TIM Walz made his debut on day three of the Democratic National Convention to deliver the keynote speech.
With his family seated in the front row, the Minnesota Governor took the stage as the raucous crowd in the United Center held “Coach Walz” signs.
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He’s had a whirlwind few weeks after Vice President Kamala Harris named him as her running mate, following a grueling battle for the coveted spot.
Walz said he wasn’t used to giving a lot of “big speeches” in his career but has given a lot of pep talks.
“So let me finish with this, team,” the former teacher and football coach said.
“It’s the fourth quarter, we’re down a field goal but we’re on offense and we’ve got the ball,” he said.
“We’re driving down the field and, boy, do we have the right team.
“Our job is to get in the trenches and do the blocking and tackling.”
He also invoked the phrase he used after being chosen as Harris’ running mate.
“We’ve only got 76 days to go. That’s nothing. We’ll sleep when we’re dead.
“And we’re gonna leave it all on the field.”
MILITARY CONTROVERSY
During his speech, Walz honored his father, a veteran of the Korean War, who died when he was 19 – just a few years after Walz himself enlisted in the Army National Guard.
“He left behind a mountain of medical debt,” said Walz.
“Thank God for Social Security survivor benefits and thank God for the GI Bill that allowed my dad and me to go to college and millions of other Americans.”
Walz has spoken of his 24-year service in the National Guard several times, however, he has recently been accused of “egregious misrepresentations,” according to a letter written by 50 Republican veterans.
The letter, shared on the official campaign website for former President Donald Trump and JD Vance, accused Walz of exploiting “the experiences of America’s combat veterans for personal gain.”
A look at Tim Walz’s military service
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz served a total of 24 years in the Army National Guard.
He served from April 8, 1981, to May 16, 2005.
For the first 15 years of his time in the military, he served in the Nebraska National Guard before transferring to the Minnesota National Guard’s 1st Battalion.
“While serving in Minnesota, his military occupational specialties were 13B – a cannon crewmember who operates and maintains cannons and 13Z -field artillery senior sergeant,” Army Lt. Col. Kristen Augé, Minnesota National Guard’s State Public Affairs Officer,” told The U.S. Sun.
“In Nebraska, he served as a 11Z – infantry senior sergeant, and a 71L – administrative specialist. 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 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.”
“To be blunt, when you falsely claim military service that did not happen and abandon your post, you diminish the real sacrifices made by veterans who did serve in combat,” it reads.
“Military service is not merely a job or a uniform.”
The letter says that those who serve in the Armed Forces “endure rigorous training, face perilous situations, and make sacrifices that most civilians can’t comprehend.”
“You have displayed none of these characteristics as you have lied your way through a political career launched on the foundation of a title you did not earn and combat deployments you did not take part in.”
Walz spoke out about the letter in a speech to the American Federation of State, Country, and Municipal Employees Union last week.
“These guys are even attacking me for my record of service,” he said.
“And I just want to say, I’m proud to have served my country and I always will be. With my dad’s encouragement — a guy who served in the Army during the Korean War — I signed up for the Army National Guard two days after my 17th birthday.
“Then in 2005, I felt the call of duty again, this time of being a service to my country in the halls of Congress. My students inspired me to run for that office.”
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