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Summary: This book should be in every high school & college library
Review: As a combat veteran of the 1st Cavalry Divsion (Airmobile) in Vietnam, I salute B.G. Burkett and Glenna Whitley for their drive, persistence and courage in researching and writing Stolen Valor. While a whirlwind of controversy may swirl around them, I want them to always remember that Stolen Valor will go down in history as one of most important books on the legacy of the Vietnam War.
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Summary: If you are 40 years old or younger, you must read this book.
Review: As a Vietnam combat veteran and trained journalist, "Stolen Valor" is the book I wish I had written. Unfortunately, most in my generation have their minds made up about Vietnam Veterans. They have read and heard the stories for 30 years. "Everyone knows" Vietnam Vets are drugged-up, hair-trigger psychopaths who were losers then and losers now. Most hippie has-beens are still driven by the anti-war myths of the time and they have never been interested in the truth. My concern is for the next generation which knows nothing of Vietnam and Vietnam Vets except what Hollywood, the myth-mongers and fakers have sold to a country that should have known better. Burkett and Whitley are as brutal in their expose as the last 30 years have been to Vietnam Vets who did their duty, served with honor and quitely came home to lead productive lives. Burkett honors us with his effort, his exquisite research and his outrage. If you care at all about the truth, if you want to really understand the history, you owe it to yourself and your children to read "Stolen Valor."
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Summary: "Stolen Valor" lays bare the real tragedy of the Vietnam War
Review: This book is so important that I do not know where to start with comments on it. Burkett's thesis is likely to be lost in the detailed exposure of frauds. What is central to "Stolen Valor" is not the phonies that he exposes, instead it is that literally millions of mostly young Americans served honorably and decently in a war made unpopular by everyone who touched it, save for the soldier who was in it. Everyone can name heroes from WW II: Patton, Bradley, Audie Murphy, Chesty Puller. Name me a hero from Vietnam. They were there. Stockdale, Sejan, Donlon, Rowe. It's just that they were trashed by the fakes and the anti-war crowd and were abandoned by their own political leaders. Maybe "Stolen Valor" will right this monstrous wrong. Don't count on it.
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Summary: Americans. READ THIS BOOK!
Review: As a Vietnam Combat Veteran I have come across many men who told wild war stories that struck me as lies. Until I read Stolen Valor, I never knew this was the rule not the exception. This book shines the bright light on phonies and should be on the Best Sellers list in short order. During my mustering out physical when I retired from the reserves, the psychiatrist I was obliged to speak with told of many men he had interviewed at the VA who turned out to NEVER HAVE SERVED in the military, yet claimed to be Vietnam Veterans with PTSD. Hopefully, Jug's book will get wide dissemination and perhaps maybe even some of our Congressmen will read it. Let us hope the the exposing of these frauds will erase some of the damage done by them over the years, especially the perpetuation of the 'Vietnam Veteran Syndrome' by the media.
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Summary: Important book about veterans that drills to the core
Review: The genius of this book is that it explains how pedestrian fraud is in American life, not just among veterans but among those who too willingly accept the notion that depravity is rampant, perhaps normal, in cohorts of Vietnam vets. What makes this book truly unique is the amount of effort it took to say the obvious: most Vietnam vets are normal and productive citizens. On the other hand, the most pathetic vets are often fakes. The book asks the question: why are so many Americans who should know better taken in by the fraud? This is one of the most provocative books I've read in years, because it exposes a fundamental flaw in the American psyche: an eagerness to believe that anything bad one says about a Vietnam vet is likely to be true. Without the documented accounts of hundreds of examples, this book would not have succeeded. But it does succeed for that reason. I wish Burkett had included at least a footnote about David Hackworth's dubious claim to be the nation's most highly decorated living veteran, since much of that claim is based upon his controversial Vietnam service. Even without the Medal of Honor, Hackworth's record can't compete with General Robert Kingston's, for example. The fact that there is a 5,000 page CID file on Hackworth adds to the question of the legitimacy of his heroic stature. I also think that Max Cleland deserves special respect for his accomplishments as head of the VA, as well as for his being elected Senator from Georgia. The book mentions that Cleland was a general's aide. I don't know if this is true or not, but when he was wounded he was serving in the 2d Battalion, 12th Cavalry, 1st Air Cavalry Division. The implication in the book is that he was a REMF. No way. These are small nit-picking points that should not obscure the fact that STOLEN VALOR is one of the most important books of our age.
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Summary: Must read for anyone
Review: Ronald reagan brought respectability back to the US. Norman Swartzkopf brought respectibility back to the US military. JG Burkett has brought back respectability and honor to those of us who served in Vietnam. Nothing special, just doing our duty. Thank you Mr. Burkett.
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Summary: At long last, the truth
Review: Buy this book and read it no matter who you are. Vietnam veterans will be buoyed up and heartened. Journalists will (or should) hang their heads in shame. Ordinary people will be amazed and enlightened. Burkett has done us all a huge favor by calmly, methodically and irrebuttably demolishing the sick myths surrounding Vietnam service and restoring the truth. I and every other Vietnam veteran owes him a huge debt of gratitude. Well-researched, well-written, well worth your time no matter what you think you might know about Vietnam and those who served there.
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Summary: A true act of courage by the writers
Review: As the Vice President of Special Operations Association I am always interested in finding out about the liars who claim to have served our country. This book is a must read for everyone who served this country both in and out of the war. Nobody todate has documented and written so well about the truth as they have. I am sure that those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in serving this country ae smiling and having a moment of peace. The book should be mandatory reading for every veterans organization and goverment office. The description on the PTSD is right on target. Those who abuse the PTSD issue and services should be forced out into the daylight and held up to shame. It is to much to ask the "professionals" in the program to read and apply the lessons learned but the people in the community across America now have a guide to help spot the liars. On behalf of all who served honorable time, regardles what job or service and did their best I want to thank you for continuing to serve your country and we all owe the writers a large thanks.
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Summary: A smashing expose of phoney Viet vets and a gullible media.
Review: The book is an expose of phoney Vietnam vets and their mouthpieces in the media. The author, B.G. "Jug" Burkett, was a platoon leader in Vietnam. Returning to Texas, he bcame a successful businessman. Because of his war record and business contacts, he soon was asked to ramrod the fundraising for a Texas memorial to Vietnam vets. He found that many potential contributors where shying away because of the common picture of Viet vets as drunks, druggies, and crazed street bums. Curious, Jug began checking the backgrounds of some of these more notable characters. Like the guy Dan Rather interviewed (and tearfully embraced) who claimed the Navy had recruited him and sent him to Vietnam as an assassin--at the age of 16!! Or the president of the Texas Vietnam Veterans--who'd never been to Vietnam. Here's a Roll of Dishonor: the fakes who've stolen the valor of those like Burkett who did fight.
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Summary: At last, the truth about Vietnam vets and the liars.
Review: I was privileged to be on the production team for this book, and believe me, this is a story that is long overdue. Carefully researched and written over many years by a military records expert and a respected investigative reporter, this book exposes the lies and misconceptions perpetuated by individuals and the mass media about the war in Vietnam. As I read the book, I became as outraged as the authors must surely be. It is refreshing to realize the value these authors clearly place on truth and honor. If you have ever served in the U.S. armed forces, or know someone who has, you must read this book.
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