Free Republic

Former commander retired Army Command Sergeant Major Doug Julin confirmed Friday that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, now the Democrat vice presidential candidate, knew months in advance he would deploy to Iraq well before choosing to retire and miss the deployment. In addition, Julin said that Walz assured him that, as a then-command sergeant major of his battalion, he would lead his battalion into Iraq. However, later on, Julin said he found out that Walz went around him — to two levels above him — to get his retirement approved before he could actually deploy.

HADITHA, Iraq (Oct. 6, 2006) -- After almost seven months of combat operations in western Al Anbar province, the Marines of “America’s Battalion” returned to families and loved ones Oct. 5 in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. Just two weeks ago, the Hawaii-based battalion transferred authority of security operations of the Haditha Triad region in Al Anbar to another Hawaii-based unit - 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment. The Haditha Triad Region consists of the three Euphrates River towns — Haditha, Barwanah and Haqlaniyah, and boasts a population of about 50,000. Throughout their deployment, 3rd Battalion’s forces trained Iraqi Security Forces, located 54...