Stolen Valor or not?
I served in the Navy during the Viet Nam War era. I was fortunate and never got called to go there. In the process of serving and then getting separated and, ultimately, discharged after serving in the Navy Reserve, I got this for my time and service.
The National Defense Ribbon. Not only did I get one. So did every other person who served. Once out of boot camp, they gave you the medal. No heroics involved.
So anyway, apart from the satisfaction of having served, this is a medal pretty much no one gives a shit about.
In my state, you can get vanity plates with anything on them. You can get plates with the Bronze Star and Purple Heart on them. BUT . . . . . you gotta prove you DESERVE to display those plates.
With all of that as background, here's the stolen valor question. A friend of mine, the wife of my very close friend who died about 5 years ago, has a new boyfriend. While we moved away a few years back, we still stay in touch and see each other frequently. She warned us this new boyfriend would be a Trump voter (she is a Democrat and voted for Hillary). After the election I flew my American flag upside down. I *always* fly the flag. Some time later, when they came over, the flag was flying upside down. The next day she called me. Seems the boyfriend has her convinced he was in Viet Nam. Now he tells her that he helped rescue some buddies who used the upside down flag for its intended purpose as a distress signal. Seeing my flag gave him flashbacks. She said.
Would I please take the flag down to protect the new boyfriend's well being.
But you see, here's the thing (the fundamental, pathetic, transparent bullshittiness of the buddy rescue story notwithstanding), on his car he has a vanity plate. This one:
It defies logic that a Viet Nam vet - one who claims to be an actual COMBAT vet - would opt for that plate instead of the one with the Vietnam Service Medal on it. That one actually means something and, I am sure is displayed proudly by those authorized to display it.
But no. "Audie Murphy" has the bullshit medal on his plate.
So wuddaya think? Combat vet or BULLSHITTER?
In my view, there are few forms of moral bankruptcy that exceed stolen valor.
= new reply since forum marked as read
get it? 
Oh, while I was trying to find a large photo of the of the Vietnam Service Medal licence plate, and failed, I discovered if I take my DD 214 down to my county Veterans outfit and plunk down five bucks, they will issue me an authorized form to have the DMV insert 'veteran' into my drivers licence. I'm toying with the idea of doing it, seeing how you can get free donuts all over the place on Veterans Day. Mmmm donuts!
carried one on their person at all times just in case of trouble, flares might be too risky... I dunno.
The call always came on the radio. I was seriously wounded by AK fire on the last of those rescue ops, but my platoon finished the mission. They destroyed the NVA surrounding a squad trapped on a hill and got the U.S. casualties evacuated. For the guys on that hill, I don't think a flag silently hanging would have achieved the same result.
I can't begin to tell you how long I struggled, decades later, to decide what to put on my license plate--The NDSM or the Purple Heart. 
Following the advice of those who went before me, I volunteered to be a compartment cleaner. While the rest of the company was drilling, we were warm, cleaning, mopping, coking and smoking. Life was good!
company 504
Went back to boot as an Adjutant, ie Company Commanders aid. Pushing new recruits. From there to S.E.R.E. school upon graduating stayed for a tour of duty there. From there to Naval Air Facility, Cahm Rahn Bay, Vietnam. In country from mid june of '69 until early-mid Oct. '70. Came home for a free leave in August of '70 because I had extended in Vietnam so I actually spent 15 months and a few days in-country Vietnam.
It took me all of a few days, a week or so at most to realize what we were doing there was as Wrong as Wrong can be. I was stuck so I had to make the most of it. I still carry the weight of the War on my shoulders and always will.
Peace
No medal for us 
the USAF Expert Marksman award. I qualified for that one, too, the one and only time I fired an M-16 in four years of service. 
I believe it was normally awarded to all enlisted personnel who had no disqualifying disciplinary actions upon completion of 1 year of enlisted service (officers are not eligible for that award). If you were eligible and didn't receive it, the Army will be happy to correct the oversight and award you the medal if you apply.
Still, you'd think the letter of commendation in my file would have counted for something. FTA
That being said, I inherited my Pop's Ruptured Duck, and I put a lot of stock in it.
From what others have said here, it seems like a rehashed story and likely he's just full of it.
Pretty low.
