The Harris campaign has reportedly admitted that Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz “misspoke” about his military record, which includes claims of handling weapons used in war.
Walz, a 24-year veteran of the Minnesota National Guard, never served in a combat zone but had overseas deployments and support roles.
He retired before his unit was deployed to Iraq, and despite being selected for a higher rank, he retired as a master sergeant.
The campaign emphasized Walz’s stance against the availability of military-grade weapons on American streets, contrasting it with the pro-gun policies of Republicans like J.D. Vance and Donald Trump.
Earlier last week, it was reported that Walz had listed on his official biography a higher military rank than the one he retired with.
“Walz served in the Minnesota Army National Guard and retired at the rank of master sergeant, or an E-8. However, on his official website bio, he lists a higher rank that he served at for a short period that ultimately was rescinded, as he did not complete all the requirements to serve at that rank. However, his bio implies that he retired at the rank of command sergeant major, or an E-9,” Breitbart News reported.
Walz’ official bio claims that “after 24 years in the Army National Guard, Command Sergeant Major Walz retired from the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion in 2005. Tim won his first election to the United States House of Representatives in 2006 and was re-elected for another five terms serving Minnesota’s First Congressional District in Southern Minnesota.”
However, the Minnesota National Guard’s State Public Affairs Officer, Army Lt. Col. Kristen Augé, confirmed to Breitbart News that Walz did not retire as an E-9.
Two retired Army Command Sergeant Majors, Thomas Behrends and Paul Herr, wrote in a letter that Walz on September 17, 2004, was “conditionally promoted” to Command Sergeant Major but then later failed to meet the conditions of the promotion.
