Soldiers who served with Tim Walz accuse the Candidate of stolen Valor

Always in His Presence · Aug 8, 2024

Veteran who served in Tim Walz's battalion addresses stolen valor accusations: 'Far darker than people think'

Ret. Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Behrends, who said he was a member of Walz's battalion, scolded the Minnesota governor for misleading the American public about his military career.

Asked about Trump running mate Sen. JD Vance's accusation that Walz is guilty of "stolen valor," the National Guard veteran told Fox News host Laura Ingraham that it's "far darker than a lot of people think."

"He's used the rank that he never achieved in order to advance his political career," he said. "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."

"I mean, if he thinks Italy was a combat zone or a war zone and he was carrying that in war, he's delusional," he added.

Behrends said Walz had been promoted to command sergeant major in 2004, but claimed he was required to serve two additional years or the promotion would be void.

Always in His Presence · Aug 8, 2024

Member of Gov. Walz's battalion says he 'ditched' them

MSN

Always in His Presence · Aug 8, 2024

Tim Walz a ‘coward’ and ‘traitor’ for retiring from military before Iraq, says Guardsman who replaced VP pick

Stolen Valor Act:

The Stolen Valor Act of 2013 amends the federal criminal code to rewrite provisions relating to fraudulent claims about military service to subject to a fine, imprisonment for not more than one year, or both for an individual who, with intent to obtain money, property, or other tangible benefit, fraudulently holds himself or herself out to be a recipient of:

JosephZ · Aug 8, 2024

hislegacy said:
Stolen Valor Act:

The Stolen Valor Act of 2013 amends the federal criminal code to rewrite provisions relating to fraudulent claims about military service to subject to a fine, imprisonment for not more than one year, or both for an individual who, with intent to obtain money, property, or other tangible benefit, fraudulently holds himself or herself out to be a recipient of:

Walz hasn't been misrepresenting his military record or wearing medals he didn't earn, so he's not guilty of stolen valor.

Also, there's already a thread where Walz's military record is being discussed.

Tim Walz embellished his military service record

Always in His Presence · Aug 8, 2024

JosephZ said:
Walz hasn't been misrepresenting his military record or wearing medals he didn't earn, so he's not guilty of stolen valor.

Saying he was a CSM when he was not is by definition misrepresenting his military record.

Did you serve? If you did you would understand what it takes to make it to the top.

Do you have any idea the disrespect and outright falsehood he is promoting?

He took a demotion and retired rather than go with his troops into battle -that is his personal prerogative, but at the same time he cannot in good faith claim rank he does not have and did not earn nor deserve.

JosephZ said:
Also, there's already a thread where Walz's military record is being discussed.

JosephZ said:
Tim Walz embellished his military service record

It's not about embellishing his record - it is about knowingly telling a falsehood to make himself something he was not for position and power.

Those of us who served understand words like duty and honor - the man has no honor.

Always in His Presence · Aug 8, 2024

Who would know better the definition and actions of Mr. Walz in regards to stolen valor? Forum keyboard experts or the men who served with him. Who have been bringing up since he first went into politics and started telling the falsehood?

JosephZ · Aug 8, 2024

hislegacy said:
Did you serve?

I'm a veteran.

hislegacy said:
Do you have any idea the disrespect and outright falsehood he is promoting?

The only ones promoting falsehoods are those in the articles you linked to. This has been thoroughly discussed in the thread I linked to.

Fantine · Aug 8, 2024

People who aren't going to vote for Harris/Walz anyway will believe it.
But it's not working with the uncommitted.
Latest Michigan poll shows Dems up 11%.

JosephZ · Aug 8, 2024

hislegacy said:
Who would know better the definition and actions of Mr. Walz in regards to stolen valor? Forum keyboard experts or the men who served with him

In 2022, former battalion commander Joseph Eustice, who served with Walz, told the Star Tribune that the accusations against Walz stemmed from ill-informed or “sour-grapes” soldiers who were passed over for promotions. “He was a great soldier,” Eustice told the Tribune. “When he chose to leave, he had every right to leave … The man did nothing wrong when he chose to leave the service; he didn’t break any rules.”

Jeff Bertrang outranked Walz in the unit and retired as a brigadier general. Now the New Ulm schools superintendent, Bertrang has a fond recollection of Sgt. Walz.

"His willingness to learn and to inspire others, he had a go-get-em' attitude," Bertrang said. "It wasn't sit back and wait to see what happens."

They spent time stationed together in the far reaches of Norway, where Guard troops trained with NATO allies, doing drills in the snow in 30-below-zero temperatures.

Bertrang said Walz was good at putting his colleagues at ease and demonstrated an appreciation for varying viewpoints and differing backgrounds, all of which could transfer to politics.

Al Bonnifield served under Walz, as did his younger brother. Bonnifield vividly recalls the first time he saw his new sergeant upon returning from annual training.

"He was down at the motorpool barking orders at everyone," Bonnifield said.

Bonnifield said he and his squad mates weren't sure what to make of him.

"We all kind of looked at him kind of funny like, 'Who is this guy?'" Bonnifield said. "But after a while we all got to know him and respect him very much."

They worked together in the armory base supply shop. He knew Walz as a guy who would play practical jokes on fellow soldiers and who would chat up anyone, regardless of differences in rank.

Bonnifield said they also bonded during a deployment to Italy connected to post-Sept. 11 Operation Enduring Freedom. After seven months abroad, the unit returned to Minnesota.

But Walz had already begun thinking about an exit and bounced it off others, including Bonnifield.

"Would the soldier look down on him because he didn't go with us? Would the common soldier say, 'Hey, he didn't go with us, he's trying to skip out on a deployment?' And he wasn't," Bonnifield said. "He talked with us for quite a while on that subject. He weighed that decision to run for Congress very heavy. He loved the military, he loved the guard, he loved the soldiers he worked with."

In 2018, a spokesperson for the Minnesota National Guard told MPR that it was legitimate for Walz to say he served as a command sergeant major even if he retired at a lower rank.

Always in His Presence · Aug 8, 2024

JosephZ said:
In 2022, former battalion commander Joseph Eustice, who served with Walz, told the Star Tribune that the accusations against Walz stemmed from ill-informed or “sour-grapes” soldiers who were passed over for promotions. “He was a great soldier,” Eustice told the Tribune. “When he chose to leave, he had every right to leave … The man did nothing wrong when he chose to leave the service; he didn’t break any rules.”

Pssst.... the Stolen Valor accusation is from the man who was promoted into the position he abandoned.

BTW - thank you for your service - I hope you are honest on the rank you held.

Oh, the other quotes on what a nice guy he was - what a funny guy he was doesn't negate his falsehoods.

Always in His Presence · Aug 8, 2024

Fantine said:
People who aren't going to vote for Harris/Walz anyway will believe it.

You are not indicating that they are gullible and believe anything they are told - even when factual truth is shown, are you?

Fantine said:
But it's not working with the uncommitted.
Latest Michigan poll shows Dems up 11%.

ah, no...

JosephZ · Aug 8, 2024

hislegacy said:
Pssst.... the Stolen Valor accusation is from the man who was promoted into the position he abandoned.

Which makes it quite apparent that the false stolen valor statement made against Walz was out of spite.

hislegacy said:
BTW - thank you for your service - I hope you are honest on the rank you held.

Thank you. It was an honor to serve our country.

Always in His Presence · Aug 8, 2024

JosephZ said:
Which makes it quite apparent that the false stolen valor statement made against Walz was out of spite.

How? The man took Walz's position, completed the promotion and retired at the rank Walz falsely claimed.

Where exactly is their spite - he was better for Walz avoiding combat and retiring?

Fantine · Aug 8, 2024

The facts you believe have been shown to have been distorted, the time frame manipulated, taken out of context.
Those who want to believe those "facts" will, but they will not convince others.

Always in His Presence · Aug 8, 2024

Fantine said:
The facts you believe have been shown to have been distorted, the time frame manipulated, taken out of context.

No link - no proof - thanks for your opinion.

Fantine said:
Those who want to believe those "facts" will, but they will not convince others.

Here is the difference - I posted links providing proof of the statements -

You have your opinion - anything else?

DaisyDay · Aug 8, 2024

Full Swiftboating!

Fantine · Aug 8, 2024

hislegacy said:
No link - no proof - thanks for your opinion.

Here is the difference - I posted links providing proof of the statements -

You have your opinion - anything else?

I am following two threads about these allegations.
Documented proof of the true story is contained in several posts, and military retiree RD Kirk has also given us the gift of his knowledge and expertise.

Always in His Presence · Aug 8, 2024

Fantine said:
I am following two threads about these allegations.
Documented proof of the true story is contained in several posts, and military retiree RD Kirk has also given us the gift of his knowledge and expertise.

Well, then links and proof should be readily available.

Until then it is just hearsay.

Fantine · Aug 8, 2024

My gratitude to two dedicated soldiers.

Always in His Presence · Aug 8, 2024

Fantine said:
My gratitude to two dedicated soldiers.

As is mine - but only one is telling the truth about their rank - your meme is not the proof. it was true before his lack of completing the required courses caused him to be DEMOTED -

This is what proof looks like FWIW

Why is this being avoided?

The 1-125th Field Artillery “received an alert order for mobilization to Iraq on July 14, 2005. The official Department of the Army mobilization order was received on Aug. 14, 2005, and the unit mobilized on Oct. 12, 2005,” said Lt. Col. Ryan Rossman, Minnesota National Guard’s director of operations.

At the time of his retirement, Walz was 41 and wanted to run for Congress. He was elected to the First District Congressional seat the following year.

In the 2022 race for governor, Republican candidate Scott Jensen — flanked by veterans — pointedly questioned Walz’s decision to leave the Guard before the battalion’s Iraq deployment.

“In my eyes, today is the day that Tim Walz is indicted for lack of leadership and an unwillingness to do his duty, and Minnesota needs to know about it,” Jensen said.

“[Walz] held multiple positions within field artillery such as firing battery chief, operations sergeant, first sergeant and culminated his career serving as the command sergeant major for the battalion,” said Lt. Col. Kristen Augé, a public affairs officer with the Minnesota National Guard. “He retired as a master sergeant in 2005 for benefit purposes because he did not complete additional coursework at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy.”

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