This election year has been the most unpredictable in generations. Since the start, pundits and commentators have compared 2024 to 1968. Aside from the DNC being held in Chicago, there are plenty of other parallels. In just the past few weeks, the sitting president has dropped out of the race, his vice president has become the Democratic nominee, and her opponent was the subject of an assassination attempt.
Now, America is getting to know Harris’ running mate and current Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. In many ways, Walz is the perfect pick in a chaotic year. He’s a father, a former teacher and coach, and a man who retired from the National Guard after 24 years of service. Compared to the Republican VP pick, J.D. Vance, Walz is a friendly and likable person—someone voters can feel comfortable talking to no matter what they do, what they look like, or where they come from.
That’s why Walz’s opponents are coming hard for him, because his broad and authentic appeal is a threat in this tight race. Political campaigns can be rough. But attacking Walz’s military record is disgusting and unacceptable.
Minnesota governor and Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz looks on during a campaign rally at the Thomas and Mack Center, University of Nevada in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Aug. 10.
RONDA CHURCHILL/AFP via Getty Images
Let’s start with the accusation against Walz and look at just how insane it is. According to Vance, Walz deserted his command as his unit was set to deploy. After more than two decades of service—according to the Silicon Valley venture capitalist—Walz got out of the military just in time to avoid a tour of duty.
None of that’s true. It doesn’t even make sense.
I defended this country for 37 years as a proud member of the United States Army. As commander of the First Army, I was in charge of the mobilization of the Red Bulls. Needless to say, I know a thing or two about deployments.
Walz followed in his father’s footsteps. At age 17, Walz enlisted in the Nebraska National Guard and later transferred to the Minnesota National Guard, where he worked his way up to the rank of command sergeant major and retired at age 41.
By 2005, Walz announced his intentions to retire and to run for public office. In February, he filed his paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission to launch his campaign for Congress. In May, he made his retirement from the National Guard official. In March of that year, his unit got word they might be deployed to Iraq at some point in the following two years. They then received an alert order for mobilization to Iraq in July of 2005, months after Walz had retired.
Ultimately, Walz’s unit deployed to Iraq in March 2006, a full year after his unit began hearing they might deploy sometime within a two-year period. As former Republican congressman and retired Air National Guardsman Adam Kinzinger has written, however, that retirement could have been denied by the Guard had Walz’s leadership been needed during deployment. The military could have ordered a “stop loss,” denying Walz’s retirement until after his deployment. This was such a common order during the war in Iraq, it became the topic of a 2008 movie by the same name. Walz never got that order.
This kind of attack on Tim Walz’s military record has a name: swiftboating. It’s the same sophisticated smear tactic that was used against John Kerry 20 years ago by the same political consultant who’s now working for the opposing campaign. It’s untruthful, it’s despicable, and it hopefully won’t have any bearing on the outcome of the election.
More importantly, these cheap shots at Walz’ service are a distraction. What’s important in this election, as in any election, is a candidate’s actual record. Walz’s is clear. He served in the Guard for more than 20 years. He was a congressman with a lengthy bipartisan record. As governor, he stood for working families, set statewide climate goals, and ensured children never went to school hungry.
I can’t tell anyone how to vote—and I won’t. All I ask of you this fall is that you consider the candidates’ records and ignore bad faith attacks on this veteran’s service.
Retired Lieutenant General Russel L. Honoré is a former U.S. Army commander who served honorably for over 37 years. He led Task Force Katrina following the devastation of New Orleans in 2005. More recently, he was tasked to lead the review of Capitol security following the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.
The views expressed in this article are the writer’s own.
