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National Guard veterans who served with Tim Walz tell Megyn Kelly he's a 'coward' and a 'military impersonator' for exaggerating his record
Four veterans who served with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz came forward Monday to publicly criticize the description of his service in the National Guard, as well as his decision to retire from service and run for Congress right before the unit was deployed to Iraq.
Retired Command Sergeant Major Tom Behrends, retired Brigade Sergeant Major Paul Herr, retired Sergeant First Class Tom Schilling, and retired National Guard veteran Rodney Tow, appeared on The Megyn Kelly Show to detail their criticisms of Walz and the exaggerations of his service record.
The group detailed their frustrations with Walz, particularly after he decided to retire shortly after he learned that the unit would be deployed to Iraq in 2005. All four of them were deployed to Iraq without him.
'[H]e told me and other Sergeant Majors in the meetings that you can count on me, I will deploy with my unit. His words to my ears and others,' Herr said.
The four veterans spoke about men in their unit who lost their lives in Iraq, while Walz remained in the United States, using his military service for political gain.
Pictured: L-R, Paul Herr, Rodney Tow, Tom Behrends and Tom Schilling. September 2, 2024: The Megyn Kelly Show
They described his decision to leave the unit as devastating for military morale.
'That's a morale crusher. It chews away at the fabric of the military and its ability to do its mission. And it's just it may not legally be wrong, it is morally indefensible,' Herr said.
Schilling was in the unit led by Walz when he left and said he was shocked to hear the news.
National Guard veterans who served with TIm Walz detailed their complaints about frequent exaggerations about his record
National Guard veterans who served with Tim Walz criticized him for retiring after he learned the unit was deploying to Iraq
'He just quit and turned his back on us,' he said. 'I don't understand how he could do it morally, or where you have absolutely no integrity.'
They also criticizes Walz' decision to describe himself as a 'retired Command Sergeant Major' even though he was just a Sergeant Major when he officially retired. (Although Walz ultimately received the title of Command Sergeant Major, he did not retire as one.)
'He was literally a Sergeant Major, on paper, conditionally promoted for 14 days,' Herr said.
The group condemned Walz for repeatedly describing himself as a retired Command Sergeant Major, even though he had been called out by veterans for exaggerating his record.
Walz has been accused of skipping out on his National Guard unit in 2005 to begin his political career just before it deployed to Iraq. He served 24 years after enlisting at the age of 17
Walz, who is currently serving as the Governor of Minnesota , joined the National Guard after high school and served 24 years in the 1st Battalion, 125th Field Artillery, rising to the rank of command sergeant major
'If you knew my blood was boiling right now because Walz has done nothing but lie to feather his own bed his entire career,' Herr said. 'That's how I know. I was there.'
They said it was inconceivable that it was a innocent mistake, and that Walz should have corrected the record and apologized years ago.
The group also condemned him for allowing others to describe him as he a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom, the military mission in Afghanistan, and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq. Walz was deployed to Italy in 2003, but never served in Afghanistan or Iraq.
'You were in Italy ... when you're sucking down a latte, and people are getting shot at, there's a big difference,' Herr said.
Megyn Kelly is joined by four veterans who served in the National Guard with Gov. Tim Walz and in his unit that deployed to Iraq
Democratic presidential nominee and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and vice presidential nominee Minnesota Governor Tim Walz
The veterans also called out Walz' initial refusal to deploy National Guard troops during the George Floyd riots in Minneapolis, describing the force as '19 year olds who were cooks.'
During his political career, Walz also spoke about ‘using a weapon of war’ in combat, even though he was never deployed overseas.
'This guy he's a military impersonator… he said it so many times that it just makes a person sick hearing it,' Behrands said.
The veterans also called out Walz' initial refusal to deploy National Guard troops during the George Floyd riots in Minneapolis, describing the force as '19 year olds who were cooks.'
Tim Walz and his wife Gwen Walz wave before boarding a campaign plane
Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz speaks at the Milwaukee Area Labor Council's Laborfest
They described Walz' description of the force as an 'insult' to the entire state National Guard.
When Kelly asked the four veterans to raise their hand if they believed that Walz had 'cut and run,' all four of them did so.
'Fear is a reaction. Bravery is a decision,' Herr said. 'And Walz has made the wrong decision. He's not brave. I call him a coward because he is. Because he took the easy path. He took the path of least resistance.'