https://www.nationalreview.com/2024/08/tim-walzs-military-service-deserves-scrutiny/It is true that after 24 years of service, Walz rated retirement. It is also true that if Walz’s retirement package was processed before his unit received its official mobilization orders in July 2005, then he was under no legal or administrative obligation to go on the deployment.
It is not true, however, as has been claimed inaccurately in the press and in pushback to J. D. Vance’s criticism of Walz, that Walz did not know that his unit would be deployed to Iraq when he retired. Walz, as the battalion’s command sergeant major, would certainly have had early insight on whether a mobilization was likely in the months before he retired. And indeed, in March 2005, two months before his retirement, while he was already running for Congress, the Walz campaign put out a press release, which stated:
Although his tour of duty in Iraq might coincide with his campaign for Minnesota’s 1st Congressional seat, Walz is determined to stay in the race. “As Command Sergeant Major I have a responsibility not only to ready my battalion for Iraq, but also to serve if called on. I am dedicated to serving my country to the best of my ability, whether that is in Washington DC or in Iraq.”
