Re: Reality Check

[<DasHaas@aol.com>]

       Lee's point about self-righteous vigilantes is not without merit.  I 
just now remembered a second- or thirdhand Internet encounter with just such 
an individual; some ex-army type now living in the Philippines.  He just pops 
out of nowhere, challenging--in an ugly way--people to prove they're not 
guilty of whatever he thinks they are guilty of.  He wasn't after me, but 
rather a vet I know who left himself open for accusation by publishing an 
embellished resume.  No idea who this guy is/was.  

       On balance however, I'd still reserve the bulk of my contempt for 
those who would steal others' valor.  There seems to be an epidemic of these 
losers, whereas the vigilante is just the odd "here and there" guy.  I only 
know of two people (one being Burkett, the other a Navy SEAL ret.) who make a 
point of exposing these frauds in the light of truth.  And neither are 
malicious "vigilantes" by any stretch of the imagination.

       One of the things I've always wondered about--when this subject comes 
up at all--is what goes through a wife's head when she discovers that her 
husband  has lied to her, the kids, family friends, etc., for years about his 
having had the courage to do these things.  I guess most are in too 
economically deep to dump the asshole, but I find it hard to believe the 
marriage could ever be the same.  Especially when there are a number of 
family friends--vets--who they can no longer socialize with.  Ah, the wicked 
web we weave . . . 

Col. Mike Haas, USAF, ret., author
In the Devil's Shadow: UN Special Operations during the Korean War
Apollo's Warriors: U.S. Air Force Special Operations during the Cold War
Member: Air Commando, Special Forces, UDT-SEAL, and Special Operations 
Associations