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on 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.
on May 30, 2010
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.
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.
on May 22, 2017
Out standing book, opened my eyes to the problem some people have being honest.
on November 7, 2012
"If your mother says she loves you-check it out!" This phrase,uttered by an investigative reporter,is the basic theme of this "necessary" book on the Vietnam War. Forget "Rambo" and the myriad other pretenders who were nowhere near Southeast Asia;the authors go to great lengths not only to de-bunk most of the hype about the war and,instead,give us a remarkable picture of the brave men who fought this unpopular conflict. Their valor was stolen by many,including Hollywood,and this volume does a great service in setting straight the record of the true,American fighting man. Anyone who served at the time will relish the research presented and those who weren't there will be reminded of more current incidents of "stolen" valor such as the Tilman dust-up in Afghanistan. I highly recommend this title to anyone interested in military history.
on November 27, 2006
An outstanding book that gives an honest analysis of the Vietnam era and its veterans. Burkett shines a bright light on the truth, and exposes the fakes hiding in the shadows.
Having been raised in a military family, I was always frustrated by the depiction of Vietnam vets in the media and culture. The people I saw on TV and in the papers were not the same ones that I had grown up with. My father, step-father, uncles, neighbors - they were not stressed out victims. They were professional soldiers who served their country with honor and pride.
Burkett does a fantastic job of debunking most of the myths surrounding service in Vietnam. He demonstrates how the anti-war crowd, liars and malingerers created and sustained an alternate reality of what happened. The war has been over for 30 years and yet the battle at home still continues. This book goes a long way toward setting the record straight.
Long and repetive at times, this is not light reading and will probably leave you angry at those who have pepetuated and profited from the myths. If you are interested in the Vietnam era, this book would be a great starting point. Burkett points out the flaws in many books and TV shows of the era (i.e. he researched quite a few of the people who provided "first hand" accounts and found they were frauds). Especially relevant if you follow the events in Iraq/Afganistan since the rhetoric against the war is exactly the same as what was used during the Vietnam era and it is coming from the same people and organizations.
Having been raised in a military family, I was always frustrated by the depiction of Vietnam vets in the media and culture. The people I saw on TV and in the papers were not the same ones that I had grown up with. My father, step-father, uncles, neighbors - they were not stressed out victims. They were professional soldiers who served their country with honor and pride.
Burkett does a fantastic job of debunking most of the myths surrounding service in Vietnam. He demonstrates how the anti-war crowd, liars and malingerers created and sustained an alternate reality of what happened. The war has been over for 30 years and yet the battle at home still continues. This book goes a long way toward setting the record straight.
Long and repetive at times, this is not light reading and will probably leave you angry at those who have pepetuated and profited from the myths. If you are interested in the Vietnam era, this book would be a great starting point. Burkett points out the flaws in many books and TV shows of the era (i.e. he researched quite a few of the people who provided "first hand" accounts and found they were frauds). Especially relevant if you follow the events in Iraq/Afganistan since the rhetoric against the war is exactly the same as what was used during the Vietnam era and it is coming from the same people and organizations.
on June 1, 2011
I am amazed at the varying levels of deceit used to misrepresent those who legitimately and honorably served in Vietnam, myself included. To misrepresent yourself at the expense of the real Vietnam veteran (or any veteran for that matter) is bad enough, but to encourage this behavior by the media powers to support their views and agendas is totally despicable.
This book was a lengthy read for me, unlike a novel or memoir, as it's essentially a record of cases which are thoroughly researched by two obviously highly competent professionals. The accounts are credible and very convincing.
Hats off to B.G. Burkett and Glenna Whitley for their fine work. You have done the real Vietnam Veterans a tremendous service regaining their lost credibility.
David B. Simmons - Author
Our Turn to Serve - An Army Veteran's Memoir of the Vietnam War
This book was a lengthy read for me, unlike a novel or memoir, as it's essentially a record of cases which are thoroughly researched by two obviously highly competent professionals. The accounts are credible and very convincing.
Hats off to B.G. Burkett and Glenna Whitley for their fine work. You have done the real Vietnam Veterans a tremendous service regaining their lost credibility.
David B. Simmons - Author
Our Turn to Serve - An Army Veteran's Memoir of the Vietnam War
on July 13, 2014
This book hits the nail on the head. As a veteran who gets tired of frauds, exaggerators, and whiners, this book was great to read. I wish they kept printing this because it is as true today as it was 20 years ago.
on November 29, 2008
As a Vietnam vet, I was interested in the book, and quite shocked at the nerve of someone actually wearing an award that he never earned, (actor Brian Dennehy for instance). This cheapened the real heroes of our war, or any war. Burkett goes into the Armed Forces files and pulls out records of awards that exposed the phonies that wore the decorations. To my shock, I never realized that although illegal, the wearing of a Medal of Honor for a phony, got nothing more than a hand slap. There are hundreds of stories that are easy reading, of attendees in full uniform, that never went to Vietnam, wearing a chest full of decorations. Reading this book makes you angry, and yet feel sorry for a person who would do this to impress someone, or himself. Burkett does well in writing the book. I hope it unmasks some of the wannabie heroes around.
on March 2, 2016
As a widow of a man who fought in Vietnam and was a awarded the Silver star, 3 bronze stars, 2 with V device and oakleaf cluster, army commendation medal for valor and was a Ranger, It was disgusting to read about people who wore medals they did not earn. That is exactly like stealing the honor of those who earned the medals.
