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.”
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CBS News previously reported that Nehls' combat badge had been revoked from his service record in March 2023 because it had been awarded by mistake, but a dozen GOP lawmakers who are also military veterans told NOTUS they had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."
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A Pentagon and U.S. Army review of Nehls' service record showed he had one Bronze Star, and not the two he has claimed, and was not allowed to wear the Combat Infantryman Badge, but the lawmaker insisted he had paperwork to show he'd been awarded two Bronze Star medals for meritorious service in combat.
“The Department of Defense (DoD) claims I was awarded only one Bronze Star. Wrong. I have two,” Nehls posted on X, but he did not respond to NOTUS requests for comment about the infantryman badge.
Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI), a retired two-star general, said he would use his personal contacts to verify reports that Nehls' badge had been revoked, but GOP colleagues said he should immediately stop wearing the badge if the reports were accurate.
“If you’re wearing something that’s specifically been addressed as something you can’t wear, that is stolen valor,” said a Republican lawmaker. “It’s specifically addressed in U.S. Code, that particular badge."
That lawmaker said it would be "illegal and stolen" if Nehls wore the badge without serving in the infantry, and another Republican shamed his colleague.
“It’s really shameful,” that Republican said. “It speaks to deep insecurities. Combat Infantry Badges are given out for combat. He didn’t earn it.”
