• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Fake veteran called out by actual soldier may face federal charges

TheDemSocialist

Gradualist
DP Veteran
Joined
Apr 13, 2011
Messages
34,951
Reaction score
16,311
Gender
Undisclosed
Political Leaning
Socialist
A 30-year-old Pennsylvania man could face a federal investigation after being called out on video for impersonating an Army veteran, WCAU-TV reported.
The footage of the encounter has reportedly amassed more than 2.8 million views online since being posted by 26-year-old Army Sgt. Ryan Berk. Berk, who earned a Purple Heart award for his service in Afghanistan, encountered the man while shopping at a mall in Langhorne with his girlfriend and his son on Nov. 28.

“To have this guy then pretend that he’s done the same thing on the caliber that my friends did, it just gets you infuriated,” Berk said.


The Bucks County Courier Times identified the man Berk filmed as Sean Yetman, and reported that Yetman pleaded guilty in 2003 to charges of impersonating a public servant for wearing a coat belonging to Philadelphia police officer Robert Hays, who died in the line of duty in 1995.
The New York Daily News reported that state Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (R) contacted federal investigators after seeing the video. The Army confirmed that Yetman has no affiliation with the service.
At one point, Berk shouts, “Stolen Valor,” a reference to the Stolen Valor Act, a law passed last year making anyone caught reaping tangible benefits from impersonating a service member subject to federal criminal charges.


Read more and video @: Fake veteran called out by actual soldier may face federal charges

Saw this video earlier this week. Its really disgusting that people impersonate soldiers to get some sort of personal ego trip or some sort of deal. I'm glad that he got called out for his disgusting acts and I hope that if he did indeed break a law be persecuted for it.
 
Kind of makes me think about the level of privilege soldiers have in our culture's iconography, and how impersonating that is some kind of sacrilege.

We shouldn't venerate all soldiers. Some people use the military to get through college, and they get nice cushy jobs in the military -- no self-sacrifice required. I don't really view those people with the same level of esteem as someone who fought in a war zone and saw their friends die. But they seem to receive a sort of carte blanche kind of pride, regardless of what they did.

People shouldn't impersonate someone in the military, anymore than they should impersonate a cop or someone in government. On the other hand, I don't think upper class people who get high ranks in the military and basically do nothing should get my respect either.
 
If he did it in order to defraud people out of money or services then he should be charged. Otherwise I think public shaming like this is sufficient punishment.
 
Kind of makes me think about the level of privilege soldiers have in our culture's iconography, and how impersonating that is some kind of sacrilege.

We shouldn't venerate all soldiers. Some people use the military to get through college, and they get nice cushy jobs in the military -- no self-sacrifice required. I don't really view those people with the same level of esteem as someone who fought in a war zone and saw their friends die. But they seem to receive a sort of carte blanche kind of pride, regardless of what they did.

People shouldn't impersonate someone in the military, anymore than they should impersonate a cop or someone in government. On the other hand, I don't think upper class people who get high ranks in the military and basically do nothing should get my respect either.

Oh come off it.
 
Kind of makes me think about the level of privilege soldiers have in our culture's iconography, and how impersonating that is some kind of sacrilege.

We shouldn't venerate all soldiers. Some people use the military to get through college, and they get nice cushy jobs in the military -- no self-sacrifice required. I don't really view those people with the same level of esteem as someone who fought in a war zone and saw their friends die. But they seem to receive a sort of carte blanche kind of pride, regardless of what they did.

People shouldn't impersonate someone in the military, anymore than they should impersonate a cop or someone in government. On the other hand, I don't think upper class people who get high ranks in the military and basically do nothing should get my respect either.

I agree.

Respect is earned, not given away.

I do not just instantly respect someone because they served in the military. I gotta know more about them first.

Remember, Timothy McVeigh served in the military.
 
Kind of makes me think about the level of privilege soldiers have in our culture's iconography, and how impersonating that is some kind of sacrilege.

We shouldn't venerate all soldiers. Some people use the military to get through college, and they get nice cushy jobs in the military -- no self-sacrifice required. I don't really view those people with the same level of esteem as someone who fought in a war zone and saw their friends die. But they seem to receive a sort of carte blanche kind of pride, regardless of what they did.

People shouldn't impersonate someone in the military, anymore than they should impersonate a cop or someone in government. On the other hand, I don't think upper class people who get high ranks in the military and basically do nothing should get my respect either.

While I agree with you that not all military members deserve respect but they do not deserve it because of actions they have done to lose my respect.
With that said the rest of your post shows how little you actually know about the military or what is required of those in it. It in my opinion goes a long way to show your obvious bias against the militarily. So tell me who are these upper class people that are just given high ranks.
 
While I agree with you that not all military members deserve respect but they do not deserve it because of actions they have done to lose my respect.
With that said the rest of your post shows how little you actually know about the military or what is required of those in it. It in my opinion goes a long way to show your obvious bias against the militarily. So tell me who are these upper class people that are just given high ranks.

Wow, someone's things personally today. :)

My partner is a military veteran and so are many of my partner's friends, so please stow your self-righteous indignation. Classism exists in every military, America is no exception.

If you re-read what I said, you'll note that I didn't say I disrespect the military. I have respect for members of it that are risk taking and genuinely put their lives on the line or help those that do. I don't think everyone in the military deserves respect for their service. Some people take extraordinary risks while others have lead a rather dull career. I feel the same about firefighters, police officers, and any service people. You don't get respect just because of your social group. I want to know what you've done that is so special.

Therefore, there are a lot of military people I respect, and others that I view completely neutrally. I do point out though that there seems to be a general privilege level granted to all service people. A lot of people go into service just to get college paid for, then drop out. Why should I respect those people?
 
Kind of makes me think about the level of privilege soldiers have in our culture's iconography, and how impersonating that is some kind of sacrilege.

We shouldn't venerate all soldiers. Some people use the military to get through college, and they get nice cushy jobs in the military -- no self-sacrifice required. I don't really view those people with the same level of esteem as someone who fought in a war zone and saw their friends die. But they seem to receive a sort of carte blanche kind of pride, regardless of what they did.

People shouldn't impersonate someone in the military, anymore than they should impersonate a cop or someone in government. On the other hand, I don't think upper class people who get high ranks in the military and basically do nothing should get my respect either.

Did you serve?
 
Wow, someone's things personally today. :)

My partner is a military veteran and so are many of my partner's friends, so please stow your self-righteous indignation. Classism exists in every military, America is no exception.

If you re-read what I said, you'll note that I didn't say I disrespect the military. I have respect for members of it that are risk taking and genuinely put their lives on the line or help those that do. I don't think everyone in the military deserves respect for their service. Some people take extraordinary risks while others have lead a rather dull career. I feel the same about firefighters, police officers, and any service people. You don't get respect just because of your social group. I want to know what you've done that is so special.

Therefore, there are a lot of military people I respect, and others that I view completely neutrally. I do point out though that there seems to be a general privilege level granted to all service people. A lot of people go into service just to get college paid for, then drop out. Why should I respect those people?
I never said you disrespected them.
So again tell me who are these people of upper class that are just given high rank and never have to self sacrifice.
Also you know you cant just drop out of the military right. If you don't fulfill your commitment as in desert, you are not getting any of the benefits.
 
Read more and video @: Fake veteran called out by actual soldier may face federal charges

Saw this video earlier this week. Its really disgusting that people impersonate soldiers to get some sort of personal ego trip or some sort of deal. I'm glad that he got called out for his disgusting acts and I hope that if he did indeed break a law be persecuted for it. [/FONT][/COLOR]

I think you mean prosecuted, not persecuted, although since the Stolen Valor law was overturned, persecution may be the only recourse these folks have.
 
I like the idea of everybody knowing exactly who Sean Yetman is and of his facing social anathema wherever he goes.
 
I think you mean prosecuted, not persecuted, although since the Stolen Valor law was overturned, persecution may be the only recourse these folks have.

I didn't realize it was overturned. Who would possibly do that, and why?
 
I'm wondering too.

Well he/she has been online since I asked, and I still don't have an answer, so... I think we have our answer.

Really easy to talk smack about things you have absolutely no idea about.
 
True enough. Maybe he's just missed the updated posts on this thread. I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt that he seems not to be willing to give those who served.
 
Kind of makes me think about the level of privilege soldiers have in our culture's iconography, and how impersonating that is some kind of sacrilege.

We shouldn't venerate all soldiers. Some people use the military to get through college, and they get nice cushy jobs in the military -- no self-sacrifice required. I don't really view those people with the same level of esteem as someone who fought in a war zone and saw their friends die. But they seem to receive a sort of carte blanche kind of pride, regardless of what they did.

People shouldn't impersonate someone in the military, anymore than they should impersonate a cop or someone in government. On the other hand, I don't think upper class people who get high ranks in the military and basically do nothing should get my respect either.

183bfad3d56cb8f7e972fd4dfde6a0a4.jpg
 
Read more and video @: Fake veteran called out by actual soldier may face federal charges

Saw this video earlier this week. Its really disgusting that people impersonate soldiers to get some sort of personal ego trip or some sort of deal. I'm glad that he got called out for his disgusting acts and I hope that if he did indeed break a law be persecuted for it. [/FONT][/COLOR]

Yep -- this happens on occasion. There's a pic online of a "Marine" at the airport who's getting the knife hand treatment by a Marine.
 
I know someone who also confronted a phony Marine at an airport. I'm non-violent, but I thought he showed real restraint in simply grabbing him up and warning him rather than giving him the beat-down he deserved just on GP.
 
Thank you for the update.
 
I know someone who also confronted a phony Marine at an airport. I'm non-violent, but I thought he showed real restraint in simply grabbing him up and warning him rather than giving him the beat-down he deserved just on GP.

Just take a look at the phony Navy Seal of the week show.



There are so many fake veterans running around the country. Whenever I see someone showing a shirt or hat stating he is a vet my flag goes up. There are some legitimate vets out there for sure but there is a high number of fakes. Just as I admire the Patriot Guard Riders for showing up when the Westboro Baptist morons protest at a funeral I can bet that there are at least a couple non-vets parading as vets.
 

A lot of people in our society serve the same function in risking their lives all the time, but they aren't in the military so they don't get the same level of prestige. That's my point, which people seem to keep glossing over.

Our military is over-glorified.
 
Look, I'm a vet and I think that what this guy did is pure assholery but I don't want to see charges pressed. I didn't choose to take on the responsibilities of a service member so that some day we could start criminalizing stupid and thoughtless behavior. Feel free to shame the guy and call him out for being a fraud but federal charges are just out of line for something this stupid.
 
Back
Top Bottom