Walz defends his military record after GOP criticism

Walz defends subject grounds successful code

Tim Walz defends subject record, Kamala Harris to merchandise economical plan 03:34

Washington — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz connected Tuesday defended his subject record amid GOP scrutiny since helium became Vice President Kamala Harris' moving mate past week, saying he's arrogant of his work and scolding Republicans for disparaging his record. 

"These guys… are adjacent attacking maine for my grounds of service, and I conscionable privation to say, I'm arrogant to person served my state and I ever volition be," Walz said Tuesday during a run quality successful Los Angeles. 

Republicans person zeroed successful connected Walz's subject grounds successful caller days, claiming helium exaggerated his subject work — a assertion that has been particularly amplified by Sen. JD Vance, who became erstwhile President Donald Trump's moving mate past month. Vance has accused Walz of "stolen valor garbage" for inflated statements astir his subject service.  

Walz, a erstwhile precocious schoolhouse societal studies teacher, manager and congressman, served successful the Nebraska and Minnesota Army National Guards. But immoderate characterizations of the Minnesota governor's work person been called into question, including his fertile astatine the clip of his status and the timing of his retirement. Vance, an Ohio Republican and an Iraq War veteran, has been particularly vocal astir the claims surrounding Walz's deployments and his status from the guard, suggesting Walz retired to debar a 2005 deployment to Iraq.

Democratic vice statesmanlike campaigner Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks during a run rally with Democratic statesmanlike candidate, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris astatine the Liacouras Center astatine Temple University connected August 6, 2024 successful Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Walz roseate to the fertile of bid sergeant large but did not implicit coursework for the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, truthful helium retired with the fertile of maestro sergeant, a CBS News review of Walz's subject grounds and statements from the Minnesota Army National Guard connected Iraq show. Records besides amusement that Walz retired earlier his battalion was mobilized and deployed to Iraq. 

Amid the scruity implicit Walz's subject service, the Harris run updated connection connected their website to much accurately bespeak Walz's fertile and has besides said helium "misspoke" successful 2018 remarks that implied helium had served successful combat.

The Minnesota politician said connected Tuesday during his archetypal solo run lawsuit since joining the Democratic summons that helium signed up for the Army National Guard 2 days aft his 17th Birthday, saying "I served for the adjacent 24 years for the aforesaid crushed each my brothers and sisters successful azygous bash — we emotion this country."

"I americium damn arrogant of my work to this country," Walz said. "And I firmly judge you should ne'er denigrate different person's work record." 

He added that helium had a "a fewer elemental words" for "anyone brave capable to enactment connected that azygous for our large country," including his hostile successful Vance. 

"Thank you for your work and sacrifice," Walz said.

Vance responded to the remarks successful a societal media station connected Tuesday, likewise thanking Walz for his service, but helium added the accusation that "you shouldn't person lied astir it" and helium teased further treatment successful a vice statesmanlike debate. 

James LaPorta contributed to this report.