# Is there a way to verify a person was a member of the UN Peacekeepers?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-verify-a-person-was-a-member-of-the-un-peacekeepers/637556>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 12, 2012, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-verify-a-person-was-a-member-of-the-un-peacekeepers/637556 "2012-10-12T19:52:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2012, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-verify-a-person-was-a-member-of-the-un-peacekeepers/637556/41 "2012-10-15T13:41:54Z")

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> [@temp\_user](#):
>
> That is interesting. Since I did receive the story second-hand, would the observer scenario prove more likely? AFAIK he spent no more than three years in the service. I do know he has no access to his benefits, like when he bought his house, or the various surgeries he has had.

No it is impossible. You could be in the Reserves and never leave Kansas and you still have VA benefits to include VA loans for housing. Health benefits generally don’t kick in for anyone unless the issue was service related or you retired the military. Even most discharges that are less than honorable will not make you lose all of your benefits.

If you want real answers PM me and I can point you to several places that investigate phony claims.

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**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\
**Post date:** [October 15, 2012, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-verify-a-person-was-a-member-of-the-un-peacekeepers/637556/42 "2012-10-15T14:25:50Z")

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> [@AK84](#):
>
> Peacekeepers are armed and can and do take action against parties. Military Observers are unarmed and can do nothing except report.

Maybe, but the issue was the believability of the OP’s storyteller. I was responding to someone who said no because individuals never serve. I was merely disputing that _that alone_ was grounds to reject the story. It’s not, as my brother’s example showed. I still think the OP’s friend is full of shit.

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