Stolen Valor.

[7th Texas Mounted Rifles]

I know from experience there are numerous cultural differences, sometimes in the same family. It is how we live together while keeping our own identity that is important.

I like your way of thinking, sir.

Whereabout in Texas do you hail from?

 

[zburkett]

I grew up in Archer County. North Texas ranch country.

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

Our ancestors who did interesting and noble things deserve recognition because they did interesting and noble things, not because they are our ancestors.

It is up to each of us to justify our own existence through our words and deeds. That one's great-grandfather was Union or Confederate, slaveowner or abolitionist, hero or coward should neither elevate nor denigrate the present generation, nor should it define how one sees the war.

Some people are too damned obsessed with their family, especially family members who were dead long before they were born.

 

[7th Texas Mounted Rifles]

I grew up in Archer County. North Texas ranch country.

Very cool, you share a hometown with 'Lonesome Dove' author Larry McMurtry!

 

[zburkett]

He was my closest neighbor when I was growing up. Read "The Last Picture Show" and that's Archer City.

 

[Waterloo50]

Wow, I ended up on this thread because I was looking for cases of stolen Valor during the time period just after the civil war. I was interested because I had a relative whom had fought in a famous battle and everyone assumed that he was an officer because he had an officers sword hanging on a wall in his home, even his wife thought that he was an officer and the only reason she discovered that he wasn't was because following his death she had tried to claim his officers pension. It turns out that he was just a private, he'd served for 22 years in the same regiment and he had indeed fought in the famous battle but the sword hanging on his wall was a French officers sword that he'd taken as a war trophy. I guess that he didn't necessarily lie to people but if they assumed that he was an officer, well, let's just say that he just never denied it.
Not so much a case of stolen Valor because he risked his neck fighting but more a case of not being entirely truthful about his rank. I bet there were similar cases around the end of the civil war. I've lost count of the amount of stolen Valor vids on YouTube that I've watched, those guys always seem to get caught out on the most basic of things. Does anyone know of similar cases of stolen Valor during the CW?

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

I know I've read some, cases where an officer debunked someone's boasting. Sorry it's not ACW- grgrandfather wrote of exactly this during WW1. He was an Army surgeon, went over twice, once pre-USA in the war, once during it, to France. One section of a letter home gets into it- this is from 1916, when he served in Serbia. I don't think he considered it ' stolen valor ' just absurd and dishonest.

Again, excuse it not being ACW. This topic always makes me think of Will's commentary.

 

[Waterloo50]

I know I've read some, cases where an officer debunked someone's boasting. Sorry it's not ACW- grgrandfather wrote of exactly this during WW1. He was an Army surgeon, went over twice, once pre-USA in the war, once during it, to France. One section of a letter home gets into it- this is from 1916, when he served in Serbia. I don't think he considered it ' stolen valor ' just absurd and dishonest.

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Again, excuse it not being ACW. This topic always makes me think of Will's commentary.

That's an interesting letter, especially given that this was 1916 in Serbia, my historical knowledge of that part of the world is limited but I do know that during that period Serbia had suffered relentless attacks and many of their civilians were killed. Your great grandfather must have worked in some seriously tough conditions. It's no wonder that he picked up on stolen Valor, I assume that he volunteered to carry out his role and that he was there for humanitarian reasons only, others were obviously there because of the opportunity to seek glory for themselves and to promote their self-interests. He was right to point out their shortcomings...what an admirable man your great grandfather was.

 

[Claude Bauer]

The very title "reenactor" should state loud and clear that none of us who participate in that hobby can come no where near to experiencing the courage and sacrifice of those who were actually there involved in real events.

After all, when the word "actor" and "REenact" describe those of us who do such, how in the world can we think we are even coming close to what our ancestors experienced? Couple that with the idea we drive our cars from our 21st century homes to a field filled with vendors and food stands, spend a weekend in a tent with our coolers hidden and our cell phones on vibrate, pack up and come home to our TV, bathrooms and Lazy Boy chairs, really?

In other words, NO one should feel they are actually living those experiences from that long ago time.

IMHO,
Unionblue

We all have a vivid imagination, that is part of being a history nut, and if you enjoy studying the Civil War having an imagination is important. With all the thousands of books and hundreds of movies made about that event it is easy to have our imagination fueled by imagery of gloriously brave men living heroic lives.
But when does that cross the line and become stolen valor?
We should always respect and honor the sacrifices made by past generations, but do we honestly have the right to suggest that we continue on with their legacy?
I appreciate and applaud reenactments and those who participate in historical reenactment, but I suspect those who allude to an affiliation or somehow suggest that they are still living that experience and are carrying some family traditions are IMO pushing the limits, and come very close to stealing the valor of men long dead.

As others have noted, the term "stolen valor" isn't really applicable to modern people portraying historic events--if someone at a reenactment is wearing a medal and claiming it was awarded for his heroic actions at the Battle of Gettysburg, he'd just be considered a nut case.

I get what you're saying though, but reenactments are just that--reenactments. An attempt to portray as best we can a semblance of what a Civil War conflict might have looked like, minus the blood, guts, and flying body parts, of course. And no matter how authentic our kit, we still go out there in good health with full bellies and without dysentery, body lice, filthy clothing we've worn for months, intestinal parasites, etc. A reenactor would be delusional to believe that anything he does is "still living that experience."

 

[DixieRifles]

I'd say the line is crossed when we start putting words in their mouths or claiming their valor in some way reflects on us (i.e. claiming some status for having ancestors who participated).

I agree. I'm not too concerned about the motivation of reenactors. For them, I sometimes see their actions as demeaning to the Veteran and the struggles they endured.
But I do look at myself to make sure I don't try to steel the valor of my ancestors. I should honor them and their service---yes both Union and Confederate---but not place that garland on my head.

Oops just realized this is another thread that has been resurrected. My comments may be out of order of the discussion.

 

[damYankee]

As others have noted, the term "stolen valor" isn't really applicable to modern people portraying historic events--if someone at a reenactment is wearing a medal and claiming it was awarded for his heroic actions at the Battle of Gettysburg, he'd just be considered a nut case.

I get what you're saying though, but reenactments are just that--reenactments. An attempt to portray as best we can a semblance of what a Civil War conflict might have looked like, minus the blood, guts, and flying body parts, of course. And no matter how authentic our kit, we still go out there in good health with full bellies and without dysentery, body lice, filthy clothing we've worn for months, intestinal parasites, etc. A reenactor would be delusional to believe that anything he does is "still living that experience."

I agree, I should have been more specific,. The Civil War was 150 years ago. Slavery is universally recognized as a negative practice. People re enacting battles, or re enacting characters from any historic time period in an effort to educate others on life in those times, no problem.
But those who believe the South should have won, and believe it is their duty to right some great wrong that was beset upon "their Southern Culture " or the "Southern people " and drive around with tattered flags waving from the back of their pickup truck are a little bit off their rockers.

 

[James N.]

"It is a desirable thing to be well-descended, but the glory belongs to our ancestors." - Plutarch

I cannot put my finger on the author (Voltaire?) of a sentiment that everybody can find kings and fools among their ancestors. We boast about the kings within our family tree, but we conveniently forget to mention the fools. Likewise, we tout ancestors who were brave, but overlook those who were cowards. Or, as my mother is fond of saying: "Brave men run in our family." It was a Civil War veteran who spoke of brave men with cowardly legs.

It was actually President Lincoln who when pardoning a deserter referred to his running away in battle as A case of legs...