View Full Version : California Man Charged for Wearing Unearned Military Medals
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,574226,00.html?test=latestnews
OWNED:lifter
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Print ShareThisPALM SPRINGS, Calif. — A Palm Springs man who was never in the military has been charged with wearing the Navy's highest honor.
Federal prosecutors in Los Angeles say 39-year-old Steven Burton was photographed wearing the Navy Cross along with the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and other medals.
The U.S. attorney's office said Wednesday that a Navy commander attending her high school reunion noticed Burton wearing a Marine uniform with the medals and contacted the FBI.
Authorities say Burton claimed in Internet postings that he'd served in Afghanistan and Iraq. He's expected to surrender Thursday to face a charge of unauthorized wearing of military medals and could face up to a year in federal prison if convicted.
There was no telephone listing for a Steven Burton in Palm Springs.
Utah Bob
11-11-2009, 16:18
Sweet!
Great....... Now lets get more AUSA's behind this....
I hope this will start a trend. Perhaps some of the other "Hall of Shame Inductees" should take note...
Utah Bob
11-11-2009, 17:11
A round of drinks for the Commander and the AUS!:lifter
Stealthed
11-11-2009, 17:11
What a douche bag. Hope he gets the full year in federal prison. I really don't understand how you could go around on the internet claiming service you never did and even worse wearing service medals that you did not earn. Not to mention many who have earned those medals, especially the Navy Cross have been awarded it posthumously.
Again I re-iterate, douchebag.
ZonieDiver
11-11-2009, 20:39
I was at the Phoenix Veterans' Day Parade today, and honest to God, I couldn't look at all the participants without wondering which ones were, potentially, "posers"!
That is sad. These frauds need to be punished to the maximum extent of the law... and if that isn't enough, the "maximum" needs to be extended!
KTLA, a Los Angeles-area network owned by Tribune, ran a story on Burton today. The story can be viewed here (http://www.ktla.com/videobeta/watch/?watch=a4e69374-07a1-4d6f-80a8-40a52e5a6693&cat=bf8d86ad-07d4-46d7-a6d3-6ddeece6d891&src=front).
The video demonstrates that some journalists do not understand the issues involved as much as they should. Hopefully, their level of understanding will improve.
This criticism aside, I think the way the story is edited shows that Mr. Burton is a fraud and that civilians should be increasingly concerned about incidents of stolen valor.
greenberetTFS
11-12-2009, 17:25
I was at the Phoenix Veterans' Day Parade today, and honest to God, I couldn't look at all the participants without wondering which ones were, potentially, "posers"!
That is sad. These frauds need to be punished to the maximum extent of the law... and if that isn't enough, the "maximum" needs to be extended!
It is sad,very sad that those that have earned them could be considered as posers,because their are some who haven't, and are around like this dipshit....It really is amazing that they take the highest heroic medals and try to convince people that they earned them and wear them "proudly"... They should have their "nuts cut off"....I'm sorry ladies for using such language,please forgive me,I'm angry.....:mad:
Big Teddy :munchin
MARSOC0211
11-12-2009, 21:38
That worthless SOB should be put in a room with SgtMaj Kasal...
rocknrolla
11-13-2009, 11:24
found a picture of the guy wearing his bogus medals..
If he wants to be in the military so bad, maybe his time in prison should be at Ft Leavenworth or Quantico, instead of a Califonia Penial Facility.
I am sure the folks that run those facilities would love to teach this pissant how much fun a military brig is.
mojaveman
11-13-2009, 17:39
I've grown weary of all these "Walter Mitty" types. I used to meet them in bars all the time back in my drinking days. Some of them just flat need a good old fashioned a*s kicking.
ZonieDiver
11-14-2009, 11:10
One of the saddest aspects of this current (and seemingly growing) parade of posers is that as I watched veterans in the parade and watching the parade last Wednesday, I couldn't help but wonder who among them was a poser, or how many others looking at me wondered if I were one. That is sad.
A message needs to be sent - loud and clear - that this will not be tolerated. I don't think that will happen, and again... that is sad.
Mr_PreScuba
11-14-2009, 21:07
A message needs to be sent - loud and clear - that this will not be tolerated. I don't think that will happen, and again... that is sad.
Totally agree... these idiots need to be caught and punished.
I have two sons, one that was in the USMC during DSII:confused: southeast of Baghdad (vic Al Nasiriyah-Al Hillah);), he got out in August of 2004 after about 6 years... and his 'older' ;) twin brother was over in Afghanistan with the 'Third Herd' and got back stateside and ETSed about two months ago after 5 years service. He was an 18X, passed the initial selection process, but blew one of the last written finals in the 18D phase.
Me... I guess I'm one of those 'FOG's that served from 1973-2004... so you'll have to excuse me if I get a little 'riled up' about those idiots that try to impress others by being what they're not...
Sorry to rant and rave:boohoo.
just my $ .02 worth...