Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Stolen Valor : How the Vietnam Generation Was Robbed of Its Heroes and Its History

Top positive review

One person found this helpful

I purchased this book several years ago and enjoyed reading it

ByRoyon July 7, 2015

I purchased this book several years ago and enjoyed reading it. Burkett did a great job of gathering the informantion. He correctly states that after the show 'Rambo' everyone became a Special Forces soldier, even, and especially those who didn't serve. That was Vietnam, today, everyone is a SEAL or a Sniper, or both. I have a great respect for both, but only the real ones. I purchased the book for someone else who may actually believe that everyone at the golf course bar is a spec ops. I am sure some of the seals he may have met may have been seals, but only at Sea World, dressed as a seal, passing out directions to the restrooms. This is book is a eye opener.

Top critical review

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One person found this helpful

Excellent description of the trees, but misses the forest

ByKen godwinon August 27, 2015

The book documented the abuses of individuals, the media, and the VA in the handling of Vietnam Vets, particularly of those who claimed to have been in combat. The authors used the Freedom of Information Act to show the bias in many news accounts of returning vets, the bias in blockbuster movies, and the failure of the VA to check the stories of all the soldiers who claimed PTSD but were not in Vietnam or were not in combat roles. All of this was excellent. What the author did not include were the results from a large number of academic studies of Vietnam Vets with statistical comparisons of vets from other wars, soldiers who served during the same period but were not in Vietnam, and soldiers in Vietnam that saw combat and those who were in Vietnam but did not see combat. Had the authors included those studies, they could have shown us the forest as well as the individual trees. We would have seen the Vietnam veterans were no more likely to come back "damaged by war" than soldiers of other periods and that, on average, Vietnam vets have been more successful than persons of similar backgrounds and educations who did not serve.

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Showing 1-10 of 10 reviews(4 star, Verified Purchases). See all 307 reviews

A Wannabe Best Friend Lost

ByKindle Customeron May 30, 2010

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

After almost two decades I still cannot bring myself to speak to the one person -- close friend and former Marine who was best man at my wedding after finding out that we fought back-to-back in hand combat in Vietnam. This revelation was disclosed when his companion's adolescent son related the story to the guests. Needless to say I was embarrassed but didn't want to refute this in public. What made this relationship even more untenable when his companion was puzzled when two former Marine Corps pilot neighbors suddenly stopped visiting and avoiding them. As it turned out she learned the pilots discovered numerous inconsistencies in my friend's claim to be a MarCorp aviator.

The next nail in the wannabe column involved a clinical psychologist's Army husband who was having difficulty obtaining VA benefits. He was part of the forward recon team in Argentina. Because of his "spook" ops, he could not apply for VA benefits until President George W. was out of office. That should have been the alarm. Stranger than fiction. This wannabe's downfall came at the Marine Corps birthday ball when he told the story of having been rescued by a single Seal team member and being carried 20 clicks to safety. Pinned on his -- the wannabe's chest was a Silver Star along with other fruit salad.

"Stolen Valor," could not be truer. And I had the unfortunate chance to experience it.

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it is easy to see how this is similar to someone purchasing ...

ByAlan K. Okinakaon June 5, 2015

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

This book addresses a very serious problem with people assuming the valor of others through their resumes and qualifications. Sadly, it is easy to see how this is similar to someone purchasing cars, clothes, homes, and adult toys to enhance their image.

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Vast scope

ByEddie WannabeeVINE VOICEon July 1, 2014

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

I did not like the book as much as I would have preferred. I thought that there would be cut and dry names of the individuals that claimed to be the recipients of these much coveted medals, but that did not earned them. Instead the book is a long dissertation of so many aspects of the military that eventually I lost interest. As opposed to another book that tells the personal stories of great heroes, what they did, and what branch of the service they were part of when they got their medals, basically the a-z of the courageous men that have earned these distinguished commendations, this book does not have a chronological list of names of those that try to say they did get the medals under false pretense. No respect whatsoever for these individuals, for if there are capable of lying in such a way with no restrictions, who knows what else they can lie about.
Anyone can buy medals and pin them on, but that is not what it is about. Takes a lot more guts than that. There is the north and the south pole, an insurmountable gap between actual heroic acts, and liars. That would be the aspect I respect the most about this book, a well researched book whose main goal appears to have been the unmasking of liars. Service in war is too far serious of a subject to have fools running around claiming they are heroes. As I mentioned, many angles to the book, well written for sure, but could not find enough cases of singled out false heroes. 3.5 Stars.

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Four Stars

Bycatfullon May 12, 2015

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

How true the Title is..

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SOME PROPLE WILL STEAL ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING.

ByPvt. W. G. Kirby Amazon Customeron November 23, 2014

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

See reviews of the other two books on this topic, RESTORING VALOR, and FAKE WARRIORS.

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Four Stars

ByAmazon Customeron March 13, 2015

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Excellent

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Stolen Valor Review

ByDennison June 30, 2011

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Interesting take on those that have tried to get recognition for being a Vietnam veteran and never been in country. (I.E., wearing and claiming medals not awarded).

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Great Book with some Reservations.

ByBeartrackson September 12, 2005

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

The Author rightfully claims not all Nam Vets are suffering from PTSD. Many have had no problems coming home but some have.

While the Author spent his Nam time in the rear areas doing computer projects and scrounging equipment there were others who spent everyday in the bush catching hell. We should not characterize all Nam Vets as stressed out and unbalanced. We should remember some Nam Vets do have PTSD depending on where they served in Nam and their own reaction to what they experienced in that hellish place. The Author does a fine job of calling out the wannabees and phonies who falsely claim what is not rightfully theirs. I applaud him for that.