Heros are not known by their loftiness of carriage; the greatest braggarts are generally the merest cowards. Jean-Jacques Rousseau
The ancient Greek dramatist Aeschylus stated around 550 BC “The first casualty of war is the truth”. I would argue that we could substitute “a political campaign” for war. I cannot stress how common TPS is in government, politics, and politicians. It can be found around most corners of Washington waiting to raise its ugly head.
Stolen Valor refers to the act of falsely claiming military service, awards, or decorations that one has not earned. This term is often associated with individuals who lie about their military achievements or service experiences to gain recognition, respect, or tangible benefits such as money or property.
The Stolen Valor Act of 2013 is a U.S. federal law that addresses this issue by making it a crime to fraudulently claim military honors with the intent to obtain tangible benefits. This act specifically targets those who falsely represent themselves as recipients of certain military awards, such as the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, Air Force Cross, Silver Star, and Purple Heart, among others. Violations of this act can result in fines, imprisonment for up to one year, or both.
The 2013 law was enacted after the original Stolen Valor Act of 2005 was struck down by the Supreme Court in the case of United States v. Alvarez. The court ruled that the 2005 act violated the First Amendment’s protection of free speech because it criminalized false claims without requiring proof of intent to defraud. The revised 2013 act includes the requirement that false claims must be made with the intent to obtain tangible benefits, thus addressing the constitutional concerns raised in the Alvarez case.
John Kerry‘s tale of stolen valor was previously discussed (see Gaslighting, Blemish Politics, and the Tall Poppy Syndrome).
Kerry was not involved in “stolen valor” in the legal sense of falsely claiming military service or awards he did not earn. However, during his 2004 presidential campaign, his military service in Vietnam became controversial. The Swift Boat Veterans for Truth (SBVT) questioned the details of his service record and the circumstances under which he received his combat medals, including the Purple Heart and Bronze Star.
These allegations were part of a broader political attack, often designated as swiftboating, which aimed to discredit his military service. Despite the controversy, many of Kerry’s former crewmates and official Navy records supported the legitimacy of his service and awards, and the claims made by SBVT were widely discredited over time.
George W. Bush‘s military service primarily revolved around allegations that he did not fully meet his service obligations in the Texas Air National Guard during the Vietnam War era, not stolen valor.
Democrats accused Bush of being “AWOL” (Absent Without Leave) during his service with the Air National Guard in the 1970s. Although records showed he was paid and credited for service, there was a six-month gap in service while he worked on a Senate campaign in Alabama. This gap raised questions about whether he fulfilled his service requirements.
There were claims that Bush received preferential treatment to secure a position in the Texas Air National Guard, which was seen as a way to avoid deployment to Vietnam. It was suggested that his father, who held significant political influence, helped him gain this position.
Bush was criticized for not completing a mandatory flight physical, leading to his suspension from flying. He also reportedly stopped attending drills for a period and was not observed by his superior officers for a full year. Despite these issues, he received an honorable discharge, which critics argued was not justified.
Dan Rather played a central role in the controversy known as the “Killian documents controversy” or “Rathergate.” On September 8, 2004, Rather presented a segment on 60 Minutes II that included documents purportedly from Bush’s former commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Jerry B. Killian. These documents suggested that Bush received preferential treatment to avoid the Vietnam War draft and failed to fulfill his service obligations without facing repercussions.
The authenticity of the documents was quickly challenged, with critics pointing out inconsistencies in the typography that suggested they were forgeries. Despite initial defense by CBS and Rather, the network eventually admitted they could not authenticate the documents and retracted the story. This controversy severely impacted Rather’s career, leading to his resignation from CBS in early 2005.
He later expressed regret for the segment, stating that he would not have aired it had he known the documents were inauthentic. He maintained that the story’s broader claims were valid, but the focus on the documents overshadowed the issues raised about Bush’s service.
Following the controversy, CBS conducted an internal investigation, which found that the network had failed to follow basic journalistic principles in preparing and reporting the story. As a result, several CBS staff members were fired, although Rather was initially retained. However, the controversy had already damaged his reputation, and he announced his resignation (tall poppied) as anchor of the CBS Evening News in 2005, stepping down in March of that year.
Senator Richard Blumenthal was involved in a controversy regarding misrepresenting his military service, which some have characterized as “stolen valor,” though it does not fully meet the legal definition. Blumenthal served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve from 1970 to 1976, attaining the rank of Sergeant. He did not serve in Vietnam. On at least three occasions between 2003 and 2008, Blumenthal said he had served in Vietnam, such as “We have learned something important since the days that I served in Vietnam”.
A New York Times investigation revealed in 2010 stolen valor claims during Blumenthal’s Senate campaign, causing significant controversy. Blumenthal admitted that he had “misspoke” about his service, acknowledging that he had not served in Vietnam but during the Vietnam era. At other times, Blumenthal had accurately described his service as “during the Vietnam era” rather than in Vietnam.
While Blumenthal’s misstatements do not constitute “stolen valor” in the legal sense (which typically involves falsely claiming specific medals or awards), they were seen as misleading and drew criticism. Blumenthal apologized for these mischaracterizations but maintained that they were unintentional errors rather than deliberate deception.
Most Vietnam vets never bought his explanation or any of his ilks’. In Blumenthal’s generation, the “reserve” was a euphemism for “draft dodger.” They joined the reserve as a legal option to being drafted and sent to Vietnam. Reservists could keep their jobs and live a normal life. Reserve positions were highly sought, glutted, and often required “pull” for placement because of its popularity.
Worse yet, the regular army draft was a 6-year commitment: 2 years of active duty, 3 years of active reserve, and 1 year of inactive reserve. This was the same time commitment as the reserve who only served one monthly weekend and 2-weeks of summer camp for 6 years. The returning Vietnam vets reserve obligation placed them with reservists like Blumenthal rubbing salt in an already open wound. As bad a tour of Vietnam was, many vets “reupped” negating their future obligations stateside and embarrassment.
The New York Times gave the electorate vital information. The truth was told, they voted for Blumenthal who is now in his 3rd term in the Senate.
Tim Walz has been accused of “stolen valor” by alleging that he embellished his military record and falsely claimed combat experience. He retired from the National Guard before his unit was deployed to Iraq, suggesting that Walz dodged deployment. These accusations have been disputed and characterized as misleading.
Walz served 24 years in the National Guard, reaching the rank of command sergeant major as claimed, although he retired as a master sergeant due to not completing certain academic requirements for the command title. He “likened” his guard service to that of the regular army. His only wartime deployment was to Italy in 2003, and he did not serve in a combat zone as he implied when discussing certain weapons. He claimed to be a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom – the military designation for the War in Afghanistan where he never served.
Because of the duration of Walz’s tour, his embellishments have not been uncommon and varied differentiating him from Blumenthal. A group of retired Command Sergeants Major from the Minnesota National Guard strived to set his record straight in a 2018 letter. They stated, “Tim Walz has embellished and selectively omitted facts and circumstances of his military career for years.”
The mainstream media has changed over the last decade as they have picked political sides and become more biased in their reporting. Walz leaves plenty of good leads for investigative reporters to discover the truth and report it.
Where is the New York Times when we need them? Would they investigate Blumenthal’s charge of stolen valor today?
This is all a huge slice of humble pie for Walz. Then-Rep. Walz voted for the Stolen Valor Act of 2013. How ironic (see Self-Righteousness and Hypocrisy as Cutters in the Tall Poppy Syndrome)!
Brian Williams was involved in a controversy that has been described as “stolen valor” due to his false claims about his experiences during the Iraq War. Williams, a former NBC News anchor, repeatedly stated that he was in a helicopter that was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. However, it was later revealed that he was in a different helicopter that was not under fire. This revelation led to widespread criticism and resulted in his suspension from NBC News for six months in 2015.
The Vietnam War did considerable credibility damage to the US Government. Rather and Williams did their due in damaging mainstream media’s credibility.
Hillary Clinton was not involved in “stolen valor” legally, but she faced criticism for inaccurately describing a 1996 trip to Bosnia. Clinton claimed that she landed under sniper fire, but video footage later showed her walking calmly from the plane. This discrepancy was highlighted during her 2008 presidential campaign, leading to accusations that she exaggerated the danger of the visit. However, this incident did not involve false claims of military service or awards, which are central to the concept of “stolen valor.”
All these public Tall Poppies were cut down by their egregious act of not telling the truth due to their excessive pride or hubris (see Anatomy of the TALL POPPY SYNDROME). Pride is the most common cause of public TPS. The humility of Moses and heroes could have prevented their woe. Like David, they could not take ownership of their transgressions. The public’s tender mercies long to forgive and forget at signs of their repentance.
When the heroes go off the stage, the clowns come on. Heinrich Heine
