Washington — Governor of Minnesota Team Worlds Defended on Tuesday his military record While he was under the GOP’s surveillance Become Kamala Harris’ Vice Presidential Running Mate Last week, he said he was proud of his military service and chastised Republicans for disparaging his record.
“These people… are even attacking me because of my military record, and I want to say that I am proud to have served my country and will continue to do so,” Walz said Tuesday at a campaign rally in Los Angeles.
Republicans have recently taken a hard look at Walz’s military record, claiming he exaggerated his military service. Senator JD VanceWHO Become former President Donald Trump’s running mate Last month, Vance accused Walz of being a “stolen valor garbage” for exaggerating his military service.
A former high school social studies teacher, coach and congressman, Walz served in the Nebraska and Minnesota Army National Guards. But some characterizations of the Minnesota governor’s service have been questioned, including his rank at the time of his retirement and the timing of his retirement. Vance, an Ohio Republican and Iraq War veteran, has been particularly vocal about claims surrounding Walz’s deployment and retirement from the Guard, suggesting that Walz retired in 2005 to avoid deployment to Iraq.
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Walz rose to the rank of sergeant but retired as a sergeant because he did not complete the U.S. Army Sergeant Academy course. CBS News Review Walls’ military records and statements from the Minnesota Army National Guard about Iraq show this. The records also show that Walls retired before his battalion was mobilized and deployed to Iraq.
As the investigation into Walz’s military service continues, Harris’s campaign has updated language on its website to more accurately reflect Walz’s rank, and said it “inadvertently” made a comment in 2018 implying Walz had served in combat.
The Minnesota governor said Tuesday at his first solo campaign event as a Democratic candidate that he signed up for the Army National Guard two days after his 17th birthday. “I served for 24 years for the same reason that all of my brothers and sisters in the military do: We love this country,” he said.
“I am so proud of my service to this country,” Walls said. “And I firmly believe that we should never diminish another person’s service record.”
He added that he had “a few quick words” to say to “anyone brave enough to wear that uniform for our great country,” including his opponent, Vance.
“Thank you for your service and sacrifice,” Waltz said.
Vance responded to the comments in a social media post on Tuesday, similarly thanking Walz for his service but adding a rebuke that “she shouldn’t have lied” and hinting at further discussion at the vice presidential debate.
James Laporta contributed to this report.
