• Boddhisatva@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    Vance and the two MAGAts who made the claims in the first place are full of shit. Walz filed papers to run for Congress on Feb. 10 2005. He retired from the military on May 16, 2005. His unit didn’t receive an alert order for mobilization until two months later.

    Records show Walz officially filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission on Feb. 10, 2005.

    In March 2005, the National Guard announced a possible partial mobilization of roughly 2,000 troops from the Minnesota National Guard, according to an archived press release from Tim Walz for U.S. Congress.

    “I do not yet know if my artillery unit will be part of this mobilization and I am unable to comment further on the specifics of the deployment,” said Walz in the March 2005 statement.

    The statement continued: “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 Iraq,” said Walz, who indicated at the time he had no plans to drop out of the race. “I am fortunate to have a strong group of enthusiastic support and a very dedicated and intelligent wife. Both will be a major part of my campaign, whether I am in Minnesota or Iraq.”

    The Minnesota Army National Guard told CBS News that Walz retired on May 16, 2005. CBS News has asked Walz to clarify when he submitted his retirement papers.

    The Minnesota National Guard told CBS News that Walz’s unit — 1st Battalion, 125th Field Artillery — received an alert order for mobilization to Iraq on July 14, 2005 – two months after Walz retired, according to Lt. Col. Ryan Rossman, who serves as the Minnesota National Guard’s director of operations. The official mobilization order was received on August 14 of the same year, and the unit mobilized in October.