Former Leader of Tim Walz’s Unit Joins Stolen Valor Attacks: ‘Affront’ to Claim Rank ‘He Did Not Earn’
A former battalion commander of Tim Walz’s National Guard unit is the latest to attack the vice presidential nominee for stolen valor, saying it’s an “affront” for him to claim a title he did not earn — and accusing him of running when service got too tough.
John Kolb, who became lieutenant colonel of the Minnesota unit a few months after Walz quit to run for Congress, joined the attacks soon after Vice President Kamala Harris admitted her running mate “misspoke” about retiring as a command sergeant major.
The Harris/Walz campaign has issued a statement to @NBCNews.
Tim Walz “misspoke” regarding his claim of having carried “weapons of war in war”.He “misspoke” for 19yrs, it seems…
What is Walz suggesting in this video, connecting his service to veteran mental health crisis? pic.twitter.com/See8P4uaRR
— Bree A Dail (@breeadail) August 11, 2024
In a widely shared Facebook post, Kolb said Walz not only “retired early” and “broke his enlistment contract,” the Democrat also failed to “complete the Sergeants Major Academy” and “did not successfully complete any assignment as a Sergeant Major.” . . .
Photo credit: Facebook / John Kolb
Kolb shared his views in a post with Thomas Behrends, the Guardsman who replaced Walz when he suddenly quit and has since called him a “coward” and a “traitor.”
He drew a clear contrast between Walz and the man who replaced him, saying Behrends “sacrificed to answer the call” and “earned the privilege of being called Command Sergeant Major.” (Read more from “Former Leader of Tim Walz’s Unit Joins Stolen Valor Attacks: ‘Affront’ to Claim Rank ‘He Did Not Earn’” HERE)
