Not buying and wearing a medal, just saying you won it i.e. Purple Heart, Silver Star.
2007-12-16 05:31:49 · 19 answers · asked by cwbyht 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
no
its like saying you own a foot ball team, won the lottery or killed some one. if it did not happen you will be seen as a lier and can not go to jail or be find for say stuff that is not true. If you forge document to say you did or it true the you can be punished but thats the only way.
2007-12-16 07:36:00 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
You cannot be sent to jail until a case is proved against you.
The Stolen Valor Act is for:
When you misrepresent yourself about having been a member of the Military and never were a serving member.
Fraudulently altered documentation or forged medal award documentation to say you did have a right to medals.
For the buying and wearing a uniform of the United Staes Military along with medals you have no right to.
When you fraudulently upgrade your legaly awarded medals yourself.
When you claim to have served and won awards for financial gain or use these false claims to seek employment.
All cases can be investigated by the F.B.I who will decide is there enough evidence to warrant a criminal prosecution.
But if you are telling lies just to impress people in a bar or at work you are just a liar and will be eventually found out, when asked to prove it.
EDIT: Oh! yeah just remembered some American Politicians with past military service have made some rather tall claims about their military awards, and no G.W.B. is NOT one of them!!
2007-12-16 05:51:10 · answer #2 · answered by conranger1 7 · 7⤊ 1⤋
Realistically it would depend on WHY you would be saying that. If you are using an individual gallantry medal: Bronze Star with "V", Silver Star, etc for VA benefits, or to gain preferential treatment -that's now a felony. As it should be. If you WEAR one without having it awarded-that's a felony; for military as well as civilians. If you CLAIM you got one, or more, to impress babes at the bar, well that's a different story. Though a guy like me will probably ask you for verification if the BS gets too thick.
2007-12-16 06:00:20 · answer #3 · answered by jim 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is against the law to falsify military service awards. The real question is why would you? People have died in the protection of this country and were awarded those medals for a reason. To say that you were awarded a military commendation is just flat out wrong. I have known several Soldiers that have done valorous things and not been awarded anything, so I think it is beyond a crime and just detestable.
2007-12-16 05:58:22 · answer #4 · answered by RECON! 1 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Yes, recently a former Officer was sentenced to prison for claiming he had earned the Medal of Honor, and had possesion of one, both of which where crimes. Unfortunatley I cannot remember his name or time period he claimed to have won it. The higher the award lied about, the stiffer the penalty.
Here is a link to the US Code detailing it is illegal.
http://law.onecle.com/uscode/18/704.html
2007-12-16 06:22:34 · answer #5 · answered by Think for yourself 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think an *** kicking would suffice, maybe a funny little video clip on the local news, and if you want a damn purple heart that bad, you can have mine, I don't even wear it.
Could care less if they go to jail, humiliation would work for me.
2007-12-17 00:58:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is possible for a person to attain a military commendation without actually being in the military as in the case of Clara Barton who earned the Distinguished Service Medal. You can't be prosecuted for lying about earning a military commendation unless you are doing it for personal gain. This is not a wise thing to do because the punishment for such a fraudulent act is very severe, besides being a terrible insult to those who truly earned them.
2007-12-16 07:30:21 · answer #7 · answered by Emissary 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
For just saying it,no, but you should go to jail for it. There are many brave men and women who fought bravely and were awarded those metal. Anyone that was not awarded a award is a scum bag. They dishonor those who have either sustained serious injury or death and received the awards. The person who does this should be ashamed of themselves and should be thrown in jail.
2007-12-16 10:30:08 · answer #8 · answered by mike_bellnj 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Up to $5000.00 fine and up to six months in a Federal "Don't drop the soap zone" facility.
Jail time for claiming to be an MOH recipient is up to 1 year.
SSG US Army 73-82
2007-12-16 08:01:40 · answer #9 · answered by Stand-up philosopher. It's good to be the King 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
As long as you do not wear the medal or buy it, you can say anything that you want to and nothing will be done about it!
2007-12-16 11:45:49 · answer #10 · answered by Vagabond5879 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋