Stolen Valor Act

(Stamford, Connecticut) A 22-year-old failed U.S. Army recruit, Damian Pace, has been accused of violating the Stolen Valor Act, a federal law prohibiting the unauthorized wearing of U.S. military uniforms, ranks and insignia. If convicted, Pace could receive six months in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Pace, who was discharged from Army medic training in 2007 for "motivational reasons," was arrested last week and released on $10,000 bond.

He is accused of wearing a U.S. Army uniform while attending paramedic training courses and during other occasions. Several badges and tabs for tactical and medical expertise and service in a war zone were affixed to the uniforms, documents allege.

Records indicate that Pace said he knew it was wrong to impersonate a U.S. Army soldier but he wanted to "look cool."

It's worth noting that the Stolen Valor Act is a point of contention among some people who believe that it's too broadly applicable, capturing a wide variety of instances where valor wasn't really intended to be stolen.