn't buy this book
It
is no accident that the negative reviews herein are all from
grunts and others who actually fought the war--most former pogues
(REMF in the army, rear area commando, etc..) think that this is a
wonderful book. Let me offer the view of one Marine Corps
infantryman who served in both the Vietnam and Gulf Wars and knows
when his "valor" is being "stolen" and by
whom.
The most useful sections of this book, and the issues
that most readers have gotten caught up with, is the coverage of
individuals masquerading as Vietnam veterans, almost all of this
material we have seen before in the newspapers and on TV. Had the
author stayed with that topic he would have had a coherent and
logical book study. Alas the coverage of pseudo veterans is simply
a warm-up for longwinded attacks on victims of agent orange, PSPD,
bad dreams, or even more inexplicably, Gulf War victims of Gulf
illness, individuals who sue big companies, etc.
Stolen Valor
does a grave disservice to those who endured as grunts. After
decrying the stereotyping of Vietnam veterans, the authors engaged
in a more vicious stereotyping than returning grunts ever had to
endure from the most fervent anti-war type. No matter how you cut
it the overall impact of this book is to bring under suspicion all
Vietnam veterans, especially those who are having difficulties and
who need help the most. The benefits of "outing" a
number of misguided frauds who think they were in Vietnam, is far
outweighed by the damage done to those suffering from a variety of
maladies which the author believes do not exist, particularly PSPD
and illnesses from exposure to agent orange.
The two biggest
enemies of the grunt in Vietnam, after the VC and the NVN, was the
pogue and the administrative system. Pogues of all ranks grabbed
R&R's especially to favored locations like Australia, made
decisions that many grunts never recovered from in supply etc....
and wrote each other up for medals. (It is no accident that the
primary author of this book got his bronze star with combat V deep
in the rear with the gear) The admin system repeatedly lost a
grunt's SRB (service record book), lost his pay record, lost his
medical record, often provided him with an erroneous DD 214 as he
left the service,--some died before their records were
straightened out, others went home without medical records or
without pay for months, many got out of the service with invalid
DD 214's. At times throughout 1967 and 1968 the Marine Corps
Morgue at DaNang had to call in an FBI team from the states to
assist in identifying a backlog of unidentified bodies, lacking
dog tags and/or their records, that took up so much space they
prevented "normal" operations. For the writers of Stolen
Valor however the wasted bodies in the Da Nang Marine Corps Morgue
never died because their records did not show it.
Most tragic
is the range of errors or omissions in this book. There is valid
and reliable evidence to show the impact of Agent Orange, which is
on the same level of reliability as the evidence that smoking
causes lung cancer. (Lost in the coverage is the fact that any
Veterans Administration association between agent orange and a
narrow range of diseases have all been verified by the National
Academy of Sciences which probably explains why only 8,500
veterans out of 2.6 million Vietnam veterans have so far
successfully pursued VA benefits for Agent Orange). There is such
a thing as PSPD, which is particularly widespread among former
grunts. Colin Powell never served as a company commander or any
other combat command. Indeed, like the author of Stolen Valor,
General Powell assiduously avoided combat duty over his time in
Vietnam, quite an achievement for a ground officer. After 1966 the
military had a very active program, dictated by politics and the
Pentagon, to keep down the number of black and minority casualties
and it worked. The claim that no Marine ever went into North
Vietnam ignores the significant number of Marines who served with
Z patrols in the Gulf of Tonkin beginning in 1964, those who
served in air rescue, those who served in elite recon and
patrolling units often under CIA guidance. Much of this
misinformation is used to besmirch the reputation of a number of
veterans who have written books, including One Tough Marine, who
had the misfortune of not having their records in order to the
satisfaction of these authors.
In sum, this book is
characterized by scattered organization, poor writing, fuzzy
thinking and unreliable use of sources. Nowhere do we find any
coverage of the validity of relying on a DD 214 as the sole source
of evidence. Even more troubling is the complete avoidance of any
examination of the relationship between the DD 214, reality and
memory. Any infantryman knows that if you get ten men who served
in the same firefight to describe their experiences you will get
ten different wars. And none of those ten accounts will ever
appear on a DD 214, or in any "official history" for
that matter. That is the infantryman's war. Such realities have
never troubled the pogue who compiled this book. What infantryman
thought as he left Vietnam and the military that he would be
pursued in later life by a pogue waving a DD 214 that he regarded
as the word of God!
Reviewed in the United States ?ﾟﾇﾸ on May 30, 2011
This
EXHAUSTIVE book lists in detail hundreds of fakers who have passed
themselves off as war heroes or posers who have inflated the
importance of their role in Vietnam. They were all seemingly Green
Berets or SEALs or doing undercover work for the CIA - a real
shame that all their records were destroyed in a fire and/or
destroyed because their work was so classified (yeah, right.) Why
not take pride in the humble job you really did, IF you were
really over there? But worse even than the fake Special Ops guys
are the ones who insist that they witnessed or took part in
atrocities against innocent civilians. The descriptions of what
they supposedly did in Vietnam are so incredible that I don't see
how anyone could believe them. What REALLY angered me was
Burkett's discovery that so many of these so-called war vets were
getting compensation from the VA for PTSD, not only soaking up
undeserved tax dollars but making it much more difficult for
Veterans with REAL problems to get the help they need.
I
served two tours in Iraq in a safe combat support role. What's
striking to me as a new Veteran is the misperception held by so
many civilians that the thousands of civilians deaths in Iraq and
Afghanistan were at our hands. Does no one read the news? Do they
not see the endless suicide attacks conducted by Jihadists?
Suffice it to say that they are not called terrorists for nothing.
It is true that there have been civilians caught in the crossfire
and even a few atrocities committed against civilians by U.S.
troops. But these have been the exception. Yet reading some media
outlets you'd think that it was U.S. GIs who have killed ALL these
civilians. There is also a trend to see us a victims of some kind,
which goes against the grain of what we are taught in the military
and the strength we gain from our service.
I guess some
things don't change.
The only issue I take with Burkett's
book is that he seems a bit dismissive of PTSD and environmental
exposures. Earlier estimations that 1 in 3 Vietnam Vets had PTSD
were much too high. This doesn't change the fact that some
Veterans do have PTSD or other mental health problems, and we are
seeing this problem in Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans already.
However, the author points out that PTSD is not what Hollywood
makes it out to be - people with PTSD are not dysfunctional
guilt-ridden ticking time bombs ready to snap at any moment. They
have some concrete issues with things like insomnia and
hypervigilance but most can and do adjust and lead filling lives
with some treatment. Also, like many of my acquaintances, I have
some breathing problems since serving in Iraq. It could be a
coincidence but I don't think so.
I would love to know what
the author thinks of today's Veterans and the newest crop of
posers who are now trying to pass themselves off as war heroes. I
wish he'd write a follow-up. He does have a website called Stolen
Valor where he continues to publicize new fakers, but also to give
honor and credit to the real heroes - like Medal of Honor
recipient Salvatore Giunta, the first living recipient of the
award since Vietnam.
Reviewed in the United States ?ﾟﾇﾸ on December 18, 2009
This
book addresses a major problem in society. The problem is the fake
veteran. We all have seen the type, medals on their leather or
blue jean jackets, the military ball cap or beret, the loud mouth,
and you can never forget the wild, heroic, war stories with them
always as the hero. Where do we meet these losers? At the local
pub of course! Every time depending on what branch they claim to
be from they always were a Navy SEAL, a Special Forces operator,
or super secret Marine. Yet they forget details like how a command
is structured, that the Navy uses a Rating rather then a MOS.
This
book is mainly about fake Nam vets but it can be used when it
comes to a fake veteran of any time including today. This book
helps to spot the fake vet, since most fake veterans have the same
M.O. they are easy to spot. This book is a direct stab at the
hothead, loudmouth sitting in the bar telling his "war
stories" ready to fight anyone who dares to question them.
The person who chooses to mold their life around military combat
when they in fact never served is a very dangerous and disturbed
individual.
While I am proud of my service, there are only
a few civilians I have ever told what I even did in the Navy.
There is no reason to talk about my rating or what I personally
did in Iraq or Afghanistan. Since the civilian will never
understand there is no point to it. Other Veterans I know (and
know in fact that they really did serve) are the same way. No
bragging in bars about wars. No wearing medals on blue jean
jackets. Military service and war is a personal thing and that
alone should tell you when you are forced to hear the inane tripe
coming from the man in the bar telling all to hear his "war
stories"
One last piece of evidence, look at the one
star comments. They are from people who were exposed in this book.
They attack other veterans calling them names. They are the same
type of people I mention that hang out in the bar telling "war
stories" Then look at the 5 star reviews, they are nothing
but thankful that this book is out and feel the need for more
attention be given to this issue. The Stolen Valor act of 2005 is
a much overlooked and much overdue law. Fake veterans are a
dishonorable scourge to society. They have attached themselves to
political issues. The fact that the IVAW iraq veterans against the
war) is filled with fake vets and several have been convicted of
the Stolen Valor Act. It is a political org that actually sides
with Americas enemies. The same enemy that kills American
servicemen and women.
The best tip for spotting a fake
veteran is that the military teaches discipline and humility. The
bigger the loudmouth the bigger the chance is that they are just a
poser and liar.
Reviewed in the United States ?ﾟﾇﾸ on April 12, 2004
I
was yanked out of the field in Vietnam to come home on emergency
leave because Dad had a heart attack. I had on khaki uniform, jump
boots and a Green Beret. A civilian drinking coffee beside me
asked me where I was serving. When I replied "Vietnam"
he turned and stared. "You guys are all screwed up," he
said. Then he picked up his coffee and moved down the counter. He
continued to shoot curious glances at me. Waiting for a flight I
found that people would not make eye contact and kept their
distance. What is going on here? I wondered, because I had been
overseas for almost three years by that time.
In his amazing
book, Stolen Valor, BG Burkett and co-author Glenn Whitley tell
the story of what happened to those who served and, sadly, what
continues to happen. Page after page, Burkett takes on every one
of the myths, the exaggerations, the pretenders, the bogus vets
and the entire cultural stereotype that has become the Vietnam
Veteran.
I put off reading Stolen Valor for awhile because I
thought that there would only be a story or two of a pretender in
it. What a shock, even for someone who thought he was in the know,
to see the prodigous work that Burkett and Whitley have amassed.
Now I wish that I had read it immediately on release. I am certain
that over the years I will refer back to it frequently. It is in
the "keeper" section of my bookshelf.
One of the most
useful results of this amazingly effective book is that for those
who might have felt guilty about supporting our Vietnam veterans
you also can hold your heads high knowing full well that you are
not supporting the contrived 'baby killing, drug besotted,
anti-social bum' that Hollywood and the anti-war left presented to
you.
As Burkett correctly notes, we are your children, parents,
cousins and fellow countrymen. We are just like you, just like the
amazing American service men and women who preceeded us and who
sacrifice for us now. Thanks to BG Burkett for giving us back the
honor that was so casually and reprehensibly besmirched by those
who didn't have the courage to serve themselves.
If you want to
start your Vietnam library start with this book. If you are a vet,
know a vet and especially if you unwittingly bought into the
negative stereotypes about us, you must read this book. Tell
everyone about it. Given time the truth will out.
Reviewed in the United States ?ﾟﾇﾸ on December 31, 2003
Several
recent reviews have cast serious aspersions on Burkett's research
and honor. That is ironic, given that "Stolen Valor" was
given the Colby Award for Outstanding Military Book and that
Burkett himself was presented with the U.S. Army's highest
civilian award, the Distinguished Civilian Service Award, by
former President George H.W. Bush on December 1, 2003. Such
recognition is hardly indicative of poor scholarship!
The
review by Shelby Stanton is particularly galling, since he knows
that Burkett "has the goods" on him and is able to
document where he was and what he did during Viet Nam (it was not
the stuff of which movies are made!). I have not seen any evidence
that Stanton, a lawyer, has brought suit against Burkett for
libel. What Burkett said about Stanton in "Stolen Valor"
is a matter of record. If I were Stanton, I would withdraw myself
from public view, given how he appropriated reams of classified
military documents and stored them in an unsecure location for
several years. Only the fact that the documents were declassified
AFTER Stanton purloined them kept him out of serious difficulty.
I
would recommend to anyone interested in the Stanton case that they
should read pages 435-443 of "Stolen Valor." Stanton
stands condemned by his own words as much as by
Burkett's.
Regarding reviewer Latham's comments about PTSD and
the VA, a recent blind study conducted on 100 randomly selected
records of "totally-disabled" Viet Nam vets reveals an
interesting statistic--60% of those individuals were never in
combat at all, and a significant number of them were never in Viet
Nam. The Department of Veterans Affairs is sitting on a scandal of
monumental proportions, a scandal that should earn an enterprising
reporter a Pulitzer Prize, such are its ramifications.
Burkett
is my hero, as he is for thousands of other Viet Nam veterans and
lovers of honesty. "Stolen Valor" should be read by
anyone with a desire to know how the courage of true heroes is
besmirched every time some "wannabe" lies about what he
did in the war.
As a retired Navy SEAL officer who has spent
countless hours exposing phony SEALs, I am indebted to Burkett for
what he does to keep the phonies in the spotlight.
Keep it up,
my friend!
Reviewed in the United States ?ﾟﾇﾸ on January 24, 2007
Far
from being tedious, I couldn't put this book down when it first
came out. The author's thesis reflected my own experience growing
up in the '60's and 70's (1974 HS grad), knowing many vets,
including relatives and friends, who did not resemble the phony
"bush vet" stereotype emerging in TV and film. I served
in the Marine Corps 1981-84 after college as a Lt. in the
infantry, and again, among the many vets I served with, I knew no
one with the "whacked out vet" persona.
I became
a police officer in 1985, and in the ensuing 20 plus years I have
encountered scores of phony "traumatized" vets among the
alcoholics, drug addicts and petty criminals living by choice at
the margins of society. The symptoms are as noted: secret special
forces ops, classified service records, an inability to respond
intelligibly to questions about unit, MOS, places of service
in-country, sob-inducing stories of atrocities committed, etc. As
reviewers have noted, one's unit & MOS are things that are
pretty ingrained(I spent the bulk of my tour with Bravo Co., 1st
Battalion, 9th Marines, attached to 1st Marines, 1st Mar Div, FMF
Pac at Camp Pendleton... MOS: 0302, Infantry Ofc. Total
decorations: one Sea Service Deployment Ribbon). I don't know how
many times I had to explain to a self decribed Viet vet what the
acronym MOS meant, and then the reply would be generic or
nonsensical. I have always been explicit that I never saw combat
(in fact, I was on Okinawa on a West Pac deployment when Grenada
and the bombing of the barracks in Beirut occured), believing that
to claim that experience would be a dishonorable lie,and a slap in
the face to those who did. This, I always felt compelled to
dissect the lies of these phony vets, so at least they would
understand there was at least one person they hadn't conned. And
perhaps in the process, I wanted in some way to speak up for the
genuine Vietnam veterans.
It's telling that this is one of
the books that has received hundreds of reviews, indicating it has
struck a significant nerve. The syndrome it describes is, I
believe, just another manifestation of a narcissistic culture of
celebrity victimhood that encourages identification with a false
self, an inflated ego image, rather than encourage the authentic
suffering entailed by a search for one's true self and authentic
identity. These phony "whacked out" vets are simply
creating their own version of the kind of manipulative celebrity
persona which has been increasingly and pervasively glorified in
our culture.
I have to comment briefly on the negative
reviews I read; I also have the sense that some people seemingly
read a different book. For one, the author went out of his way to
describe himself as a rear echelon pogue, complete with photo in
clean starched utilities during his Vietnam tour.
Moreover,
I'm pretty independent politically (voted for Carter, Reagan,
Bush, Clinton, Bush, Kerry)& I didn't get the powerful
conservative OR liberal bias that some reviewers have
criticized.
At the same time I understand the psychological
and emotional consequnces of traumatic experiences,and I don't
suggest that disorders like PTSD don't exist, nor do I beleive the
author is doing so.(I'm currently working on my thsis for a
Master's in Counseling Psychology).
In sum, this book is a
great public service, and I congratulate the authors for their
courage and perseverance in bringing it forth.
3
The
book starts off with a quick story about a Special Forces veteran
of Vietnam whose wife is brutally murdered. While other reporters
seem to accept the story as given, the co-author and journalist
for Texas Monthly decides to investigate further the history of
the vet. She is told the `expert' on checking the veracity of
Vietnam Veteran claims is fellow Texan B.G. Burkett. ...and so
begins a friendship and a mutual project to explore myths, lore,
and claims of Vietnam Veterans.
Burkett is a Vietnam
Veteran himself. Like the vast majority, he saw very little action
during his brief time. He also didn't see the atrocities, the
epidemic drug use, or the complete breakdown in military
discipline which is now commonly accepted as fact. On his return
to the US in 1969, he did see how soldiers were generally treated,
including his own experience being taunted as a baby killer while
on a commercial flight home.
Despite his `homecoming,' like
most vets, Burkett moved on. He was a successful insurance
salesman and active in his community. Many years later, with
planning for a National Vietnam Veterans memorial underway, he
joined a number of veterans to establish a similar memorial in
Texas. With a background in sales and charity fund-raising, he was
perfect for the role as fund-raiser for the project.
While
visiting prospective donors, he discovered that the typical images
of Vietnam Vets ranged from a bunch of two-time loser dope fiends
to baby-killing machines. Burkett was aghast - all the Vietnam
Veterans he knew were successful professionals and upstanding
citizens.
He began to do research to debunk the popular
perceptions of Vietnam Veterans. He learned that some of this
image was perpetuated by a rag-tag army of "veterans"
that seemed to show up at every news event involving Vietnam vets,
wearing tattered old fatigues and an odd mix of medals. Questions
arose though. Every one of these publicity hounds had a story
about atrocities they saw, claimed to be special forces, and were
the sole survivor of some super secret patrol.
Was his
experience in Vietnam so sheltered and unique? His friend's agreed
- something was odd. Worse, these rag-tag folks were undermining
efforts to establish the memorial. He finally heard one story that
seemed too fantastic, from a leader in a Vietnam Veterans group in
Dallas.
Burkett sent off for his military records. As he
suspected, the stories weren't true. More surprising though was
the fact the "leader" had never been in Vietnam, or even
served in the military.
Burkett discovered more and more
frauds. Whenever the media highlighted vets with an astounding
story, he would do the research. Many never served in the
military, let alone in Vietnam. Others were in Vietnam, but very
few ever saw combat, and fewer still were part of Special Forces
units.
Burkett found clerks that falsified orders to steal
the valorous medals of true heroes and insert their own name. He
found real veterans that embellished their records and claimed
medals they were never awarded. He found non-veterans gaming the
Veterans Administration and receiving benefits to which they were
not entitled.
One particularly egregious case involved a
sailor who claimed his buddy had deliberately walked into a prop
over his self-loathing for involvement in Vietnam. That man was
now receiving 100% disability for post traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD) and his case was highlighted by national media.
Burkett
found out the man was in the Navy in 1971, not 1969. The carrier
in question was not in Vietnam during his 11 months in the Navy. A
man had been killed falling into a prop during a training exercise
during that time, but it was off the coast of San Diego, not North
Vietnam. Worse, the 100% disabled sailor was not ground crew, but
was assigned below deck - he didn't even know the victim.
Burkett
found the roommate of the victim and only witness to the real
accident. Living with his wife and family, he had been struggling
for 25 years with the memory of loosing his best friend in the
freak accident - not a depression induced suicide. His wife
corroborated years of nightmares and other signs of emotional
stress. In all that time, he never filed for disability, raised a
family and managed a career in spite of what happened. Naturally,
he was furious that a fellow shipmate was profiting off of the
death of his friend.
The book is full of similar stories -
not just stealing government benefits or falsely claiming 15
minutes of fame, but cheapening the valor of those who fought
courageously.
Burkett goes further - debunking numerous
myths about the war, from Operation Ranch Hand (herbicide
operations involving Agent Orange) to the racial and class make-up
of the troops fighting, with facts, scientific studies, and
verified first-hand accounts.
While specific stories
abound, the book does become a bit technical and bogs down during
the analysis of figures and studies. This makes sense given that
Burkett's profession is in statistics and insurance.
With
all the questions surrounding claims of various groups about what
happened during Vietnam, this book becomes an essential reference
in spotting likely frauds, fakes, or mere embellishments. The
reader will learn to spot red flags in stories - super-secret
missions, sole survivor, official whitewash, membership in
multiple elite organizations - that help readers to be more
circumspect about the veracity of various story-tellers.
The
book is meticulously researched, with heavy emphasis on supporting
documentation, a huge bibliography, and even helpful hints for
verifying data on your own.
This book should be a
pre-requisite before reading any other books on Vietnam.
Reviewed in the United States ?ﾟﾇﾸ on April 3, 2004
Where
to begin? Well, for openers, Burkett filed a Freedom of
Information Act request for the military records of the famously
liberal Dan Rather, anchor of the CBS Evening News. Recalling how
Rather spent much of the 1990 campaign beating up on Dan Quayle
for avoiding the Vietnam draft as a member of the National Guard,
Burkett gleefully discovered that Rather himself hid out from the
Korean War as a member of the Reserves. When he graduated from
college in 1954, after the war was safely over, Rather joined the
Marines and was discharged as medically unfit after four months.
Of course, this doesn't stop Rather from proudly identifying
himself as an ex-Marine!
This by way of preface to a CBS
documentary called "The Wall Within," in which Rather
and his camera team prowled the Washington woods in search of
"trip-wire vets" who were so crazed by their Vietnam
experience that they could not safely live in society. Guess what?
They were bogus. Of the CBS poster boys for Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder (PSTD), most never served in Vietnam, and those who did
were in non-combat roles. Some of them didn't even live in the
woods. (It's not just CBS, of course. David Brinkley, Linda
Ellerbee, and other television notables also take their
lumps.)
And so it goes! After a few chapters, what surprises
the reader is the chance occasion when a story turns out to be
true. Are there any genuine Viet-vet horror stories out there?
Take the gent whose photograh appeared in hundreds of newspapers
across the country, sobbing manfully at the Traveling Wall on
Memorial Day 1996, while outfitted in the standard-issue wannabe
uniform of boonie hat, fatigues, and mismatched pins and patches.
He was Roni DeJoseph of Brooklyn, who evidently never served in
the U.S. military, never mind the Marine division in Vietnam that
he claimed as his own.
This is a fascinating book that may come
into its own, now that service in and around that war (Bush's
stint in the Texas Air Guard, Kerry's in the Vietnam Veterans
Against the War) has become a political hot-button. It took me a
long time to buy it, largely because it was self-published. My
loss! If you're interested in the Vietnam War, PSTD, and the
perennial but mysterious phenomenon of the fake war hero (or the
even more amazing phenomenon of the fake anti-war hero), get a
copy for yourself. By the time you've read a couple hundred
pages--it's a long book--you'll find yourself wondering if anybody
is what he says he is. -- Dan Ford
35 people found this helpful
Brief Review of Stolen Valor
Reviewed in the United States ?ﾟﾇﾸ on February 14, 2014
Stolen
Valor is an important and comprehensive book, though it has a few
errors and I was quite surprised to see the authors did not appear
to use the premier resource on the subject - Doug Sterner of
Homeofheroes. Burkett notes that there is no database of
Distinguished Cross recipients. There has long been a complete
database of not only DSC recipients, but also recipients of the
Navy Cross and the Air Force Cross. While not yet published, there
is also a list of Silver Star recipients. With between 100,000 and
150,000 Silver Cross recipients there are undoubtedly some errors
and omissions that will arise, but as with any database those will
be corrected when the errors turn up.
Burkett's book is an
excellent read. He exposes literally scores of individuals ranging
from wannabe soldier civilians, to legitimate veterans who
fabricate stories about their heroism, to authors who have a
political or some other type of agenda. We are surrounded by these
charlatans and we are blessed that there are people like Burkett
around to expose them.
I collect signed militaria type
books and this volume is a well-worth addition to my collection.
One person found this helpful
Reviewed in the United States ?ﾟﾇﾸ on February 27, 2007
There
are many things that "everybody knows" which are,
nevertheless, not true. For example, "everybody knows"
that old people in America's cities are so poor they are forced to
eat canned dog food. That was a deliberate hoax.
One of the
cruelest, most invidious of these false beliefs is that America's
Vietnam veterans came home as drug-addicted, homicidal or
suicidal, mentally unstable losers.
Of course, we see these
human wrecks all over, so it must be true. They wear their now
tattered cammies, their hair long in rejection of Army ways, they
can't hold a job, they're drunks and addicts, and many of them are
one half-step from a violent outbreak. They weep at the wall of
the Vietnam Memorial.
The only part of that picture that is
accurate is that a lot of these pretend vets are drunks and
addicts -- losers. But they were never in anybody`s army.
Worse
yet, and despite B.G. Burkett`s massive expose, which was
published as long ago as 1998, the same people who for political
reasons latched onto the "crazed Viet vet" stereotype in
the `70s, `80s and `90s are now applying this heinous lie to Iraq
and Afghanistan vets.
They don`t (so far) have derelicts in
tattered uniforms to point to -- the 21st century vets are either
still on active duty or markedly normal looking after they`ve
mustered out; and the civilian junkies and drunks have been unable
to use surplus store fatigues to con reporters and peaceniks. But
the horror stories are published again and again in newspapers.
The country's most listened to radio news, National Public Radio,
utters one of these phony stories about once a week.
Despite
Burkett's huge effort, things have not changed much since the
incident he relates: A group of real vets (Burkett among them)
gathered for a memorial. A television crew arrived. Burkett
attempted to interest the young lady reporter in the civic success
of the vets. No, no, said the young lady. She'd rather talk to the
"real vets" over there, the ragged derelicts.
As
Burkett details over and over again, it is often a matter of very
little checking to discover that these ragamuffins were never in
the service. (The phenomenon is not restricted only to Viet vets
or young lady reporters. Since "Stolen Valor" was
published, the Associated Press published an outrageous libel on
the 7th Calvary, based on the "testimony" of men who
falsely claimed to be there or falsely claimed to have been
decorated. See my review of Robert Bateman's "No Gun Ri: A
Military History of the Korean War Incident.")
As
Burkett demonstrates, the fake vets aren't all slovenly drunks. He
helped expose a number of more respectable fakers, who claimed
medals they hadn't won. Some were still in the Reserves, and in
one bizarre incident, on active duty at the highest level in the
Navy.
It is a scandal that the Pentagon has done little to
protect the integrity of its system of awards for valor and
sacrifice.
No one denies that crimes occur in war, or that
a proportion of men in combat do suffer psychological breakdowns.
What is properly denied is that a large proportion of combat
troops are ruined, or that Vietnam veterans were/are especially
likely to break down.
Burkett offers a number of methods of
checking claims about active military service. One he does not
mention that offers an easy first cut is to ask a vet his "MOS
number." MOS stands for Military Occupational Specialty.
Every genuine vet had an MOS number.
14 people found this helpful
Reviewed in the United States ?ﾟﾇﾸ on July 5, 2016
I
found this book to be very informative...in regard to the
challenges faced by veterans serving in SE Asia; that horrendous
conflict that formed the backdrop of my youth in America.
As I
read this book, STOLEN VALOR, I took comfort in the fact that I am
not alone. My former spouse fits the character description and
common patterns of behavior of one of those who claim to suffer
from mental symptoms, traced to a traumatic event . I found myself
remembering things about the (now former) spouse, which were
difficult to know. Such are the things you will read in this book
as some things are very hard to absorb. Myths continue to
replicate.
Many years after the fact: the suffering is chronic.
It's as if some of these guys never left.
This
behavior--playing 'pretend soldier'...it is on the surface an
attempt to gain a free ride on the VA dime but it goes deeper. My
ex was completely self-deluded. He had found an identity that he
could be proud of. (He was not letting that go), and so he
insisted on holding on to that identity...wearing his uniform to
any solumn occasion (a wedding, funeral, parade, children's
birthday party!) so that he could make himself the center of the
attention...as
RETURNED, THE CONQUERING HERO!
It is a
sickness, and the book illustrates the point quite well. The scary
part is that the drain on financial resources (earmarked to help
ACTUAL VETERANS WITH ISSUES) are being depleted by (at times and
in certain cases) by this gaggle of unconscionable rabble--those
who take everything offered (not with gratitude but with disdain)
when truthfully, they were never enlisted at all. Men who were not
even OLD ENOUGH to have been in 'Nam...shocking revelations duch
as that will keep you turning the pages.
I bought this
book.....and it made me mad!!
Except---
It opened my
eyes...
It's fair to say---
This book changed my life. :)
Reviewed in the United States ?ﾟﾇﾸ on August 23, 2004
Go
and ask a person on the street to describe an average Vietnam vet.
The likely response would be such a person would be a 17 year old
uneducated black draftee. They would go further and state he would
have never transitioned back to civilian life, was scarred by his
service and probably suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
an/or Agent Orange exposure. Through irrefutable research, B.G.
Burkett shows this to be all wrong. Apparently, the average Vietnam
Vet is an American Everyman. He is likely to have served sometime in
his early twenties in a mundane logistical/clerical postion and his
racial identity was demographically normal. He was not harmed long
term by his service and is in fact proud of having gone to war.
Although he may have faced some prejudices upon coming back, hes
probably now a normal and successful member of society.
So how
did this happen? Mr. Burkett explains this too. The image of the
Vietnam Vet as a victim was developed by many different entities.
Among these include the anti-war movement and its anti-veteran
agitprop, biased/lazy media people who would print any wild story
that fits into their worldview and the actions of government
bureaucracies that depend on funding if they show Vietnam vets are
needy. Finally, there is another category that Mr. Burkett spends
most of his time and effort on: The wannabe/phony. These are people
who pretend to be veterans or are veterans who grossly embellish
their service for self-promotion purposes.
Through Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) requests for military records, the author outs
some of the most egregious phonies. Some of the these people are
truly pathetic and include such scum as anti-war draft dodgers who
pretend to be special ops commandos and truck drivers who never saw
Vietnam yet sport Medals of Honor they claim they were awarded for
Vietnam heroism. He also reveals various politicians who lied about
their service such as Sen Harkin who claimed to be a Vietnam Veteran
even though his records show no Vietnam service. Although he doesnt
specifically lay them down, Mr. Burkett does reveal warning signs to
look out for when confronting such people. Examples of this include
claims that military records were destroyed in a fire, that there is
no documentation for medals because they were given for heroism on
secret missions and chronological impossibilities.
The only
criticism I have about this book is that Mr. Burkett occasionally
piles on too much. A good example is his treatment of historian
Shelby Stanton. Mr. Burkett spends multiple paragraphs belittling CPT
Stanton's physical prowess at Ranger School and while serving in
Special Forces. This really his nothing to do with Stanton being a
wannabe. That said, there are no instances of this piling on where
the target didnt do something else highly questionable. In this case,
there is no doubt that CPT Stanton has lied about being on Special
Operations missions in Southeast Asia. Discussing his weakling status
is just icing on the cake.
This book is truly a breath of
fresh air. Every serious Vietnam War historian needs to have a copy.