Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, recently chosen as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate for the 2024 presidential election, is now at the center of a growing controversy over his military records — and whistleblowers are coming forward in scores.
Former military colleagues and political opponents are questioning Walz’s claims about his service in the Minnesota National Guard, leading to accusations of “stolen valor” by the Minnesota Democrat.
The dispute focuses on two main issues: Walz’s military rank and his deployment history.
According to military records, Walz retired from the National Guard in 2005 at the rank of Master Sergeant. However, he has often referred to himself as a retired Command Sergeant Major, which is a higher rank. While this difference might seem small to civilians, in military circles it’s a significant distinction.
John Kolb, who served as a lieutenant colonel commanding Walz’s former unit, came forward as a whistleblower and criticized the governor’s claims.
“He did not earn the rank or successfully complete any assignment as an E9,” Kolb said on Facebook. E9 is the pay grade for Command Sergeant Major. Kolb added, “It is an affront to the Noncommissioned Officer Corps that he continues to glom onto the title.”
A second controversy involves Walz’s statements about his deployment history. In a 2018 video that has resurfaced, Walz discussed gun control and mentioned “weapons of war, that I carried in war.”
While military records show that while Walz did serve overseas, his deployments were to Italy and Norway — not to war zones like Iraq or Afghanistan.
Walz retired from the National Guard in 2005, just months before his unit was deployed to Iraq. This timing has led critics to accuse Walz of avoiding combat deployment, though retiring to avoid deployment is not usually against military rules.
The Harris campaign has made some changes in response to the growing scrutiny. They’ve updated Walz’s biography on their website, changing it from “retired Command Sergeant Major” to “served as a command sergeant major.”
Tony Kurtz, a Minnesota Republican state lawmaker and veteran of the Persian Gulf War, has been particularly vocal in his criticism.
In an opinion piece, Kurtz wrote, “At what point is he no longer ‘misrepresenting’ and instead lying?” Kurtz argues that Walz’s statements go beyond simple mistakes and represent a pattern of misrepresentation.
The Trump campaign, led by strategist Chris LaCivita, has indicated they plan to focus on this issue in the coming months.
They’re drawing comparisons to the “Swift Boat” campaign used against John Kerry in the 2004 presidential election, which attacked Kerry’s military record. J.D. Vance, Trump’s running mate and a veteran himself, is expected to lead these attacks against Walz.
As the controversy continues to unfold, there has been growing calls for Walz to provide a clear explanation of his military service.
The Harris-Walz campaign has yet to provide a comprehensive response to these allegations. As the election approaches, voters will likely seek clarity on Walz’s military record and how it aligns with his public statements over the years.