Letter to the editor: Criticism of Walz's military record deserved

In conjunction with the advent of the Harris-Walz ticket on the Democratic side, one area of continued focus and evaluation pertains to Gov. Tim Walz’s military record. The letter “Facts about Walz’s military record” (Aug. 17, TribLive) lays claim to having absolute truth to end all debate about Walz’s service.

While there is still some uncertainty about what confirmed rank Walz had achieved prior to retiring, he himself has been the genesis of the criticism through things he has said, and what he has allowed to be assumed through nonverbal assent. In an interview with Greta Brawner of C-SPAN, he nodded along as she read a synopsis of his service record including her saying he “served with his battalion in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.” He never corrected her to the fact that he actually served in a support unit in Italy.

While campaigning for Congress, he argued for gun control by advocating that the weapons of war that “I carried in war” are used in war only. To my knowledge, I don’t believe any war was going on in Italy during that time. He apologizes by saying he “misspoke,” just as Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., used that same word as he retreated from his false claims of having served in Vietnam. Both of these are prime examples of stolen valor, and are an anathema to those who actually faced an enemy and engaged in battle.

To the writer, she appears to be adamant about having all of the facts before forming opinions. These are a few she may have missed.

Bill McMaster

Delmont