Governor Tim Walz's military service has come under fire, with new allegations that he embellished his record and abandoned his unit on the eve of deployment to Iraq.
In a recent revelation, Governor Tim Walz's military service has come under scrutiny, with allegations that his record has been both exaggerated and tarnished.
In early 2005, the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion, which included Walz's position, received a warning order to prepare for deployment to Iraq. However, on May 16th, 2005, instead of deploying with his unit, Walz chose to retire, citing his intent to run for Congress. This decision left the battalion without its senior Non-Commissioned Officer as they prepared for war.
According to military protocols, Walz could have continued his service and requested permission from the Secretary of Defense to run for office, as other reservists have done. Instead, he opted for retirement, but in a manner that some have called into question. His official retirement document was marked with "SOLDIER NOT AVAILABLE FOR SIGNATURE," suggesting a lack of finality and proper processing.
On September 10th, 2005, Walz, who had been conditionally promoted to Command Sergeant Major, was reduced in rank to Master Sergeant. This demotion was due to his departure from the academy, a move considered highly unusual and unprecedented.
While his former battalion trained for war at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, in November 2005, Walz, now a retired Master Sergeant, offered to fundraise for their bus trip home over Christmas. The battalion was eventually deployed for 22 months from 2006 to 2007, during which time they were restricted by Army regulations from speaking out against a candidate for office. Walz was elected to the House of Representatives in November 2006.
Despite his claims of being the highest-ranking enlisted service member ever to serve in Congress, critics have pointed out that Walz's promotion to Command Sergeant Major was conditional and short-lived, and that he retired at the lower rank of Master Sergeant. This has led to accusations of "stolen valor," with some arguing that Walz has misrepresented his military credentials.
One of Walz's most vocal critics, Behrends, who replaced him on the Iraq deployment, has openly condemned Walz's actions. Behrends has expressed his frustration, stating, "He abandoned us. What the hell kind of leader does that?" He further accused Walz of misleading the public by continuing to refer to himself as a "Command Sergeant Major" despite his demotion.
Behrends also revealed that he attempted to address his concerns directly with Walz, sending letters to Washington in 2016, which went unanswered. He has since been outspoken about what he perceives as Walz's attempts to falsely elevate his military status. "It's stolen valor is really what it is," Behrends said, emphasizing that Walz's actions have undermined the accomplishments of those who legitimately held the rank of Command Sergeant Major.
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