Illinois veteran lawmakers react to Walz’s stolen valor accusations

(The Center Square) – A Republican state lawmaker responded to Illinois U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth’s characterization of vice presidential candidate Tim Walz's military record.

Duckworth defended Minnesota Gov. Walz against stolen valor claims by calling him a “retired command sergeant major.” Walz retired as a master sergeant, according to the Minnesota National Guard.

Republicans like state Rep. David Friess, R-Red Bud, an air force veteran, said Walz never served in combat.

“I have respect for anyone who serves whether they're in conflict or not. In this case, unfortunately, he made a comment about gun-control and said, ‘We can make sure that those weapons of war, that I carried in war, are the only place where those weapons are at.’ His response implied he was in combat and he never served in combat. It is unfortunate he made that comment,” said Friess.

Duckworth, D-Schaumburg, while interviewing with ABC, was asked about the controversy surrounding Walz’s military service. In 2004, Duckworth was deployed to Iraq as a Blackhawk helicopter pilot for the Illinois Army National Guard. Her helicopter was hit by an RPG and she lost her legs and partial use of her right arm.

"This man served 24 years in uniform. He’s a retired command sergeant major. I’m excited to have a retired command sergeant major in the Oval Office when we have issues of conflicts around the world,” said Duckworth. “It’s going to be great to have that experience and, frankly, it’s despicable what Republicans are doing.”

In 2005, Walz retired from his battalion before they deployed to combat.

“You’re not just in combat … you’re in harm's way and you’re surrounded by the enemy all the time. Those that serve in combat take that seriously and you do not do that [lie about being in combat]. That’s a big no, no,” said Friess. “You might exaggerate yourself and your story to your buddies but you do not outright lie about being in combat when you were never there.”

Duckworth repeated the accusation that former President Donald Trump called veterans “suckers and losers.”

"The same party that thinks Donald Trump, who dodged the draft five times and thinks veterans are suckers and losers, that’s who they think is better than someone who served 24 years in uniform, protecting and defending us every single day. He’s [Walz] going to be someone, I think, will be a very good person to have in the situation room with his vast military experience,” said Duckworth.

Trump has denied making the remarks since the Atlantic article was published in 2020. Friess said the article has been debunked and several people said Trump did not call veterans “suckers and losers.”

“One person said that, everybody else that was present said Trump didn't say that. Additionally, what I have seen of Trump publicly, you’re not going to get a stronger supporter of the military. So I am skeptical of that comment and I don’t believe it,” said Firess.

Trump’s former chief of staff John Kelly said Trump made the comment about veterans, but Trump said in a debate with President Joe Biden that 19 other people refute Kelly’s accusation.