However, some of those who served with him insist that his record is exaggerated – and the accusations have been flying since well before he joined Harris’s ticket. To set the record straight, a group of retired Command Sergeants Major from the Minnesota National Guard published a letter back in 2018 outlining the true nature of his service record.
According to information provided by people who served with him or had firsthand knowledge of the circumstances of his service, he reenlisted in the National Guard in 2001 and was chosen to take part in the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy in early 2003. His participation meant agreeing to a few stipulations. One of them is serving for two years after graduating or being promoted to Sergeant Major or Command Sergeant Major, while those who fail to complete the course will have their rank reduced to Master Sergeant.
He deployed with the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion in 2003 to Italy. After returning in 2004, he was chosen to serve as Command Sergeant Major of the battalion. Then, in early 2005, the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion received a warning order to prepare for mobilization for active duty in Iraq, including the position Walz was serving.
However, he decided to quit in May, leaving his battalion and its soldiers hanging and without their senior officer as they got ready for war. He said the reason for quitting was to run for Congress. However, a Department of Defense directive states that he could have run for office and asked the Secretary of Defense for permission before entering active duty, which is something that many other reservists have done in the past.
In September of 2005, Walz saw his position reduced from conditionally promoted Command Sergeant Major to Master Sergeant.
Meanwhile, his battalion was serving a 22-month deployment from 2006 to 2007. At the time, the members of his battalion were not allowed to speak out against him, as a candidate for office, due to army regulations. This meant that those with direct knowledge of his status were unable to dispute the claims he made about his service record.
Iraq war veteran Tom Hagen wrote a letter to the editor of the Winona Daily News in November 2006 drawing attention to how Walz handled the situation, noting: “But even more disturbing is the fact that Walz quickly retired after learning that his unit -- southern Minnesota's 1-125 FA Battalion -- would be sent to Iraq. For Tim Walz to abandon his fellow soldiers and quit when they needed experienced leadership most is disheartening.”
The National Guard members closed their own letter with a rundown of Walz’s questionable record, reiterating that he didn't complete the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy. He also quit before fulfilling the six years enlistment he signed in September 2001, nor did he serve for two years following his conditional promotion to Command Sergeant Major.
Vance accuses Walz of "stolen valor garbage"
“He failed his country. He failed his state. He failed the Minnesota Army National Guard, the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion, and his fellow Soldiers. And he failed to lead by example. Shameful,” they stated.
Senator JD Vance (R-Ohio) has also called Walz out on his military record, stating: "When Tim Walz was asked by his country to go to Iraq, you know what he did? He dropped out of the army and allowed his unit to go without him, a fact that he's been criticized for aggressively by a lot of the people that he served with."
He also stated: “What bothers me about Tim Walz is the stolen valor garbage."
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