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Truth is a rare commodity in America these days. But here is a large dose from investigative authors Burkett and Whitley. As usual, this truth will go down hard for many individuals who prefer the convenience of self-deception. As a Vietnam Veteran, I recommend this book to all other vets. They need to brace themselves though. I found the book very depressing, because it confirms things I have been thinking and saying for years. It's the ugly side of what I refer to as the war after the war. Many vets will be angered by this book. Anyone who is on disability because of PTSD will feel threatened. Anyone who was convinced that Agent Orange ruined their life will be shocked by what this book has to say. Anyone who has grossly exaggerated their war experience will fear that people now have the means to pull their military records and check things out for themselves. Most journalists will have real mixed emotions. Through the Freedom of Information Act, Burkett pulled records on hundreds, perhaps thousands, of vets, when their public trumpeting seemed a bit far out...and the results are flat shocking. The phonies and liars are practically too numerous to count. Worse, they have been the showcase of the media, and continue to be. The people who really need to read this book are all the civilians who have sucked up the lies, and even contributed to the lies by being such a ready audience. But unlike A Bright Shinning Lie, this major piece of work will never be made into a TV mini-series. It would make every journalist in America look like a fool, and we can't have that. The bottom line in this book is known only to honorable vets. We look forward to a time when we can let people know we served in Vietnam and not fear the social silence (or worse) that still rewards us today. Metals and dusty old stories are really meaningless to most of us. What we hunger for is to be able to tell a friend or a business associate that we served in America's longest and most difficult war, and then receive in return a simple smile of respect. I'm slightly more hopeful now. A few young journalism students are probably reading Stolen Valor right now. So maybe, just maybe, it will only be another decade or so. Thank you Burkett and Whitley for a breath of fresh air. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Bill Hunt, Former US Army Advisor, IV Corp, MACV Teams 72 and 85, Sept 1971 through September 1972.

Stolen Valor: How the Vietnam Generation Was Robbed of It's Heroes and It's History is a powerful piece of investigative journalism.

The book begins with an account of the building of the Texas Vietnam Memorial and co-author B.G. Burkett's year "in country" during the Vietnam War and his return to the United States. While the veterans of World Wars 1 and 2 and Korea were considered to be heroes, the Vietnam Veteran was treated like a pariah, refused opportunities for job interviews and being called "baby killers".

The following chapters deals with the some of the stories of the true heroes of the Vietnam war and the frauds, phonies and "wannabes" who have and still are capitalizing on the legacy that others fought and died for.

This is a no holds barred expose on those who are faking post traumatic stress disorder, using it as an excuse for crimes and for getting benefits from the Veteran's Administration, who's sloppy investigative work on claims and military service has cost the taxpayers millions of dollars over the years. It also exposes our politcal leaders who once used the Vietnam war as a vehicle for protest and launching political careers but now embrace their service in Vietnam for political gain as well as Hollywood and the media for the inaccurate portrayals and reporting on the war. In talking with some of my co-workers who are Vietnam veterans, they all said the same thing: "the real heroes are on the Wall". Stolen Valor is a must read. It certainly opened my eyes. To those Vietnam veterans reading this review, thank you!

After reading this book then reading I served everthing Jud wrote about can be seen in the book from killing POWs to taking drugs all the time to fragging officer. Going on patrol with fixed bayonets to throwing a grenade 10 ft. and getting a airburst that has a kill zone of 30 menters and not getting killed. Being medvaced for coughing and being on a locked ward when the only locked wards I knew of were either insain or drugs or both. Thanks for showing the real from the fake.