Talk:Ed Gallrein

Not an "official photo"

The lede photo of Captain Gallrein (USN, Ret.) has been altered with the coat's lapel falsely extended over his ribbon bar, likely to cover the Bronze Star ribbon with three oak leaf clusters, vice two that became a controversy (and was eventually corrected). There is a near-duplicate version of this photo online with a different background that has also been poorly altered to include a Ranger Tab and a Parachutist Badge with a bronze star, the latter signifying his single combat jump during the invasion of Grenada. I recommend Mr. Gallrein's staff, who have contributed to this page significantly, find an unaltered photograph more timely than 2014. Or change the caption from "Official Photo", which it is not; possibly to "Altered Official Photo"(?). Thanks! CharleyHart (talk) 18:11, 15 July 2026 (UTC)

Multiple references hidden behind pay walls

References supporting higher education and other claims are hidden from the general public by pay walls. Thus, it is impossible for the general public to access these references, making them useless. CharleyHart (talk) 23:33, 22 July 2026 (UTC)

Paywalled sourced are allowed. Per WP:PAYWALL: "Do not reject reliable sources just because they are difficult or costly to access. Some reliable sources are not easily accessible. For example, an online source may require payment, and a print-only source may be available only through libraries." reppop^talk 23:23, 25 July 2026 (UTC)

Understood, but... in my profession, "facts" weren't factual until they were corroborated. A (hidden) claim behind a paywall (why?) remains just a claim. In this specific case, where it took months (!) just to confirm the subject's birth year, the page screams for "just the facts ma'am" and far less hyperbole. CharleyHart (talk) 00:50, 26 July 2026 (UTC)

I don't think Wikipedia shares the same sentiment as your profession. Wikipedia:Reliable sources/Cost: "Reliable sources must be able to be verified. This does not mean that any particular person at any given moment must be capable of verifying them." reppop^talk 01:33, 26 July 2026 (UTC)

"Reliable sources must be able to be verified"...by whom, specifically? Wikipedia's inability to answer that question is why biographies of living persons on Wiki are literally overflowing with recognizable errors, exaggerations, exceptions and outright lies.

Wiki's approach (that you are citing and possibly championing?) actively supports biographical deceit at best and complete fiction at worst; and marks Wiki as complicit in the slow death of integrity. ~2026-41766-72 (talk) 23:32, 26 July 2026 (UTC)