Poseur'

This is coolbert:

"Poseur' - - a person who attempts to impress others by assuming or affecting a manner, degree of elegance, sentiment, etc., other than his or her true one."

We are back on the subject of the fake military war hero. Thanks here in large measure to the recent front page article from the Chicago Tribune entitled: "False Courage"

The military impostor/prevaricator/poseur'/teller-of-tall-tales.

"Prevaricator - - 1. a person who speaks falsely; liar. 2. a person who speaks so as to avoid the precise truth; quibbler; equivocator."

A person who has claimed military combat service of a valorous nature.

So valorous a conduct that a very high decoration was awarded as a result of courage in combat.

Decorations to include the Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Air Force Cross, Distinguished Service Cross, and Silver Star.

Decorations claimed to have been awarded, but are bogus instead. Fake war heroes making claims that are unsubstantiated.

Percentages for falsely claimed decorations were:

* Medal of Honor, 7 % false.
* Navy Cross, 43 % false.
* Air Force Cross, 50 % false.
* Distinguished Service Cross, 37 % false.
* Silver Star, 59 % false.

Fabrications, the extent of which and the blatant disregard for the truth is very surprising. And - - in the instance of this particular Tribune investigation, fabrications of war records as listed in "the online edition of Who's Who, long the nation's premier biographical reference."

WE ARE NOT TALKING IN THIS CASE ABOUT SAD-SACK HOMELESS FOLKS OR PANHANDLERS CLAIMING TO HAVE WON THE MEDAL OF HONOR OR OTHER AWARD FOR BRAVERY ON THE BATTLEFIELD. WE ARE TALKING HERE ABOUT THE MOVERS AND SHAKERS OF AMERICA! PERSONS GENERALLY ESTEEMED, ADMIRED, AND RESPECTED!!

We are talking about professionals such as:

* Lawyers.
* Physicians.
* Clergymen.
* CEO's.
* University professors.
* Career military officers.
* Teachers.
* Policemen.
* Elected officials.
* Psychiatrists.

"Why would so many invent acts of military heroism . . . proof of courage under fire surrounds a person with a special aura, a mystique that set him or her apart from fellow lawyers or doctors or executives."

"Top excuses for unverified medals of valor" include:

* "The medals were awarded for secret, or "black" operations that are still highly classified."
* "They [the imposter] had no idea their Who's Who profiles claimed bogus medals of valor."
* "They blamed editing errors by Who's Who."

And here are some quotes from persons that claimed fake or bogus decorations, and were "outed":

* "I liked the say it sounded."
* "to make myself a hero to my wife, or something like that." [I'm sure his wife really thinks very highly of her husband NOW!]
* "I did it for my own self-gratification."

OH, there is just so much of this stuff! And the more you look at it, the worse it seems to get. Too bad!! This is something that should NEVER BE LIED ABOUT!! NEVER!!

NOW, let me tell you about my last military mission in the Philippines. When I had to cross thousand foot deep chasm using an expedient rope bridge, fighting off stinging wasps the size of helicopters with a chain saw, all the while beset by angry natives firing blow-gun darts at me!! OH, but the rest is classified, or, I have forgotten the details, which is it??!!

coolbert.