Stolen Valor : How the Vietnam Generation Was Robbed of Its Heroes and Its History

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Summary: Burkett featured on "20/20" and in People Magazine
Review: 20/20 featured B.G. Burkett and Stolen Valor on Aug. 28discussing the case of Joe Yandle. The publication of Stolen Valorrevealed how Yandle, a convicted murderer who pretended to be a Vietnam vet war hero, fooled "60 Minutes," the Boston Globe, and Gov. William Weld, wangling early release from prison. The episode of Yandle in Stolen Valor is just one of many stories about phony vets fooling major media.

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Summary: The truth about Vietnam and the liars who would exploit it!
Review: I wrote the index for this book, and believe me, this is a story that needs to be told. Assiduously 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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Summary: A real Viet vet exposes the fakes who never fought
Review: B.G. ("Jug") Burkett was an infantry platoon leader in Viet Nam. On returning to Texas, he became a successful business man. Because of his war record and his business contacts, Jug was asked to ramrod the fund raising for a Texas memorial to Viet Nam vets. Jug found that too many potential contributors shied away because of the common picture of Viet vets as drunks, druggies, and street bums. Curious, Jug began checking the backgrounds of some of the more notable characters. Like the guy who'd appeared with Dan Rather, who said that he'd been recruited by the Navy and sent to Viet Nam as an assassin--at the age of sixteen! Or the president of the Texas Viet Nam Veterans--who'd never been to Viet Nam. Here is a roll of dishonor: the fakes who have stolen the valor of those like Burkett who did fight.

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Summary: You can tell the real from the fake
Review: 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.

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Summary: Well written factual account that sets the record straight.
Review: I am a two tour Vietnam vet, former prisoner of war, winner of two Distinguished Flying Crosses, three Purple Hearts, Air Medal with "v", the Vietnamese Cross with Bronze Star, and the POW Medal. My first tour unit was one of the few to receive the Valorous Unit Award for the time I was assigned. All the years since my return from captivity, I have seen vets pitied for their psychological scars and inability to cope because of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or the ravages of Agent Orange. I have also watched the families of MIAs being exploited to advance the fame and bank accounts of those who would generate false hope where none should exist. While I recognize there are thousands of Vietnam veterans who are plagued by significant physical and mental scars and who desparately need our help and understanding, the story of the Vietnam vet, until now, has been a very dismal portrayal. Stolen Valor, for the first time, brings a much needed balance to the Vietnam veterans' story. Burkett and Whitley do an outstanding job of identifying those who adopt the stories of courageous soldiers as their own, wear medals they never won, or offer bogus PTSD or Agent Orange ailments in order to elicit praise, pity, or cash for themselves. The authors go on to give credit where it is due to the truly courageous, and to point out that most Vietnam vets served honorably and adjusted after the war as contributing members of our society both in and out of military service. One account that is set straight particularly well in the book is that of Colonel Floyd J. "Jim" Thompson, now retired. As the authors note, Jim was the longest held prisoner of war in Vietnam and therefore the longest held in U.S. history. He has never been fully recognized by America for this fact, and the honor is too often mistakenly given to Everett Alvarez. It is an illustration of the calibre of this book that Jim's story is brought out in its pages. This is an important book for all Americans.

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Summary: Republican Chickenhawks
Review: Bottom Line, If the swift Vet Liars for Bush had any honor(which they don't)it wouldn't be worth stealin anyway. Bush hates Veterans. He has fought us tooth and nail and has been forced to part with every crumb that he has throw as us Vets. If you voted for Bush...you screwed your fellow Veterans.

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Summary: Bukett get's it
Review: I lobby on Capitol Hill for Veteran's benefits and have witnessed the collusion between the Veteran's affairs committees and the big VSO's like the DAV, who's preservation is tied to perpetuationg the myth that US Veteran's benefits are underfunded.

Splinter groups like the Veteran's Benefit Network, run by faceless and nameless people witout real names and questionable work ethic pervade this landscape.

The fact remains that no other Nation has treated Veteran's this well, and now the Bush administration has focused rightfully on those who fought.

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Summary: From Another Veteran
Review: I am a Vietnam, Beirut, Desert Storm and East Timor Veteran. I read STOLEN VALOR years ago and, while I agree it is a tedious read, the facts are irrefutable. A comment about Gregg's review, maybe if he were a Veteran (my apologies if he is) he would have a different perspective. Check out his other reviews.

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Summary: Biased book
Review: The author does not hide his conservative credentials and this book is in some way a strong attack on Liberals and other anti-Vietnam war protestors who in his opinion were responsible for the mess of the vietnam war .While it is clear in some cases that anti-war protestors were dubious in their motive and shameless in their actions,the whole issue is not as black and white as Burkett claims it to be and his motives clouds the books intentions.A book to be avoided.

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Summary: To each his own
Review: This book is worth the read as Burkett validates what most Vietnam and Vietnam-era vets already know. The authors expose many of the myths which have run amok for more than three decades. Personally, I believe the title is misleading as uncovering of phony war heroes, or "stolen valor" is just a portion of the book. Just about every negative stereotype portraited by the media, and otherwise well-meaning citizens, is presented. I am glad Burkett has taken the time to expose those who have stolen valor. However, most vets know that many other vets tend to add-on to their stories as the years go by. Take all the info regarding what is on a DD214 with a grain of salt-- mistakes were often made (I certainly don't mean the omission of a DSC, a Navy Cross, or other such valorious awards).
I enjoyed the book and recommend it, but it does meander and covers more than what was probably originally intended. I think there's enough books on the Vietnam war in publication from every perspective imaginable-- and do not believe the Vietnam generation was "robbed" of its heroes and history--I just wish every one of the stories could be told.