Winners of the American military's highest honours for valour are to be listed on a new Pentagon webpage in a bid to unmask fraudulent claimants, US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said Wednesday. The Defence Department has taken the step in response to a Supreme Court ruling that overturned the Stolen Valour Act of 2006, which had made it illegal to lie about receiving the Medal of Honor and other military awards.
The official webpage will "help maintain the integrity of awards and honours earned by service members and veterans," Panetta told the Joint House Armed Services Committee and House Committee on Veterans Affairs. "You are all aware of the Supreme Court decision that determined that free speech allows someone to lie about military awards and honours," he said.
"Free speech is one thing but dishonouring those who have been honoured on the battlefield is something else." Initially, the website will name all US service members who have won the Medal of Honor since September 11, 2001. This is the top award for gallantry, given to those who act beyond the call of duty to risk their lives during military action.
Panetta said the website would "in the near term" also include recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (Army), the Navy Cross, the Air Force Cross and the Silver Star, all medals awarded for gallantry in action. "This effort will raise public awareness about our nation's heroes and help deter those who might falsely claim military honours, which I know has been a source of great concern for many veterans and members of Congress," he said.
"We will look at expanding the information available on the website over time," Panetta added. Supreme Court judges said the Stolen Valour Act, which could impose criminal penalties on fraudulent claimants of military honours, was a violation of the US Constitution's first amendment - freedom of speech.