'Stolen valor': Republicans shame Trump-loving Troy Nehls over combat pin he didn't earn

[LetMyPeopleVote]

Nehls is my congresscritter

Link to tweet

https://www.rawstory.com/troy-nehls-military-service/

Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX) is facing withering criticism from fellow Republicans for continuing to wear a combat pin that he was mistakenly awarded.

House Republicans are accusing the congressman of "stolen valor" for wearing the Combat Infantryman Badge pin from Afghanistan on his suit jacket, right beneath his 118th Congress pin, although he served as a civil affairs officer and not in the infantry or Special Forces, reported NOTUS.

“It matters," said Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT), a former Navy SEAL. "As a former commander, it matters what you wear on your uniform, and if you didn’t earn it, you shouldn’t wear it.”

CBS News previously reported that Nehls' combat badge had been revoked from his service record in March 2023 because it had been awarded by mistake, but a dozen GOP lawmakers who are also military veterans told NOTUS they had noticed their colleague was still wearing the pin and they're not happy about it.

“That’s ridiculous," said Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-TX), who wears a similar Combat Action Badge. "That’s stolen valor."

[The Roux Comes First]

1. Easy to See How He Became a Republican

No need to bother with norms or ethics, just brazen your way to the front of the line.

All about the vainglory.

[sop]

2. His constituents will still vote for him. He's a Republican.

[dlk]

3. If someone lies about their service record and wears a combat pin they know they didn't earn,

They’re not fit to serve in office.

[Arne]

4. Also captain of the girls volleyball squad.

[Paladin]

5. Pig bastard. (nt)

[Ontheboundry]

6. Unless federal law changed

Wearing a cib is a federal crime

I have one l,.and remember a guy at the VFW who got caught wearing one and got tossed out

[Martin68]

7. He fits right in with the Party of Frauds and Liars.

[SARose]

8. Remember the woman

Driving around with a truck reading “Fuck Donald Trump and fuck you for voting for him.”

Yeah - this is the poot head who tried to arrest her.

Oh and he was fired from the Fort Bend Co Sheriff’s office as unfit.

And the lovely Republican folks sent him to CONgress. Ya can’t fix stupid.

[70sEraVet]

9. It is an insult to the men and woman who paid the price for that pin.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

10. Republican Rep. Troy Nehls of Texas wears a lapel pin reserved for those who fought in active combat -- which records sug

Republican Rep. Troy Nehls of Texas wears a lapel pin reserved for those who fought in active combat — which records suggest he did not do.

Link to tweet

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/troy-nehls-receives-rare-rebukes-several-gop-colleagues-rcna156098

During his relatively brief career on Capitol Hill, Rep. Troy Nehls has earned a reputation as a member who blurts out odd truths that tend to make him look bad. In January, for example, the Texas Republican admitted that he wanted to derail a bipartisan border bill because it might “help Joe Biden’s approval rating.”.....

But in recent weeks, the Texan has faced an entirely different kind of controversy. CBS News reported last month that there were questions about Nehls’ claims related to his military service, including a Combat Infantryman Badge lapel pin he wears on his suit. The report noted, “The CBS News investigation also found his Combat Infantryman Badge from Afghanistan was revoked from his service record in March 2023 because Nehls served as a civil affairs officer, not as an infantryman or Special Forces soldier.”

What’s surprising, however, is the number of GOP lawmakers who’ve been willing to criticize Nehls on the record. NOTUS reported this week:

House Republicans are accusing Rep. Troy Nehls of “stolen valor” for continuing to wear a lapel pin for infantrymen or Special Forces who fought in active combat. “It matters. As a former commander, it matters what you wear on your uniform,” Rep. Ryan Zinke, a retired Navy SEAL, told NOTUS. “And if you didn’t earn it, you shouldn’t wear it.”

To be sure, Nehls is, in fact, a U.S. Army veteran who boasted in campaign ad that he “fought terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan.” But his apparent willingness to wear a lapel pin reserved for those who fought in active combat — which records suggest he did not do — is drawing rebukes from his ostensible partisan allies. The report added:

NOTUS spoke with a dozen military veteran Republican lawmakers about Nehls’ pin. Some were granted anonymity to speak freely about their colleague. Eight expressed deep frustration with Nehls for wearing the pin. Those who were more reluctant to cast aspersions said they took the matter seriously and were independently reviewing the allegations against the Texas Republican.

Rep. Wesley Hunt, a fellow veteran and fellow Texas Republican, concluded, “That’s ridiculous. That’s stolen valor.”

Nehls apparently continued to wear the pin, even after last month’s CBS News report was published, though it’s not yet clear whether the congressman is also prepared to ignore pressure from his House Republican colleagues.