There are enough false heroes sporting unearned military medals for valor and bravery to fill an entire hall of dishonor. And it's a problem that just won't go away.

One such fake hero, Navy Capt. Roger Dean Edwards, was highlighted in a recent front-page news story.

His impressive chest of medals included the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, the Purple Heart and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal. They made Edwards, executive assistant to the Marine Corps medical officer, stand tall in a crowd.

Unfortunately, he stood out in the wrong one. During a ceremony to make him an honorary Marine, Edwards came under the suspicious glare of FBI agent Thomas Cottone Jr., who has spent the past nine years busting bogus war heroes.

Cottone, with help from B.G. Burkett, a Texas businessman who documents military frauds, had the pleasure of bringing Edwards to justice. Turns out nearly half the medals he wore were fraudulent.

After being sentenced to 115 days in jail and fined $7,500, Edwards says he's "a broken man" and feels disgraced. His lawyer argued that Edwards had committed a "victimless crime" and caused "no manifest injury" to the Marine Corps.

That argument is as bogus as Edwards' medals. Edwards cheapened the honor and respect that's bestowed every time a medal is awarded to men and women serving our country.

The Navy captain now joins a yellow crowd that includes former Toronto Blue Jays manager Tim Johnson, who was given the boot in 1999 after his lies about a tour of duty in Vietnam were exposed; and Illinois Judge Michael O'Brien, who falsely claimed to be a two- time Medal of Honor recipient.

In 2001, 219 Virginians claimed to be Medal of Honor winners on their income taxes. But only four men in the state have actually received the medal.

Thanks to easy access at military surplus stores and gun shows, any wannabe hero can buy "proof" of his bravery. A Silver Star sells on the Internet for $35; a Navy Cross will set you back $85.

Kudos to Cottone, Burkett and others for preserving the integrity of our nation's military awards.

Lies such as Edwards' will persist as long as the world is populated by insecure people with a need to brag. Anyone impressed by Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Navy SEAL or other claims would be wise to take such assertions with a big grain of salt.

After all, true heroes rarely boast of their achievements.

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