Recently, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who has been announced as Kamala Harris’ running mate for the 2024 election, is facing accusations of stolen valor from retired leaders of the Minnesota National Guard.
Retired Command Sergeants Major Thomas Behrends and Paul Herr have published a harsh letter in the West Central Tribune, alleging that there are significant fabrications and omissions in Walz’s military record.
Walz, who served in the US House of Representatives for 12 years before being elected governor in 2018, has consistently highlighted his military service as an important aspect of his public persona.
The retired leaders feel it is their responsibility to bring to light what they perceive as a pattern of deception regarding Walz’s military career.
Key Points from the Letter:
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Reenlistment and Academy Enrollment: Tim Walz reenlisted in the Minnesota Army National Guard on September 18, 2001, committing to a six-year term. He was selected to attend the prestigious United States Army Sergeants Major Academy but failed to complete the course, which comes with specific obligations.
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Deployment and Promotion: In late summer 2003, Walz deployed with the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion to Italy for Operation Enduring Freedom. Upon returning to Minnesota in 2004, he was conditionally promoted to Command Sergeant Major but did not meet the conditions required for that promotion.
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Quitting Before Deployment: In early 2005, as his unit prepared for mobilization to Iraq, Walz abruptly quit, leaving his fellow soldiers without leadership. His rationale—claiming he needed to retire to run for Congress—has been challenged by the retired sergeants major, who argue he could have sought permission to run while remaining in service.
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Misrepresentation of Service: The letter highlights discrepancies in Walz’s statements about his military tenure. While he claims to be the highest-ranking enlisted service member ever to serve in Congress, critics point out that he was only conditionally promoted and subsequently reduced in rank due to his departure from the academy.
Here is a summary of the timeline detailing how Tim Walz has reportedly embellished and omitted facts about his military career:
- September 18, 2001: Tim Walz reenlisted in the Minnesota Army National Guard for six years.
- Early 2003: Selected to attend the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy.
- Late Summer 2003: Deployed with the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion to Italy for six months in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
- Spring 2004: Returned to Minnesota and selected as Command Sergeant Major of the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion.
- August 5, 2004: Photographed at a protest outside a President Bush campaign rally.
- September 17, 2004: Conditionally promoted to Command Sergeant Major.
- Early 2005: Battalion received warning order for mobilization to Iraq.
- May 16, 2005: Walz retired, leaving his battalion without its senior Non-Commissioned Officer as they prepared for deployment.
- September 10, 2005: Reduced to Master Sergeant as he failed to meet the conditions of his promotion and dropped out of the academy.
- November 2005: Offered to fundraise for his battalion’s Christmas trip while they trained for deployment.
- 2006-2007: Battalion deployed for 22 months. Walz elected to the House of Representatives in November 2006, claiming to be the highest-ranking enlisted service member ever to serve in Congress.
- November 1, 2006: Tom Hagen, Iraq War Veteran, wrote a critical letter to the editor of the Winona Daily News about Walz abandoning his unit. “Here are a couple of sentences from the letter: 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.”
- Walz’s Response: Claimed he reenlisted for four years and retired a year before his battalion’s deployment, despite official records showing a six-year reenlistment and retirement before the end of this period.
The former Command Sergeants Major of the Minnesota National Guard condemn Walz for resigning before fulfilling his responsibilities, not finishing the academy, and mischaracterizing his military service, ultimately letting down his country, state, unit, and comrades.
You can read Retired Command Sergeants Major Thomas Behrends and Paul Herr’s scathing letter here.
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13 Comments
Typical devildemocommiecrat, a coward and liar taking credit where none is due and lying about his military service for political gain!!!!! A radical skunk picked by harris because he is just like her, a radical anti-American putz who seeks only personal wealth and power!!!!!!!!!!
They was heavy fighting in Italy over the last meatball.
Just another Democratic loser. He disgusts me.
I personally am not surprised by this, does anyone really expect that a Democrat to tell to truth or uphold and follow through with their commitments?
Anyone who would run with Harris is trouble & a liar. He allowed the riots to go on in Minneapolis, killing people, ruining businesses, destroying property. He cares nothing for this country which is true of Harris. To put these two in the white house would destroy this country or what is left after all the damage Bidne has done.
Best thing about Walz and his state is that the criminal George Floyd is still dead.
Typical low evil unChristian Democrats. GOD SAVE US!!!
Another very low integrity wanna be leader. Please do not vote for these two..
Military fake reports reminds me of All Gore’s deceit to get out of Nam and the Army with a fake acceptance to Vanderbilt Divinity School. And when he got his discharge to become a preacher he got to Nashville and immediately ran for public office and never attended the Divinity School. His job in the Army in Nam was a reporter for Stars and Stripes and he lived with the civilian USA media in the best hotel in Saigon. All while his Dad was the biggest drunk in the US legislature. And then there is Bill Clinton who went to Arkansas on the ROTC program with the US Army paying for a great portion of his education and a 5 year obligation to the Army as an officer. He got out of it when he went to the UK on a Fulbright Scholarship but never a record of his attending classes (but a warrant for his arrest for rape was on the books for years). He was filmed running anti-Nam war rallies in Europe. When the Col in charge of Univ Ark ROTC contacted him in the UK that his draft number had been pulled he refused to return to the States. Then he was given an individual Presidential pardon by Jimmie Carter just prior to his general pardon for all Nam draft dodgers. Interesting that Carter also went to Annapolis on an appointment with a five year requirement after graduating yet he was able to leave the Navy early because his brother was deemed by the family to be too much of a drunk to run the family farm when their dad died. Carter never actually served on a submarine but was an aide to the submarine sevice commander Admiral Rickover. Biden probably got out of Nam because he was a politician and failed the intelligence test. All high ranking self-serving Demonacrats
Al Gore was a double college drop out.
And then of course there was Kerry who commited murder in Nam and then got out with so called three minor wounds and one of them was a stone bruise from a ricochet from his own weapon. They all got the idea from Lyndon B—d Johnson who wrote his own award of the Silver Star in the US Navy for action that NEVER happened while he spent WWII in Australia as a US Naval Officer who got his commission from being a US congressman. Also a war profiteer in Vietnam from the time Harry Truman got us involved on 27 June 1950 with a 10 year aid treaty with the French and their South Viet puppet government under Diem.
The lefty commiecrat stupid can’t be fixed.
Totally dishonorable! Minnesota in shambles, no wonder! Another commie!