Tim Walz, a Democratic candidate for vice president, does not regret lying about his time in the Minnesota National Guard and has even hinted that it is unfair to criticize anyone who has served in the armed forces.
On Tuesday, while out campaigning, Walz talked about the growing backlash and criticism following the release of many tapes and remarks he and others had made about their service to the country during their time in office. There has been a certain pattern that Walz has adhered to, ranging from lying to say he “carried a weapon of war in combat” to failing to reprimand others who claimed to have served in Afghanistan.
“I’m happy to have served my country, and I always will be,” Walz said while addressing the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees union convention. “These folks… are even criticizing me for my record of service,” Walz remarked.
“I appreciate your assistance.” However, we shouldn’t have misled you about it.
He went on, “I am darn proud of my service to this country, and I truly think you should never belittle another person’s service record. I’m going to say it again as plainly as I can.” “I only have a few simple words to say to everyone who is brave enough to put on that uniform for our wonderful country: thank you for your service and sacrifice.”
“Hey Tim, I appreciate your assistance. However, you ought not to have lied about it. Saying that you went to battle when you didn’t is inappropriate. It was also false to say you were unaware that your unit was going to Iraq. In response to Walz, Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance stated, “Happy to discuss further in a debate.”
Years have passed since Walz first announced he would go with his soldiers to Iraq, and the criticism he received for abandoning his unit to compete for Congress in Minnesota instead of serving with them has followed him. John Kolb, Walz’s superior if he had gone on the deployment, recently broke his silence to criticize Walz for lying about his service.
“I do not regret Tim Walz’s early retirement,” Kolb said, adding that “Thomas Behrends, the guy who took his position, proved to be an excellent commander and was indispensable throughout their unit’s difficult task in Iraq.”
“I also don’t think poorly of his performance in the [Minnesota Army National Guard] as an E7 and E8. He was a capable Chief of Firing Battery or Gunnery Sergeant and First Sergeant, according to all sources and records. Sitting, frocked, in the [command sergeant major] chair, I cannot say the same about his service,” Kolb said. “He failed to meet the rank requirements or finish any assignments as an E9. His continued adherence to the title is an insult to the Noncommissioned Officer Corps. Even though I can sit in an airplane’s cockpit, I am not a pilot.”
