Democratic vice-presidential nominee Tim Walz has recently come under fire for alleged false claims regarding his military record.
In a recent interview with Megyn Kelly, four veterans who served alongside Walz before his political career came forward to discuss the controversy.
The veterans, including retired Command Sergeant Majors and a retired First Sergeant, provided insight into Walz's military career and the impact of his actions on his fellow servicemen.
According to The Post Millennial, the veterans who joined Kelly were retired Command Sergeant Major Tom Behrends, retired Sergeant First Class Tom Schilling, retired Command Sergeant Major Paul Herr, and Rodney Town, a retired First Sergeant who served as a peer to Walz. The group discussed Walz's alleged stolen valor scandal, a controversy that has seen Walz accused of falsely claiming to have held the position of Command Sergeant Major multiple times throughout his political career.
The veterans were asked about Walz's decision to leave his position prior to his unit's deployment to Iraq in the spring of 2005. Behrends, who took over Walz's position, told Kelly, "I spent 34 years in the Army, almost 13 of those as a Sergeant Major." He went on to express his disappointment in Walz's actions, stating, "that's a morale crusher. It screws away at the fabric of the military and its ability to do its mission ... It may not legally be wrong. It is morally indefensible."
The group unanimously agreed that Walz would have been aware of the impending deployment to Iraq before receiving official orders. Town, reflecting on Walz's actions, said, "I don't know how he could live with himself after he did that to his soldiers. ... That military unit that is the same thing as a family, that's your military family." He accused Walz of abandoning his men and questioned his integrity.
Schilling also criticized Walz for implying that he had taken weapons into combat, stating, "I mean, what he said, about going into combat, that's sacred. Because people lose their lives, limbs. Sometimes they have kids at home."
The veterans expressed their belief that Walz did not honor his role in the military. Upon his retirement, Walz's position was downgraded from Command Sergeant Major to Master Sergeant due to his failure to complete the necessary qualifications for the higher rank. The veterans called for Walz to publicly apologize for his false claims regarding his military record.
In a letter, Behrends wrote about Walz, "In early 2005, a warning order was issued to the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion, which included the position [Walz] was serving in, to prepare to be mobilized for active duty for a deployment to Iraq. On May 16th, 2005 he quit, leaving the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion and its Soldiers hanging; without its senior Non-Commissioned Officer, as the battalion prepared for war." This controversy surrounding Walz's military record continues to raise questions about his integrity and commitment to service.
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