Tom Schilling recalls Tim Walz 'ditched' him before Iraq deployment, condemns VP pick's leadership

WASHINGTON, DC: Veteran Tom Schilling said that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz "ditched" him and other soldiers before their 2005 deployment to Iraq, citing his service in the same battalion as Walz. 

"We all did what we were supposed to do, we did the right thing," Schilling said on Fox News' 'Jesse Watters Primetime' on Wednesday, August 7. "It's dishonorable what he did. He left somebody else up to take over his spot. He just ditched us."

"It would be a disaster if he ever got to be the commander-in-chief," Schilling said of Walz, who was chosen this week as Kamala Harris' deputy.

Tim Walz is described as a retired 'command sergeant major'

In addition to being referred to be a retired "command sergeant major" on his governor's website, Tim Walz has stated that he carried a gun "in war," even though he never participated in actual combat. Prior to his 2005 deployment to Iraq, Walz retired from the Minnesota National Guard.

According to the Minnesota National Guard, Walz filed his retirement papers five or seven months before he retired in May 2005, and his unit did not get orders to go to Iraq until July.

Tom Schilling says Tim Walz knew 'he wasn't a good leader'

"He probably knew he wasn't a good leader and he wanted to do something else, and we did get a really good leader with Command Sgt. Behrends," Tom Schilling said, referring to Retired Major Thomas Behrends.

"When I see the leadership that Walz offered to Minnesota," Schilling continued, recalling Walz's policies during the 2020 riots and Covid, "I'm thankful he didn't come over there, or we'd have brought back a lot more body bags. Tom Behrends, he saved a lot of lives for us by being a good leader."

Tom Schilling on Tim Walz carrying weapon during war

When questioned about what Tim Walz supposedly said about carrying a weapon in combat, Tom Schilling said that it was "stolen valor."

"There you go with the stolen valor again," he said. "It's what he made up to advance himself in a political world." 

Ret Command Sgt Maj Thomas Behrends also chastises Tim Walz

Another former colleague of Tim Walz's, Retired Command Sgt Maj Thomas Behrends, has also openly criticized the Democratic vice presidential candidate's portrayal of his military service.

"He's used the rank that he never achieved in order to advance his political career," Behrends said of Walz on Fox News. "I mean, he still says he's a retired command sergeant major to this day, and he's not. He uses the rank of others to make it look like he's a better person than he is."

Army Lt Col Ryan Rossman details Tim Walz's service

The Minnesota National Guard's Director of Operations, Army Lt Col Ryan Rossman, provided Fox News with a statement outlining Tim Walz's service.

"He held multiple positions within field artillery such as firing battery chief, operations sergeant, first sergeant, and culminated his career serving as the command sergeant major for the battalion," he said. "He retired as a master sergeant in 2005 for benefit purposes because he did not complete additional coursework at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy."

Harris-Walz campaign previously issued statement on Tim Walz's military career

The Harris-Walz campaign previously issued a statement on the controversy surrounding Tim Walz's military career.

"After 24 years of military service, Governor Walz retired in 2005 and ran for Congress, where he chaired Veterans Affairs and was a tireless advocate for our men and women in uniform — and as our Vice President of the United States, he will continue to be a relentless champion for our veterans and military families," the campaign said. 

On August 3, 2003, Walz went to support Operation Enduring Freedom with the 1st Battalion, 125th Field Artillery of the Minnesota National Guard in Italy. During his service, Walz was stationed in Vicenza, Italy; he returned to Minnesota in April 2004.

Internet lashes out at Tim Walz after Tom Schilling's explosive remarks about him

Netizens slammed Kamala Harris' running mate after veteran Tom Schilling stated Tim Walz ditched him and other soldiers before their 2005 Iraq deployment.

One X user tweeted, "As a veteran this man is particularly DISGUSTING! Apparently Sgt. Walz was both a coward and traitor!"

Another wrote, "Walz never had the balz so he’ll send your kids to fight instead."

"Walz has been impersonating a senior noncommissioned officer. He should be court martialed," remarked one.

Someone else penned, "Stolen Valor is one of the worst slap in the face of all military personnel. I hope not one single veteran or active service or family members gives him 1 single vote. If he will lie about that what else will he lie about. Democrats have no honor NONE."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.