Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, recently named the Democratic vice-presidential candidate, is embroiled in controversy after being accused of stolen valor by Lieutenant Colonel John Kolb, his former battalion commander. Kolb’s scathing remarks have put Gov. Walz’s military service record under the microscope, casting doubt on his qualifications for high office.
Kolb, who once commanded the battalion where Gov. Walz served, expressed disappointment in Walz’s early retirement from the Minnesota Army National Guard. According to Kolb, Walz retired before completing the Sergeants Major Academy and did not fulfill any assignments as a Sergeant Major. Kolb implied that Walz’s departure was ultimately beneficial, allowing for stronger leadership under Thomas Behrends during the battalion’s deployment to Iraq.
Kolb contrasted Behrends’ dedication with Gov. Walz’s decision to leave the Guard, noting that Behrends left behind his family and business to serve. “He earned the privilege of being called Command Sergeant Major,” Kolb said, highlighting Behrends’ leadership and sacrifice. Kolb further criticized Walz, arguing that his claim to have earned the rank of E9 without completing the necessary duties is a slap in the face to the Noncommissioned Officer Corps.
Kolb concluded his critique with a sharp analogy: “I can sit in the cockpit of an airplane, it does not make me a pilot. Similarly, when the demands of service and leadership at the highest level got real, he chose another path.”
This controversy has added a new dimension to Gov. Walz’s vice-presidential campaign, raising questions about his military service and leadership capabilities.
