J.D. Vance Unveils Walz’s ‘Stolen Valor’, Democrats in Deep Waters

The Republican vice-presidential candidate and Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance recently criticised Tim Walz, the Democratic Vice presidential candidate hailing from Minnesota. Vance, who himself served as a combat correspondent for the U.S. Marine Corps, questioned the authenticity of Walz’s military career. Labeling the allegations against Walz as ‘stolen valor’, Vance scrutinized Walz’s reluctance to deploy to Iraq during his tenure in the national guard. These insights were shared by Vance during a gathering at the police department in Shelby, Michigan on August 7.

Furthermore, Rep. Ronny Jackson of Texas, another reputable Republican, sided with Vance in his claims. Adding fuel to the fire, Jackson lambasted Walz for betraying the soldiers under his command owing to his refusal to stand shoulder to shoulder with them in Iraq. It’s notable that Walz decided to retire from the Minnesota National Guard in May 2005, roughly around the time when engagements in Iraq were at their peak.

Records indicate that Walz submitted his retirement paperwork five to seven months prior to his official retirement. This was reported by Fox News which attributed the information to the Minnesota National Guard. It raises questions about Walz’s commitment to his battalion and his fellow soldiers who were preparing for deployment to Iraq.

In March 2005, Walz received notification of possible deployment to Iraq within the next two years. This information was made public by Walz’s congressional campaign through an official press release. However, the Minnesota National Guard later clarified that the battalion was given an official mandate for deployment only in July 2005, post Walz’s retirement.

Walz, on his part, has always maintained that his reasons for leaving the army were linked to his ambitions to serve from within Congress. Pointing towards his filing of candidacy paperwork in February 2005, Walz argues that his decision was made even before the notification regarding the potential Iraq deployment was issued. However, these arguments have been leveraged against him by political opponents casting doubt on his legitimacy.

His Republican counterparts have repeatedly criticised Walz for leaving the National Guard before the unit was due to be deployed to Iraq. This line of attack manifested more prominently during Walz’s campaign for a second term as Minnesota’s governor in 2022 when questions concerning his military service became the centerpiece of opposition charges.

Exacerbating this scrutiny, two retired command sergeant majors from the Minnesota National Guard drafted an open letter in 2018 denouncing Walz. In their correspondence published by a popular Minnesota newspaper, the high-ranking officials accused Walz of embellishing facts related to his military service record.

While there are those who question his service and label his actions as desertion, some of Walz’s colleagues have come forward to defend him. However, amid the chorus of criticism from Republicans and retired military officials, their voices have often been drowned out. Despite these defenses, the credibility of his service record remains dubious.

Walz began his stint with the National Guard in Nebraska just two days after his 17th birthday in April 1981. He later transferred to the Minnesota National Guard in 1996 where he served until his controversial retirement in May 2005. Even his early commitment to the military at such a tender age is overshadowed by accusations of avoidance and desertion.

During his time in service, Walz was dispatched primarily for disaster relief operations including floods and tornadoes. He was trained in heavy artillery and achieved recognition for his sharpshooting skills and proficiency with hand grenades. These achievements, however, are often overlooked due to his questionable exit from military service.

In August 2003, Walz and his battalion were sent to Italy to assist US operations in Afghanistan under the banner of Operation Enduring Freedom. Upon completion of this mission, Walz returned to Minnesota in April 2004. Despite this overseas service, the criticism focused mainly on his reluctance to deploy to Iraq.

In the wake of his return to Minnesota, Walz officially took the step to retire from the Minnesota National Guard in May 2005. He began his campaign for Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District soon after. His decision to enter public service through politics was allegedly made after thorough consideration. Yet, his detractors argue that Walz used his retirement as an escape route, abandoning his comrades who were bracing for the confrontations in Iraq.

Two prominent figures who served alongside Walz in the Minnesota National Guard, Al Bonnifield and Doug Julin, confirmed this. They explained that Walz sought approval for early retirement before any official declaration about the unit’s deployment to Iraq was made. Notably, these retirements are often granted based on several factors and are not approved lightly, leading to further speculation about Walz’s motivation.

Barely three months after Walz’s retirement, in July 2005, Walz’s former battalion did indeed receive an alert order for mobilization to Iraq. Official orders, as per National Guard’s director of operations, Lt. Col. Ryan Rossman, were not issued until August 2005. This suggests that Walz’s decision to retire can be viewed as a conveniently timed escape.

Those serving with Walz admitted that there had been rumors of potential deployment to Iraq even before May 2005. Joseph Eustice, a long-serving military veteran, was among those who confirmed the existence of these rumors. It’s crucial to remember that military service is built on the premise of commitment and duty, both of which are cast in a doubtful light by Walz’s decision to retire amidst whispers of impending deployment.

Addressing these allegations, Vance blasted Walz during his Michigan speech, alleging that he abandoned his duty when his country needed him the most. Despite Walz’s attempts to justify his retirement by referencing his political ambitions, the Republicans remain skeptical. In the same vein, his decision to file his candidacy paperwork for Congress before his unit’s official deployment leaves room for speculation about his commitment to his military duties.