Democrats Unaware of JD Vance's Military Service in Iraq as a Marine

While Democrats continue to celebrate Governor Tim Walz’s military service in the Army National Guard, they often overlook the military record of his political opponent, Senator JD Vance, who served with the U.S. Marines in Iraq. This oversight highlights a common theme where Walz’s service is praised despite controversies, while Vance’s combat service is neglected.

In a recent appearance on CNN, Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) praised Walz for his long service in the National Guard, conveniently omitting reports that Walz retired shortly after learning his unit was scheduled to deploy to Iraq in 2005. During the discussion, Smith claimed she was unaware of any military service on Vance’s resume, until anchor Jim Acosta corrected her, reminding her that Vance had served in the Marines.

“Well, here is Tim Walz, who enlisted when he was 17 years old, he served in the National Guard for 24 years, and I’m not aware of any military service that JD Vance has ever served, so let’s just make the comparison there,” Smith stated.

Acosta interjected, “He was in the Marines,” to which Smith replied, “— yeah, okay, pardon me for that.”

Key Points Overlooked:

• JD Vance served in Iraq as a Marine, a fact often ignored by Democratic commentators.

• Walz’s service is frequently highlighted, despite his controversial retirement before deployment.

A similar exchange occurred on MSNBC between anchor Andrea Mitchell and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), as Mitchell noted that Vance had criticized Walz for exaggerating his military experience. Pelosi seemed unaware of Vance’s military service, questioning whether he had been in combat. Mitchell clarified that Vance served in Iraq as a public affairs officer with the Marine Corps.

Despite these corrections, Democratic figures and media personalities continue to highlight Walz’s military background. For instance, “The View” co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin praised Walz, calling him the highest-ranking enlisted soldier ever to serve in Congress, while ignoring the full context of his military service.

Controversies Surrounding Walz:

• Reports indicate Walz retired to avoid deployment, taking a default demotion in the process.

• Fellow veterans, such as J.R. Salzman, have accused Walz of abandoning his unit.

One of Walz’s former comrades in the Minnesota National Guard, J.R. Salzman, openly criticized Walz, aligning with Vance’s accusations of exaggerated service claims. “He literally abandoned us when we were about to be deployed to Iraq. He’s a coward and should be treated as such,” Salzman wrote.

The ongoing debate over military service and credibility underscores the importance of recognizing and accurately representing veterans’ contributions. As political campaigns heat up, these discrepancies in recognition could play a crucial role in shaping public perception and voter decisions.

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