New Clothing Line “Veteran Clothing” Using the term “Veteran” for Personal Profit?

[sfc_darrel]

New Clothing Line “Veteran Clothing” Using the term “Veteran” for Personal Profit?

Posted on 45+00:00" pubdate="">August 23, 2012 by Bulldog1
Veteran Clothing is a new line of clothing started by a guy named Billy Truong, out of San Diego, California. Several fans brought it to our attention yesterday, at first glance you immediately think this company is either Veteran owned/operated or they at least donate to Veterans groups. Well come to find out, neither of the above is true. But we believe their title and their slogan are very misleading, and tried several times to explain that to them. But they would not listen to what we had to say. In our humble opinion they knew exactly what they were doing when they started using this name and slogan, they are using it for their own personal gain.
I know some of you will probably disagree, but take a glance at their facebook page and tell me if your first impression is that it is either Veteran Owned/Operated or they at least have some affiliation with a Veterans organization, And it is set up that way completely on purpose. Veteran Clothing Facebook Page
We saw several posts by Veterans on the page asking about this, here is a screenshot of Mr. Truong responding to a Veteran’s question
We also emailed Mr. Truong about this, stating that we believed he was misleading people by using the Veteran name and the Slogan “Salute Me”. This is his response:
3 hours ago Veteran Clothing
The term “Veteran” is not only towards The Military. Yes, Veterans in the Military are much respected and Veterans in other fields are respected as well. The definition of “Veteran” is a person who has had long experience in any particular field. The slogan “Salute me” other words, “demanding over asking”, Veterans around the globe are automatically respected because they’ve been in the game for the matter of years. Our clothing team are beginning our full-on tour to sponsor Veterans all around the globe. The highest class of Basketball players, Football players, Artists, Musicians, Skateboarders, any Veteran you can think of including Veterans in the military will be sponsor under Veteran Clothing very shortly. Thank you for your concern. -Much Respected, Veteran Clothing.

Even though Mr. Truong says he is not using the Veteran name for personal gain, how does he explain this Purple Heart shirt he is promoting by showing it in front of a Vietnam Veteran who actually earned the award? Im sure these shirts are not only available to Purple Heart holders.

Another fan sent us this response he received from Mr. Truong, “AS CEO OF VETERANS I PROUDLY SAY THAT EVERYONE IS A VETERAN IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM.” Not true Mr. Truong, by a long shot! If he is not using it towards the Military Veteran, then why are most of the pictures he has promoting his clothing line, taken in front of American Flags or other symbols of the Military?
Here are a few examples:



Im almost sure this guy did not earn the Purple Heart:

Here is another one of their Facebook Profiles: Veteran Clothing Swagin
And the CEO of Veteran Clothing Mr. Billy TruongBilly Truong
Here is another Veteran who also felt he was using the name and slogan wrong:

I feel this is more than wrong, he is profiting off of our Veterans and Military whether he admits it or not. You can not tell me that is not your intent when you purposely pose your clothing line in front of US Military Monuments, and the United States flag. I find that rather hard to believe, and Mr. Truong knows exactly what he is doing! We asked him for more of a response, but he refused. Therefore we have brought it to you, and will let you decide whether he is wrong or right in his portrayal of his line of clothing. ~Bulldog1

http://guardianofvalor.com/new-cloth...rsonal-profit/
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[sfc_darrel]

Veteran Clothing
Home / Shop / About / Contact / Help / Terms & Conditions / Cart: 0 items

All / Crewnecks / Tank Tops

About


Veteran Clothing is street wear apparel that will cater citizens all around the World. As our name suggests, our focus is to provide street wear apparel and accessories and also position ourselves as the top retail store servicing this market. We are a Vietnamese-American owned street wear company in the city of San Diego. Our intention is to become a central hub of shopping activity for the local urban-style population as well others who enjoy street wear apparel.

Veteran Clothing was formed in 2011 and is inspired by Billy Truong. Along with promoting parties and the swanging movements, clothing is another form to present himself for his love in fashion. The clothing is heavily inspired by urban wear ,military style, and being well-fitted. Truong's impression of Veteran apparel will be his own fashion; clothing that he would wear and people follow

VETERAN is about experience and being original. Your Own Boss. You've been in the game for infinite years. Everyone Respects You. No more fancy handshakes, stay Saluting. Remember, you can be a Veteran in anything.

Billy Truong, CEO&Founder

http://veteranclothing.com/

[sfc_darrel]

UPDATE – We learn something new everyday! I just stumbled upon this-
Definition of “Veteran”

Federal Definition – Under Federal Law a “Veteran” is any person who served honorably on active duty in the armed forces of the United States. (Discharges marked General and Under Honorable Conditions qualify also).

State Definition – Under State Law a “Veteran” is any person who served in the armed forces of the United States for either 180 days of regular active duty service, and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions; or, 90 days of active duty service, one (1) day of which is during “wartime” per the following chart, and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions.

UPDATE2- They took down their comments section on their Facebook page so nobody could comment anymore. It seems the Veteran and Soldier community did not agree with the way he was presenting his clothing line. You can still comment no the pictures on their facebook page, and they also have a website I think I forgot to mention. Veteran Clothing WebPage

UPDATE3 The company has agreed to discontinue the Purple Heart shirt, we are working on the missleading Slogan etc.

UPDATE4- We have been told that the company will hold a meeting tonight to discuss changing up their slogans etc. We will let you know what comes out of it. We ask that everyone cease contacting them at this point until they reach a decision.

http://guardianofvalor.com/new-cloth...rsonal-profit/

[sfc_darrel]

Well it seems they decided they will not change anything, here is what they are calling their “Apology Letter”.



Maybe I am blind, but I do not see any sort of apology their. All I see is basically screw what you think we are not changing anything. And they are blocking anyone that comments on their page.

And you guys will love this, especially you “Old Veterans” as they call it.

This is on one of their company facebook pages in the About Us section…



http://guardianofvalor.com/new-cloth...rsonal-profit/

[sfc_darrel]

UPDATE6-
Our friends over at the Duffel Blog have already jumped on this story as well. Check out there most recent write up – Combat Clothing Company.
Also our friends over at Thisainthell are none to happy with this sort of douchebaggery, so it seems to me that the overwhelming majority find this wrong. Well except for the few threats I have received in my email, which I AM sure came from someone within their company according to the IP Address. Check out the write up over at our Comrades page. Click Here - I Am Not Sure If You Understand The Meaning of That Word


UPDATE6-
Giant Buzzer has posted an Open Letter to Billy Truong…its a great read. Billy should read it as well! Open Letter To Billy Truong and Veteran Clothing
Seems Billy Truong is a Rebel! He does not care what anyone thinks, And I really hope he is not talking about my daughter.



So he thinks people are “Hatin” on him for no reason, does he not realize he would have gained a lot of respect had he realized he was insulting Veterans, and responded accordingly.



Well seems like Mr. Truong also likes to post about his illegal activites, like growing “Kush”. Mr. Truong your argument is now invalid.

Here is the link to the pic…before he removes it of course..Kush Twitter
Since they have been denying that their styles are based on the Military, we thought we would show you this, Its their original About before they changed it up! But Mr. Truong, I thought you said it was not based on anything Military?

http://guardianofvalor.com/new-cloth...rsonal-profit/

[sfc_darrel]

NEWS STORY

Here is the Link to the story done by News 10 in San Diego.


Veteran Clothing Commercial

We also found this commercial for Veteran Clothing, guess the ACU bag the guy grabs in the video has NOTHING to do with the Military?




Our friends and colleagues over at US-Infantry have also wrote up a story concerning veteran clothing. Veterans take aim at veterans clothing.

This is Billy Truong and he wants you to Salute him…



Our friends over at RangerUp have labeled Veteran Clothing, Douche of the Week. RangerUp is a Veteran owned and operated business.

Very good read: Douche of the Week: Veteran Clothing

http://guardianofvalor.com/new-cloth...rsonal-profit/

[sfc_darrel]

n/t

[reconeil]

Wonder what Purple Heart, DAV or any other type Honorable Veterans here think about such despicably-insulting, mocking and demeaning of Service to Country by pathetic loons?

Neil

[sfc_darrel]

Veteran Clothing Stirs Up Trouble With Actual Veteran

By Guest Writer | Tuesday, August 28, 2012 | No Comments


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By Bill

I recently discovered an apparel company called Veteran Clothing through a Stolen Valor website. Anyone would assume that this company would be run by veterans, for veterans, but that’s far from the truth. Veteran Clothing is actually run by CEO Billy Troung, a 19 year old entrepreneur whose company mission statement is,

VETERAN is about experience and being original. Your Own Boss. You’ve been in the game for infinite years. Everyone Respects You. No more fancy handshakes, stay Saluting. Remember, you can be a Veteran in anything.

Of course, this has caused uproar within the military veteran community, and many military veterans feel that this diminishes the value of the word veteran and the sacrifices they have made. I am personally angry at what Billy is doing, his practices within the company I view as deplorable and outrageous.


As an Asian American who enlisted in the military, I am saddened by the fact that he would allow to diminish the word sacred to me and to what my fellow brothers in arms hold dear. When people see me in my uniform or when I am asked the question, “Are you a veteran?” In my head I say no, simply because I am not a veteran of any war. I have not been deployed, I have gone to war, I have not left my family to do what is needed of me from my country. But to them, I say yes, because to them, a veteran is anyone who is serving or served in the armed military. That is the general public’s definition of a veteran.

However much I hate saying yes to them because I have not veteran from any war, the thanks I receive from people always makes me feel better.

So you can understand when someone like Billy Troung takes a word that has so much meaning to me and my fellow comrades, and twist it to make a profit off of misunderstanding of what the company is about and diminishes the value of the word veteran.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Bill Huynh is a 20 year old Vietnamese American living in Texas, currently working part time at a chocolate store, going to college, and enlisted as a Private First Class in the U.S Army National Guard.

http://www.8asians.com/2012/08/28/ve...ctual-veteran/

[sfc_darrel]

Stolen Valor? Controversy brews over 'Veteran Clothing' label

By Hollie McKay
Pop Tarts
Published August 29, 2012
FoxNews.com

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LOS ANGELES – San Diego-based fashion label Veteran Clothing incorporates military themes into its items, along with the tag line "Salute Me." But the company's founders are not military veterans or in any way affiliated with the U.S. armed forces, nor do they donate any proceeds from the clothing line to veterans groups. That revelation has infuriated veterans across the country, who say the label is misleading consumers and trading on the term "veteran" for profit.

"It's not so much use of the name itself but the context in which it is used. The way the company presents itself leads people to believe they are either veteran owned/operated or are affiliated with a veterans organization. Yes, we understand the dictionary definition of 'veteran,' but in America when someone asks if you are a veteran, it is assumed you are asking if they have served in the military," Bulldog1, one of the founders of GuardianofValor.com, a site run by soldiers and veterans seeking to expose those who falsely claim military allegiance, told FOX411's Pop Tarts column. "To a lot of veterans it is blatantly deceitful advertising, and they are using that for personal gain."

Veteran Clothing was founded in 2011 by clothing designer Billy Truong. Despite no military connection, the Veteran Clothing collection features an array of items with military inspiration, including Purple Hearts, models saluting military style, and a large hand in salute printed on some items.

The company's Tumblr page infuses clothing pictures with party promotions, referring to themselves as "The VETS." An additional community Facebook page about the company also calls themselves the "VET SQUAD."

"Even though Mr. Truong says he is not using the Veteran name for personal gain, how does he explain this Purple Heart shirt he is promoting by showing it in front of a Vietnam Veteran who actually earned the award? I'm sure these shirts are not only available to Purple Heart holders," the GuardianofValor.com founder continued. "It was no accident that the release date for the clothing line was 11.11.11, Veterans Day."

According to the label's website, Veteran Clothing was formed by Billy Truong in 2011 "to provide street wear apparel and accessories."
"You've been in the game for infinite years. Everyone Respects You. No more fancy handshakes, stay saluting. Remember, you can be a Veteran in anything," reads the site.

Veteran Clothing did not respond to a request for comment, but they did answer questions on their Facebook page from others curious to know the meaning behind the "veteran" title.

"Mr. Truong, CEO of Veteran Clothing, was never in the military. Although he does consider himself as a Veteran in the business industry & dance field. His ideal of the term 'Veteran' is not only towards the Military."

Veterans Clothing also posted a "letter of apology and intent" on their Facebook page, stating that the company's intention was to reach males and females 16-24, and verifying that their definition of a Veteran is simply "one who has experience and mastered his or her own game/field."

"Though we may have made mistakes with slogans and items of clothing that references U.S. military please rest assure that those mistakes won't happen again," read the statement. "We have never mentioned any affiliation or reference to the United States Military or any of its relating departments... We have not broken any laws, whether they are state or federal."

The posted apology may not be enough for scores of veterans who have expressed their disgust on the company's Facebook page.

"Only a sleaze bag would twist the meaning of 'veteran' for personal profit," one outraged person wrote, while another questioned how much the clothing creators really know about the "sacrifices made by people that wear the title 'Veteran'" and the "hardship, training, time away from loved ones that they will never get back."

"It might just be a name to you, but I am concerned losers will still buy their merchandise. To us REAL veterans who served, that 'name' means something," one other upset viewer wrote. "Of course the losers who buy this merchandise are too clueless to get it! How about signing an enlistment contract and getting a friggin clue?"





Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment...#ixzz24wzqD2hM