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Summary: Lets not all jump on this band wagon
Review: Mr Burkett writes a good book, and I'm gald he exposes phony Vets,there's only one problem for me I would rather see 100 phony vets, because you can usually spot them right off, then have one true vet accused wrongly. As for the PTSD part of the book,beinging a combat vet I've see men go completely comatose from combat. I don't know how much combat Mr. Burkett has seen, but I know it's very ugly and will remain with you forever, and not all people will handle it the same. I question Mr.Burkett when I see a photo of an officer dressed in clean uniform,shined boots,white tee shirt,and all his gear looks like it's never been used. That's not the combat solider I remember that fought and died in the field.Also I would like to know who appointed Mr. Burkett as my protector against phony vets, and faked PTSD, why does he have all these records, what are his true reasons for what he is doing? Is it guilt from not beinging in a real combat unit? Again how would it feel if you were accused of being a phony vet, and we know how the VA can lose records, or the military has incomplete records,and you couldn't clear the matter.I would sure hate to see any vet end his life because of the guilt of being wrongly accused..
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Summary: Americans: I Heartedly Endorse and Recommend This Book!
Review: I served two full infantry tours in Vietnam as a Rifle Company Commander, Battalion staff officer and MACV advisor. I am proud of the American -- and Vietnamese -- soldiers who served with me, both under my command and otherwise. From my experience, I fully concur with everything Jug Burkett has included in his book about the valor and honor of the American fighting man in Vietnam, and about the intentional actions of those from the antiwar left to undermine that honor in the eyes of both the veteran and the American people. The leftists have succeeded to a certain degree, in that many view the Vietnam vet as a cruel, racist, pot-headed malcontent. That image is absurdly wrong, as Burkett amply illustrates.If Americans really want to know how most infantrymen -- and other military personnel -- performed in Vietnam and adjusted to life after their tour(s) there, I strongly recommend two books: Jug's "Stolen Valor," and my book, "Platoon: Bravo Company." I sincerely hope that these two books will be the opening salvo in the counterattack to change the image of the Vietnam veteran to the more truthful vision of valiant fighter and honorable American. You owe it to those who actually fought the war to get it right, for a change!
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Summary: Misinformation regarding PTSD
Review: I read Mr. Burkett's book in one sitting and found that overall it was very informative. This book covers in detail not so rare cases of embellishment of veteran's service records by certain vietnam veterans. The problem I have with this book is the obvious misrepresentation of the suffering of combat veterans with PTSD. The simple fact is that there are many of us who served honorably in those many AO's who can speak of the horror and disillusionment that we carry to this very day because of exposure to the most unnatural of events that could possibly be visited upon a human being. Mr. Burkett invests an entire chapter on his own experiences and 'brushes' with combat... even going so far as to display,in a picture, a piece of metal that he claims came close to mangling him during a mortal attack. Big deal... he manages quite conveniently to steer past statements of vets who have been through mortar or rocket attacks that have left them quivering in their soiled utilities and covered with the blood of mangled and dismembered comrades in arms. Combat is horror and the more combat... the more horror. In his chapter regarding PTSD he also provides grist for anyone intent on disavowing the suffering of those vets with PTSD... claiming a large majority of those vets to be goldbricks or malingerers out to secure a 100% disability from the VA. I wonder if Mr. Burkett has considered the subject of North Vietnamese vets with PTSD or Russian veterans of Afghanistan and their traumatic memories and symptoms who have no sorts of compensatory system for vets, not to mention the suffering endured by survivors of rape or natural disasters. Mr. Burkett has an obvious chip on his shoulder and a very large ax to grind. My suspicion would be that he has an agenda that includes whitwashing of reality in favor of creating an illusion that the 'bad' vets have been weeded out so that we may clear way for 'legitimate' vets such as: Al Gore and John Kerry and other political animals whose primary goal is the procurement of votes.
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Summary: Scathing Wakeup Call
Review: Stolen Valor is a scathing wake up call on issues revolving around Vietnam veterans. Particularly striking is how the authors debunk a whole series of Vietnam myths which have become "conventional wisdom"; that is, the liberal media's view of the war and its aftermath. It is amazing how many of these myths collapse when examined carefully, and disturbing how many of them are inter-related and support each other. The "homeless, PTSD-deranged Vietnam vet" and "wholesale U.S. atrocities" are good examples. As the authors point out, there is no greater incidence of PTSD among Vietnam vets than any other group of veterans, and no greater incidence of mental illness than the general population. So where did all those freaked-out homeless vets come from? A few are authentic, but many - possibly most - are fakes to some degree. Some never even served at all! They justify their feeding out of the public trough by claiming to have been mentally scarred by the awful atrocities they were forced to commit in Vietnam, atrocities which (for the most part) never happened. My feeling after reading this is that the liberal news media have much to answer for. Myth has been so piled upon myth that they seem to have advanced beyond mere bias, to a point best described as "pathological." When they don't bother with elementary checking of facts, when they don't even care what the truth is, they cease to fulfil a useful role in society. This book should be required reading in all college journalism programs.
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Summary: 'NAM VET GOES BERSERK! Devours 692 pages...IN 3 DAYS!
Review: I can't recall the last time I truly COULD NOT put a book down. Burkett and Whitley have authored the definitive work which reclaims the legacy of the genuine Vietnam veteran, and exposes the phoneys, fakers, and wannabee's for what they really are.I could go on and on, but suffice to say this is a MUST READ for ANY and ALL 'Nam vets (yeah, you "berserk" ones too!), and instead of spending precious time writing more glowing accolades, I'd rather read it AGAIN!B.G. and Glenna, we can never thank you enough for what you've done to help all vets reclaim our hard-won valor.
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Summary: Reads Like Fiction
Review: Stolen Valor definitely keeps your interest. The segments on the phony vets are incredible. It's amazing that people try to get away with such deception. I loved this part of the book. I didn't like the part about PTSD. This is totally a misleading author intrusion by a non-combat vet. PTSD was not created by the VA, and it is impossible for someone who was never in the military to draw compensation. They can fake and be treated maybe temporarily until records can be checked, but I would like to be shown someone who is receiving a monthly check from the VA for war injuries who was not in the military. That claim is totally false. The book does nothing to back up assumptions about the VA. I did enjoy reading it though. I thought the segments on the phony vets read better than any novel, and they were true! But I thought the VA and PTSD segments were funny because most of it was fiction, written from a subjective view without real knowledge of how the VA works. But I couldn't put the book down and that's what counts. Dennis Latham
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Summary: The book offers good insights about Vietnam.
Review: As soon as I purchased this masterful revisionist work, I automatically began reading it. True, it consumed lots of my money but it sure is worth it. Every then and now, as I read it, I feel resentment that last year in my Vietnam War class, my professor Bob Erickson was being a bit biased in presenting only the liberal side. Also, I feel guilty for not having picked this book up much sooner, because that way, I would of been able to effectively use it both for class discussion as well as my report for professor Erickson. One of the main ideas that I got out of it is that a whole host of White Veterans are constantly discriminated against as well as slandered. Unfortunately,the average American doesn't consider how obsessed we become with racial conflicts to the point that we denigrate the Veterans who generally served well. Whenever I feel down or depressed, often I read portions of this book to help me forget my problems, and be more focused on more important issues, such as the effect of stereotypes of the Vietnam War. Last comment. This book helps confirm my confidence in our American heritage, despite the lies and distortions constantly being spread. Hopefully, more people well consider gleaning insights from this book.
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Summary: Read it, swallow hard, and take a deep breath
Review: 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.
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Summary: Exposes the truth about the many myths surrounding the war.
Review: I first heard of Stolen Valor from a Vietnam War Veteran's site. Am I glad I did! The authors have gone to painstaking lengths through excellent and well thought-out research and writing to bring to the public the truths about the war that have remained generally unavailable (except with research to the same extent and level) to the public for the past twenty four plus years. Their contribution does more than any other book on the war that I have read to de-mystify the many myths about the Vietnam War (PTSD, the media portrayal of the war, suicide, and drug abuse, to name but a few). My kudos to authors Burkett and Whitley for an excellent job of scholarship and writing. They have set a standard for books about the war that should be emulated by all who would seek bring the truth of it to the light of day. Well done!!!!
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Summary: Outstanding book that honors the true Viet Nam Veteran
Review: Stolen Valor is an exceptional book that addressed many concerns that are important to me. It reinforces my image of the returning vet who has led a productive life in their communities. Ordinary and average veterans can take pride for their service, while fakers and frauds are finally exposed for what they truly are. This book has had a profound influence on me, and for that I am sincerely thankful to Mr. Burkett and Ms. Whitley for their dedication and efforts on behalf of all Viet Nam Veterans.. Sgt. USMC, Viet Nam 1966-1967.
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