DID TIM WALZ SERVE IN THE MILITARY?
By now, everyone is aware of the fact that President Joe Biden has dropped out of the 2024 race for president. Now, Vice President Kamala Harris is the Democratic presidential candidate. In the last few days, she has begun narrowing her search for a running mate. As of now, there are two finalists, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Harris is set to announce her VP pick this Tuesday, before her appearance at Temple University in Philadelphia. Tim Walz is highly favored to become her VP, so let’s take a closer look at Tim Walz’s military career and what his military policies would look like should he be chosen as her VP.
A Closer Look at Governor Tim Walz’s Military Career
Did Tim Walz serve in the military? Yes, he is a Veteran.Walz was born in West Point, Nebraska on April 6th, 1964. He grew up in rural Valentine, Nebraska, and went to Butte High School. While in high school, his father was diagnosed with lung cancer. Thus, Walz and his family moved to Butte, Nebraska to be closer to relatives. After high school, Walz got a job in the agriculture and manufacturing industry. He subsequently went on to serve in the Army National Guard. While furthering his education, Walz continued to keep a close relationship with the military, serving 24 years in the National Guard.Rep Tim Walz’s military service began when he enlisted in the Army when he was 17 years old, after being prompted by his father who was also a Veteran and served in the Korean War. Walz’s father used the GI Bill to pay for his college education. He wanted his son to have the same opportunity, so he encouraged Walz to enlist. Walz enlisted in 1981, and served in the National Guard for 24 years. During his military career, he was stationed in: Arkansas, New Ulm, Texas, Minnesota, and the Arctic Circle. Walz trained in heavy artillery, and worked in disaster response. In 1989, Walz was awarded with Nebraska Citizen-Soldier of the Year, and subsequently was deployed for a year and a half to Europe to support Operation Enduring Freedom.He retired in 2005 as a master sergeant, but didn’t complete his coursework at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy. During this time, Walz volunteered to work on John Kerry’s presidential campaign. He was quickly appointed as a district coordinator of Vets for Kerry.
Why is Tim Walz Being Considered for the Ticket?
As of the date of this writing, Tim Walz is highly favored to be the Vice Presidential nominee for 2024.If chosen as VP, Walz will play a big role in garnering votes in the swing state of Minnesota, one of the key states. This is in part due to Tim Walz's military career and record of supporting the working class.Former US Senator Heidi Heitkamp notes that Tim Walz is inherently authentic stating, “Tim is the most authentically kind of normal person you’re going to meet, and he has a background that is uniquely situated in these times, especially for people in my part of the country.”
As the Election Heats Up, Stolen Valor Accusations Arise
As the 2024 presidential race heats up, new allegations have come out against Tim Walz, as he runs alongside VP Kamala Harris. Walz served for 24 years in the military as a member of the Army National Guard after enlisting at 17 years old. However, after the announcement of his nomination, Republican nominee, Sen. JD Vance called into question Walz's service record. Vance accused Gov. Tim Walz of dodging his military service and misleading America about his Veteran status. Vance made the statement that, "Walz dropped out of the Army and allowed his unit to go without him." He went on to question Walz's stance on gun laws, raising points that he abandoned his unit before Iraq and making the point that, "What bothers me about Tim Walz is the stolen valor garbage." Both JD Vance and Tim Walz are Veterans. However, in a recent interview, Vance was asked about his thoughts on Tim Walz's service record. In response Vance stated, "As a Marine who served his country in uniform when the United States Marine Corps, when the United States of America asked me to go to Iraq to serve my country, I did it. I did what they asked me to do, and I did it honorably. When Tim Walz was asked by his country to go to Iraq, you know what he did? He dropped out of the Army and allowed his unit to go without him, a fact that he has been criticized for aggressively by a lot of the people that he served with." According to a report by The New York Times, there has been confirmation that there were no orders for Walz's unit to deploy. Additionally, Walz didn't serve in combat. Instead, he responded to disasters such as floods and tornados.
How Walz Might Affect Military Policies as Vice President
While Governor, Walz has favored policies such as: free school meals for children, medical leave, paid family leave, and the expansion of the child tax credit. During his time as governor, Walz signed into law a comprehensive Veterans and military affairs bill. It worked to end Veteran homelessness, expand service bonuses for Veterans, fund homes for Vets, and invested in the Minnesota National Guard. When asked about his support for Veterans Walz responded, “For the dedication and sacrifice our military members and Veterans give to our state and country, they deserve our highest support.” During his time as Governor, Walz has passed much legislation that benefits the Veteran population explaining, “By expanding service bonuses, investing in veterans homes and the health of our service members [...] this bill will improve the lives of veterans and service members across the state.” Some bills that Governor Walz has signed into law include those focused on service and retention bonuses. Additionally, he has focused on legislation that puts an end to Veteran homelessness. Lastly, he put into law a bill to start up/operate new Veteran homes, and has enacted the Minnesota National Guard Readiness Bill. Governor Tim Walz’s military career and time in politics has been deeply rooted in public service, and helping others. Additionally, Tim Walz has worked to implement policies that help strengthen communities and existing infrastructure. While governor, Walz signed the largest Minnesota’s largest infrastructure bill in history. It helped repair roads, bridges, and upgrade Veterans’ homes.If selected as the VP, the military community will be watching as he works to tackle important issues for Veterans.Suggested reads:
