Tim Walz Misrepresents Military Service, Says New York Times

Military experts have raised concerns regarding the accuracy of claims made by Democrat vice-presidential candidate Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota about his military service. According to a report by the New York Times, four military specialists indicated that while they refrained from labeling his actions as “stolen valor,” they agreed that Walz had misrepresented aspects of his military career. Doug Sterner, a military historian involved in drafting the Stolen Valor Act, pointed out inaccuracies in Walz's assertion of holding the rank of “retired command sergeant major.” Retired Special Forces major Kevin Knapp criticized Walz's claim, suggesting it was a deliberate misrepresentation rather than an innocent mistake. He emphasized that such claims are particularly significant, as military personnel are typically well-versed in the requirements for attaining specific ranks. Another expert, a retired Navy corpsman who wished to remain anonymous, noted that Walz's references to being a command sergeant major were especially notable given the rigorous standards for such a title. The Times report also highlighted that Walz did not correct others who referred to him as an “Afghanistan veteran,” despite not having served there. This revelation comes as Democrats attempt to downplay the controversy, with Sen. Tammy Duckworth defending Walz and labeling Republican critiques as “despicable.” Duckworth inaccurately reiterated Walz's claimed rank, expressing enthusiasm for his military experience in a potential vice-presidential role.