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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/former-leader-walzs-battalion-publishes-scathing-message-aimed-governors-military-career-report
Former leader of Walz's battalion publishes scathing message aimed at governor's military career: Report
Minnesota Gov Tim Walz is facing additional 'stolen valor' criticisms
By Emma Colton Fox News
Published August 12, 2024 10:55am EDT
Military vets view Tim Walz as an 'unforgivable coward': Thomas Behrends
The battalion commander of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s former Minnesota
Army National Guard unit issued a scathing message to Vice President
Kamala Harris’ running mate amid mounting "stolen valor" accusations, according to media reports.
"I do not regret that Tim Walz retired early from the Minnesota National
Guard, did not complete the Sergeants Major Academy, broke his
enlistment contract or did not successfully complete any assignment as a Sergeant Major. Unwittingly, he got out of the way for better
leadership," John Kolb wrote on Facebook, the Daily Mail reported.
Kolb served as a lieutenant colonel of the 1st Battalion, 125th Field
Artillery from 2005 to 2007, the Minnesota National Guard shows on its
website. Walz served in the same battalion until 2005, when he retired
ahead of the battalion deploying to Iraq that same year.
Kolb now works as an attorney in Minnesota. Fox News Digital contacted
Kolb for confirmation on the Facebook post and additional comment on
Walz’s military service but did not receive a reply prior to publication.
WALZ ACCUSATIONS OF 'STOLEN VALOR' PROMPT BATTLE BETWEEN HOUSE VETERANS
Tim Walz closeup shot
Democratic vice presidential candidate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, speaks
during a campaign event on Aug. 7, 2024 in Detroit. Vice President
Kamala Harris and Walz are campaigning across the country this week.
(Andrew Harnik)
Walz has come under mounting criticism for "stolen valor," including
veterans slamming him for saying he is a "retired Command Sergeant
Major." Walz had earned the rank of command sergeant major before his retirement, but his rank was reduced months after retiring to master
sergeant, as he did not complete the required coursework with the U.S.
Army Sergeants Major Academy.
John Kolb posted a scathing message to Facebook regarding Gov. Walz's
military record. (Facebook/ John Kolb)
The "retired Command Sergeant Major" rank was promoted by the Harris
campaign until last week, when it changed Walz’s biography to read that
he "served as a command sergeant major."
Walz retired from the Minnestoa Army National Guard in 2005 after 24
years of service. He then launched a successful congressional campaign
and was sworn in as a member of the U.S. House representing Minnesota in
2007.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaking at Biden event in Nov. 2023
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks before President Biden at Dutch Creek
Farms, Nov. 1, 2023 in Northfield, Minnesota. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Kolb continued in his social media post that he does not have a comment
on Walz retiring early, as it was "his right to retire early," but that
he is fraudulently using the retired command sergeant major rank.
JD VANCE ACCUSES TIM WALZ OF ‘LYING’ ABOUT MILITARY SERVICE: ‘STOLEN VALOR GARBAGE’
"By all accounts and on the record, he was a competent Chief of Firing Battery/Gunnery Sergeant and First Sergeant. I cannot say the same of
his service sitting, frocked, in the CSM [command sergeant major] chair.
He did not earn the rank or successfully complete any assignment as an
E9," he said.
"He did not earn the rank or successfully complete any assignment as an
E9," Kolb wrote in the reported social media post. "It is an affront to
the Noncommissioned Officer Corps that he continues to glom onto the
title. I can sit in the cockpit of an airplane, it does not make me a
pilot. Similarly, when the demands of service and leadership at the
highest level got real, he chose another path."
rallygoers seated in bleachers at Harris-Walz event
People take their seats ahead of Vice President Kamala Harris' rally
with her newly chosen vice presidential running mate, Minnesota Governor
Tim Walz, in Philadelphia on Aug. 6, 2024. (REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)
"'It is an affront to the Noncommissioned Officer Corps that he
continues to glom onto the title," Kolb continued. "I can sit in the
cockpit of an airplane, it does not make me a pilot. Similarly, when the demands of service and leadership at the highest level got real, he
chose another path."
VP KAMALA HARRIS PICKING GOV. TIM WALZ AS RUNNING MATE MET WITH MEDIA
SCORN: 'SUCH A WEIRD CHOICE'
Kolb tagged retired Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Behrends in the post,
according to the Daily Mail, who replaced Walz in the battalion when he retired, and lauded the veteran as a "great leader."
Pete Hegseth: This is a case of 'stolen valor'Video
"Thomas Behrends was the right leader at the right time. He sacrificed
to answer the call, leaving his family, business and farming-partner
brother to train, lead and care for soldiers. He earned the privilege of
being called Command Sergeant Major," he wrote.
"Like a great leader he ran toward and not away from the guns."
DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS GROUP BOASTS IT HELPED MAKE WALZ HARRIS' RUNNING
MATE: 'FORCE THAT CANNOT BE IGNORED'
Behrends has been sounding the alarm about Walz's military career since
last week, when Harris first announced the Minnesota governor as her
2024 running mate.
Kamala-Harris-And-Running-Mate-Tim-Walz-Make-First-Appearance-Together-In-Philadelphia
Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris and
Democratic vice presidential candidate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz appeare
on stage together during a campaign event at the Liacouras Center at
Temple University on Aug. 6, 2024 in Philadelphia. Harris ended weeks of speculation about who her running mate would be, selecting the
60-year-old Midwestern governor over other candidates. (Andrew
Harnik/Getty Images)
"He's used the rank that he never achieved in order to advance his
political career," Behrends told Fox News host Laura Ingraham last week.
"I mean, he still says he's a retired command sergeant major to this
day, and he's not. He uses the rank of others to make it look like he's
a better person than he is."
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