Always be suspicious of someone who talks a lot about their military exploits and their combat experience.

With all the problems this government is experiencing, are we actually spending time and money charging men with playing dress up? I admit it is worng and a slap in the face of all the men and women who have served so bravely, but was anyone really hurt by this?

David,
You just answered your own question - that slap in the face to those who do wear the uniform hurts real bad.

I thought I might give david an answer to his question about people being really hurt. It depends on how far you are willing to go with the people being hurt theme.
consider the newspaper editor who falsely claimed to be a fighter pilot. His views on the Vietnam war were hawkish, and they carried credibility on the strength of his false claim to combat experience. Consider the damage done to John Kerry. The stories of his real courage were belittled by people who had the back story of fake heroes to lend credibility to their claims that Kerry did not deserve the awards he earned. Consider the cheapening of the awards given to other people, from firefighters to Medal of Honor winners. ANY counterfeit damages the value of the real thing, and the person who earned it.

What kind of sick pervert would walk around with medals and a uniform trying to convince everyone he is a Hero. I am glad to see the FBI is going after these Wannabee's.

Admittedly, military decorations might not mean much to civilians. There is one helluva lot of emotion in them for those who earned them... Semper Fi!

I agree

Chris,
I think your indignation, just like our President's current "War", is misplaced. Does it really "hurt so bad" for someone currently wearing a uniform to see someone else impersonating them? If so, they may be in the wrong line of duty. I think David is right: we have much larger problems to worry about now. I think those currently wearing military uniforms would rather see money and effort put into designing and purchasing better personal armor and equipment; dedicating more resources to on-the-ground intelligence; and, most of all, they would like to see more time and effort put into diplomatic efforts so that they don't have to risk their lives. Or maybe I'm wrong. Maybe you think that they would rather have our government spend more money and resources to make sure that fewer people mimic them instead?

What about George Bush playing dress up in that flight suit on the USS Lincoln? Seems worse than this poor guy, since Bush was trying to dupe the whole nation into thinking he was some kind of war hero. This guy was simply looking for a little approval, and is not worthy of a big ABC News expose. Don't you all have bigger fish to fry as investigative journalists. Like lying, posing public servants and presidents?

Never mind sending this "Wannabee" to jail. If he wants to walk around in a Marines uniform, then put the fat slob on a bus and send him to Parris Island South Carolina for 18 weeks of Marine Corp training. That will stop him from ever doing it again.

Michael Weilbacher is a true hero, a patriot, and someone to whom we should be grateful.

I agree with Chris; It takes honor and personal sacrifice to receive a medal.It's disrespectful for anyone to ride on the coat tails of those who earned one honestly for the "glory" of it.

The Navy Cross and Silver Star area medals most men in Uniform die earning. They literally give their lives. We owe it to them, to prosecute guys like this.

If they want to be in the military so bad....please send them to Iraq.

I agree with Mike Jones. Put the Slob on a bus to Parris Island.

For every phony like this one who is busted, scores slip through the loopholes in Title 18 of the US Code. In September the U.S. Senate unanimously passed S 1998, the Stolen Valor Act, to close that loophole. The bill has been bottled up in the House Judiciary, where it will die unless those who care about the integrity of military awards get on the phone and start calling their representatives. Congress returns on December 4 for a brief session. Insist your Congressman or Congresswoman calls for House passage of S 1998.

If we spend more effort and money into pursuing and prosecuting petty criminals who dress up as militia, those currently in uniform may have a much better chance to earning the medals they cherish so much by dying for their country. Semper fi. What, again, is the definition of a terrorist?

Jenny said it best!

These medals may not mean very much to many civilians but to the true heroes who did earn them, it may have meant their lives.

Only typical left wing socialists would try to bring Bush or Kerry into this discussion.

If they are going to bust people for dressing up and playing soldier, they can start with George W. Bush

If we spend more effort and money into pursuing and prosecuting petty criminals who dress up as militia, those currently in uniform may have a much better chance to earn the medals they cherish so much by dying for their country. Semper fi. What, again, is the definition of a terrorist?