The E-Sylum:  Volume 7, Number 15, April 11, 2004, Article 9

WEARING MEDALS IS POLITICALLY INCORRECT?

  Regarding last week's item from Dick Johnson, Howard A.
  Daniel III writes: "There is a growing movement on the
  political left to appease the bad and the low achievers.  They
  believe that we should not punish those who break the law,
  bully their fellow students and do other bad things because
  they will only get angry and do worse things!  And the low
  achievers should not be recognized and encouraged to do
  better but to bring everyone down to their level.  This is also
  seen in international affairs for the same people.

  But there are some people who do want to wear medals and
  make people believe them to be military veterans.  There are
  a large number of   people in the USA who have told people,
  and have in their resumes, that they served in the military, and
  many of them have made outlandish claims of heroic actions,
  bravery medals to include the Medal of Honor, and high rank.
  The claims are growing because it has become fashionable
  to be a veteran and it is a key item on a resume to obtain a
  good job or obtain votes.

  There is now a movement underway called "Fake Warriors,"
  where true veterans are researching the claims, to include
  judges, those holding high political office, and even the heads
  of some veterans' groups, and finding many are false.  Many of
  the forms, certificates, uniforms and medals were bought on
  eBay and other sources and were not issued to the individuals.
  We must continue to reward achievers with medals and other
  recognition and forget those who try to downgrade everyone to
  a lower level.  The USA was not built by underachievers but
  overachievers!  And we must be aware of those who are falsely
  wearing medals so that those who truly won them can proudly
  wear them."

  John Kraljevich writes: "I think I can solve Dick Johnson's
  mystery about medallion-wearers now being out of fashion.
  To most people my age who are more in-tune with cable TV
  pop culture than numismatics, medallions have nothing to do
  with veterans or art medals -- the term refers to those massive
  and clunky necklaces that fashion casualties wore in the 70s,
  usually with open shirt and served on a bed of copious chest
  hair. A song by British songwriter Martin Briley sums up the
  look:

  We were lost in a dream on a bed of fluffy rice,
  When I was grabbed by the chef; he had a grip like a vise.
  He had gold medallions and a hairy chest.
  I gave him back his wife but he was still depressed.

  Recalling the textbooks I used in school in the 80s and 90s,
  many of the images were so out of date it was hysterical --
  big Afros and Mark Spitz-mustaches were more common
  than modern hair-dos. I think the publisher was merely trying
  to sum up that out-of-date 70s look.

  Hope this solves the mystery -- I don't think they have it out
  for decorated veterans, only those photos featuring powder
  blue tuxedos. Did you ever get to wear one of them to prom
  by chance?"

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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