Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz said he was "damn proud" of his service as a veteran after Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance accused him of "stolen valor."
At a Tuesday speech to the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees in Los Angeles, Walz noted that Vance has never voted for a "pro-worker bill in his life."
"This guy can't get it right once," Walz explained. "And by the way, these guys are even attacking me for my record of service."
"And I just want to say, I'm proud to have served my country, and I always will be," he continued. "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."
Walz said he served for 24 years because he loved his country.
"Then in 2005, I felt the call of duty again, this time of being service to my country in the halls of Congress," he recalled. "I was a member of the Veterans Affairs Committee and a champion of our men and women in uniform."
"I'm going to say it again as clearly as I can, I am damn proud of my service to this country," he added.
Instead of attacking Vance's service in the U.S. Marines, Walz offered praise to his opponent.
"And I firmly believe you should never denigrate another person's service record," Walz insisted. "Is anyone brave enough to put on that uniform for our great country, including my opponent?"
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"I just have a few simple words," he said. "Thank you for your service and sacrifice."
Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris' campaign recently said Walz misspoke by suggesting he was deployed to a war zone after Vance maligned the remark as "stolen valor."
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