WASHINGTON — A recent Gallup poll indicates that Americans rely heavily on bumper stickers, car decals and "moto decorations" to distinguish real war heroes from ordinary, run-of-the-mill veterans.

According to results published in the New York Times, almost all respondents indicated at least "quite a lot" of confidence in a motorist's service record and personal sacrifice solely from witty military appliqués and airbrushed American flags on a passing vehicle. Respondents increased their confidence to "a great deal" if it was on the back of a pick-up truck with an 8-inch suspension lift kit or Harley Davidson "Fatboy."

A recent AIT graduate, 19-year-old financial management technician Pfc. Paul White uses his truck to make a statement. He said that upon returning from the Joint Readiness Training Center he signed a lease for a Ford F150 and applied for a high-interest credit card to pepper his "whip" with "HOOAH" bumper stickers and POW/MIA murals.