Or talk "shop" with them for a few minutes. There's certain terms, slang, and such that are handed down from one generation of GI's to the next. Things you wouldn't know unless you lived the life.

If i mention things like CONUS, DD Form ID10T, FIGMO, PCA, PCS, hand recipts, GSA, GOV, AFSC, MOS, the bennfits of blousing straps verses bands, GP Medium, TEMPER tent, Hardback, etc.... and if he doesn't know what im talking about, something isn't right.

While I really hate to say it, this is my exact feeling on this. None of this actually brings harm to another person, which the only reason laws should be passed.

You can add me to this list also. Just because I find something morally offensive does not mean that it should be illegal. Besides if a person is trying to defraud someone by wearing the medals, the current fraud statutes would still apply. But to have a law that prohibits the wearing of an object is unnecessary.

How about actors or people conducting reenactments? Arrest them? I don't think so. We have plenty of laws concerning fraud to protect us.

Why not? I don't believe that the law prohibits a person from doing this.

Cool, a trick question. Real combat Soldiers tuck their fatigues into their combat boots as prescribed by Army regulations, only a poser or a REMF would ever try to promote one type of blousing rubber over another! :DL

Isn't impersonating a US Military Officer or Enlisted person a federal crime?

Nice catch.

Yeah i found out the hard way about that. They don't teach you that in the AF, and the bastards issued me a pair of paints too short , so i couldn't tuck my pant legs into my boots. I ended up with a BAD BAD case of chiggers after a few weeks in Guatamala. My legs had the texture of a strawberry. Took a few months for it to clear up.

Ordianrly though, from an engineer standpoint, up an down ladders, and in/out of heavy equipment, bending, kneeling, stooping. lifting, etc. Two straps per leg worked best if you weren't boot tucking. Espeically when on an AF base stateside, and you get Mr PME telling you your out of 35-10. Nothing quite like running a skill saw ripping some plywood, and have Mr PME in his cardboard BDU's run up on your job site telling you your cover is on incorrectly. Overseas, nobody cared much.

I clearly expressed my desire to do this once - to the annoyance and protest of those who kept pointing to the law... so i dismissed my desire to do such a thing.

I used to get catalogs filled with various US Military medal replicas which could be used for such purposes as flag cases etc.

now you cant buy them anywhere without someone crawling your ass over this stolen valor law.

His original medals were given by him to his mother after the war, she kept them for a time, and it can only be assumed what happened to them after her death... so i dont have his original medals... i would be required to buy medals. (or replicas - which AFIK you cant do now)

Something to look into GR, try to get a copy of your grandfathers DD 214 from the National Archives. Once you have that there is a way to obtain his medals again from the government (VA I believe). There's nothing wrong with wanting to buy the medals for what you're doing btw, so don't feel one bit guilty.:salute:

I have access to the originals.

Ill check into that. Can i get replacements due to the face that his papers show it?

thanks for any info

Yes but you will have to pay and wait, put his details and your request on an SF180 and send it to the branch he served in.

I don't know who these people you're talking about but i'd bet any Army/Navy store could get you what you need to do this and they wouldn't have a problem once you mention your reasons.
Besides it's not like you could pose as a WW2 vet unless you're in your 80's.

YEAH! That dirty McBee is still trying to pass himself off as a genuine Civil War vet! We real ones won't put up with that! :stare:

(Thought I'd beat him to the punch this time)

Either that or they're a Marine who understands that just because you're in the field doesn't mean you have an excuse to sully the uniform by tucking it into your boots......on pain of pain. You use your bootbands and if they get lost or snagged on something and break you had damn well better have some spares and if you don't your buddy better have some or you are up a creek. There are no unsecured chinstraps, no dirty goggles, no flak jackets that don't fit (you better make yourself bigger or smaller!:stare:) and absolutely NO dirty weapons! If your weapon is dirty, you had damn well better be firing it or actively engaged in another task that requires your undivided attention.

Damn I wish I'd joined the army, instead.

It wasn't anyone here. :up: This was a "live" conversation.

I'll look into that thanks!

maybe in another 49 years:D