Exposed: The Truth About Tim Walz’s Fabricated Military Service

In a political landscape where integrity and transparency are often in short supply, the recent revelations about Governor Tim Walz’s military service have struck a nerve. As a former Command Sergeant Major in the Minnesota National Guard, Walz has long leveraged his military background to bolster his political career. However, it has become increasingly clear that his narrative is not only misleading but a calculated embellishment designed to inflate his credentials and manipulate voters.

The Facts of the Matter

Tim Walz served in the National Guard for 24 years, during which time he rose to the rank of Command Sergeant Major, the highest enlisted rank in the Army. However, his retirement papers show that he retired as a Master Sergeant, a rank equivalent to E-8, because he did not complete the required coursework at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy​ (AOL.com)​ (WHYY). Despite this, Walz has frequently referred to himself as a “retired Command Sergeant Major,” a title that he never officially held at the time of his retirement.

This discrepancy is more than just a technicality; it is a deliberate attempt to inflate his military record. Walz’s claim that he served in combat and carried “weapons of war” is equally misleading, as records indicate that he never served in a combat zone​ (The Daily Dot). These fabrications are a blatant attempt to present himself as a battle-hardened veteran, a tactic that is both dishonest and deeply disrespectful to those who have actually served in combat.

A Pattern of Deception

This is not the first time that Walz has been accused of misrepresenting his military service. In 2018, fellow high-ranking sergeants from the Minnesota Guard accused him of “conveniently retiring” just before his battalion was deployed to Iraq, suggesting that he abandoned his unit to pursue a political career​ (WHYY). The fact that these accusations have persisted over the years indicates a pattern of deceit that cannot be ignored.

Moreover, the Harris-Walz campaign’s recent move to quietly amend his biography on their official website, changing his title from “retired Command Sergeant Major” to merely stating that he “served as Command Sergeant Major,” is an implicit admission of guilt. This kind of revisionism is not only disingenuous but also a betrayal of the public’s trust​ (POLITICO).

The Consequences of Stolen Valor

Embellishing one’s military service for political gain is not just a minor indiscretion; it is a serious offense that undermines the sacrifices of countless men and women who have served honorably. By inflating his military record, Walz has not only disrespected his fellow servicemen and women but also exploited the public’s admiration for military service to advance his political career.

This is a classic case of stolen valor, a term used to describe those who falsely claim military honors or experiences to which they are not entitled. In doing so, Walz has crossed a line that no public official should cross. If we cannot trust our leaders to be honest about their own histories, how can we trust them to lead our state or our nation?

A Call for Resignation

For the good of Minnesota and the integrity of our political system, Tim Walz must resign. His repeated embellishments and fabrications have disqualified him from holding public office. We deserve leaders who are honest about their past and who do not manipulate their records for political gain.

Walz’s resignation would be a step towards restoring faith in our political institutions and ensuring that those who serve the public do so with honor and integrity. Anything less would be a disservice to the people of Minnesota and to the brave men and women who have truly earned the military honors that Walz has so cavalierly claimed.