Democratic VP nominee Tim Walz's military service is under scrutiny after a veteran from his battalion disputed his claims of carrying weapons in war.
Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz is facing questions about his military service after a retired command sergeant major who served in his battalion cast doubt on his claims of carrying weapons in battle.
Walz, who served in the National Guard for 25 years, has stated that he "carried weapons of war, that I carried in war," but a veteran from his battalion, Thomas Behrends, claims that Walz skirted any skirmishes and retired instead, leaving his troops behind.
Tim Walz's War Record Questioned After Claims of Carrying Weapons in Battle
Behrends, a retired Command Sergeant Major, told Fox News' Ingraham Angle that Walz's statement "would mean that he was actually in combat, carrying a weapon in a combat zone and getting combat pay and in a dangerous and hostile environment where he is getting shot at." Behrends claims that Walz never engaged in combat and accuses him of making false claims about his military service.
Walz's military record shows that he served in the National Guard for 24 years, but it does not specify whether he was deployed to a war zone. During his time in the Guard, there were two wars in Iraq and one in Afghanistan, but there is no record of Walz's participation in any of them.
Tim Walz's War Record Questioned After Claims of Carrying Weapons in Battle
The Minnesota National Guard has stated that Walz was part of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) while he was stationed in Italy with his unit in 2005, but that he retired before his unit went into battle. The National Guard explained that Walz's battalion was sent to Europe to train units in artillery, and that he officially served in OEF by being deployed overseas in support of the operation, regardless of whether he touched foot in Afghanistan.
Walz's office has not yet provided a comment on the allegations.
Tim Walz's War Record Questioned After Claims of Carrying Weapons in Battle
Trump's running mate JD Vance, a former Marine Corps veteran, has also accused Walz of deserting his unit right before they went to Iraq. Vance made these remarks while speaking at an event in Michigan.
Fox News reporter Jennifer Griffin contributed to this story.
Tim Walz's War Record Questioned After Claims of Carrying Weapons in Battle
The accusations against Walz have raised questions about his fitness for the vice presidency. If elected, Walz would be responsible for advising the president on military matters.
