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In 2009, a 61-year-old man participated in the annual Remembrance Day parade wearing several medals. So significant that one expert said his award would make him "world famous - and a kind of Rambo character". After it was discovered, a man named Roger Day later admitted that his medals were "pukka" but his story was criticized by military personnel and the public.
Impersonating Military Personnel
The story of the day is not an unusual case. Over the past few years, more and more cases of "stolen guts" have come to light. In fact, exposing military fraudsters has become a cottage industry, with proven veterans themselves identifying and exposing fraudsters.
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In Britain, a dedicated group of ex- and current servicemen have formed "The Walter Mitty Hunters Club" to fake military personnel they claim to be. I spoke to a retired Major who served in the UK Special Forces about the club. He did not want to be named but said on record: "Whilst not wishing to comment on the methods used by the 'Walter Mitty Hunters Club', the aim - to expose individuals falsely claiming to serve in the forces - is you public. Service."
Although some may question what harm these "eccentric" types do, they damage the reputation and credibility of actual veterans, resulting in an insidious effect on the way the public views ex-military personnel.
Impersonating a service member is more than wearing a uniform to get attention. Fraudsters can get financial support from military charities, secure jobs, and even use the effects of deployment-related illness to get equity during court sentences.
In some cases, fraudulent veterans with no service history have used information from actual operational events where service members have been killed to establish a credible story and gain attention years before exposure. This is understandably very painful for the actual service personnel involved and the families left behind.
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But it's not just non-military personnel who make false claims. Even some real veterans have been found to exaggerate the truth of their duty. A US study found that 41 percent of a sample treated for post-traumatic stress disorder had exaggerated their involvement in combat.
Superman actor Christopher Lee famously promoted beautification during his two years of military service during World War II. Many believe he served in several elite British military units, including the SAS, but in fact he was only attached to the RAF as a liaison officer. Although Lee did not hide this fact, he failed to explain his role and allowed misconceptions to spread.
Similarly, earlier this year it was revealed that "American Sniper" Chris Kyle embellished his military record. He claimed to have received two Silver Star and five Bronze Star medals, but actually received only one Silver and three Bronze Stars.
Pressmen who have never served anything but real veterans who speak and embellish their service careers are seen as most depressing and disappointing. Recently retired Colonel Justin Holt, who served more than 30 years in the Royal Marines, told me: “I've never met a veteran who wasn't humble about his service.
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He added: “Those who embellish their stories immediately doubt and hurt themselves because everyone has a part in success, no matter how small. Eccentric imposters who have never served are a different matter, deserving our pity rather than our contempt. "
There is no doubt that anyone who serves their country deserves more than the medals and honors they receive—but those who inflate their resumes discredit themselves as the true, legitimate heroes they displayed while serving.
The US Such countries require personnel to serve a minimum of time, and at least one operational deployment to obtain veteran status. In contrast, individuals only need to complete one day of basic training in the UK Armed Forces to qualify as a veteran - making it the most inclusive service in the world. As a result there are now an estimated 4.8 million veterans in Britain, making it easier for fraudsters to go undetected for longer.
There are also big differences in how fraudsters are handled on both sides of the Atlantic. Impersonating military personnel to obtain money, property, or other tangible benefits is a specific criminal offense in the US. In the UK, fraudsters are often prosecuted under the Fraud Act 2006 if they claim to have won medals for financial gain.
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A new British bill is in the works, however, that goes a step further than the US law. If it is passed, the wearing or public display of a medal or insignia awarded for gallantry, with intent to defraud, by a person without authority to do so shall be prohibited.
But are these tough criminal laws enough to deter fraudsters? And what exactly is the effect on amateur hunters? While both will certainly deter some from going public with their misguided bravado, it will never cure the entire epidemic of bravado. For that to happen, we need to make it clear to one and all that veteran status is a right earned through meritorious service—one that cannot be bought or made.
This article first appeared on The Conversation (theconversation.com). Lynn Kay Simpson, PhD Candidate, Institute of Psychology of Elite Performance in the School of Psychology, Bangor University
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In 2015, then-Governor Chris Christie signed a law that would put people in jail and force any military personnel to pay hefty fines to receive benefits that veterans and active-duty members receive, according to a report by NJAdvanceMedia.
In 2017 state Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo (D - 2nd District) followed a similar path by introducing legislation to prosecute these violators.
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"Crack down on these impersonators by making it a third-degree felony, with a mandatory minimum fine of $1,000, to knowingly falsely represent oneself as a veteran or member of the military for the purpose of obtaining money, property, or other benefit. Members or veterans of the United Armed Forces or the organized military wearing the uniform or any medal or insignia authorized for use by."
His new bill, released by the Assembly Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, calls for heavy penalties for "persons who falsely represent themselves as members or veterans of the armed forces or organized militia."
In the language of Dancer's bill, (A1121), which was introduced in January of 2020, Governor Christie and Assemblyman Mezzo would add to the existing third-degree felony "with a fine of at least $1,000 for obtaining money." Property or other tangible property valued at less than $75,000 while pretending to be a member of the military or a veteran."
The violation will now become a second-degree felony if involved in theft of more than $75,000, and any violator could face five to 10 years in prison along with a $150,000 fine if convicted.
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Conviction of a third-degree felony carries a penalty of three to five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000, Dancer said.
"Nobody should get a slap on the wrist for wearing a uniform to cheat," Dancer (R-Ocean) said in a statement. “As a veteran myself, I find it despicable that anyone would deceive others for profit by pretending to be our proud men and women who have sacrificed for our country. My goal is that these stiff penalties deter fraudsters."
Fines, Dancer explained, collected from violators as a result of these offenses will then be deposited into a military dependent scholarship fund.
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