When Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday introduced her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, she lauded his lengthy service in the National Guard: \u201cHe is a veteran who served our nation in uniform for more than two decades as a member of the Army National Guard.\u201d Walz played up his service too: \u201cFor 24 years, I proudly wore the uniform of this nation. The National Guard gave me purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since that moment, Walz\u2019s record has been under attack by Republicans, with claims that he abandoned his troops on the eve of a deployment to Iraq and that, in an instance of \u201cstolen valor,\u201d inflated his credentials and wartime experience.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s an assessment of those claims.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen Tim Walz was asked by his country to go to Iraq, you know what he did? He dropped out of the Army and allowed his unit to go without him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014 GOP vice-presidential candidate JD Vance, Aug. 7<\/p>\n
The Washington Post reported that at least three former Guard colleagues have publicly voiced bitterness at Walz\u2019s decision to leave their unit shortly before a possible deployment to Iraq \u2014 a deployment that, because it was extended, lasted 19 months. The record shows that Walz made his decision to retire after the National Guard announced the unit might be deployed to Iraq. Walz initially issued a news release indicating he would deploy with his unit.<\/p>\n
We constructed the following timeline from interviews, National Guard records and news reports.<\/p>\n
April 8, 1981 \u2014 Two days after he turns 17, Walz joins the Nebraska National Guard.<\/p>\n
1996 \u2014 Walz transfers to Minnesota National Guard\u2019s 1st Battalion, 125th Field Artillery.<\/p>\n
September 2001 \u2014 Though Walz qualified for retirement at 20 years of service, he said in an interview for a Library of Congress oral history project that the Sept. 11 attacks convinced him to reenlist.<\/p>\n
Aug. 3, 2003 \u2014 Walz\u2019s unit deploys for nine months of active duty, based in Vicenza, Italy, to support Operation Enduring Freedom, the war in Afghanistan. The troops provided security for Air Force bases in Turkey, Italy, Belgium and Britain, with some elements deployed to support stability operations in Bosnia and Kosovo, a unit history says. In the Library of Congress interview, Walz said the experience made him more politically aware.<\/p>\n
April 2004 \u2014 Walz returns to Minnesota.<\/p>\n
Feb. 5, 2005 \u2014 Walz, describing himself in a news release as \u201cMankato West High School teacher and Command Sergeant Major in the National Guard,\u201d files paperwork saying he is exploring running for Congress.<\/p>\n
March 17 \u2014 The National Guard announces possible partial mobilization of 2,000 troops. \u201cThe announcement from the National Guard PAO [Public Affairs Office] specified that all or a portion of Walz\u2019s battalion could be mobilized to serve in Iraq within the next two years,\u201d according to a March 20 news release issued by the Walz campaign. \u201cWalz Still Planning to Run for Congress Despite Possible Call to Duty in Iraq,\u201d the headline said.<\/p>\n
In the news release, Walz said he \u201chad no plans to drop out of the race.\u201d He also said: \u201cAs Command Sergeant Major I have a responsibility not only to ready my battalion for Iraq, but also to serve if called on. I am dedicated to serving my country to the best of my ability, whether that is in Washington DC or in Iraq.\u201d<\/p>\n
March 21 \u2014 KEYC, a radio station in North Mankato, Minn., broadcasts a report that highlighted Walz\u2019s \u201cunique position\u201d in light of the National Guard announcement. \u201cHe will continue his campaign for the congressional seat, despite his possible deployment to Iraq,\u201d the newscast said. \u201cWalz also says if called to active duty in Iraq, his family will continue his campaign back home in Mankato.\u201d<\/p>\n
May 16 \u2014 The Harris campaign did not respond to a request to provide the day when Walz submitted his retirement papers, but records show this is Walz\u2019s last day with the National Guard. He is 41. His daughter, Hope, is 4. In the Library of Congress interview, Walz said he left the Guard in April \u201cto run for this office.\u201d He said that \u201cwe were concerned we would try to do both\u201d and \u201cI decided to retire to focus full time on running.\u201d<\/p>\n
Maj. Gen. Randy Manner, U.S. National Guard (ret.), who oversaw overseas deployments, told The Fact Checker that it usually takes at least 90 days to process retirement requests so \u201c60 days would be extraordinarily fast.\u201d Manner said that the Minnesota adjutant general has the final say and could have blocked Walz\u2019s retirement if he thought it would have had a negative impact on the possible deployment.<\/p>\n
A former top official in the Minnesota National Guard at the time, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid being entangled in politics, told The Fact Checker that there was no consideration of blocking Walz\u2019s retirement.<\/p>\n
July 14 \u2014 Walz\u2019s unit officially receives orders to deploy.<\/p>\n
Oct. 14 \u2014 Unit is mobilized.<\/p>\n
March 2006 \u2014 Unit deploys.<\/p>\n
November 2006 \u2014 Walz elected to Congress.<\/p>\n
October 2007 \u2014 Unit returns after deployment was extended.<\/p>\n
Assessment: Walz knew that he might soon be deployed to Iraq. However, he had served nearly a quarter-century in the guard and had already announced he was considering a congressional race. He has said he could not do both, and so chose to run for Congress. Whether he abandoned his troops is a matter of perspective, but it is noteworthy that his retirement request was not blocked.<\/p>\n
In a statement, the Harris campaign said: \u201cAfter 24 years of military service, Governor Walz retired in 2005 and ran for Congress, where he was a tireless advocate for our men and women in uniform \u2014 and as Vice President of the United States he will continue to be a relentless champion for our veterans and military families.\u201d The campaign did not respond directly to a question about the timing of his resignation and why he left.<\/p>\n
Republicans have cited three examples of \u201cstolen valor\u201d \u2014 broadly intended to mean Walz is claiming credit for something he did not achieve in the military. The Stolen Valor Act of 2013 makes it a crime to claim to be a recipient of various military medals or badges \u2014 and Walz is not accused of that.<\/p>\n
\u2018Command Sergeant Major\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cWalz referred to himself as a retired Command Sergeant Major in his run for Congress and Governor. This is a lie and stolen valor.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014 Ashley Hayek, chief engagement officer, America First Policy Institute, Aug. 7<\/p>\n
Walz\u2019s biography on his website says: \u201cAfter 24 years in the Army National Guard, Command Sergeant Major Walz retired from the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion in 2005.\u201d At various times, such as in a 2006 C-SPAN interview, he described himself as a command sergeant major. Republicans say that is misleading because he is receiving retirement benefits for the rank one level below \u2014 master sergeant. That\u2019s because he still needed additional training at the time he retired.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe held multiple positions within field artillery such as firing battery chief, operations sergeant, first sergeant, and culminated his career serving as the command sergeant major for the battalion,\u201d said Army Lt. Col. Kristen Aug\u00e9, Minnesota National Guard\u2019s state public affairs officer. \u201cHe retired as a master sergeant in 2005 for benefit purposes because he did not complete additional coursework at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Harris-Walz campaign on its website initially called Walz a \u201cretired Command Sergeant Major\u201d but then updated his biography to say he \u201cserved as a command sergeant major.\u201d<\/p>\n
Assessment: This is on the line. He did achieve the title he has claimed, for a total of seven months, but it would be more accurate to say he \u201cserved as command sergeant major\u201d rather than claim the title outright.<\/p>\n
Operation Enduring Freedom<\/p>\n
\u201cTim Walz Falsely Claimed He Served in Afghanistan.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014 Washington Free Beacon headline, Aug. 7<\/p>\n
Walz\u2019s deployment overseas was in support of the war in Afghanistan, dubbed Operation Enduring Freedom, Aug\u00e9 said, saying \u201cthe battalion supported security missions at various locations in Europe and Turkey.\u201d<\/p>\n
Generally, Walz makes that clear. \u201cI deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom,\u201d he said in a 2007 C-SPAN interview. \u201cMy battalion provided base security throughout the European Theater from Turkey to England in the early stages of the war in Afghanistan.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Republicans have pointed to a 2006 news release by his congressional campaign, which called him \u201ca veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom\u201d and also a 2004 photo in which he is holding a sign saying \u201cEnduring Freedom \u2014 Veterans for Kerry.\u201d<\/p>\n
Aug\u00e9 said Walz earned a Global War on Terrorism medal but the records are unclear on whether it was a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal or a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. A Harris-Walz campaign aide said it was the service medal, which is for individuals who either directly or indirectly supported these designated operations: Airport security, Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.<\/p>\n
Assessment: This is also on the line. We can find no evidence Walz ever claimed he served in Afghanistan. He served overseas in support of the Afghanistan war, but sometimes his phrasing might mislead people into thinking he was an Afghanistan veteran.<\/p>\n
Carrying weapons<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I wonder. Tim Walz, when were you ever in war?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014 Vance, Aug. 7<\/p>\n
The Harris campaign circulated a 2018 clip of Walz arguing in support of gun restrictions. \u201cWe can make sure that those weapons of war that I carried in war is the only place where those weapons are at,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
There is no evidence that Walz served in combat \u2014 and he has not claimed he did. He did receive ribbons for proficiency in sharpshooting and hand grenades, according to military records obtained through an open records request by MPR News.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn his 24 years of service, the Governor carried, fired and trained others to use weapons of war innumerable times,\u201d a Harris-Walz campaign aide said. \u201cGovernor Walz would never insult or undermine any American\u2019s service to this country \u2014 in fact, he thanks Senator Vance for putting his life on the line for our country. It\u2019s the American way.\u201d The aide did not address his use of the phrase \u201cin war.\u201d<\/p>\n
Assessment: Walz\u2019s language was sloppy and false. He did carry weapons of war \u2014 just not in war.<\/p>\n
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When Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday introduced her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, she lauded his lengthy service in the National Guard: \u201cHe is a veteran who served our nation in uniform for more than two decades as a member of the Army National Guard.\u201d Walz played up his service too: \u201cFor 24 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":7586,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7585","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstriumphs.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7585","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstriumphs.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstriumphs.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstriumphs.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7585"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/businesstriumphs.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7585\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstriumphs.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7586"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstriumphs.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7585"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstriumphs.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7585"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstriumphs.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7585"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}