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Vance smears Walz's military record. Facts dubious.

Governor Walz's battalion went to Iraq in July 2005—two months after his retirement.

Published August 10, 2024 at 5:04am by

JD Vance Tries to Swift Boat Tim Walz's Military Record

“When Tim Walz was asked by his country to go to Iraq, do you know what he did? He dropped out of the Army and allowed his unit to go without him. … I think it’s shameful." — JD Vance, Republican VP Nominee

Fact Check:

mostly false

Details:

In an attempt to discredit Tim Walz's 24-year military career, Republican VP pick JD Vance falsely claimed Walz "dropped out" and "allowed his unit to go to Iraq without him."

The Truth:

Walz retired from the Minnesota National Guard in May 2005, filing retirement paperwork months earlier.
In March 2005, the battalion received a notice of possible deployment to Iraq within 2 years, but no official order until July 2005, after Walz retired.
Walz had filed his candidacy for Congress in Feb. 2005 before any deployment notice, citing his run for office as the reason for his retirement.
Walz weighed the decision to retire "very heavily," aware of possible deployment, but no official orders were in place at the time.
Vance's statement distorts the timeline, implying a definite and immediate deployment, when it was only a possibility for 2 years later.

Full fact check: https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2024/aug/08/jd-vance/jd-vance-falsely-attacks-tim-walzs-military-recor/