Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who is also the Democratic vice presidential nominee, addressed criticisms regarding his military record during a speech at the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union convention in Los Angeles. Walz expressed pride in his service in the Army National Guard, stating, 'I’m proud to have served my country, and I always will be.'
Walz provided a detailed account of his military service, highlighting his enlistment in the Nebraska Army National Guard at the age of 17 and his 24 years of service in the National Guard. He also emphasized his work on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee during his tenure in Congress.
Responding to attacks from Republican figures, including GOP vice presidential candidate JD Vance, who questioned the accuracy of his military record, Walz reiterated his pride in his service and emphasized the importance of respecting each other's service records. He stated, 'I am damn proud of my service to this country, and I firmly believe you should never denigrate another person’s service record.'
The controversy surrounding Walz's military record escalated after a statement made during a 2018 campaign event where he claimed to have handled assault weapons 'in war' was deemed inaccurate by Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign. This led to accusations of 'stolen valor' from Vance, a former Marine Corps member, who defended his criticisms by stating that he was questioning Walz's statements rather than his actual service actions.
Walz's defense of his military record underscores the significance of honoring and respecting the service of all individuals who have served in the armed forces, regardless of political affiliations or differences in interpretation of past statements.
