JD Vance, Tim Walz and “Stolen Valor” – Compare and Contrast Vance and Walz

Women are Essential to our Miliary!

Hypocrisy?

Medal of Honor Recipients:

Stories of Sacrifice

A typical MAGA lie:

Spread by others,

Minnesota National Guard Staff Lineages

“1st Battalion, 125th Field Artillery Commanders”

“LTC John Kolb, Aug. 1, 2005 – Dec. 2, 2007”

HMM…..

He filed to run for Congress in February 2005.

In March, the military raised the possibility of his unit being deployed to Iraq.

Two months later, Walz officially retired.

Two months after that, his old unit was notified of its mobilization.

Anyone see the problem with MAGA folks saying Kolb was Walz’s Commanding Officer?

Stolen Valor Act: All You Need To Know

“The Stolen Valor Act is meant to help protect service members and their reputations and identities. It’s also a defense against any false claim of military decoration, stopping people from lying about awards, medals or other recognitions. However, like most legislation, the Stolen Valor Act is an ongoing story — one that’s about to get more complicated.”

18 U.S. Code § 704 – Military medals or decorations

Stars and Stripes:

Walz credits National Guard service with sharpening leadership skills he hopes to use as vice president

A fellow soldier:

The Truth:

Timeline of Walz’s National Guard retirement revealed

“The accusations stem from a Facebook post by a pair of soldiers back in 2018 when Walz first ran for governor.

“They make it sound like it was, it was a surprise,” said Master Sgt. Thomas Eustice. “It was not. He had talked about it for a very long time, not only with the higher ups, but with his soldiers.”

The true timeline of Walz’s National Guard departure after 24 years of service looks like this:

• He filed to run for Congress in February 2005.
• In March, the military raised the possibility of his unit being deployed to Iraq.
• Two months later, Walz officially retired.
• Two months after that, his old unit was notified of its mobilization.

Master Sgt. Eustice served with and under Walz for many years in the Guard.

He says the governor was a good leader and a good soldier.

He feels like the attacks on Walz’s service are out of bounds and coming from people still bitter about losing promotions to the future VP candidate.

“I don’t agree with a lot of his politics, but Tim Walz is a good man, and he was a good soldier,” Eustice said. “And for people to vilify him, it’s just not right.”

We heard from three other members of the unit as well.

They all have issues with his politics, but said his service was honorable or better.”

U.S. Army Retirement Planning Guide 2024

“Use the timeline on the next page as your starting point for retiring from active duty. It starts 36 months before you want to
retire. Drilling Reserve Component Soldiers are required to attend their component’s Retirement Planning Seminar
(usually a full Saturday) between their 18th and 20th years of service, no matter how long they plan to serve. The
Retirement Services Officer (RSO) or your military personnel officer can provide a more detailed checklist that addresses
local requirements.”

Attacks on Walz’s Military Record

“Walz retired on May 16, 2005. Walz’s brigade received alert orders for mobilization on July 14, 2005, according to the National Guard and MPR News. The official mobilization report came the following month, and the unit mobilized and trained through the fall. It was finally deployed to Iraq in the spring of 2006.”

Is Tim Walz guilty of stolen valor? The truth behind GOP military service accusations

“As he ramped up for a congressional bid in 2005, Walz’s campaign in March issued a statement saying he still planned to run despite a possible mobilization of Minnesota National Guard soldiers to Iraq. According to the Guard, Walz retired from service in May of that year.

In August 2005, the Department of the Army issued a mobilization order for Walz’s unit. The unit mobilized in October of that year before it deployed to Iraq in March 2006.

Despite his having retired several months before the deployment order was issued, it’s the fact that Walz left the service ahead of his unit’s departure that Republicans have pointed to in attempts to argue that he was aiming to avoid being sent to a combat zone.

By the time Walz left the military entirely, he had achieved the rank of command sergeant major, one of the top ranks for an enlisted soldier. But personnel files show that he was reduced in rank months after retiring, leaving him as a master sergeant for benefits purposes. Minnesota National Guard officials have said that Walz retired before completing coursework at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, along with other requirements associated with his promotion.”

J.D. Vance Served in the Marines in an Unexpected Role

“What did J.D. Vance do in the Marines?

Vance, who was born James D. Hamel, was previously a Marine Corps combat correspondent with the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, per The Washington Times. Indeed, he was deployed as a combat correspondent from 2003 to 2007.

The would-be VP has written extensively about his time in the Marines, including covering the subject in his bestselling tome, Hillbilly Elegy. In the book, which was turned into a movie, Vance wrote, “The Marine Corps taught me how to live like an adult.”

Vance also wrote about his time in Iraq for the military, saying about his role in a PR capacity, “I was lucky to escape any real fighting but which affected me deeply nonetheless.””