Did You Get The Memo? Putting on a USA Soldiers Uniform is Illegal

Posted by Nicole Fabian-Weber 

Everybody knows it's illegal toimpersonate a police officer. But for some reason, there seems to be a slew of dudes who didn't get the memo thatimpersonating a U.S. soldier is illegal, also. Hey, guys, in 2007, President George Dubbya made it a federal crime to impersonate a solider. You could be fined or imprisoned. And now you know. So, stop!

Rock Diaz is one of these men. Just this week the Long Island native donned an Army uniform to -- get this -- get a bump up to first class on an airline. Of all the things! Wait 'til you hear what the other guys did ...

Last week Jeffrey Lee Bennett of Tuscon lied his way into Fort Huachuca by wearing an Air Forcemajor general's uniform (and using a fake ID). What did he do when he got there? He went shopping at the post exchange and commissary.

Then, not long before that, you may remember us telling you about Vanness M. Baker. The guy whoposed as an Army sergeant in order to solicit money from churches so he could "return to base."

And then who can forget about the guys who simply buy a bunch of medals on eBay, like Louis Lowell McGuinn, in order to bask in the glow of a highly decorated solider?

Maybe it's the honor and glory they feel by putting on the uniform. Perhaps it's the respect their "medals" earn them. Or, possibly, they just like the benefits they reap when wearing fatigues. Whatever the reason, it's messed up. And I wish it would stop. Because not only is it an outright lie, it's insulting as hell to those who have served, or are serving. There are people out there who put their lives on the line for our country. You shouldn't get a first class seat for having nothing to do with that.

Oh, and here's another thing, guys: If you wanted to play dress-up with the uniform so badly, you should have just joined the Army.