That's stolen valor, to compare these two would be ignorant.
Sadly its not stolen valor....
youre only in violation of the Stolen Valor Act of 2013 if you obtain money, property, or some other tangible benefit by claiming an award of certain decorations (MoH, DSC, Navy Cross, Silver Star, etc..etc..)
The original Stolen Valor Act of 2005 was struck down by the courts in 2012 when the USSC ruled that wearing uniforms and awards that you haven't earned was protected by the 1st Amendment (freedom of speech) .. the new SVA that passed a few years ago doesn't have nearly as sharp teeth as the old version..
And now the SVA of 2013 is already being challenged in some of the more liberal courts... There is a case that I think is being appealed to the CA Supreme Court right now where a guy was wearing the Medal of Honor (that he didnt earn) and clearly financially benefitted from it.. he was convicted under the SVA.. and now it looks like California is going to overturn the conviction and once again say the SVA, even in its "light" 2013 version.. is a violation of a persons 1st Amendment rights..
People can in fact wear a Marine uniform, claim to be a Marine.. and have never been one.. and there isn't a damn thing our courts will do to them..
If they cross the line and pin a Silver Star and a Purple Heart on that uniform and claim they earned both of those medals at the 2004 Battle of Fallujah.. as long as they don't get money or some other tangible benefit as a result of it.. the courts still wont do a damn thing to them..
If they do get paid.. it looks like SOME courts still wont do a damn thing to them...
Sad state of affairs really..