Governor Tim Walz found himself at the center of a controversy following his speech at the 2021 “9/11 Day of Remembrance” in Minnesota. During his remarks, Walz recalled standing “on the tarmac at Bagram Air Base in Iraq” to witness a military ramp ceremony—a solemn event where a fallen soldier’s body is prepared for its return home. This statement, however, raised eyebrows for several reasons.
First, Bagram Air Base is not in Iraq, but in Afghanistan. This geographical error was compounded by the fact that Walz never served in either Iraq or Afghanistan during his military career. His service with the Minnesota National Guard, which spanned 24 years, included a deployment to Italy, not to any combat zones in the Middle East.
“In the years after that classroom, I had the privilege of serving in this state’s national guard. I stood one night in the dark of night on the tarmac at Bagram Air Base in Iraq and watched a military ramp ceremony–a soldier’s body being loaded onto a plane to be returned home,” Walz said. “And if you’ve seen it, you don’t leave the same. It makes you wonder, what are we doing? What are we trying to get to? And then watching as all of you have been, the confusing last few weeks with the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.”
He was never in combat. He never carried a weapon of war in war. He never was in Iraq and he surely did not serve along Minnesotans in Afghanistan.
The entry led to accusations from critics that Walz was inflating his military record, an issue that can be particularly sensitive when it comes to public figures.
Walz served as a master sergeant with the First Battalion, 125th Field Artillery, and was promoted to command sergeant major before retiring in 2005 to pursue a political career. Despite his long service, which he has described as a source of pride, the mix-up in his speech provided ammunition to political opponents who have accused him of embellishing his military experience.
Supporters of Walz have defended him, suggesting the error was unintentional and pointing out that he has never exaggerated his military service in other contexts.
After many examples of Walz claiming either directly or indirectly that he is a war veteran who saw combat, the Democrat party and the mainstream media continue covering for him.
However, the incident underscores the delicate nature of discussing military service, especially in the context of solemn remembrances like those for 9/11.
While the controversy may fade, it highlights the intense scrutiny faced by public figures, especially when it comes to their service records. For Walz, a simple slip of the tongue or a minor factual error turned into a significant political issue.
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