Vice President Kamala Harris’ pick to serve as her running mate is running into trouble over allegations he’s misrepresented — or outright lied — about his actions in the Army National Guard.
Gov. Tim Walz (D-Minn.) served in the National Guard for 24 years, a fact praised by his critics. But the way he has since described that service — and how he ended it — have sparked accusations that Walz misled voters and is guilty of “stolen valor.”
At issue are statements Walz made that imply he served in the war in Afghanistan (he didn’t), retired as a “command sergeant major” (also not true) and talked about the “guns he carried into war.”
Most upsetting to some veterans was his decision to leave his Minnesota National Guard unit in 2005 when he knew they were almost certain to be deployed to Iraq.
According to reporting by the Washington Free Beacon:
“As Command Sergeant Major, I have a responsibility not only to ready my battalion for Iraq, but also to serve if called on,” Walz said in a campaign statement on March 20, 2005. Just three days prior, the National Guard Public Affairs Office announced that at least part of his battalion could be shipped overseas to the Middle East in the next two years.
Walz left the National Guard that May. Two months later, his battalion was put on notice that they would be deploying to Iraq.
“He got out after he knew about the deployment? Ok, wow. And as a sergeant major? That’s even worse,” said former Ambassador and U.S. Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) when learning the latest details of Walz’s story.
Brown joined the National Guard at age 19 and served for 35 years, including during his time as senator. He rejects the argument Walz had to resign when he did in order to run for Congress.
“When I ran for U.S. Senate, I was still in the Guard. I had service. As a U.S. senator, I conducted my National Guard training in Afghanistan,” Brown said.
According to Doug Julin, who oversaw Walz in his National Guard field artillery battalion, Walz came to him as the deployment approached and asked about his desire to run for Congress.
Julin said it was “no big deal” and noted that members of Congress had deployed in the past.
Walz then went to Julin’s superior officers to secure his retirement.
“I would have analyzed it and challenged him. It would have been a different discussion, but he went to the higher ranks. He knew I would have told him, ‘Suck it up, we’re going,’” Julin told The Washington Post.
“Nobody wants to go to war. I didn’t want to go, but I went. The big frustration was that he let his troops down,” Julin added.
Pennsylvania veterans reacted with dismay.
State Sen. Tracy Pennycuick (R-Montgomery) said, “Tim Walz quitting his National Guard unit when notified of a deployment to Iraq is both cowardice and unprofessional. He was the highest-ranking enlisted soldier in his battalion and was chosen to attend the Command Sergeant Major Academy. He abandoned his soldiers when they needed him the most—in war. He then dropped out of Command Sergeant Major Academy after committing to completing it—at taxpayer expense.
“The military trains for war, and his soldiers depended upon him for leadership at the most important time—war. That is what we train for—-he is a coward and a disgrace to the uniform,” said Pennycuick, who retired as a U.S. Army Lt. Colonel after 26 years of active and reserve service, which included time in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Doylestown resident Peder Cox, a Lt. Colonel U.S. Army (retired), 82nd Airborne Division, said, “The Command Sgt. Major (E-9) of any unit is the top dog of the battalion. Even the Battalion Commander takes their advice and guidance. The CSM leads by example and always takes care of his soldiers. And deploys with them to war zones.”
Cox also explained the issue of Walz’s conflicting claims about his rank at retirement, an issue civilians may shrug off, but military veterans take very seriously.
“Master Sgt. Walz (E-8) failed to complete the CSM Academy and serve for two years as an E-9. This is self-serving conduct and false representation by claiming to be a CSM but not completing the requirements. Thankfully, as a matter of record, the Guard stripped him of his rank and retired him with a lower pay grade, which he failed to disclose.”
U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick, who was deployed to the Middle East during the First Gulf War and received the Bronze Star for his service in Iraq before retiring as a captain, responded to the Walz story with a simple post on X.
“I am a Vietnam Veteran, who served in the U.S. Army, ended my active duty time as an E-6 Staff Sgt., spent some time in the reserves and ended as an E-7 Sgt. First class,” said Doylestown resident Fred Hessenthaler. “I take issue with Gov. Walz’s statement that he was a Command Sgt. Major (E-9), while in fact was a Master Sgt. (E-8), because he hadn’t completed the required military courses necessary for his position. Didn’t he retire as an E-8?”
State Treasurer Stacy Garrity served three deployments. In 1991 in Operation Desert Storm, in 2003 in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and in 2008 in Operation Enduring Freedom. She was awarded the Bronze Star twice for exceptional service and received the Legion of Merit before retiring from the Army Reserve with the rank of colonel.
Her take on the Walz story? “These allegations are both troubling and a reminder that wearing your nation’s uniform is honor enough without requiring exaggeration.”
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