Vance Accuses Walz of “Stolen Valor,” Questions Timing of Guard Departure Amid Iraq Deployment

(KNSI) — Ohio Senator and Republican Vice Presidential nominee JD Vance, a former Marine who served in a noncombat role during the Iraq War, is accusing Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Democratic Vice Presidential nominee of “stolen valor.”

During a Wednesday campaign event in Detroit Wednesday, Vance said Walz abandoned his Minnesota Army National Guard unit just before it was deployed to Iraq. Vance also accused Walz of falsely claiming he carried a weapon during war, arguing that Walz never spent a day in combat. Walz was deployed in 2003, spending time in Europe and Turkey. He received a medal for that deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom where he reportedly taught soldiers how to properly handle and shoot their weapons.

Walz enlisted in Nebraska the day after he turned 17 in 1981 and reenlisted several times, including in 2001. Vance is raising questions about when Walz actually left the guard, which happened in 2005.

Walz is accused of abandoning his unit before they deployed to Iraq. Walz officially filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission for his run for Congress on February 10th, 2005. March 17th, 2005, the National Guard Public Affairs Office announced a possible partial mobilization of roughly 2,000 troops from the Minnesota National Guard. At the time, Walz held the rank of Command Sergeant Major in the 1-125th Battalion. The announcement from the National Guard PAO specified that all or a portion of Walz’s Battalion could be mobilized to serve in Iraq within the next two years, according to a press release.

Walz’s campaign issued a statement saying, “As Command Sergeant Major, I have a responsibility not only to ready my Battalion for Iraq but also to serve if called on. I am dedicated to serving my country to the best of my ability, whether that is in Washington, D.C., or in Iraq.”

“I don’t want to speculate on what shape my campaign will take if I am deployed, but I have no plans to drop out of the race. I am fortunate to have a strong group of enthusiastic supporters and a very dedicated and intelligent wife. Both will be a major part of my campaign, whether I am in Minnesota or Iraq.”

His service end date was May 16th, 2005. He retired as a master sergeant. He had been promoted to command sergeant major, but that was a provisional promotion, and Walz still needed to complete the coursework.

It is not clear whether he knew if the unit was being deployed before handing in his retirement paperwork. A former colleague told The Washington Post Walz told him he was considering leaving the guard to run for Congress even though it was preparing for deployment, adding he wondered if he could do more for the country as a policymaker rather than remain with his unit.

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