Marine Corps Bum?

Captain

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Final Approach
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Saw a truly disturbing sight today.

I was pulling out of the outlet mall and saw him standing there. At first I figured he was the average bum with a cardboard sign we've all seen asking for help, charity, whatever. I usually snort and drive on and don't think twice about it.

But as I approached this guy something was off. First, he was missing a leg. Okay, not your problem, avoid eye contact and move on. But then I start to see the whole picture. He's clean shaven with a haircut and wearing a red Marine Corps T-shirt. He's holding a sign that said "Marine Corps soldier need a little help. Merry Christmas".

Now, that's sad and I wouldn't post for just that. What really grabbed me was this 60'ish guy was standing on the side of the road at full attention. Rock solid and rigid attention with a fixed gaze straight ahead like day 10 at bootcamp.

I drove past and didn't give and now wish I had. I really feel bad for this guy as I can't imagine the inner torment he must be going through to be where he's at. I suppose he could be a total con man but to me the whole thing looked spot on legit and I feel ashamed for driving past.

Seriously, to all reading these words; Merry Christmas and if you served in the military, thank you.
 
If he was a former Marine, odds are he wouldn't have called himself a "Marine Corps soldier." Two separate things. Possibility legit, possibly not.
 
What Marine would refer to himself as a "Marine Corps soldier"?
 
I've seen some cases that tug at the heartstrings but I still tend to doubt them all. After working 6 years in an area populated with various types of begging and trying to offer help I've given up on giving anyone anything. No one has ever accepted my offer of food or help with a job or transport. There are so many charities and government help around here and no ones even took a number from me.
I see the same people begging year in and year out, some drive nice cars some are just mentally handicapped into the lifestyle.(one guy drives a late model F250 and buys quality food/clothes but he just hangs around the various shopping centers before going to the park)

I'll move heaven and earth to help someone out who needs it and is trying to help himself.Sadly no signholder has ever demonstrated willingness to help themselves out of their position. I've offered people 26k a year, benefits and the number to a place to stay to people holding need work/job/help signs and no ones ever taken me up on it.

EDIT: Also beggars have been stepping up their game it seems. Theres a lady whos been 7-8 months pregnant for about 2 years now.
 
kkoran said:
What Marine would refer to himself as a "Marine Corps soldier"?
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Yeah. I am (was) a soldier. I made the mistake of calling a marine a soldier once. And was promptly corrected. He was a good friend though.
 
Next time tell him you'll give him $20 if he can sing the Marine Corps Hymn. Then you'll know if he's legit or not.

Semper Fi
 
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I part of a Board of Directors for homeless vets...never met a soldier Marine...just does not happen...also having helped author one of the few Stolen Valor acts within a state (Texas) very familiar with the stories that some tell...
 
As a former soldier; can confirm that no Marine I ever met would refer to themselves as a soldier...


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Warlock said:
I part of a Board of Directors for homeless vets...never met a soldier Marine...just does not happen...also having helped author one of the few Stolen Valor acts within a state (Texas) very familiar with the stories that some tell...
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Here's a pet peeve of mine. I've been shot at and have confirmeds to my name, not that I'm particularly proud of it. But I don't have a single combat ribbon. Which is okay, I didn't sign up for ribbons.

There are guys out there with CIB's and a chest full of ribbons that make them look like they did three tours in Nam, when all they did was show up at the mobilization. And then haven't fired a shot.
 
I have a friend in his 50's who, every Veteran's day, posts his Marine pic(White hat, dress blues) on his Facebook page from when he was 18 years old. It bugs me to no end because I KNOW this guy was a Marine for all of about 42 days. Basic at Camp LeJeune, ALL soft duty and then kicked out with 5 years probation and something called an "administrative discharge" for beating up the drill Sergeant. He couldn't cut it but he wants the Marine credit. Beyond that premature picture, he was not, in my mind, a Marine.
 
Whatever,a marine would never call himself a soldier. Never hurts to give a little if you can,even a true bum can use some support. There but for the grace of God go I. A ,stop at a McDonald's to provide a meal never hurt anyone.
 
You can say "whatever" but I feel that it's a slap in the face to those of us that did serve when someone poses as a vet in order to benefit themselves.
 
Jimgrouch said:
You can say "whatever" but I feel that it's a slap in the face to those of us that did serve when someone poses as a vet in order to benefit themselves.
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I hear what you are saying but I've to this day not used my vet status to get anything.
 
I know I put quotes on it but honestly it may or may not have actually had the word "soldier" on it. The part I vividly remember was the "need a little help".
 
Sac Arrow said:
I hear what you are saying but I've to this day not used my vet status to get anything.
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This! Or any special recognition and/or acknowledgement. That's me though. But I have no problem with those who earned it doing so. Fakes, yes, they should be outed and prosecuted. :yesnod:

edit: used VA loan for my first house, GI Bill for flight training and what was left for college. Burned that sucker up, all of it.
 
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Jimgrouch said:
You can say "whatever" but I feel that it's a slap in the face to those of us that did serve when someone poses as a vet in order to benefit themselves.
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I did serve,how do you know he's an imposter,unless you speak to him,could be a case of untreated PTSD.
 
I have no problem driving past a panhandler. There are some truly F'd up folks that can rightly say they are "veterans". Doesn't mean that's why they're standing on the corner.

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Sac Arrow said:
I hear what you are saying but I've to this day not used my vet status to get anything.
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Thank you! My point exactly!
 
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I'm jaded towards these people too. There is a lady in Tucson who has made a career out of begging on the same corner for at least 5 years. They have upped their game though by hanging out in parking lots and going from car to car begging from money. "Excuse me sir, can you spare some change for an old buzzard?" "Can you spare a few bucks for gas? My daughter is in labor and I have to get her to the hospital." That was a good one. There is a guy who sits on the curb at Walmart with his shopping cart full of his possessions behind him. I've named him Otis Redding because all he does is sit on the curb of the bay. Watching the time pass away.

They have increased exponentially during Christmas....where were they before Christmas?
 
I always offer what they're asking money for and would be happy to buy them a meal or pump some gas in their tank. I never get taken up on my offer, they always want the cash and to that I say no.
 
Bill Jennings said:
I always offer what they're asking money for and would be happy to buy them a meal or pump some gas in their tank. I never get taken up on my offer, they always want the cash and to that I say no.
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My experience, as well, with one exception- a very ragged-looking guy in old fatigues, one leg missing, bedding down for the night in a storefront alcove in San Francisco. I offered him our doggie-bag of Chinese food, and you'd have thought I bought him a house from his level of gratitude. That one was humbling.

As for real vs. fake, anyone remember Cowboy Pilot?

The good news is, we have generally better respect for those in service and veterans than was extant for many years; the bad news, there are always people who'll scam onto any trend for personal gain.
 
A buddy and I were downtown one afternoon and a seemingly homeless guy was there and approached us as we were about to get in the vehicle we drove, and he said, "I'm not going to lie, but can I have money for booze?". We said we appreciated his honesty and asked what kind he wanted. He mentioned whatever it was, so we said get in and gave him a ride to a liquor store went inside with him and bought him a couple pints of alcohol of his choice.
 
Sac Arrow said:
Here's a pet peeve of mine. I've been shot at and have confirmeds to my name, not that I'm particularly proud of it. But I don't have a single combat ribbon. Which is okay, I didn't sign up for ribbons.

There are guys out there with CIB's and a chest full of ribbons that make them look like they did three tours in Nam, when all they did was show up at the mobilization. And then haven't fired a shot.
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Thank you for your service, and having the nads to do whatever needed to be done.
 
Sac Arrow said:
Here's a pet peeve of mine. I've been shot at and have confirmeds to my name, not that I'm particularly proud of it. But I don't have a single combat ribbon. Which is okay, I didn't sign up for ribbons.



There are guys out there with CIB's and a chest full of ribbons that make them look like they did three tours in Nam, when all they did was show up at the mobilization. And then haven't fired a shot.
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Some people shoot brass, some people dangle it.

Thanks to all who serve. With preferential thanks to those who aren't brass danglers.
 
PaulS said:
Thank you for your service, and having the nads to do whatever needed to be done.
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denverpilot said:
Some people shoot brass, some people dangle it.

Thanks to all who serve. With preferential thanks to those who aren't brass danglers.
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Appreciate the kind thoughts, but to tell you the truth I never signed up to "serve." It was, quite literally, the only life I knew. I grew up on military bases, all over the world. The thought of having something other than a military career when I was little never entered my mind. I decided at some point during high school I would go the university/OCS route to become an officer, but decided a couple years in to it to go Army enlisted, with the intention of going through the direct commissioning program they had in effect at the time.

I decided that either way, I didn't want to make a career of it, but I did fine while I was there. I attended PLDC as an E4, and made E5 within three years, which was fairly rare in the cold war Army even in the Infantry. I have no regrets for what I did, but I was a different person back then. And it wasn't all misery and drudgery - I got to play with some pretty cool toys, and got to tour some very "interesting" places.

evapilotaz said:
I got a VA loan on my home. I hope you don't look down on me.
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You know what I mean....
 
evapilotaz said:
I got a VA loan on my home. I hope you don't look down on me.
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I went to college on the GI bill, bought my first house on a VA loan, joined the American Legion, and went ahead and took advantage of Veteran's preference to get on the civil service list. I'm just a damned slacker I guess. ;)
 
Maxmosbey said:
I went to college on the GI bill, bought my first house on a VA loan, joined the American Legion, and went ahead and took advantage of Veteran's preference to get on the civil service list. I'm just a damned slacker I guess. ;)
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I'm not exactly sure what the point is. Those aren't handouts, you earned them. I used my college fund to put me through school too.
 
A great example...this guy never served a day in the Military... for the most part are JROTC ribbons from High School...parades around in a US Medical Service Corps Braid Dress Blues...pretending to be in the military and one of the reasons we have Stolen Valor Act in Texas. travisbryan1closeshot2.jpg
 

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I live about 10 minutes from Quantico, so my town is almost all veterans. I always wondered why the distinction was made between Veterans, Veterans of foreign wars and combat Veterans. I was not aware of the lack of appreciation of some Veterans by others. I thought a Veteran was a Veteran was a Veteran.

What's the point being made here? If a Soldier served and was assigned somewhere safe, is that really his or her fault?
 
KeithASanford said:
I live about 10 minutes from Quantico, so my town is almost all veterans. I always wondered why the distinction was made between Veterans, Veterans of foreign wars and combat Veterans. I was not aware of the lack of appreciation of some Veterans by others. I thought a Veteran was a Veteran was a Veteran.

What's the point being made here? If a Soldier served and was assigned somewhere safe, is that really his or her fault?
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There are veterans, and then there are veterans. I would never claim to be a combat veteran. I got shot at more by pot growers in California than by enemy combatants. I was in a hostile fire zone twice, and was in a job that placed me out where the s*&# was in fact going on. But, in no way was I even close to anything PTSD inducing. And, I usually got to somewhere where there was a hot meal and a mattress to sleep on. I had it pretty easy compared to many.

And yes, the rear area supply clerks wearing the winter flight gear I never got and claiming they saw some action are definitely looked down on.
 
wilkersk said:
And yes, the rear area supply clerks wearing the winter flight gear I never got and claiming they saw some action are definitely looked down on.
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So it's the claim and not the assignment....okay, I get it. The friend I wrote about in post #13 is a fraud to me, but his crimes end at the posting of the picture on facebook. As a matter of fact, I think his military failure has adversely affected his life more than he ever thought it would.
 
Agreed!

I'm always torn when I see it and wonder if it is a fellow Vet in need or some jerk preying on the general populace.

There is a sense of pride and self-reliance that comes with being in the military so I have a hard time when I see someone with a Vet sign begging. Except in the most extreme cases involving mental disabilities, most would not air that they need help and would quietly seek help where needed. The homeless Vet thing really bothers me because there are so many programs designed to help those of us in need.

Semper Fi
 
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