Pentagon May Set Up Medals Database

The Pentagon reversed course Tuesday and said it may create a database to allow the public to check on the veracity of people's claims to have earned military honors—a project officials previously said was impractical.

The Supreme Court last month struck down a 2006 law that made it a federal crime to lie about receiving military medals, adding in the ruling that a database would be a better way to head off false claims.

In a 2009 report to Congress, the Pentagon concluded a database wouldn't be practical because privacy concerns would prevent the use of social security numbers or birth dates needed for an accurate public record....