Tim Walz Defends His Military Record: ‘I Am Damn Proud Of My Service’

Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz on Tuesday acknowledged criticism from Republicans over his departure from the National Guard and statements he’s made about his own military service.

Speaking at an event hosted by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Walz did not respond in a specific way to the criticism, but suggested it was inappropriate.

“I am damn proud of my service to this country,” Walz said. “And I firmly believe you should never denigrate another person’s service record.”

Walz served in the National Guard for 24 years, starting at 17 and continuing as he taught high school in Minnesota, reaching the top rank of command sergeant major before retiring as a master sergeant in 2005 ahead of a successful run for Congress.

The remarks were Walz’s first since Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance, himself a Marine Corps veteran who served in Iraq, slammed Walz for supposedly abandoning his unit before it deployed to Iraq.

“When Tim Walz was asked by his country to go to Iraq, you know what he did? He dropped out of the Army and allowed his unit to go without him,” Vance said last week.

Walz alluded to Vance’s criticism in his speech without addressing the timing of his retirement. Instead, he thanked Vance.

“Anyone brave enough to put on that uniform for our great country, including my opponent, I just have a few simple words: Thank you for your service and sacrifice,” Walz said.

It’s not the first time Walz has faced criticism for leaving his unit when he did. In 2018, when he ran for governor of Minnesota, two retired command sergeant majors who served with Walz accused him of “betraying his country” for retiring shortly after their unit received a “warning