Written by Robert Thompson.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, now Kamala Harris’s running mate, faces serious accusations regarding his military service. According to several National Guard members who served with him, Walz has “embellished and selectively omitted facts of his military career for years.” These claims first surfaced in a 2018 open letter on Facebook, coinciding with Walz’s initial run for governor.
The Daily Wire reported on the letter, which accuses Walz of abandoning his unit as they prepared for deployment to Iraq. After serving 20 years, Walz re-enlisted in 2001 following the Sept. 11 attacks. He was set to serve seven more years but retired after four to run for Congress, serving until he became governor in 2018.
Retired Command Sergeants Major Thomas Behrends and Paul Herr stated, “On May 16th, 2005, [Walz] quit, betraying his country, leaving the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion and its Soldiers hanging; without its senior Non-Commissioned Officer, as the battalion prepared for war.” At the time, Walz claimed he was leaving to pursue a political career.
Discrepancies in Walz’s Military Exit
Behrends and Herr argue Walz could have sought permission from the Department of Defense to run for office. They criticized his departure, stating, “If he had retired normally and respectfully, you would think he would have ensured his retirement documents were correctly filled out and signed, and that he would have ensured he was reduced to Master Sergeant for dropping out of the academy.” Instead, they claim he “slithered out the door and waited for the paperwork to catch up to him.”
The letter also points out that Walz’s retirement documents were marked “SOLDER NOT AVAILABLE FOR SIGNATURE” and highlighted an attempt he made to fundraise for his former battalion’s Christmas trip back home. “The same Soldiers he had abandoned just months before, trying to buy their votes,” wrote Behrends and Herr.
On Nov. 3, 2006, Walz dismissed these accusations as falsehoods. The claims, originally raised by Tom Hagen, a Minnesota military reservist who served in Iraq, in a letter to the editor of The Winona Daily News, have resurfaced as Walz’s political profile grows.
Walz’s Response to the Allegations
In response to Hagen’s allegations—first made 12 years prior—Walz explained, “After completing 20 years of service in 2001, I re-enlisted to serve our country for an additional four years following Sept. 11 and retired the year before my battalion was deployed to Iraq in order to run for Congress.” He further defended his record by adding, “I’m proud of the 24 years I served our country in the Army National Guard. There’s a code of honor among those who’ve served, and normally this type of partisan political attack comes only from one who’s never worn a uniform.”
Walz’s rebuttal seeks to reaffirm his dedication and service, but the controversy surrounding his military career continues to raise questions about his integrity and leadership. As the political spotlight intensifies, these allegations could impact his and Harris’s campaign.
Our Take
The controversy over Tim Walz’s military service raises significant concerns about trust and leadership. The allegations suggest that Walz may have manipulated his military record for political gain, undermining the sacrifices of those who serve honorably. This situation not only casts doubt on his character but also highlights the broader issue of accountability among public officials. For the public, it’s crucial to ensure that those who seek high office are transparent and honest about their past, especially when it involves military service. This matter reflects poorly on the administration and raises questions about the standards we hold our leaders to.
