During a speech in Shelby Township, Michigan, on Wednesday, Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance reportedly criticized Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz for declining to participate in the Iraq War when it was his turn to serve.
Walz retired from his National Guard unit in 2005, according to former command sergeant major Thomas Behrends and former command sergeant major Paul Herr.
Behrends purportedly served in Iraq in Walz’s place. Walz had received a warning order that his battalion would be deployed to Iraq months prior to his retirement.
“I needed to hit the ground running and take care of the troops — and tell them we were going to war. For a guy in that position, to quit is cowardice. When your country calls, you are supposed to run into battle — not the other way. He ran away. It’s sad. He had the opportunity to serve his country, and said ‘Screw you’ to the United States. That’s not who I would pick to run for vice president.” Behrends said.
.@JDVance: "You know what really bothers me about Tim Walz, as a Marine who served his country in uniform? When the United States of America asked me to go to Iraq to serve my country, I did it…When Tim Walz was asked by his country to go to Iraq…he dropped out of the Army." pic.twitter.com/h8Wce3QNAi
— MAGA War Room (@MAGAIncWarRoom) August 7, 2024
“What really bothers me about Tim Walz, 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. … When Tim Walz was asked by his country to go to Iraq … he dropped out of the Army.” Vance said scathingly.
In 2003, Vance enlisted in the U.S. Marines, becoming the first military veteran to appear on a major presidential ticket since John McCain in 2008.
Walz allegedly opted out of serving in Iraq at approximately the same time that Vance served as a combat correspondent there for six months.
[READ MORE: Walz May Not Deliver The Votes He Promises]
