When Did Walz Know His Unit Was Headed to Iraq?

I am cross-posting an article appearing in Legal Insurrection which features a video of a CNN interview of Doug Julin, former Command Sgt Major in the Minnesota National Guard. Julin was Tom Walz's superior in 2004 and 2005, the period in question when Walz's unit was being notified of future deployment to Iraq. The interviewer is CNN's host, Laura Coates.

The most significant thing in Julin's interview is that he discloses that their unit received notification in November 2004 that a deployment to Iraq was on the horizon. That certainly makes sense because a lot of preparation is necessary on the part of the unit prior to actual deployment. This notice came months before the actual orders to deploy were issued. Thus, according to Julin, Walz knew as early as November in 2004 that his unit was going to be deployed (at least in all likelihood). Julin also adds that Walz went around him to a higher authority to get permission to retire.

In addition, The LI article also has a link to a copy of a press release issued by Walz's campaign on March 20, 2005. It mentions a previous deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. That implies that Walz actually went to a combat theater as part of that operation. In actuality, his deployment was to Vicenza, Italy. 

If accurate, Julin's testimony is damning. It means that the unit had been alerted that orders for a deployment to Iraq were coming. That notice was months before Walz put in for retirement, which was in 2005.

Of course, none of this makes any difference to the mainstream media and all its "fact-checkers". They are all in for Walz. That doesn't necessarily mean Walz makes it to the convention if public support for his nomination collapses. All in all, it's another bad choice by Kamala Harris. She picked someone with the same bad ideas as she has.