Another Democrat seen as the future of the party has been forced to make a startling correction about his military service. Maryland Governor Wes Moore has issued an apology after it was revealed that he inaccurately claimed to have received a Bronze Star on a White House fellowship application years ago. The discrepancy, which emerged after a New York Times report, involves a claim Moore made at the age of 27 that has now come under scrutiny as inconsistencies in his military record have been exposed. His admission comes on the heels of several false claims made by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), Kamala Harris’ running mate, regarding his military service.
On the application, Moore stated that he had been awarded the Bronze Star, a distinguished military honor given for heroic achievement, service, or meritorious conduct in a combat zone. Although Moore has often discussed his military service publicly, he had previously denied any misrepresentation of his record. The discovery of the application document, however, prompted him to publicly acknowledge and apologize for the incorrect claim. Moore did once assert that he had received the award. However, “For my work,” Moore wrote in the application, “the 82nd Airborne Division have awarded me the Bronze Star Medal and the Combat Action Badge.”
According to The Associated Press, Moore admitted on Thursday that he made “an honest mistake” by failing to correct a White House fellowship application from 18 years ago. In the application, he incorrectly claimed to have received a Bronze Star for his military service in Afghanistan despite never having been awarded the honor.
The Times reported:
However, when Mr. Moore submitted the application in January 2006, he had not been awarded either the Bronze Star or the Combat Action Badge. He was awarded the badge in May 2006 for an episode the previous December, but there is no record showing that he ever received a Bronze Star, an Army spokeswoman said.
Mr. Moore’s old claim has come to light as his national profile has risen. Vice President Kamala Harris included him in the first round of candidates vetted to be her running mate — questions about the Bronze Star did not come up, Mr. Moore said, while the Harris campaign declined to comment. He also gave a prominent, well-received speech last week at his party’s convention.
And as Republicans accuse the man Ms. Harris ultimately chose as her running mate, Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, of exaggerating his military record, the vice president’s campaign has dispatched Mr. Moore to defend him on cable television.
In an interview on Wednesday, Mr. Moore, now 45, said the Bronze Star description had been “an honest mistake” and expressed contrition. As long as the U.S. military has bestowed awards, it has been considered a serious breach of protocol to claim an honor that has not been given.
“Still, I sincerely wish I had gone back to correct the note on my application. It was an honest mistake, and I regret not making that correction.” He continued, “My deputy brigade commander felt comfortable with instructing me to include the award on my application for the Fellowship because he received confirmation with the approval authority that the Bronze Star was signed and approved by his senior leadership.”
My full statement on my military record: pic.twitter.com/4pfS3YkuJu
— Governor Wes Moore (@GovWesMoore) August 29, 2024
“There is an understanding that if a senior officer tells you that an action is approved, you can trust that as a fact. That is why it was part of the application, plain and simple,” he added. But others who have served would argue that, no, it is never proper to make a claim about an award until it is actually handed out, as many military personnel are recommended for awards by commanders that are ultimately never approved.
Disclaimer: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.