Republican vice presidential nominee and Marine veteran Sen. JD Vance (OH) joined fellow veterans at a Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) post in Pennsylvania to criticize Democratic vice presidential nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz's statements about his military service.

According to a report by Breitbart, Vance accused Walz of dishonesty regarding his military record and claimed such behavior disqualifies him from serving as vice president.

The event focused on allegations that Walz, who served 24 years as a reservist with the Army National Guard, has made misleading claims about his military service. Vance emphasized that they were not attacking Walz's service itself but rather the alleged misrepresentation of that service.

Allegations Against Walz's Military Claims

Vance and his fellow veterans highlighted several instances where they believe Walz misrepresented his military service. One claim is that Walz incorrectly stated he "retired command sergeant major," or an E-9 when he actually retired at the rank of sergeant major, an E-8. While Walz was provisionally promoted to command sergeant major, he reportedly did not complete the requirements to retain or retire at that rank.

Another point of contention is Walz's claim of being "in war" despite never having deployed in combat. The group also took issue with Walz referring to himself as a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom, even though he did not serve in Afghanistan.

Additionally, Vance pointed out that Walz retired from the Army after learning his unit would deploy to Iraq. As then-command sergeant major of his unit, Walz was responsible for about 100 enlisted troops in his battalion. Instead of leading them into war, he decided to retire early and run for Congress.

Vance's Statements At The VFW Post

During the event, Vance delivered a strong rebuke of Walz's alleged misrepresentations. He stated:

Let's just summarize the truth. Tim Walz said that he carried a weapon in war. He never went to war. Tim Walz said that he didn't know his unit was about to deploy to Iraq when even his own press release at the time said that he knew exactly that. Tim Walz claimed to be a command sergeant major, even had it printed on his challenge coins, and he knew he never achieved that rank. And, now, Kamala Harris, showing terrible judgment, has decided that her way out of this political problem is to claim that she and Tim Walz are the victims.

Vance emphasized that their criticism was not aimed at disparaging military service in general but specifically at the alleged dishonesty about that service.

Response From The Harris-Walz Campaign

The Harris-Walz campaign has responded to some of these allegations. They acknowledged that Walz "misspoke" when he said he carried a weapon "in war." However, they have not addressed other claims made by Vance and his fellow veterans.

Instead, the campaign accused Vance of attacking Walz's service, a charge that Vance vehemently denied. Vance insists that their criticism is focused solely on Walz's alleged dishonesty about his service, not the service itself.

Impact On Veterans And Military Community

Vance and the veterans present at the event expressed concern about the impact of such alleged misrepresentations on the broader military community. They argued that inflating or misrepresenting one's service record diminishes the sacrifices made by those who have served in combat roles.

Vance stated, "Every single person standing with me has sacrificed something for this country. Some of us, like Brian, have sacrificed more than most Americans can possibly fathom." He went on to emphasize that all veterans deserve respect for their service, regardless of whether they saw combat or not.

Vance's Call For Accountability

Vance called on Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris to address the allegations against her running mate. He suggested that Harris's support for Walz despite these claims shows poor judgment.

The senator challenged Harris to explain why she continues to support Walz in light of these allegations. He argued that if Harris aspires to lead the country and its military personnel, she should be willing to address these concerns publicly.

Vance stated, "If Kamala Harris wants to lead this country, if she wants to lead the millions of active and reserve service members and the millions of veterans on top of it, she ought to stand before the media and answer why Tim Walz lied."

Broader Implications For The Campaign

This controversy comes at a critical time in the vice presidential race, with both campaigns vying for the support of military veterans and their families. The allegations against Walz and the subsequent defense by the Harris-Walz campaign have the potential to impact voter perceptions, particularly among those with military backgrounds.

Vance and his fellow veterans argue that honesty about one's military service is crucial for anyone seeking high office, especially for a position that could potentially lead to becoming commander-in-chief. They contend that misrepresentations of military service, if proven true, could undermine trust in leadership.

In conclusion, the event at the Pennsylvania VFW post highlighted ongoing tensions in the vice presidential race. JD Vance and fellow veterans criticized Tim Walz for alleged misrepresentations of his military service. They emphasized their respect for military service in general but insisted on the importance of honesty regarding one's record. The Harris-Walz campaign has responded to some allegations but not others. As the election approaches, this issue is likely to remain a significant point of contention, potentially influencing voter perceptions and campaign strategies in the coming weeks.