Ex-Marine Can Wear Medals He Didn’t Earn

"A federal court in California has ruled that a former Marine can wear service medals he did not earn, saying that displaying them was a form of free speech.
The case involving Elven Joe Swisher, an Idaho man who enlisted in the Marines after the Korean War, touched on a sensitive issue that has wound through Congress and the courts, and has been scrutinized by groups dedicated to confirming when people, either motivated by profit or status, claim to be military heroes but are not.
On Monday, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco ruled that Mr. Swisher, who was honorably discharged from the Marines in 1957, had the right to wear the medals, including the Purple Heart and the Silver Star, even though he had not been awarded them."

http://w ww.msn.com/en-us/news/us/ex-marine-can-wear-medals-he-didn’t-earn-a-court-calls-it-free-speech/ar-CCvR7i?li=BBnb7Kz
I was never in the service But My grand father drove a tank in WW2 and received a Purple Heart .
As the story goes from my grand mother .
A General was walking around in the hospital passing out Purple Harts to everyone in a bed including one there because they had a venereal disease
My grandfather, whom was burned refueling a tank,tossed his out the window and said if all you need to do is screw a disease ridden "blank"
to get a Purple Heart he didn't want one.
With that said I think its sad the anyone can wear such metals just because they want to.
It really degrades the meaning for those who deserve it.
They mailed it to my grandmother so in the end he did receive his metal

When you retire from service, you can tell because they issue you a blue ID card. Right after I got mine, I went home and threw all my uniforms and medals into the trash.

I reckon those things have some mental value to some. For me, they don't do a damn thing to increase my pension or help me get the decent health care I was promised (chuckles).

FTA

I'd sell my medals and uniform for my G.I. Bill I paid into and was denied...

But I have to hand it to the Air Force, for being that beacon of hope and proving their motto... " We Bone Our Own ".

But I do need to thank them, without them I wouldn't of been forced to solve my issue myself and self teach my person web development and programming.

I feel for my fellow brothers and sisters returning from overseas only to be given less than honorable discharges due to having PTSD and our government not wanting to pay the medical tab.

May personal will power and family / friend support help guide you to fruitful solutions!

/salute

Who cares?

If no one was in the military (all over the world) then we wouldn't need stupid badges and medals.

Get over it.

originally posted by: deadcatsrule

"A federal court in California has ruled that a former Marine can wear service medals he did not earn, saying that displaying them was a form of free speech.
The case involving Elven Joe Swisher, an Idaho man who enlisted in the Marines after the Korean War, touched on a sensitive issue that has wound through Congress and the courts, and has been scrutinized by groups dedicated to confirming when people, either motivated by profit or status, claim to be military heroes but are not.
On Monday, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco ruled that Mr. Swisher, who was honorably discharged from the Marines in 1957, had the right to wear the medals, including the Purple Heart and the Silver Star, even though he had not been awarded them."

http://w ww.msn.com/en-us/news/us/ex-marine-can-wear-medals-he-didn’t-earn-a-court-calls-it-free-speech/ar-CCvR7i?li=BBnb7Kz
I was never in the service But My grand father drove a tank in WW2 and received a Purple Heart .
As the story goes from my grand mother .
A General was walking around in the hospital passing out Purple Harts to everyone in a bed including one there because they had a venereal disease
My grandfather, whom was burned refueling a tank,tossed his out the window and said if all you need to do is screw a disease ridden "blank"
to get a Purple Heart he didn't want one.
With that said I think its sad the anyone can wear such metals just because they want to.
It really degrades the meaning for those who deserve it.
They mailed it to my grandmother so in the end he did receive his metal

Who the heck cares about "medals". Its just like those wrestling and football trophies that are in storage. Who cares and why does it matter?

a reply to: Kratos40

Its just like those wrestling and football trophies that are in storage.

medals are a symbol of honor, much more than wrestling and football trophies.
medal recipients, men/ women that laid down or put their life at risk for others, there is nothing more a person can do that is more selfless than that.

a reply to: deadcatsrule

hmmm - an " imagimative " interpretation - thats the politest thing i can say

so - what else can i do in the name of " free speech " ????????????

hang a harvard " diploma " on my wall ??????????????

call my self doctor // general // reverand // president ape ?????????????[ delete as my mood changes ]

the posibilities are endless

but getting back to reality - and what i really think

what utter bollox

a reply to: Kratos40

They mean allot more then a highschool or collage football trophie sitting in a glass case.


you don't get shot/blown up/hurt making that three pointer in high school

you save people or something along those lines, you can wear that medal all day every day anywhere for all i care.

most chose not to 'brag' but i know a few people who have the little purple heart bar for the suit coats and thats fine with me, they earned it/them.

it's called respect


show some, the people earning those 'useless' honors are the reason your can live the way you live.

a reply to: samuel1990

I care. My father was wounded in the battle of Luzon during WWII. My brother was wounded in the Korean War. My brother in law was wounded in the Vietnam War. My military brothers and sisters have been wounded in wars since, some have never come home. The purple heart is awarded to a soldier wounded in battle, or supposed to be anyway. If you don't care, then why even comment? Just scroll on by the thread. In my opinion, it is a great honor to fight for your country. If you are wounded in battle , that purple heart is proof that you were man enough to fight for what you believed in. Clearly you were never in the military so you have no idea what it means to be awarded a medal.

I wear a Stetson with A /7 crossed sabers on it and a desert Storm ribbon.
NO ONE thinks I'm fake and they know what that means.
I like ROCK and wear leather.

a reply to: cavtrooper7

this is for you.

a reply to: hounddoghowlie

Obliged friend.

originally posted by: samuel1990
Who cares?

If no one was in the military (all over the world) then we wouldn't need stupid badges and medals.

Get over it.

Many care. Don't worry, you will never have to earn any as you are too selfish to serve anyone but yourself.

originally posted by: samuel1990
Who cares?

If no one was in the military (all over the world) then we wouldn't need stupid badges and medals.

Get over it.

So , are you saying you would accept any country taking over yours ? Or are you dreaming of a "perfect world" ? In the latter case , wake up....

a reply to: samuel1990

Really? What a ridiculous thing to post. There will never ever the Utopian/archaic existence you dream of where everyone is equal and everyone is free to do what they want.

Even outside of that why should he be able to wear and be entitled to the respect that goes with the medals when he's done nothing to earn them. Whether you agree with the actions of the armed services or not and whether you personally respect those that have served there's still an awful lot of people that do. The only reason this person wants to wear those medals is because of the effect it has on others while at the same time he's done nothing to demonstrate that he deserves them.

It strikes me as fraud rather than free speech.
I suppose it is a small sign of the contempt that those who are in the business of ruling on the law hold the men and women who keep them safe.

He should be forced to change his name to Walter Mitty if he wants to keep wearing these.

Who cares? I do.

My father was wounded on a little Pacific Island called Saipan. He didn't even report it, slapped a bandage on it, like so many did, and got on with the job at hand.

One of my mothers brothers lost a good portion of one of his hands on that same damned island.

Many a good boy and girl have lost their lives, or portions of their sanity, doing the right thing. This cretin parades around wearing medals that he didn't earn through his own blood, tears, or sweat, or all three?

No. I most certainly do give a care. I wish this man nothing but joy parading around wearing his "earned" medals so that he can "defend free speech". While in cemetarys all over the f'n world there are forever young men and women resting after actually doing it.

Ninth Circuit Court. How I despise thee.

So....if you can wear a Purple Heart/medal and impersonate a recipient of that award...because it's your freedom of speech to be able to sport it.....does that mean I can walk around wearing or carrying an FBI / us Marshall /or secret service badge ...As long as I'm not receiving money or pretending to be a policeman on duty , but am just wearing it , then what's the difference? ...how about walking around in a judges robe ? ......

I'm proud of my medals! My country gave them to me. I also have my fathers and grandfathers. They will go to my son. I only wear them once a year but I am proud to do so. I know a lot of people resent the awards but they are usually jealous hence the quite high numbers who fake their service. If you didn't get awarded a medal then you shouldn't wear it. My grandfather, father and I did what we had to do and came out the other side. I didn't get celebrity status or become a millionaire no one actually said thanks but I did get my medals

Ex-Marine Can Wear Medals He Didn’t Earn

Nothing like stolen valor...

True Marines don't where something they didn't earn.