Tim Walz, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, is embroiled in allegations concerning his military past.
Fox News reports that Tim Walz is facing controversy over allegations that he misrepresented his military service and rank amid the 2024 presidential campaign.
Both associated with Tim Walz during his tenure in the Minnesota National Guard, Paul Herr and Thomas Behrends have voiced strong criticism against Walz's portrayal of his military career. They claim he inaccurately presented himself as a retired command sergeant major despite only retiring as a master sergeant.
Paul Herr described the misrepresentation in a televised interview. “He continually claims that he's a retired [sergeant] major. He is not, he is a retired master sergeant,” Herr stated, expressing dissatisfaction with the discrepancy between Walz's claims and reality.
Tim Walz served in the Minnesota National Guard from April 8, 1981, until his retirement on May 16, 2005. His early retirement came just before his unit’s deployment to Iraq in July 2005.
Critics argue that Walz's actions were calculated, aiming to benefit from a prestigious rank without meeting all the requisite conditions.
In 2004, Walz was promoted to command sergeant major but allegedly did not fulfill additional obligations needed to maintain this rank officially.
Thomas Behrends provided a detailed commentary on this aspect. He highlighted that Walz’s claim to the rank of command sergeant major hinged on completing more service and specific coursework, which he failed to complete.
"He's used the rank that he never achieved to advance his political career... He uses the rank of others to make it look like he's a better person than he is," Behrends elaborated during an appearance on "The Ingraham Angle."
Walz’s military record indicates he was active in planning for deployment, but he retired before his unit was sent to Iraq in 2005. Allegations suggest that private agreements within the Minnesota National Guard allowed him to facilitate this early retirement.
The Minnesota National Guard confirms that Walz retired as a master sergeant. Moreover, it is stated that he did not fulfill the requirements to graduate from the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, which contradicts some of the qualifications listed in his promotional biography.
The concept of "stolen valor" has been applied by critics to Walz's situation. This term refers to individuals who fabricate or exaggerate their military achievements, often for personal gain.
In conclusion, Tim Walz faces significant backlash over discrepancies in his military record, as fellow veterans accuse him of embellishing his service and rank. The narrative of his military career remains a crucial aspect of public scrutiny, affecting both his integrity and his political journey.
