this post was submitted on 22 Jun 2024
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471
Texas congressman won’t stop wearing combat Infantryman Badge that was revoked (www.military.com)
submitted 6 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/politics@lemmy.world
47 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

More than a month after a news report revealed that the Combat Infantryman Badge Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, wears on his lapel was revoked since he was never eligible for the award to begin with, the congressman refuses to take the pin off.

Nehls' stubbornness has garnered growing criticism from veterans and others in the community of stolen valor researchers, who say the issue is simple: The rules for the CIB are clear, and Nehls did not qualify.

"The veteran community is starting to get to the point now where there's no room for forgiveness at this point because now they see, ‘Hey, this wasn't an error. He's doubling down now,’" said Anthony Anderson, an Army veteran who runs Guardian of Valor and was instrumental in uncovering Nehls' revoked award. "He knows he didn't earn this award."

all 48 comments
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[–] halcyoncmdr@lemmy.world 186 points 6 months ago (4 children)

Prosecute him under 18 U.S.C. § 704

The Stolen Valor Act of 2013 amends the federal criminal code to rewrite provisions relating to fraudulent claims about military service to subject to a fine, imprisonment for not more than one year, or both for an individual who, with intent to obtain money, property, or other tangible benefit, fraudulently holds himself or herself out to be a recipient of:

  • Medal of Honor
  • Distinguished Service Cross
  • Navy Cross
  • Air Force Cross
  • Silver Star
  • Bronze Star
  • Purple Heart
  • Combat Action Ribbon
  • Combat Infantryman's Badge
  • Combat Action Badge
  • Combat Medical Badge
  • Combat Action Medal
  • Or any replacement or duplicate medal for such medal as authorized by law.
[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 92 points 6 months ago (2 children)

Good. So there is a law for that. Now someone has to apply this to him.

[–] magnetosphere@fedia.io 67 points 6 months ago (2 children)

In Texas? I’ll hope for it, but I won’t hold my breath.

[–] Iheartcheese@lemmy.world 26 points 6 months ago

Best they can do is shooting a black kid in his honor.

[–] SaltySalamander@fedia.io 8 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Considering this is a federal crime, Texas has to have very little to do with it.

[–] magnetosphere@fedia.io 7 points 6 months ago

Good point! Of course, some will still call it “weaponizing the justice system” and/or “lawfare”.

This would be a relatively harmless and clear-cut opportunity for another Republican to step up and show they have some standards. Ahem.

[–] HelixDab2@lemm.ee 6 points 6 months ago

[...]with intent to obtain money, property, or other tangible benefit[...] [emphasis added]

There's your problem. You'd have to demonstrate that he claimed the badge in order to receive some benefit. He's a congressional member of Texas, and Republican; by winning the primary--which likely did not hinge on the medal--he was almost certain to win the general election.

This would be a very, very hard case to make as a prosecutor.

[–] AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space 104 points 6 months ago

The immovable object of Stolen Valor meets the irresistible force of It’s OK If You’re A Conservative

[–] mp3@lemmy.ca 51 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Isn't that considered Stolen Valor?

[–] OpenStars@discuss.online 17 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Rules should only be followed by the other side.(TM) - conservatives

[–] Halosheep@lemm.ee 2 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

Here, I got you a real ™ since you had a knockoff one.

[–] OpenStars@discuss.online 1 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Is a real™ one better than a Lemmy-computed(TM) one? Either way, it's good to have choices you know!? 😃

[–] Halosheep@lemm.ee 1 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I didn't realize that it was supposed to show that way! Boost for lemmy is missing a lot of markup I think.

[–] OpenStars@discuss.online 1 points 6 months ago

Oh really?

Well, now I just appreciate all the more your sending me that one, kind person:-).

[–] mozz@mbin.grits.dev 43 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Try that in a small town

Oh wait hang on, I'm confused now

[–] Snapz@lemmy.world 40 points 6 months ago

Texas: "I'm a big, strong Texas army man!!!!!"

[Uvalde children trapped by an active shooter being murdered and psychologically tortured]

Texas: ".... .... ...."

[–] Letstakealook@lemm.ee 34 points 6 months ago

The larger issue here is that our society idolizes the military in the first place. I find that much more concerning than "stolen valor."

[–] JimSamtanko@lemm.ee 32 points 6 months ago

Soooo…. He’s going to resign in disgrace, right?

[–] Branch_Ranch@lemmy.world 31 points 6 months ago (1 children)

https://mynorthwest.com/3960064/rantz-exclusive-semi-bird-reprimanded-stolen-valor-defrauding-army/

Seems like republicans stealing valor is fairly common.

[–] Delonix@lemmy.world 12 points 6 months ago

They're generally whiney cowards who have neither valor or shame 🤷‍♂️

[–] ShittyBeatlesFCPres@lemmy.world 27 points 6 months ago

I wear a Texas Congressman pin even though they begged me not to so I can’t get too mad.

[–] just_another_person@lemmy.world 16 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Very clear facts asserting why he should take it off and doesn't deserve it, backed up by military records over a decade ago, but y'know..."DEEP STATE".

[–] todd_bonzalez@lemm.ee 15 points 6 months ago (2 children)

I love how I have a 100% success rate in assuming that a shithead in a news story is a Republican.

"Texas congressman" was maybe a giveaway, but still, Dems are never the ones doing this petty shit.

[–] figaro@lemdro.id 5 points 6 months ago (1 children)

But if it were, we would be ready to throw him under the bus in a heartbeat. Bad behavior is bad behavior. We're not in a cult

[–] SkyezOpen@lemmy.world 1 points 6 months ago

Menenedez and uhh, whichever shithead in new york were immediately castigated. Meanwhile in the republican party you can jerk someone off in a theater and you're still a good Christian.

[–] modifier@lemmy.ca 15 points 6 months ago

I never like to curse anyone or wish them ill, but it would be dope if I could somehow sign up to get text alerts anytime something bad happens to this guy. Even small things, would put a smile on my face.

[–] Lasherz12@lemmy.world 15 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Fascism always manifests through surface level aesthetics. This will become more and more common and you'll find shamelessness and stolen valor are traits they'll all share uniformly eventually.

[–] GiddyGap@lemm.ee 9 points 6 months ago

Just another Tuesday in Republican world.

[–] Sam_Bass@lemmy.world 8 points 6 months ago

Shame there isnt a Butthurt Peckerhead badge

[–] CavalierBob@lemmy.world 7 points 6 months ago

My first reaction seeing this post is I just want to slap him. And that was before I read the article.

[–] thegr8goldfish@startrek.website 5 points 6 months ago

Have the Army recall him to active duty and try him under the UCMJ.

[–] Delusional@lemmy.world 3 points 6 months ago

Republican from Texas is a piece of shit human. Shocker.

[–] BigMacHole@lemm.ee 2 points 6 months ago (2 children)

I'm a Republican who LOVES this Country and I don't see what the Problem is!

[–] the_tab_key@lemmy.world 14 points 6 months ago (1 children)

\s?

[–] Nurse_Robot@lemmy.world 14 points 6 months ago

Looking at the post history, you're correct. This particular comment must have been a little too on the nose

[–] Delonix@lemmy.world 2 points 6 months ago

Classic republican dissonance, I don't see what the problem is!