FACT CHECK: More false allegations against Walz

"Just the facts, ma'am. Just the facts." — Sgt. Joe Friday, played by Jack Webb, on the long-running TV series "Dragnet"

As has been discussed previously on Minnesota Monitor, a lot of misinformation is flying about regarding Tim Walz's service record. (NOTE: His opponent, Rep. Gil Gutknecht, has never served in the U.S. military.)

I always hope that individuals who trumpet this stuff do so because they aren't aware of the truth, not because they want to perpetrate lies. I find that when I can discuss the misunderstandings in person or on the phone with them I can clear up many problems of fact.

Below is one such distortion that has appeared as a letter to the editor in the Winona Daily News, as well as on the Mankato Free Press community forum:

Tim Walz is misleading us about his military service. As Minnesota military reservists who have served in Iraq, we are disappointed. We don’t criticize his service. To our knowledge, he served honorably. But through artful omission, Walz is leaving the impression that he served in the combat zones of the current conflict.

The truth is that he served in Italy. There is a significant difference between Walz’ garrison service in Italy and the extreme danger young men and women are facing in the combat zones of Iraq and Afghanistan. But even more disturbing is the fact that Walz quickly retired after learning that his unit — southern Minnesota’s 1-125 FA Battalion — would be sent to Iraq. For Tim Walz to misleadingly give the impression that he served in a combat zone is bad enough. For Tim Walz to abandon his fellow soldiers and quit when they needed experienced leadership most is disheartening. It dishonors those brave American men and women who did answer their nation’s call and who continue to serve, fight and unfortunately die in harm’s way for us.

FACT CHECK:

Here is the truth, and anyone can verify it by going to Tim Walz's website or by contacting his staff directly:

1. Tim Walz has never hidden the fact that he served in Italy in support of the troops in Afghanistan.
2. More importantly, Walz did not resign from the National Guard because his unit "would be sent to Iraq." Rather, he learned from an edict issued from the Department of Defense that he could not run for federal office and remain in the Minnesota National Guard at the same time. He had to choose between one or the other. (For verification, contact Meredith Salsbery.)
   

The writer of the above letter is Thomas K. Hagen, an attorney and former Mayor of Waseca, Minnesota. Where he received his information, I do not know. But regardless of the source, it's unfortunate that he chose to perpetrate these fabrications without verifying the fact that they are patently untrue.