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Subscribe to RSSThe Department of Defense unveiled a new website Wednesday listing recent recipients of the Medal of Honor, the military's highest award for valor.
The site is aimed at verifying claims of meritorious service in the military, but reaches back only as far as awards earned on Sept. 11, 2001 and after. It will eventually include awards for service crosses and the Silver Star, also dating back to 2001.
In June, the Supreme Court struck down the Stolen Valor Act, a federal law which prohibits a person from falsely claiming a military honor. Critics of the decision had called for a government-run database listing awards, and the Defense Department said earlier this month that it would establish a site.
Related: Pentagon to set up database for military medals
Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, who appeared before a joint Congressional hearing on Wednesday morning to discuss transition programs for service members and veterans, told legislators that the department would possibly expand the information over time.
"This effort will raise public awareness about our nation's heroes and help deter those who might falsely claim military honors," Panetta said.
Joe Davis, national spokesperson for the VFW, told NBC News that the site "is a starting point that we hope will expand to the other valor medals, as well as the Purple Heart and combat awards like the Combat Infantryman's Badge."
Related: Lying about military service? Bloggers have you in their sights
The site will not take the place of proposed federal legislation to amend the Stolen Valor Act, which the Supreme Court found in violation of the First Amendment right of free speech.
Last year, after the law was first struck down as unconstitutional by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, Sen. Scott Brown, D-Mass., and Rep. Joe Heck, R-Nev., introduced new legislation making it illegal for individuals to benefit from lying about their military service or record. That bill has not yet passed Congress.
Related: Marines mark Medal of Honor anniversary with stories of valor
Douglas Sterner, who has posted honor awards as the curator of the Military Times Hall of Valor, told NBC News that the site is a "step in the right direction," though he hopes it will become comprehensive, not only in the scope of awards, but also in the details of meritorious service.
"What these men and women have done, the details of their actions contained within their citations, is first and foremost American history," Sterner said. "Further, such a database should be able to answer the question decades from now, 'What did grandpa do to get the Silver Star in Iraq?' Any such effort is less about the men and women who did receive the awards ... and more about preserving history for future generations."
Rebecca Ruiz is a reporter at NBC News. Follow her on Twitter here.
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Leave a Comment:
How sick is our society? We need a special website to disavow lying politicians . . . We need a special vote so that our congress doesn't have access to insider information and profit from it . . .
Sheeeitttt!
I think there are a lot of veterans like myself who couldn't care less about medals and ribbons. However, there are many other veterans who define themselves by their military service. Some of those G.I.'s have earned medals that came at a very high price. My hat is off to them.
That it means something to them is enough for me. That a poseur would cheapen their contributions is disgusting. I understand the decision of the Supreme Court. I also understand the need to expose the poseurs.
I've had it with chicken hawks, warmongers, and liars. These punks must be exposed at every opportunity.
Step in the right direction. DoD needs to get its act together and get serious about this - they already said they're not interested in creating a website (which is already down, btw) after the Supreme Court's ruling, and I guess they're doing this half-assed only after some arm twisting from folk in Congress.
And there's absolutely no rational reason why the records on the website need to be limited to just a few awards post 2001. It's not a major effort to throw researchers at it, have them digging through the archives, and come up with lists going all the way back to the American Revolution. And it's not going to break the bank - not for the folk who bought us the $800 toilet seats (in 1980s dollars) or $900 screw drivers that cost $11.99 at Home Depot.
While I like the idea of this website and exposing liars for what they are, I have got to wonder how much this is going to cost the taxpayer and if this was or could have been funded by private donations and managed by a private firm or volunteers. I mean we are dealing with the defense dept. You know. The people who buy $1000 toilet seats and can't figure out where all the money in Iraq went.
Great idea!
Violation of free speech? oh please. Our military heroes have earned the right to wear those medals. Any one else claiming to have earned them, they should be charged with a crime. They dishonor the men and women who've actually earned them with their valor.
That said, this web site is at the very least a step in the right direction.
Where does one start ? I have a half brother who tried to serve in the Air Force, didn't make it through boot camp. Struts around wearing a "Air Force Veteran" ball cap. He has been advised that this is inappropriate, by a Real Veterans who completed the 180 days and then fought in Vietnam. He attends events specifically for "Veterans" Posing as a "Veteran". He even applies for jobs posing as a "Veteran", & can't figure out why he can't keep a job. I was told there will a be a page called The "Wall Of Shame" to honor these poseurs, however I am yet to locate it. Scott Evans, You are a "Poseur" NOT a "Veteran" Thank God for the "Stolen Valor Act" someday it will bite you in your backside, which you so much deserve.
there is a site...go to pownetwork.org and find the link..list of names..click on ..a very good website, exposes posers, and much more
Praise the Lord, About time.
This website is a start. It completely skips over the biggest abusers of this kind of fraud, though. Therefore, in about 50 years, once all of these liars have died (obviously someone is covering for them), perhaps America will know the meaning of integrity once again.
It could be said that many actual veterans, some honorably discharged and decorated, are homeless, or fall through the cracks, simply because people that this website was designed to thwart, commit systematic fraud. I may not be there to see all of these people get what's coming to them, but Good Riddance!
I would prefer a website devoted to prosecuting politicians whom openly and fraudulently deny veterans the Valor they have earned. Case in point. An 80 plus year old Korean War vet whom was denied his silver star for more than 50 years while the orders awarding the medal sat in the library of congress.
That Daniel and the way our gov turned its back on the Filipinos who fought side by side with our troops in the Pacific while the Philippines were U.S. territory. If it wasn't for their heroic actions and guerrilla tactics against the Japanese we would of lost a hell of a lot more U.S. servicemen.
This is a step in the right direction; but, it does NOT compensate for the banal actions by the US Supreme Court in overturning the 'Act'...
Essentially, such actions by SCOTUS lent approval for lying posers to declare 'free speech'...especially those posers/frauds and phonies who use their lives in running for political office...
An Oregon politician, Wes Cooley, in running for reelection, embellished his Army service in the mid-1990s and got caught up in his lies...there was no SVA at the time...but...his lies served to 86 him out of running then...
He would have been 'looked over' if SCOTUS had held up his 'free speech'...maybe reelected...
Someone should point out that the free speech quote that everyone is so hot about is a lie. You do not have any right to free speech. Congress is not allowed to pass any law that block you from speaking. Not allowing you to say lies or illegal things.
Chuck, get over yourself. 18 USC §704 has been on the books since 1923! The only thing the SCOTUS did was to affirm that braggarts have a right to be braggarts -- until they commit civil or criminal fraud and obtain a material benefit from their lies, which has always been the elements of standing laws designed to curb or punish fraud. SVA will not deter lies and exaggerations uttered at the VFW post, barber shop, or on the political campaign trail. In the absence of criminal fraud, as a 32-year military service Vet I have greater concerns than what some ridiculous but harmless military wannabee down the street is doing to impress his hapless neighbors.
I hear where you're coming from Chuck. Anyone who claims military honors they didn't earn or denies military honors to those to did earn them is scum.
The Constitution protects everyone, even those who exercise those freedoms to spread lies.
I think the SCOTUS made the correct decision, but I wish the ruling hadn't been necessary in the first place.
So, pay attention everyone. In reading this is seems as though Tne "OZ" decision from Supreme Court can be worked around...healthcare reform anyone? Just have to be thinking, like sodiers....
I had a 'heart' & a 'good conduct', but after 5yrs. my only 'badge of honor' was an 'other than honorable' out of the Nam. Still, it broke my heart when they gave the black beret to every non-combat REMF in the Army. Anybody remember when only Rangers & Seals wore that? What a world this has become.
I'm right there with ya Ghost. Being a former Ranger, I was enraged when the black beret was issued as standard headcover for service members! That was what distinguished us from the rest. Not to detract from any other service members contributions, this was our badge of honor!
But to the issue of the article....PULEEEEZE. Our tax dollars can't be put to better use than something like this. How about use the dollars for veterans who need health care, homes or education.
Another example of how our government wastes money on "who gives a damn" projects!!
Like this is going to do any good at all. You could google sites that list those awards already. If there is no law preventing these people from wearing these awards that has teeth, then nothing will change. This is just more politics to appease the veteran organizations to try and win votes.
Wonder if the pentagon is going to view this website and copy it or make one of their own.
http://www.homeofheroes.com/valor/02_awards/04_ss.html
This s a good start, but we need the database to go back to WWII. Too many are using their so called hero status, to rob the honor earned by the real heroes. Stolen Valor is the most appropriate name for a law ever. There is a law to punish these fake vets, but we as a society need to stigmatize those caught impersonating our decorated veterans.
Back to WWII? This would be a completely impossible undertaking. If you only knew the decentralized manner in which field awards were issued during WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. Sometimes the only probative evidence of a wartime valor award were mimeographed field orders. And even there the great fire at the records depository in St. Louis destroyed much of government's copies of those orders. For years Doug Stern relied on interested medal collectors to supply him with many of the medal orders and accompanying citations for his vainglorious database.
No problem as the Senate led by Democrats and this charlatan in the White House are dishonorable types.
The last Democrat was a draft dodger and known commie sympathizer that they shield from the public eye - thanks to a media that is no longer free let alone truthful or professional.
So we know better and should apply our standards and discipline to these wanna-bes...catch them and beat the living crap out of them, and give them a taste of real combat the cowards.
If America dishonors us, so dishonor them. Maybe if enough get the word we are truly a band of brothers and have high standards where honor before death, Constitution and the Republic before the despot and his mob is worth fighting and dying for, they will soon dwindle in numbers.
The VFW and other drunk old timers just don't get it - straight party right to the end...but us Viet vets and beyond, time we steered the country back and run over those freaks, sexual deviants, athesists and great pretenders or we will soon have no country at all.
Look in a vets eye and listen to where she or he has been...there are scars that never go away and a pride that is immeasurable that says more than just American - it says patriot.
Wow you need to flush your brain housing group. You served in Vietnam in what I might assume a combat MOS, very honorable and I welcome you home. If you were a rear echelon puke, then you have little bearing the trash you are sqewing. Be that as it may, it is amazing you will follow the lead without question from a gaggle of chicken hawks that, unlike you, stayed in the home and fought off the invading hoards of VC and "Commies" that were invading Alabama. Wait, never mind, our last president went AWOL and the others didn't even serve, yet somehow managed to politically destroy a man that actually was in country over there. Even more amazing is that you should not have been over there in the first place.
Your blind devotion to FUX "news" and all the other right wing pundit crap has you in the pile of the uninformed.
I could give a squirt less about ribbons and medals, I could care even less for morons who walk around with no freaking integrity and claim to have earned them. They get called out in the end on them by those of us who might actually rate some of them. Yeah it burns my ass when you know some idiot is lying about even being in the military, let alone awards he/she does not rate, but you can embarass that individual and make them feel so low that they will more often then not end their B.S.
You right wing nut jobs like to cry about government involvment in various issues, but when it comes to crap like this you go in all gung ho. Save it for something that actually matters, we veterans will handle it just like we always have.
Really? We need this? Zzzzzzzzzz....
a web page generated on a MILITARY budget - Minimum a billion to type it, and a million a month to host it
It's a shame that this is needed, but it is. As a veteran I highly resent those at whom the stolen valor act was directed.
Best solution would be to find some Constitutional way, even going as far as an amendment, to meet the Supreme Court's approval of an act to outlaw stolen valor claims.
NewsmanZ I agree. As a retired military guy its a shame that some out there are trying to benefit by stealing credit for service and awards. Its funny that if I put on a police uniform I'm breaking the law. If I give a false statement to police, thats against the law. So why isn't that my free speech??? I think when this broken Congress gets its act together, they should write an amendment to the constitution making it illegal to impersonate a military member and claim meritorious service medals.
This article has a bad link to the website it is talking about.
Hmmm. That website does not list my 5 National Medals of Honor, 12 Silver Stars, 25 Bronze Stars, and 125 Purple Hearts. That's probably because I was a part of a super-secret program called ____________— (It was so secret it didn't even have a name). Also, the person who ran it was hypnotised in advance so he would forget about it when it was all over. I'm the only person who actually knows about it and on some days even I don't remember. Oh well, it's such a burden to be a famous hero that I really don't care any more. It gets tiresome when people look at my CV and ask "How did you manage to capture that Vietcong regiment on the same day you walked on the Moon with Neil Armstrong?" I did it the same way that I won the Olympic Decathalon and then that evening picked up my Nobel Prize in Physics. Multi-tasking!
@ freud101
You, "sir", are an a*****e! Try serving sometime instead of belittling those who have.
Mike C.-923116, chill-out. freud101's comments were actually funny. But maybe my perception is attuned because I retired with 32-years military service and can actually recognize a good military satire when I see it ;-) We can note that veterans of the "Greatest Generation" never took themselves as seriously as those lately, who completely define their manhood and self-respect by emotive and political distractions such as the Stolen Valor Act.
What does it matter. The idiot dem voters of CT elected dick blumenthal to the US senate after he admittedly lied about serving in Vietnam. Logically, he should not have received one vote, and if he was half a man, he would have dropped out of the race, but like all politicians, the truth is foreign to him, and he has absolutely no shame.
And the conservatives in your state reelected "Joe" Lieberman, who is shamelessly beholden to Israeli lobbyists. So what is your point?
Just put a medals app in the App Store. Put in a person's name, it searches a military database and tells you whether or not the person you put in is really a vet or not.
Trying to pick up girls pretending to be a [insert here]? If one of them types your name in...there goes your game!
The Stolen Valor Act and the proposed replacement are just a bunch of nonsense. Does Congress really have nothing better to do than to concern itself with people who like to shoot off their mouths? It's free speech, but we all know that Congress doesn't care about our constitutional rights anyway. Congress could be doing a lot of good things, like balancing the budget, but instead they prefer to waste their time worrying about a bunch of fools who like to tell tall tales. Regarding those fools, to quote Yul Brynner (The Ten Commandments), "Let him rave on, that men will know him mad".
Hey Ed, impersonating a LEO is against the law and giving a false statement to a LEO is also; why is this any different? They both serve, they both put themselves in harm's way.
What the heck is a LEO? Personally, I'm a Pisces.
Oh, I get it now, Law Enforcement Officer. So anybody who attends a halloween party dressed as a cop can be busted? I don't think so. There is certainly nothing wrong with that. It is the people who pull people over while pretending to be a cop that is the problem - they will get busted. Not people shooting off their mouths at a party, or dressing up as a cop for halloween. You can hardly equate a fake cop pulling somebody over to a fake award winner shooting off his mouth.
Tabasco, seriously showing up to a party as a cop is one thing. Showing up at a bank dressed as a cop and offering to take the deposit to the reserve is quite another. The biggest problem is that someone claiming to have received these awards when they were not even in the military is a disgrace to anyone that bled to earn them. How are you going to explain to the child of the CMH winner that his daddy died so that the next door neighbor can claim he won that same medal without doing anything. Then explain it by the grave of the man that did win it.
I have had first hand experience with this. When I was a VFW Post Commander in Dale City, VA, we had a member who said he was a former SEAL, POW and Navy Cross holder. I was able to get his DD 214, and found that he enlisted in the Navy, went to boot camp in Great Lakes, went to San Diego for "A" school, and was kicked out of the Navy with an undeserable discharge due to frequent involvement with military and civilian authority. I had him kicked out of the VFW. Yes, Art "Mouse" Moore, I'm talking about you! A great wesbite to find these phonies already exists. It's at www.pownetwork.com.
So what's your point Jimmy? You speak about a garden variety lying braggart on a VFW bar stool. Big deal! The VFW is a select social club, so take a vote, terminate his membership, and then make him persona non gratia. Alternatively, if he commits any actual criminal fraud and obtains some public benefit from his tall tales report him to your local prosecutor. This is hardly a pressing federal case when you have serious crimes and Meth labs operating in your portion of the DC suburbs.
Laws have been on the books since our early Republic to deter or punish civil and criminal fraud (that is obtaining an unfair advantage, position, or material value from propagating lies). So no further laws are really needed, rather there is wont for a better focus by federal and local prosecutors. Therefore the Stolen Valor Act (SVA) is little more than political grandstanding in an unusually emotional election year, just as previous versions of 18 USC §704 were seen (especially by legitimate medal collectors)(incidentally, an intellectual property law protecting federal military medals that dates to 1923). What the latest version of SVA is designed to do is keep wannabees or actual veterans from becoming braggarts on their bar stools and that is precisely why it fell after scrutiny by the Supreme Court. Keep it simple, which is what juries like, prosecute for criminal fraud as we have always done and enough with all the fake outrage and political flag waiving.
There will always be less than the truth in some people. The form DD.214 will list decorations and anything that was submited prior to discharge and awarded later will come with the paper work and be entered into your service jacket.
Most veterans can smell a lier.
Sorry for my spelling. I was a grunt.
For those of you in charge of hiring people. If you have a job applicant who has claimed any sort of military citation, medal or other such awards on their resume or application, you should ask to see a copy of their “military order(s)” that accompany ALL SUCH AWARDS. They all have accompanying “orders”, even down to the lowly Good Conduct Medal, which most every serviceman or woman receives. This documentation then becomes a permanent part of their personnel file. Most ex-military have learned to save copies of all such documentation and all ex-military know where to go to get copies of any or all of their records. If the person, in question, cannot provide such proof, I personally wouldn’t believe them. And this is especially true when we are talking about medals awarded for valor, bravery, etc., such as the Bronze and Silver Stars, or the CMH.