Furthermore, most had been officers however, none of them rated any of the four medals that would make one eligible for membership in the Legion of Valor or to have the license plate. Surprisingly, all had actually served in the military, Mason said. Mason and Agnew found that of 67 Legion of Valor plates issued in Texas, 10 were fraudulent. Department personnel suspected that some motorists were fraudulently claiming to be entitled to put Legion of Valor license plates on their vehicles. Members also protect the valor of service members by exposing people who steal the valor of others.Ībout five years ago, Mason recalls getting a call from the Texas Department of Transportation, which had also contacted Dick Agnew, commander of the Dallas/Fort Worth Legion of Valor chapter. The mission of the Legion of Valor includes extending relief to needy members, their widows and children, promoting patriotism and pride in serving, and cherishing the memories of valiant deeds by those who served. All 627 members have received the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross or the Air Force Cross. Today he serves as the commander of the legion's San Antonio chapter. The organization was chartered by an Act of Congress in 1955. Mason served from 2009-2010 as the national commander of the Legion of Valor. Others say they've served in combat but never have.ĭonald Mason knows this first-hand because he's called these individuals out and exposed their fraud to the public. It may seem hard to fathom, but there are many who claim to have earned medals to which they are not entitled. For their service, they receive Purple Heart Medals for wounds, and for valor they might earn Bronze Star Medals, Silver Star Medals or others. In many cases, their valor has been above and beyond the call of duty. WASHINGTON - Soldiers in every war have risked their lives to defend America.
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