Stolen Valor

by Col F J Selzer (Ret)
(Fairfax, VA)

Before these folks spout off, perhaps they should check the readily available facts. There is an excellent book titled "Stolen Valor" that sets the record straight. The information in the book is all available for further checking in the Federal records of the military and VA and elsewhere and was obtained by filling out Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request forms.

Every "myth" is dispelled. As Mark Twain remarked, "It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so."

Among the myths that are widely trumpeted as facts are:

That 18 year-olds made up the majority of the fighting forces and deaths. Wrong!

That black Americans were over-represented both in numbers served and numbers killed in Vietnam -- wrong!

That draftees made up the majority of combat fatalities -- wrong!

That Vietnam vets were "damaged" just by being in the war and thus more susceptible to a life of violence or suicide -- absolutely and totally wrong!

Kilmer's ignorance is typical, however, because the media and so-called "educators" were definitely UNDER REPRESENTED in military service -- and thus to cover their lack of valor, choose to defame those of us who put our lives on the line for the good of our country and fellow citizens.

They are callow and dishonest, and unfortunately they control what folks "know" that isn't true.