Stolen Valor

[HitRed]

Yesterday I was filling up the car at the gas station. I was approached by a sharply dressed man about 30 years old. He was dresssed in the shinny military shoes, black slacks and a super nice white shirt with a large Staff Sergeant (E6) rank on his shoulder. The rank also had some type of electronic warfare insignia above it. I asked him about being in the military and he said he never was and he gets that question all the time!

If you didn't earn it please don't wear it.

HitRed

[2dimes]

Why did he approach you?

Did you ask any more questions?

"Why are you wearing that costume?"
"Are you dressed up for anything special?"
"What production are you in?"
"How did you get promoted?"
"Are you at least a gentleman?"

I try not to wear it anywhere too public but I have a very nice hat from my buddy who is an active United States Navy submariner. It has his rank front and centre. I have considered removing the patch but he never mentioned it when giving me the hat.

I might be moved to do so now if you feel I should, because I like you and don't want to offend you.

I have a squadron hat from the SAR guys I have volunteered with but it has no ranking marks.

Last I bought a really nice olive drab patch with a rattle snake on it. I have been reluctant to attach it to my flight jacket since I have no personal connection to it.it is on my dresser literally collecting dust.

Edit: I got mine from the surplus stor near Rigby Idaho but if you like it you can get one here. https://1ferretstreasures.com/military- ... y-brigade/

[HitRed]

He needed to use my phone to call his wife. In the end she showed up by the time of was done filling the tank. I asked him were he got the shirt and he said a person he knew was getting ride of it and let him keep it. Now it seems to be his normal outfit for some unknown reason. This was not Halloween.

There is an amount of trust we give to those seeking help that are dressed in uniform. They are clearly off base and likely moved from anther place to be here. So we go out of our way to help them. People shouldn't take advantage of that to get reduced meals or movie tickets.

[2dimes]

Pilots love to dress up as Captains (white shirt and epaulets) even as students. It can be pretty comical.

The other popular one is to wear a one piece flight suit. Some do it partially for fire safety but then have a 50/50 blend t-shirt on under it. On another forum an air show guy often makes fun of both outfits.

[HitRed]

[2dimes]

Are you aware of the incident in England with Jimi Hendrix? He was told to remove a military jacket he had purchased from somewhere. I'm not sure if he was wearing it just because he liked it as depicted in the movie I watched or as part of peaceful protest of certain things going on at the time.

Jimi did serve but in the US army, not in the British military.

[HitRed]

Never heard that.

[2dimes]

I just noticed your edit. I was wondering if potential military discounts were why the fellow from your story was dressed that way.

My brother was wearing an A-10 t-shirt I bought him from a Museum in Moose Jaw. He was at Disney World and someone asked if he was military. He told me because he was slightly embarrassed by the question.

I don't know if the t-shirt was a factor. Travelling as a family I get asked sometimes and also they ask, "Is anyone in your group active or retired military?"

I'm sure these days most people would happily lie about it to save a small amount off whatever they are purchasing or attending. Unfortunately people think that way. Honesty is not very popular.

You have caused me to again question leaving the rank on that hat.

What are your thoughts about novelty or moral patches? I would like a Skunk Works, NASA patch or similar.

There is one someone created with 509 on it which is pretty fun.

[nietzsche]

why though?

you're assuming EVERYONE values serving the way you do.



shake up your head a little, there's no intrinsic value in being 18 and stupid, needing money and having bought from your family that serving is great therefore you sign up to be shipped overseas to kill other idiots because some 70-yos decided (and we're not gonna get into the real reasons..) war was gonna be fought there.



i'm sorry, i know i'll be touching some's sensitive fibers, but really.

[nietzsche]

sorry about getting in the middle of your gay little talk though. there's nothing going on in GC.

[HitRed]

Oh, you are being Nomad Baseball in my thread

[2dimes]

Ok, so I have no problem with you being that way towards the people I love who serve or have served but you are being quite a bit like Saxi or trump when they make fun of Mexico.

Badges? We don't need no stinking badges.

[nietzsche]

[HitRed]

You need a new tailor.

[2dimes]

I can't tell if that is protest or fashion.

The airline captain costume is a white shirt with four gold bars on the epaulets.

Here is a video making fun of people doing goofy things while flying and wearing gold bars.

[nietzsche]

Oh, you are being Nomad Baseball in my thread

No I'm not.


It's just that I wanted you to offer you the perspective that not killing and no interventionism might be better than war.

Now, if this was 1940 and we needed to stop Hitler (or someone with the same ideas named say.. Max) then I would totally be on your side.

[nietzsche]

Ok, so I have no problem with you being that way towards the people I love who serve or have served but you are being quite a bit like Saxi or trump when they make fun of Mexico.

Badges? We don't need no stinking badges.

nope, trump and saxi are bad persons. I'm not a bad person.

[nietzsche]

(still nothing going on in GC)

[HitRed]

Oh, you are being Nomad Baseball in my thread

No I'm not.


It's just that I wanted you to offer you the perspective that not killing and no interventionism might be better than war.

Now, if this was 1940 and we needed to stop Hitler (or someone with the same ideas named say.. Max) then I would totally be on your side.

What war are you talking about?

[2dimes]

Just because Saddam did not have nuclear weapons. Did not make him a good guy.

Also people there did not all enjoy the way Libya was being run. Sure Saxi said the guy was swell but Saxi never actually dropped by when the general was running things.

Granted sending rifles over to the locals allowing them to better fight Russian backed rebels turned out bad but all these things are complicated.

[nietzsche]

who's being naive kay?

[nietzsche]

i'm leaving now, sorry, i was just using you two because i was bored.

[2dimes]

Hopefully you were entertained and can have fun telling your little friends at school you got to fly in the airplane you looked at through the fence.

[TA1LGUNN3R]

Are you aware of the incident in England with Jimi Hendrix? He was told to remove a military jacket he had purchased from somewhere. I'm not sure if he was wearing it just because he liked it as depicted in the movie I watched or as part of peaceful protest of certain things going on at the time.

Jimi did serve but in the US army, not in the British military.

Jimi "served" but only enlisted because he would've been sent to jail otherwise and deliberately got kicked out by masturbating where he would get caught.

It's all regulation, Michael.

[2dimes]

I didn't say he served well but rubbing one out did not get him discharged. Though, I fully understand and appreciate the comedic value of pretending it did.

Missed opportunity for these guys. https://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/c ... ndrix.html