Congressional Veterans Condemn Walz for Stolen Valor
“You’ve … demonstrated your … lack of honor through your blatant misrepresentations exploiting and co-opting the experiences of America’s combat veterans for personal gain.”
In my comprehensive analysis on Tim Walz’s well-documented stolen valor lies, I included a footnote regarding current Veterans in the 118th Congress. There are 80 House Veterans and 17 Senate Veterans, less than 10% of whom served in the National Guard. Predictably, about 75% of those Veterans are Republicans, and the ratio of those having served deployments in combat zones is 5:1 Republican.
In a letter to Walz, 50 of those Veteran members of Congress condemned him for his egregious stolen valor claims.
To Governor Tim Walz:
The Office of the Vice President is a position that requires the trust of the American people and a solemn commitment to duty on behalf of the United States of America. As veterans who have served our nation, we feel compelled to address your egregious misrepresentations and urge you to come clean to the American people.
You have stated that you are “damn proud” of your service, and like any American veteran, you should be. But there is no honor in lying about the nature of your service. Repeatedly claiming to be a “Retired Command Sergeant Major” when you did not complete the requirements was not honorable. Nor was it honorable to claim to carry weapons “in war” when you had not served in war, and abandoning the men and women under your leadership just as they were getting ready to deploy was certainly not honorable either.
To be blunt, when you falsely claim military service that did not happen and abandon your post, you diminish the real sacrifices made by veterans who did serve in combat. Military service is not merely a job or a uniform. Those who serve in the Armed Forces endure rigorous training, face perilous situations, and make sacrifices that most civilians can’t comprehend. The honor of wearing the uniform is earned through dedication, bravery, and an unwavering sense of duty. You have displayed none of these characteristics as you have lied your way through a political career launched on the foundation of a title you did not earn and combat deployments you did not take part in.
In short, our grave concern stems from the fact that the office of the Vice President is one heartbeat away from becoming the Commander-In-Chief. You’ve already demonstrated your unwillingness to lead in time of war and a lack of honor through your blatant misrepresentations exploiting and co-opting the experiences of America’s combat veterans for personal gain.
As a result, America’s veterans and service members are rightfully concerned about what would happen to them should you ascend to the Presidency. When America asked you to lead your troops into War, you turned your back on your troops. You have violated the trust of our brothers and sisters in arms. Their blood, sweat, and sacrifice are the only reason our nation is able to exist. Until you admit you lied to them, there is no way you can be trusted to serve as Vice President.
Sincerely,
Brian Mast, Chair of Veterans and Military Families for Trump U.S. Representative (FL-21) Staff Sergeant - U.S. Army (Ret.)
Joni Ernst, U.S. Senator (IA); Lieutenant Colonel - Army National Guard (Ret.)
Roger Marshall, U.S. Senator (KS); Captain - U.S. Army Reserve (Ret.)
Rick Scott, U.S. Senator (FL); Petty Officer Third Class - U.S. Navy (Ret.)
Roger Wicker, U.S. Senator (MS); Lieutenant Colonel - U.S. Air Force Reserve (Ret.)
Brian Babin, U.S. Representative (TX-36); Captain - U.S. Air Force (Ret.)
Don Bacon, U.S. Representative (NE-02); Brigadier General - U.S. Air Force (Ret.)
Jim Baird, U.S. Representative (IN-04); First Lieutenant - U.S. Army (Ret.)
Jim Banks, U.S. Representative (IN-03); Lieutenant - U.S. Navy Reserve (Ret.)
Jack Bergman, U.S. Representative (MI-01); Lieutenant General - U.S. Marine Corps Reserve (Ret.)
Mike Bost, U.S. Representative (IL-12); Corporal - U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.)
Mike Carey, U.S. Representative (OH-15); U.S. Army Reserve (Ret.)
Eli Crane, U.S. Representative (AZ-02); Petty Officer First Class - U.S. Navy (Ret.)
Warren Davidson, U.S. Representative (OH-08); Captain - U.S. Army (Ret.)
Neal Dunn, U.S. Representative (FL-02); Major - U.S. Army (Ret.)
Jake Ellzey, U.S. Representative (TX-06); Commander - U.S. Navy (Ret.)
Pat Fallon, U.S. Representative (TX-04); Captain - U.S. Air Force (Ret.)
Scott Fitzgerald, U.S. Representative (WI-05); Lieutenant Colonel - U.S. Army Reserve (Ret.)
Scott Franklin, U.S. Representative (FL-18); Commander - U.S. Navy (Ret.)
Tony Gonzales, U.S. Representative (TX-23), Master Chief Petty Officer - U.S. Navy (Ret.)
Mark Green, U.S. Representative (TN-07); Major - U.S. Army (Ret.)
Brett Guthrie, U.S. Representative (KY-02); First Lieutenant - U.S. Army (Ret.)
Clay Higgins, U.S. Representative (LA-03); Staff Sergeant - Army National Guard (Ret.)
Wesley Hunt, U.S. Representative (TX-38); Captain - U.S. Army (Ret.)
Darrell Issa, U.S. Representative (CA-48); Captain - U.S. Army (Ret.)
Ronny Jackson, U.S. Representative (TX-13); Rear Admiral - U.S. Navy (Ret.)
Jen Kiggans, U.S. Representative (VA-02); U.S. Navy (Ret.)
Nick LaLota, U.S. Representative (NY-01); Lieutenant - U.S. Navy (Ret.)
Greg Lopez, U.S. Representative (CO-04); U.S. Air Force (Ret.)
Barry Loudermilk, U.S. Representative (GA-11); Staff Sergeant - U.S. Air Force (Ret.)
Anna Paulina Luna, U.S. Representative (FL-13); Senior Airman - U.S. Air Force (Ret.)
Rich McCormick, U.S. Representative (GA-06); Commander - U.S. Navy (Ret.)
Max Miller, U.S. Representative (OH-07); Corporal - U.S. Marine Corps Reserve (Ret.)
Mariannette Miller-Meeks, U.S. Representative (IA-01); Lieutenant Colonel - U.S. Army (Ret.)
Cory Mills, U.S. Representative (FL-07); Sergeant - U.S. Army (Ret.)
Barry Moore, U.S. Representative (AL-02); Staff Sergeant - Army National Guard (Ret.)
Troy Nehls, U.S. Representative (TX-22); Major - U.S. Army Reserve (Ret.)
Zach Nunn, U.S. Representative (IA-03); Colonel - U.S. Air Force Reserve
Scott Perry, U.S. Representative (PA-10); Brigadier General - Army National Guard (Ret.)
August Pfluger, U.S. Representative (TX-11); Colonel - U.S. Air Force (Ret.)
Guy Reschenthaler, U.S. Representative (PA-14); Lieutenant - U.S. Navy (Ret.)
Hal Rogers, U.S. Representative (KY-05); Staff Sergeant - Army National Guard (Ret.)
Keith Self, U.S. Representative (TX-03); Lieutenant Colonel - U.S. Army (Ret.)
Gregory Steube, U.S. Representative (FL-17); Captain - U.S. Army (Ret.)
William Timmons, U.S. Representative (SC-04); Captain - Air National Guard
Derrick Van Orden, U.S. Representative (WI-03); Senior Chief Petty Officer - U.S. Navy (Ret.)
Michael Waltz, U.S. Representative (FL-06); Colonel - Army National Guard (Ret.)
Brandon Williams, U.S. Representative (NY-22); Lieutenant - U.S. Navy (Ret.)
Joe Wilson, U.S. Representative (SC-02); Colonel - Army National Guard (Ret.)
Ryan Zinke, U.S. Representative (MT-01); Commander - U.S. Navy (Ret.)
Bottom line: If you are giving Walz a pass on his disgraceful record of stolen valor, you are spitting on the service of EVERY Veteran and their families, particularly those who were killed or severely wounded in the service of our nation, and their gravesites.
Footnote: For perspective on the real Tim Walz, consider what his older brother Jeff has to say about Tim’s record: “I’m 100% opposed to all his ideology. … The stories I could tell. Not the type of character you want making decisions about your future.” Asked about endorsing Trump, Jeff said: “I’ve thought long and hard about doing something like that! I’m torn between that and just keeping my family out of it.”
Semper Vigilans Fortis Paratus et Fidelis
Pro Deo et Libertate — 1776
