Tim Walz was alerted in March of 2005 that his unit of the Minnesota National Guard could be deployed to Iraq. According to the Star Tribune, Walz filed papers to retire from the National Guard weeks later.
Just days ago, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz was selected as the Democrats’ vice presidential candidate for the 2024 presidential election. Since then, questions about the Minnesota governor’s service in the National Guard have dominated coverage of the candidate.
As many know, Walz served in the National Guard for 24 years, from April of 1981 to May of 2005. During that time, Walz was first a member of the Nebraska National Guard before joining the Minnesota National Guard after he moved to the state.
In February of 2005, Walz was considering a run for Congress. On March 17, 2005, Walz’s National Guard unit was alerted that it may be deployed to Iraq at some point in the next two years. As such, Walz released a campaign press release on March 20, 2005, which described what Walz would do if his National Guard unit was deployed to Iraq.
While Walz stated that he did not know for sure whether his unit would be a part of a possible deployment, Walz said, “As Command Sergeant Major I have a responsibility not only to ready my battalion for Iraq, but also to serve if called on. I am dedicated to serving my country to the best of my ability, whether that is in Washington DC or in Iraq.”
Walz officially retired from the National Guard on May 16, 2005; his National Guard unit received its official deployment order in July of that year.
Alpha News reached out to Walz’s team to inquire about the exact date Walz filed his retirement papers with the National Guard. Walz’s team did not respond to Alpha News’ media inquiry.
However, the Star Tribune, which has reviewed some of Walz’s National Guard records, said in a recent article that “Walz submitted his Guard retirement papers in May 2005.” If this is true, then Walz chose to retire from the National Guard after he was alerted that deployment to Iraq was a possibility.
Several former members of the Minnesota National Guard have spoken out about Walz’s departure from the National Guard; some have denounced Walz’s conduct. Alpha News previously reported in 2022 that three command sergeants major who served with Walz said that Walz dodged deployment.
Yesterday, the New York Post published an exclusive story that included an interview with a National Guard chaplain who served with Walz.
“In our world, to drop out after a WARNORD [warning order] is issued is cowardly, especially for a senior enlisted guy,” said retired Capt. Corey Bjertness, the chaplain.
“He had the opportunity to serve his country, and said ‘Screw you’ to the United States,” added retired Command Sergeant Major Thomas Behrends in the same story.
John Kriesel, a KFAN radio contributor, former Minnesota state representative, and combat veteran who lost both of his legs in Iraq, recently said, “I was on the same deployment, and I wasn’t an [non-commissioned officer] yet, but I was aware of the deployment in late 2004.”
Another Minnesota veteran spoke out, saying, “The brigade was given official orders of deployment in July 2005, but the troops themselves (me included, I went on that deployment) were informed by April 2005.”
Walz has also faced criticism for implying that he saw combat when he did not, claiming to be a “veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom,” which applies to people who served in Afghanistan, and failing to correct the record when others have said or implied that he served in Afghanistan. Walz spent time in Norway and Italy during his National Guard tenure.
“Why should we be quiet? He uses the military to promote himself when he abandoned his soldiers,” Doug Julin, a retired command sergeant major, previously told Alpha News.
A spokesperson for Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign admitted in a statement to CNN that Walz “misspoke” when he said he wants to ban the guns he carried “in war.”
Luke Sprinkel
Luke Sprinkel previously worked as a Legislative Assistant at the Minnesota House of Representatives. He grew up as a Missionary Kid (MK) living in England, Thailand, Tanzania, and the Middle East. Luke graduated from Regent University in 2018.
