When Kamala Harris announced that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz would be her running mate, the mainstream media focused heavily on his military record, emphasizing his status as a “U.S. Army National Guard veteran” and a “Command Sergeant Major.” However, some of those who served with him argue that his record is exaggerated, with accusations flying for years prior to his joining Harris’s ticket. To provide clarity, a group of retired Command Sergeants Major from the Minnesota National Guard published a letter in 2018 detailing the truth about Walz’s service history.
According to individuals who served alongside him or had firsthand knowledge of his service experiences, Walz reenlisted in the National Guard in 2001 and was selected to participate in the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy in early 2003. His involvement necessitated agreeing to certain conditions. One such stipulation required serving for two years after graduation or being promoted to Sergeant Major or Command Sergeant Major, while those who did not complete the course faced a rank reduction to Master Sergeant.
Walz was deployed with the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion in Italy in 2003, returning in 2004. He was then chosen to serve as the battalion’s Command Sergeant Major. In early 2005, the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion received a warning order to prepare for mobilization for active duty in Iraq, including the position Walz held at the time.
However, he decided to resign in May, leaving his battalion and its soldiers in limbo as they prepared for war. He cited running for Congress as the reason for quitting. However, a Department of Defense directive stipulates that he could have run for office while requesting permission from the Secretary of Defense before entering active duty – a path many other reservists had taken in the past.
In September 2005, Walz’s rank was reduced from conditionally promoted Command Sergeant Major to Master Sergeant.
Meanwhile, his battalion served a 22-month deployment from 2006 to 2007. At the time, members of his battalion were unable to speak out against him due to army regulations, as he was a political candidate. This meant that those with direct knowledge of his status were unable to dispute the claims he made about his service record.
Iraq war veteran Tom Hagen wrote a letter to the editor of the Winona Daily News in November 2006 highlighting how Walz handled the situation, noting: “But even more disturbing is the fact that Walz quickly retired after learning that his unit — southern Minnesota’s 1-125 FA Battalion — would be sent to Iraq. For Tim Walz to abandon his fellow soldiers and quit when they needed experienced leadership most is disheartening.
The National Guard members closed their own letter with a summary of Walz’s questionable record, reiterating that he did not complete the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy. He also resigned before fulfilling the six-year enlistment he signed in September 2001, nor did he serve for two years following his conditional promotion to Command Sergeant Major.
Vance accuses Walz of “stolen valor garbage.
He failed his country. He failed his state. He failed the Minnesota Army National Guard, the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion, and his fellow Soldiers. And he failed to lead by example. Shameful,” they stated.
Senator JD Vance (R-Ohio) has also criticized Walz for his military record, stating: “When 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, a fact that he’s been criticized for aggressively by a lot of the people that he served with.
He also stated: “What bothers me about Tim Walz is the stolen valor garbage.
Sources for this article include.
WCTrib.com.
FoxNews.com.