Why do people lie about going to Iraq?

Question

It's really starting to get on my nerves. On Y!A and even in "real life" I see people daily who claim to have been over there. Why on earth would someone feel the need to lie about such a thing?

It also beats me why people (who have been over there) go around thinking they don’t need to do anything or should be treated like a king. Does anyone else know?

My husband has been over there once and will be going back in a month. He is humble and grateful for what he has done but in no means wants people to treat him like some sort of king or any differently then another person they meet. My father is the same way and he was in Desert Storm and my grandfather who was in Vietnam. Isn’t the whole point of being a great solider to do your duty, be humble, and grateful but not to expect such shock? I don't know why but I get offended when people use this as an excuse or lie about it--it's almost like they take the honor out of serving the country.

I think military dependents and spouses are so tough on people because their sponsors are not. I am not ashamed to say my husband, father, and grandfather are great men. I'm not ashamed to admit that because they don't rub it in other people's faces.

It's called family buddy--when it's your family out there you are going to get a little pissed when people take their honor and service to waste.

I don't know it all. I don't even know the half of what goes on. I don't claim to know it all but I do know what upsets me and that's the above.

Answer 1

People lie about military service more than you might guess, especially if it involves a dangerous situation. I was in the Navy for six years and did nothing especially astounding or heroic. I did learn enough about the military and particularly the Navy to be able to spot a liar.

I can tell you about two guys that both claim to have been SEALS and are full of it. Usually these guys will say something like, "I was in a very secret group and there are no records". This is crapola. The Navy (and every branch) keeps meticulous records of your service time even if a particular person is involved in something secret. They may not say where a person was a at a particular time but your service IS recorded.

I want to state again that I was just a regular sailor and no commando or "operator" but I have been among them. I've seen how they train and prepare and it's a crime that people want to "play army" and try to boost their reputation off of the sweat of these men.

If anyone starts in on their service ask them what their "M.O.S." was. (It means "military occupational specialty" or what they were trained to do). If they look at you blankly then they are full of it. It's one of the first terms you learn as it determines the course of your military career. There are NO secret MOS's. Your husband can probably tell you a lot more about his branch of service as he is probably not a Navy man.

I agree that it is a disgrace. My best wishes go out to your family and your husband. Please give my personal thanks to your husband for serving our country. I'm too old now to return to active service but will have him in my prayers. A brotherhood of servicemen await his return. God speed.

Answer 2

This sort of reinds me of school.So I have traveled the world and everything perhaps seen places like the Taj,Tokyo,Singapore and
all that over my 13 years in the world.At school if you were to say
that when the teacher asks you where you have been the other classmates would say "Nu a Nu a you have never been there"!!
How exactly do they know that?Its sort of like this.Some people will purpously say that you have never done something cool in life
just because they never have. LOL I am not saying that you are doing that ha ha!!You really can never proove a person has not gone to Iraq thats the thing.Its the internet.People come in whatever identity they choose and will do whatever.So you
really can never say they have not been there.Some people are
known to start multiple accounts.Im just saying that you never really know.It all dpends on how the wuestion looks like.And
yes maybe some people have been to Iraq and really do want
attention.At this point you cannot blame them.Why?Since the whole world hates the troops because of the goverments mistake!!Some people might be real soldiers who want to see what the public thinks of them.Others pretend to be soldiers to do
the same thing.Personally I don't think its wrong to want respect because everyone wants it.Especially if you have been in Terrain filled with explosives or have to be attacked by snipers.The
posers are doing the same thing just trying to see what people
would react like.There was one dude on Y!A who was being a racist pig and saying the "N word" and stuff.He always got his account deleted but came back with a new one.Luckile he is gone for good.People like to pose to see the public reaction.

Answer 3

As my screen name says, I am stuck in Iraq. I have been over here for 16 months now because our unit was extended. I guess I will be very proud to say that I did my part, and that I served with the 172D Stryker brigade. Although I don't expect anything other than my family's love when I get home I guess I can see how some people feel like they are "owed" something. I can also see how people would lie about being here to either get attention or recognition. I know when I came back from Desert Storm I got out of the Army for awhile, and I was able to land a job because the boss liked the fact that I had been to Iraq. I am not excusing it, and would call someone on it, but I can see the motivation behind it. Good luck to you and your husband.

Answer 4

My husband was in Nam, he never talked about it. My son did 13 months in Iraq and he doesn't even mention it on his employment applications. All he puts on there is yes he has a military background. I am a little 50/50 on that one. I know that it is an honor to serve and there is nothing wrong with humility I just hope that the reason that people don't talk about their service is not because of fear of being looked down on like they were in Nam. My husband died in 2000. Even shortly before than I heard someone yell that he was a baby killer! As for those who never served I don't get it.

Answer 5

form of a tumbler is a million/2-empty guy are you? So for 2 tribes who've been killing one yet another for hundreds of years to without notice call a truce, it extremely is only happenstance huh? No impression from the yank presence and enable me ask if the US wasn't in Iraq and that they pronounced as a end hearth could you additionally be talking approximately this? Violence in Iraq is down, a brutal madman is out of capability, Iraqis are becoming to be a member of the international community, those are all stable issues, the whys and the wherefores do no longer propose something different than for individuals such as you who choose for to spend some time making different individuals look undesirable rather of becoming us all look stable.

Answer 6

In reference to those who claim to have been to Iraq but never went, perhaps these are people who think so little of themselves that they must lie to make their lives seem worthwhile. As to those who come back and think they need do nothing else in life, I have likewise encountered this attitude. While I am grateful for their service (even though I do not personally support the war), I know a great many people, including my father and uncles, who served in WWII, Korea, Viet Nam, and other conflicts. These people all went on to make their own individual contributions to society; they certainly never expected to "dine out" on their service for the rest of their lives. I think those who do may likewise be people who undervalue the things they do in life outside of military service, perhaps again because they undervalue themselves. I can only feel a bit sorry for people whose perceive that their greatest triumph was to go to war; "waging peace" is far more difficult, and certainly far more the measure of a great person in my opinion.

Answer 7

i have seen this too. my husband is currently deployed over there somewhere.and i have ffriends who have been and who are there now. they dont talk about it at all they want to forget what the saw and felt. its scary. i know a guy back home who has never been in the service and will never get it he is a convicted felon and high school drop out and he tells women all the time he just go out od the navy and he saw iraq. so not true. for some its a way to get laid really easily women feel sorry for them. not me personally

Answer 8

They ar ecalled wannabes, we used to call them idiots. When I came back from Just Cause, and Desert Sheild/Storm, they were all over the place. And sad to say, a bunch of them were in the military. One of my (ex) friends claimed to be there in a unit that didn't even deploy. It's sad, but it's gonna happen. People trying to build themselves up into somthing they're not.

Answer 9

I salute those who fight in war to protect their country, it takes a lot of bravery. However, being a Man of Honor means acting like one. Another thing that gets me is that people throw it in your face as if "if you don't serve, you're a coward and deserve to be deported". I can't say I respect those who fight in wars they don't agree with; I would support them, yes, but standing up for what you believe in, that's what I respect.

Answer 10

yes i tip my hat to your husband
I am one of those whom lie about it.
why? well i was in, and a month before going overseas their was this stupid fire....long story short i ended up coming home on chap10
all my old friends started seeing me whenever i went to see my sister(who lives in my home town)
i never meant or designed myself to lie, but i did just so that i wouldnt feel ashamed
it hasnt been long enough though, but after six months they said i can reenlist no problem
some people have good reason, but others use it as a way to get in. bars, or hanging out with friends, some will know enough from a brother, sister, or other significant that he/she can lie about it.
just to earn trust, or be respected
I just didnt want to disapoint, especially if my life doesnt surround them anymore, and i will be going back, i just didnt want to feel bad around people ive known all my life.
all over something that wasnt my fault.