Thu 12 Nov 2009
Written by Michael Vass
Ah the joy of recovering from a boistrious celebration. As many readers are aware, I celebrate the Marine Corps birthday, and Veteran’s Day, every year. Consequently I am a bit quiet through this week. But that does not mean I have missed what is going on. And before I go further, I again thank ALL the members of the military, active and inactive, that have made possible my ability to write my blogs for years now.
One of the things that I noticed yesterday that really needs to be addressed is the arrest of Steven Burton. You may not be aware of who this is, a 39 year old from the Palm Springs area. He is noteworthy only in the level of deciet that he achieved leading to his arrest. Burton had the gall to impersonate a member of the military, and the insulting impertinence to wear medals he had no right to.
This may not sound like a big deal to some. But I think every member of the military, or those who have had family members that had died for this nation, will see this for what it is. In my opinion only scum would take the actions that Burton has.
For those that are unaware, it is a Federal crime to impersonate a memeber of the military. It is also a crime to wear medals that were not officially awarded to that member of the military. So if you ever see someone wearing a pair of fatigues with proper military insignia on it that never spent a day in service to our nation, they are not being fashionable they are comiting a crime. And if that person, like Burton, were in full dress uniform (in this case the Marine Dress Blues) and wearing the Navy Cross and/or Bronze Star and/or Purple Heart they are not only commiting a crime they are literally pissing on the graves of those that died in defence of this nation.
Now I am sure there are some, like in San Fransisco, that would think this is a great idea. I am not among them. I find what Burton has done to be insulting. He is tarnishing the honorable actions of my father, Viet Nam, WWII, and Korean War vets. To say nothing of our brave soldiers currently in Iraq and Afghanistan, and other parts of the world.
Steven Burton will likely get 1 year in jail for what he has done. Were it up to me, I would place him in Camp Legune and let him have to face every Marine with what he has done. I’m sure the response he would get would be far more impressive upon him than time in a jail cell.
Better yet, if Burton was so eager to put on a uniform of a Marine, likely just to impress some girl, then I think he should go through Boot Camp and then shipped out to Afghanistan or another high combat area. Let him earn every single medal he dared to wear. And if he is able to earn those medals, he will only then understand the sacrifice and pain each of them represent.
I have no respect for Steven Burton or those of his ilk that would seek to diminish the ultimate sacrifices far too many have made in their service in the military. Far too many people take the uniforms and service as a given and equate it to a joke. A mere fashion statment to be pulled out casually. But the uniforms of our military are more than just clothing. They are a representation of the lives given to ensure that ANY American can have choices in their life, even bad ones.
Steven Burton will go to jail for a year, and were it up to me I’d make sure he was beat down ever day of that sentence. Of course I am a Marine, like my father before me, so I do have a bias. But I would love to hear the pathetic excuse he has for such an insult. Not that it could ever justify to what he has done.
November 12th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Put this dummy in jail for a year, and then order him to apologize to 3 floors of a Vet hospital. The man obviously has real big self-image issues. If he was not so over the top trying to make himself the Audie Murphy of the Marine’s, he might have gone under the radar of this commander at his reunion that got photo with him.
Does he head out to the bars at night and ask himself “should it be the light colonel tonight, or the Gunny?
I have read this stuff before, and one dope, dressed as Lt. Gen in the Marines, and went on base to a reunion dressed in full blues. He was walking the talk, and then excused himself to use the “Head” busted! This guy was in his late 50’s, and really got hit hard - Big jail time and fines. Maybe they all should become Star Wars fans, and then they could dress up at conventions, and get off that way and not desecrate the nobility and honor with such shameful acts.
November 12th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
How could he be 22 if he graduated from college in 88 and was at his 20 year reunion?
November 12th, 2009 at 10:44 pm
Not a marine and frequently find myself enjoy a joke as a marine is the butt of it. This, however, is no joke. I was in the 82nd Airborne and have a combat jump (this info is to gain “credibility” because marines think high of themselves). In all seriousness this is a disgrace. PX soldiers are a joke. After I was paralyzed there was a medal in a plastic container I had and had no idea where it came from. I left it there. I was injured in 1991 (not in combat). My mother found the orders she packed away from when they cleared out my bunk area and gave them to me late Dec 2006. I now (and only now) display that medal proudly. This guy disgusts me. Good article Mr. Vass. The military and my family tree seem to have a lot in common as well.
November 15th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Hey, don’t blame San Francisco for this jackass. We may have our liberal side–so we think American freedom means free from being told how to live our lives–but hell no, no sympathy for a class-A wannabe jerk like this guy. My whole family’s Army–both grandpas, dad, two uncles, even my sister, and my nephew’s in Iraq right now, 2nd tour. And nothin but mutual respect for the Corps. This Burton guy should be sentenced to eternal Boot. Except would you really want him around? Dude’s got issues!