Posted on 12/21/2023 10:57:12 AM PST by Red Badger
A Democrat congressional candidate has provoked outrage for wearing a U.S. Army uniform while giving a speech during a Veterans Day event.
Newly emerged images show that Curtis Hertel wore an Army-issued physical fitness jacket during a Veterans Day event on November 11, 2023, in Lansing, Michigan.
Hertel, a Democrat former Michigan state senator who is now running for the House of Representatives in Michigan’s 7th Congressional District, has never served in the military.
A group of Michigan veterans is calling on Hertel to apologize for wearing part of a U.S. Army-issued uniform.
The group wrote a letter to Hertel which was signed by 28 veterans.
Hertel is expected to be the Democrat nominee for the state’s competitive 7th Congressional District.
The letter accuses the Democrat politician of giving the impression that he served in the military.
The veterans argue that Hertel committed an act of “stolen valor” by wearing the jacket.
The letter specifically focused on Hertel’s attendance at a Nov. 11 wreath-laying ceremony at the Michigan Veterans Memorial in Lansing.
During the event, photos show that he wore a now-retired U.S. Army-issued physical fitness jacket while speaking at the event despite not being listed in its programming.
“We, the undersigned veterans of U.S. military service, write to you today to express our deep concern over your conscious decision to wear an official U.S. Army-issued uniform while speaking at a Veterans Day event last month in Lansing, despite not having served in the Army or any other branch of the U.S. military,” the letter read.
“We respectfully request that you publicly apologize to all American veterans, in Michigan and elsewhere, and pledge not to repeat the offense,” it read.
“As you must be aware, wearing official military-issue attire, especially at a ceremony honoring those who have served, leaves the clear and unmistakable impression that you personally served in uniform.
“As a public servant who has frequently professed to support veterans and veterans’ issues, you must also know that this brand of ‘stolen valor’ is frowned upon,” it added.
The letter stated that Hertel never clarified to those in attendance that he never actually served in the military, and noted that although the jacket is a retired uniform and no longer in use by the Army, it “is intrinsically linked to the Global War on Terror era of military service,” and is a period Hertel was eligible to serve, based on his age, but did not.
“Additionally, because you were not issued the jacket by the Army, you must have obtained it from someone who was, which means you were aware of its status as an official uniform when you acquired it,” it added.
According to U.S. Army regulations, the physical fitness uniform is not considered appropriate for “social or official functions off the installation, such as memorial services, funerals, weddings, inaugurals, patriotic ceremonies, and similar functions.”
Additionally, retirees are authorized to wear the physical fitness uniform, but not as part of such a ceremony or gathering.
Hertel responded by claiming the jacket was a gift from his brother-in-law, who serves as a U.S. Army officer.
“My brother-in-law, an army major who is about to retire, gave me that jacket as a Christmas present,” he claimed in a statement.
“I wore it on Veterans Day to honor him and the other members of my family who served.”
Vietnam veteran Jack Devine, an organizer on veterans’ issues in the Lansing area and across Michigan who was also a speaker at the Veterans Day event attended by Hertel, defended the candidate in a statement.
“Curtis has always been a relentless advocate for veterans,” he said.
“It is ridiculous that he is getting attacked for supporting his family and other members of the military on Veterans Day.”
Additionally, Hertel’s campaign pointed to the now-retired jacket being available for purchase by the public, and touted his record on veterans’ issues as a state senator, including sponsoring a bill to create a new veterans’ cemetery, supporting legislation to make it easier for Michigan’s service members serving overseas to vote, and supporting a bill that made it easier for disabled veterans’ spouses to receive a property tax exemption.
The race for Michigan’s 7th Congressional District is expected to be one of the most closely watched in 2024.
Republicans are aiming to grow the party’s narrow majority in the House, and Democrats hope to flip the chamber.
The seat is currently held by Democrat Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), who is running for Senate to replace retiring Democrat Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).
Hertel will likely face off in the general election with former Republican state Sen. Tom Barrett.
Barrett served in the U.S. Army for more than 20 years.
Barrett was the Republican nominee for the district in 2022 but lost to Slotkin 52%-46%.
The Hertels are a pack of rats who have plagued Mi politics for years.
Looks more like a jacket than a ‘uniform’.
It’s part of a uniform..............
That’s a damn nice P.T. jacket. I only had a grey sweatshirt and shorts. I Remember running on ice and snow never cold. Now can’t stay warm no matter how much I wear.
15 years ago, I gave my youngest daughter one of my old field jackets to wear at college during the winter because it came below her hips and thus kept the wind off her lower back. I had removed all my rank & US Army tags; I may have left on my name tag so that it was identifiable as her coat. I also gave her my old cotton, zip up PT hoodie which she found useful and warm. Other students thought she belonged to the ROTC unit, but she would tell them, these were my dad’s from his years in the Army.
I had no problem and saw none with giving her them to wear.
Also, she was NOT running for a publicly elected office like this possible jerk.
And I was quite honored when she asked me to wear my dress blues for the Junior year “Dad’s” ball that the all women’s college had as its main yearly event.
He’s not wearing a uniform, he’s wearing a jacket...from a PT outfit...with jeans. This complaint is over the top.
A physical fitness jacket?
Just a Rat Ratting…nothing to see here, move along…
This is no more a uniform that some sweater you can buy anywhere that has “Army” or “USAF” on it.
This is a ridiculous complaint.
I wouldn’t wear one, but thats just an Army style PT warm up coat. It’s hardly a uniform. You can buy those around any Army base in the country.
I wore my Dad’s field jacket from his time at the Infantry school. It had his jump wings and the “Follow me” patches sewn on. No one ever mistook me for “stolen valor.” And I never suggested for a second that I had served.
I understand times have changed. I was proud of his service. But too many people like to pretend the are something they are not.
Yeah....We had white t shirts and fatigues pants/boots.
What a crapweasel. And look at how he tries to weasel out of it.
Doesn’t constitute stolen valor.
Both sides have a point.
Shouldn’t make a mountain out of a molehill.
Reject him for being a Biden Democrat rather than poor wardrobe choices.
Click bait nothing burger.
Wearing a deprecated PT jacket is not stolen valor. It is akin to wearing a vanity sweatshirt that says GO ARMY.
The veterans making this complaint cheapen everyone’s service.
I am a retired Army Field Grade Officer. This is very borderline, just wearing the PT jacket. If he did not claim to have been in the Army or any related claim, I don’t see it as a significant issue. However, I do understand that if he was the Republican candidate, the media would be all over his backside over this.
I think it would be okay if he wasn’t at a speechifying event like this.
It gives the wrong impression, which is what it was meant to do.
You are right, a (R) would be crucified in the media until he resigned from the campaign.............
I used to wear old army fatigue, boots and army jacket. Is that considered “stolen valor”?
They were very comfortable working on the farm.
Of course ever knew it never served nor was I on a podium, running for office, either!
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