In the midst of a contentious confirmation battle for the position of Secretary of Defense, Fox News host Pete Hegseth is receiving an outpouring of support from veterans and servicemembers with whom he has served directly.
The Daily Caller has learned that 44 of these veterans, who served alongside Hegseth in Guantanamo Bay, Iraq, and Afghanistan, are signing a letter of support for him. This marks the first time a large group of veterans who served with Hegseth have publicly attested to his character.
As reported by the Daily Caller, the letter of support includes signatures from all three of Hegseth's direct commanders. The letter states, We, the undersigned, served directly with Pete Hegseth in the U.S. military either in Guantanamo Bay, Iraq, Afghanistan, or in various units. We come from all ranks and different experiences, but have one core thing in common: we FULLY support Pete Hegseths nomination to be the next Secretary of Defense. The letter goes on to praise Hegseth's "selfless leadership, love of his soldiers, and commitment to the country."
However, Hegseth's nomination has not been without controversy. Allegations of sexual misconduct and excessive drinking have surfaced, including a 2017 investigation into claims he sexually assaulted a woman, though no charges were filed. Other reports, citing anonymous sources, suggest that Hegseth, a former Fox News host, had issues with alcohol. The New York Times published a 2018 email from Hegseths mother in which she claimed her son had mistreated and belittled women.
Despite these allegations, the tide seems to be turning in Hegseth's favor. His mother appeared on Fox News to clarify that she sent the email in haste and had later apologized and retracted some of her words. Hegseth has been actively campaigning on Capitol Hill, attempting to win over Republicans who may be skeptical of his nomination.
A family member disclosed to the Caller that Hegseth has been receiving an overwhelming number of supportive messages from military personnel, some of whom are re-enlisting because of his potential leadership of the Defense Department. This family member shared, His wife, Jen was just telling me today, the stack of letters at their house each day of people mailing in just saying, like, Hey, were with you. Im reenlisting, or my son is enlisting because of you.
First Sgt. Eric Geressey, who served nearly two years with Hegseth in Iraq, told the Caller, Pete is a patriot and was an outstanding platoon leader who always led from the front and placed the troops first. He would always listen to the advice of his NCOs, assess the entire situation and then make the best decision possible at that time.
In addition to the support from those who served with him, an official from the Heritage Foundation told the Caller that 831 veterans and military personnel have signed a letter in support of Hegseth. SSGT Cliff Meros, Charlie Company, of the 2nd Battalion, 113th Infantry Brigade, praised Hegseth's leadership, stating, He was very by the book. He knew his stuff when a lot of Lieutenants dont know what they are doing but he came experienced. He was a soldiers soldier.
Despite the support, Hegseth has faced resistance from some conservatives, including Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, a combat veteran herself. Ernst has not publicly stated whether she would support Hegseth's nomination. However, after a recent meeting with Hegseth, Ernst gave a positive statement to Punchbowl, indicating a possible shift in her stance.
SGT Mark Tolley, who served at Guantanamo with Hegseth, told the Caller, Deployment to GITMO usually second LTs join a platoon and try to establish dominance right away. Pete came in confident and professional. Was always calm and communicated very well. He led by example and was a no-nonsense leader, but never had to raise his voice. He won over the platoon very quickly and every soldier became very loyal to him.
As Hegseth continues his campaign for confirmation, it is clear that his military service and leadership have left a lasting impression on those he served with. Despite the controversies surrounding his nomination, the support from his fellow servicemembers speaks volumes about his character and potential as Secretary of Defense.
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