Walz's Military Record Under Review

In a recent political controversy, Mr. Vance has accused Minnesota Governor Tim Walz of intentionally avoiding combat during the Iraq War by resigning shortly before his unit's deployment. Vance claims that Walz has been dishonest about his military service, stating, “When Tim Walz was asked by his country to go to Iraq, you know what he did?” This assertion comes in light of Walz's 24 years of service in the Army National Guard, which primarily responds to domestic emergencies but is also part of the U.S. Army’s reserve. The allegations stem from a 2005 press release from Walz’s congressional campaign, which mentioned a potential mobilization of Minnesota National Guard troops to Iraq. Walz stated at the time that he was uncertain if his artillery unit would be included in the mobilization. His unit ultimately received orders to deploy to Iraq in July 2005, with deployment occurring in March 2006, according to the battalion's historical records. Vance further claims that Walz made misleading statements regarding his combat experience in a video related to gun control, where he suggested he had carried weapons in war. In response, a spokesperson for the Harris campaign defended Walz, asserting that he had indeed carried, fired, and trained others in the use of weapons throughout his service. Additionally, the Trump campaign has criticized Walz for allegedly misrepresenting his military rank, claiming he falsely asserts he retired as a Command Sergeant Major. In contrast, Vance's military background includes four years in the U.S. Marine Corps, during which he served as a military journalist in Iraq but did not engage in combat.