Minnesota National Guard vets accuse Tim Walz of avoiding deployment: "Padded his own nest"

One of Walz's fellow guardsmen has accused him of lying about his rank and experience, leading to scrutiny of his military record as the Democratic vice presidential nominee.

On Thursday, Minnesota National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Herr (Ret.) appeared on "Fox & Friends" to discuss why veterans have accused Governor Walz of "stolen valor."

Herr stated to Doocy that he consistently asserts that he is a retired sergeant major, but he is actually a retired master sergeant.

Herr remembered that Walz had secretly discussed his retirement plans with other individuals within the Minnesota National Guard while simultaneously informing other soldiers of his impending deployment to Iraq.

In May 2005, Walz retired from his unit in the Minnesota National Guard, which was set to deploy to Iraq in July, according to the New York Post.

The governor's website biography portrays the VP nominee as a retired "command sergeant major" who claims to have carried a gun "in war," although he never experienced active combat.

Ret. Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Behrends, a former member of Walz's battalion, and other critics have disputed those assertions.

"Behrends stated on "The Ingraham Angle" on Wednesday that the individual has used a rank they never achieved to advance their political career, claiming they still use it to make themselves appear better than they actually are."

Herr maintained that the most disgraceful aspect of the debate was his desire to "enrich himself."

Herr stated that the soldier went against the chain of command and bypassed it. The brigade [sergeant] major was unaware of this. These facts are crucial, and the soldier did it to further his own interests. This was the disgraceful aspect of the situation.

"He never entered the Sergeant Majors Academy and never did any work. It takes years to complete."

"Despite signing a commitment letter stating that he would perform that job, he did not fulfill his promise and lost his title when he left the Minnesota National Guard. However, he continues to claim that he does it."

In 2004, Walz was promoted to command sergeant major, but Behrends claimed that he was obligated to serve two more years or his promotion would be invalid. However, Walz's early retirement ended the promotion, reducing his rank to master sergeant, according to Behrends.

"He quit after not completing the condition of doing two years after graduation, resulting in a reduction to a master sergeant. He is now a retired master sergeant."

The Minnesota National Guard released a statement on the controversy.

From April 8, 1981, to May 16, 2005, Governor Tim Walz served in the field artillery and held multiple positions. He ended his career as the Command Sergeant Major for the battalion before retiring as a Master Sergeant in 2005 for benefit purposes because he did not complete additional coursework at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy.

Herr was dissatisfied with the response, characterizing it as a "very political answer."

"He didn't complete the course work because he never entered into it. It's misleading. It sounds like he missed the last test or something. He didn't do that."

Planet Chronicle' Yael Halon contributed to this report.