Yikes! This is bad.
On Thursday, Vice President Kamala Harris was asked to address concerns regarding Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s service in the National Guard, particularly criticisms that he had abandoned his unit by retiring just before they were set to deploy to Iraq.
In her response, Harris, who is 59, chose to emphasize the commendable nature of military service. “I commend anyone who has dedicated themselves to serving our nation,” Harris stated. “This is something we should all recognize and support.”
Governor Walz, aged 60, completed a commendable 24-year tenure with the Minnesota National Guard before shifting his focus to politics. He retired from the Guard in May 2005, which coincided with his battalion’s preparation for deployment to Iraq. After his retirement, Walz transitioned into a political career, securing a seat in the House of Representatives by defeating Republican Gil Gutknecht in Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District. Notably, Walz’s opposition to the Iraq War was a key element of his campaign strategy.
Walz’s military background includes service with the 1st Battalion, 125th Field Artillery. Despite his long-standing commitment to the National Guard, some have criticized his decision to retire when his unit was preparing for deployment.
Recently, Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance, a Marine Corps veteran, criticized Walz’s military record. Vance, who made these comments during a campaign event in Michigan, questioned Walz’s war service and accused him of misrepresenting his military experience. “He has talked about the need to restrict weapons used in war from being available on our streets. But I question his own experience in war,” Vance asserted. He referred to a 2018 clip where Walz discussed the impact of gun violence and his military experience, suggesting that Walz might be exaggerating his service.
In addition, there was a controversy surrounding Walz’s official biography on his campaign website. It was noted that the biography incorrectly stated that Walz had retired as a command sergeant major. In reality, Walz retired as a master sergeant, having not completed the necessary coursework for the higher rank.
President Biden also praised Walz, describing him as “the real deal” in a recent statement to his former campaign staffers. This endorsement reinforces the positive view of Walz’s service and political contributions.
