Lying and Unknown Unknowns

Thank you, Donald Rumsfeld

Governor Tim Walz (D-MN), selected to be presidential candidate¹ and vice president and co-president Kamala Harris’ running mate in this year's election is the subject of a firestorm regarding his service in the Minnesota Army National Guard.

The bottom line is that he claimed/implied that he deployed with his unit to Iraq as a Command Sergeant Major (E-9), but evidence shows that he retired after 24 years of service as a Master Sergeant (E-8) and never was deployed, at least not for Operation Enduring Freedom.

The details are listed at this guy’s X account, and many think that Walz abandoned his troops since he knew they were going to be deployed long before he applied to retire and that’s a valid opinion.

But that wouldn’t have mattered so much if he had simply retired and told the truth. Sure, some would have held the opinion mentioned above, but it would have appeared petty to those who don’t understand the warrior culture from which much of our armed forces operate. Governor Walz also could have avoided getting publicly pimp-slapped by his former battalion commander.

(That’s colonel-speak for “bleep you and your bloodline, pal” - and much more effective.)

Indeed, it’s the lies that matter.

Attention to Detail

Many are asking for Governor Walz’ DD Form 214 and some are posting the following and calling that.

No, this is not a DD Form 214, which is a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. It is an NGB Form 22, a National Guard Bureau Report of Separation and Record of Service. Be advised, there are Guard and Reserve personnel who do have a DD Form 214; these have been called to active duty service at some point during their careers and have that record in addition to a record of their Guard/Reserve service.

Here’s my DD Form 214. (It’s probably time to get a more readable copy.) At the top of the page and the bottom where the type of form is printed, this document tells the reader exactly what it is. I was also a member of the USAFR and have a separate record of that.

I saw this confusion regarding George W. Bush’s Texas Air National Guard service way back when Rathergate was a thing and not so long ago when various mainstream media entities slandered Covington Catholic High School student (now graduate) Nicholas Sandmann merely for smiling as ”peace” activist Nathan Phillips played a drum in his face. Phillips claimed to be a Marine “recon ranger” during “Vietnam times,” but, as it turns out, he served four years as a Refrigerator Mechanic at a reserve unit, never left the USA and was discharged as a private. (Not bothering to show up for duty on more than one occasion is not conducive to getting promoted.)

I’m pointing to these two other instances where Guard/Reserve duty was the topic or side topic because, with knowledge of the difference between the two types of service and how they are documented, questions about Governor Walz’ alleged deployment to Iraq would have come up much sooner than they did.

All too many who are talking about these matters lack that knowledge, which is, often, right in front of their faces.

Simply, if Walz had been deployed to Iraq (or Afghanistan or any other combat theater), he would have been called to active duty and, therefore, would have a DD Form 214 to show for it along with his NGB Form 22, which we have seen.

To my knowledge, the governor has not made a copy his Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty - his DD Form 214 - public.

Somebody should ask him to provide one.

I was going to make this one Subscribers Only, because it took a little extra effort. Maybe next time.

1. We’ll see what happens after the DNC. Go long on popcorn!