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Summary: "Stolen Valor" reviewed in The Weekly Standard
Review: "Hard-nosed, provocative, and courageous, 'Stolen Valor' masterfully and on occasion gleefully debunks some of the popular canards and much of the anecdotal record about Vietnam veterans...For me, a reporter who is also a Vietnam veteran, 'Stolen Valor' goes on the shelf somewhere near Neil Sheehan's 'A Bright Shining Lie,' David Halberstam's 'The Best and the Brightest,' and a few other books whose lasting value is that they make more comprehensible some of the epic complexities of Vietnam, which was the central cultural event of my generation." -- Joe Sharkey, in The Weekly Standard, Sept. 7, 1998
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Summary: Excellent Exposé
Review: I have just finished reading Stolen Valor, and I strongly recommend it, not only to anyone interested in studying the Vietnam War, but also to anyone interested in studying how ideologues can manipulate the media into shaping false public impressions. Burkett and Whitley effectively debunk many popular myths about the war, including claims about the excessive rate of minority casualties, the high suicide rate for Vietnam Vets and the prevalence of emotional and mental disorders among Vietnam Vets. Indeed, Burkett and Whitley's efforts raise serious questions about the validity of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, a diagnosis which was largely developed through work with Vietnam Vets.A large portion of the book is used to expose many prominent "vets" (featured in books, movies and television specials) as poseurs, many of whom never even served in the military. These imposters fooled such paragons of journalistic rectitude as 60 Minutes and the New York Times. While everyone will have their own favorite exposé, mine is the authors' digging up the truth on near death guru Dannion Brinkley, author of Saved by the Light. In his book, Brinkley claimed that during his near death experiences "beings of light" made him undergo a "life review" to reevaluate his life as a Marine sniper in Vietnam (assassinating government officials, of course). Brinkley's personnel file revealed that he actually spent his entire 18 months as a Marine in the United States-as a truck driver. While the exposure of the fakers is amusing, it is also very disturbing. Why didn't these media outlets take the simple step of comparing the "vets" claims against their records? The slipshod journalism exposed by Burkett and Whitley raises the legitimate question of whether all of the news reports you read are equally badly researched
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Summary: Awesome, in every sense of the word
Review: READ THIS BOOK. Make sure that your local library has at least one copy. Call a local talk show and let it known on the air. This may be the most informative book about sleeze with vets that exists. Words fail me, in trying to pass on the importance of this book..
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Summary: Finally! A source to refute the "Viet Nam" foneys!
Review: I served in Viet Nam in 1967-68 with the 5th Special Forces Group, and stayed in the US Army until I retired in 1984. After retirement I stared to run into the "wantabees" and pretenders, some were easy to spot and others have been difficult to uncover, as Jug shows in this book. This book gives me the ammuniton to attack the false image of the Viet Nam vetran and the ability to question all of the so-called "experts" on PTSD, Agent Orange, VA Crisis Centers, and VA compensation for false vetrans that I have been looking for. Thank you, Jug and Glenna, for this definitive book.I recommend that all US military vetrans read this book and use the information to defend our service in all theaters and debunk the professional vampires and foneys. Ours is an honorable service to our country and our fellow citizens.
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Summary: Stolen Valor Found
Review: The Viet Nam Veterans Stolen Valor has been found. Thanks to B. G. Burkett and Glenna Whitley. The book is "Stolen Valor: How the Viet Nam Generation was robbed of its Hero's and History. Mr. Burket exoses the phonies and those that never question their actions, or should I say imagination. The real history of the Viet Nam Veteran is finally surfacing. Mr. Burkett pulls no punches and leaves no stone unturned. The facts in the book are just not his opinion. Everything is referenced. This should be mandatory reading in all schools. If you ever have met a Viet Nam Vet, you should read this. If you think you know a Viet Nam Vet, you should read this. The statistics are startling and just might surprise you.
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Summary: This book is an eye opener!!!
Review: The authors have brought to light many of the myths that have gained a life of their own since Vietnam. As a veteran of that conflict I was grateful that someone finally had the nerve to tell the real story. It should be a must read for all legislotors and V A Shrinks.
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Summary: Myth Shattering
Review: IF YOU BELIEVE THE LINE ABOUT THE DRUG CRAZED VET,PERMANENTLY IN SHAME BECAUSE OF HIS/HER "CRIMINAL"ROLE IN VN....READ THIS BOOK.WHY?BECAUSE THAT MYTH HAS BEEN GIVEN CREDIBILITY RESTING ON THE "TESTIMONIES" OF FAKES LIKE THOSE EXPOSED BY BURKETT. I REMEMBER SOME OF THE TV "TRUE" STORIES ABOUT VETS SORT OF CONFESSING THEIR CRIMES IN VIETNAM..HOW MANY OF YOU USED THAT "FACTUAL"INFORMATION TO MAKE YOUR MINDS ABOUT WHAT VIETNAM VETS WERE ABOUT?WHAT BURKETT UNCOVERS IS NOTHING SHORT OF A SOCIO-CULTURAL ATROCITY AGAINST VIETNAM VETERANS.
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Summary: Why has this not been written before now?
Review: Finally a well-written and fully documented report on the "professional" Vietnam veteran--and the media's sycophantic worship. This book should be the FIRST thing anyone reads when trying to understand the Vietnam War's effect on America. At the same time it gives full appreciation to the men and women who served with honor and valor.
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Summary: Better than an Alfred Hitchcock mystery, masterfully written
Review: Of the many books written on various segments of Vietnam history, this is a "must read". B.G.Burkett and Glenna Whitley's book "Stolen Valor", masterfully explains how America, and some of its more prominent and popular citizens, pulled off a theft much bigger than the "great train robbery", by taking away from the Vietnam veterans their devotion to duty, honor, and country. In reading this, I couldn't wait to turn the next page yearning to know the next "popular citizens", by their name and their position in this grandest of thefts. Burkett and Whitley's impeccable research dominates each page with keeping their readers desires to finish without putting the book down.
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Summary: Don't mess with the best
Review: Stolen Valor is a must read for anyone who wants to know who *really* fought in the Vietnam War. Burkett & Whitely strip the wannbes and fakers right down to their bones and bare the truth of the courageous, honorable men and women who went to Vietnam to serve their country. I did not serve in Vietnam and I do not have any military experience. But this book was easy to read and follow. This book will be on the bookshleves of anyone who has the guts to be re-educated on Vietnam and the people who served in it. And it will shut the liars up faster than lockjaw. This book changed my opinion of the Vietnam War and changed my mind about the people who served there. Only the prejudiced will not read it and not know who really served in Vietnam. Challenge yourself to re-learn what you have been taught about the U.S.'s most controversial war. You will be surprised.
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