(NEWSER) – A guy wearing US military fatigues at his local mall has spawned a viral video and possibly become an image of national shame, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
He was shopping at Oxford Valley Mall in Philadelphia on Black Friday when his camouflage fatigues drew the attention of Afghanistan veteran Ryan Berk—a Purple Heart recipient who had served with the 101st Airborne Division.
Berk walked up, recording the encounter on his cell phone, and asked the man (who identified himself as "Shaun") about apparent inconsistencies in his Army Rangers uniform. Why was the flag patch so low on his arm? Why did he wear three Combat Infantryman Badges (each indicate having been shot) when only one can be earned in the War on Terror?
Berk eventually pulls back for a wide shot and loudly accosts the man: "Here it is, guys: stolen valor at its finest!" Berk says. "He is full of s--t wearing a United States Army uniform."
Berk urges him to admit he's "a phony," tells him he's breaking the law, and finally gets mad: "I've worn that f--in' uniform, and I've had friends get killed in Afghanistan wearing that f--in' uniform!"
The video has been viewed more than 2.3 million times as of this writing and inspired a Pennsylvania congressman to seek a federal investigation, the Bucks County Courier Times reports. Wearing a US military uniform is protected as free speech, but claiming unearned military awards or lying to get a US military discount is illegal.
We want to warn you, the video contains profanity:
