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A 30-year-old Pennsylvania man could face a federal investigation after being called out on video for impersonating an Army veteran, WCAU-TV reported.
The footage of the encounter has reportedly amassed more than 2.8 million views online since being posted by 26-year-old Army Sgt. Ryan Berk. Berk, who earned a Purple Heart award for his service in Afghanistan, encountered the man while shopping at a mall in Langhorne with his girlfriend and his son on Nov. 28.
“To have this guy then pretend that he’s done the same thing on the caliber that my friends did, it just gets you infuriated,” Berk said.
The Bucks County Courier Times identified the man Berk filmed as Sean Yetman, and reported that Yetman pleaded guilty in 2003 to charges of impersonating a public servant for wearing a coat belonging to Philadelphia police officer Robert Hays, who died in the line of duty in 1995.
The New York Daily News reported that state Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (R) contacted federal investigators after seeing the video. The Army confirmed that Yetman has no affiliation with the service.
At one point, Berk shouts, “Stolen Valor,” a reference to the Stolen Valor Act, a law passed last year making anyone caught reaping tangible benefits from impersonating a service member subject to federal criminal charges.
Kind of makes me think about the level of privilege soldiers have in our culture's iconography, and how impersonating that is some kind of sacrilege.
We shouldn't venerate all soldiers. Some people use the military to get through college, and they get nice cushy jobs in the military -- no self-sacrifice required. I don't really view those people with the same level of esteem as someone who fought in a war zone and saw their friends die. But they seem to receive a sort of carte blanche kind of pride, regardless of what they did.
People shouldn't impersonate someone in the military, anymore than they should impersonate a cop or someone in government. On the other hand, I don't think upper class people who get high ranks in the military and basically do nothing should get my respect either.
Kind of makes me think about the level of privilege soldiers have in our culture's iconography, and how impersonating that is some kind of sacrilege.
We shouldn't venerate all soldiers. Some people use the military to get through college, and they get nice cushy jobs in the military -- no self-sacrifice required. I don't really view those people with the same level of esteem as someone who fought in a war zone and saw their friends die. But they seem to receive a sort of carte blanche kind of pride, regardless of what they did.
People shouldn't impersonate someone in the military, anymore than they should impersonate a cop or someone in government. On the other hand, I don't think upper class people who get high ranks in the military and basically do nothing should get my respect either.
Kind of makes me think about the level of privilege soldiers have in our culture's iconography, and how impersonating that is some kind of sacrilege.
We shouldn't venerate all soldiers. Some people use the military to get through college, and they get nice cushy jobs in the military -- no self-sacrifice required. I don't really view those people with the same level of esteem as someone who fought in a war zone and saw their friends die. But they seem to receive a sort of carte blanche kind of pride, regardless of what they did.
People shouldn't impersonate someone in the military, anymore than they should impersonate a cop or someone in government. On the other hand, I don't think upper class people who get high ranks in the military and basically do nothing should get my respect either.
While I agree with you that not all military members deserve respect but they do not deserve it because of actions they have done to lose my respect.
With that said the rest of your post shows how little you actually know about the military or what is required of those in it. It in my opinion goes a long way to show your obvious bias against the militarily. So tell me who are these upper class people that are just given high ranks.
Kind of makes me think about the level of privilege soldiers have in our culture's iconography, and how impersonating that is some kind of sacrilege.
We shouldn't venerate all soldiers. Some people use the military to get through college, and they get nice cushy jobs in the military -- no self-sacrifice required. I don't really view those people with the same level of esteem as someone who fought in a war zone and saw their friends die. But they seem to receive a sort of carte blanche kind of pride, regardless of what they did.
People shouldn't impersonate someone in the military, anymore than they should impersonate a cop or someone in government. On the other hand, I don't think upper class people who get high ranks in the military and basically do nothing should get my respect either.
I never said you disrespected them.Wow, someone's things personally today.
My partner is a military veteran and so are many of my partner's friends, so please stow your self-righteous indignation. Classism exists in every military, America is no exception.
If you re-read what I said, you'll note that I didn't say I disrespect the military. I have respect for members of it that are risk taking and genuinely put their lives on the line or help those that do. I don't think everyone in the military deserves respect for their service. Some people take extraordinary risks while others have lead a rather dull career. I feel the same about firefighters, police officers, and any service people. You don't get respect just because of your social group. I want to know what you've done that is so special.
Therefore, there are a lot of military people I respect, and others that I view completely neutrally. I do point out though that there seems to be a general privilege level granted to all service people. A lot of people go into service just to get college paid for, then drop out. Why should I respect those people?
Did you serve?
Read more and video @: Fake veteran called out by actual soldier may face federal charges
Saw this video earlier this week. Its really disgusting that people impersonate soldiers to get some sort of personal ego trip or some sort of deal. I'm glad that he got called out for his disgusting acts and I hope that if he did indeed break a law be persecuted for it. [/FONT][/COLOR]
I think you mean prosecuted, not persecuted, although since the Stolen Valor law was overturned, persecution may be the only recourse these folks have.
I'm wondering too.
Kind of makes me think about the level of privilege soldiers have in our culture's iconography, and how impersonating that is some kind of sacrilege.
We shouldn't venerate all soldiers. Some people use the military to get through college, and they get nice cushy jobs in the military -- no self-sacrifice required. I don't really view those people with the same level of esteem as someone who fought in a war zone and saw their friends die. But they seem to receive a sort of carte blanche kind of pride, regardless of what they did.
People shouldn't impersonate someone in the military, anymore than they should impersonate a cop or someone in government. On the other hand, I don't think upper class people who get high ranks in the military and basically do nothing should get my respect either.
Read more and video @: Fake veteran called out by actual soldier may face federal charges
Saw this video earlier this week. Its really disgusting that people impersonate soldiers to get some sort of personal ego trip or some sort of deal. I'm glad that he got called out for his disgusting acts and I hope that if he did indeed break a law be persecuted for it. [/FONT][/COLOR]
I didn't realize it was overturned. Who would possibly do that, and why?
Has this law been overturned? https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/258
I know someone who also confronted a phony Marine at an airport. I'm non-violent, but I thought he showed real restraint in simply grabbing him up and warning him rather than giving him the beat-down he deserved just on GP.
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