Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX) was subjected to public ridicule Wednesday after complaining the Army revoked a decoration they determined he was ineligible to earn.
Nehls "accused Army officials of political attacks against him following questions about his continued wear of a Combat Infantry Badge that was revoked by military leaders last year," according to the Military Times.
The badge was awarded to Nehls "while serving as a civil affairs officer with the 101st Airborne Division in Afghanistan in 2008."
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CBS News reported last month that Nehl's award was revoked in 2023 when an Army review determined he had not eligible for the badge as a civil affairs officer.
Nehls, however, has continued to wear the CIB pin in public, spawning accusations of stolen valor — and in a letter to the U.S. Army Human Resources Command posted to his X account on Wednesday, he doubled down, attacking the decision to strip him of the decoration.
"I disagree with the Awards and Decorations Branch revocation of my CIB which was awarded by the 101st Airborne Division ... I further believe this is a concerted effort to discredit my military service and continued service to the American people as a Member of Congress," wrote Nehls.
"It is imperative that you get this right," he added.
In a separate interview with NOTUS, Nehls accused the Army of politically targeting him because he is "Mr. MAGA guy."
Military-knowledgeable commenters on social media were enraged by Nehls' continued demand he is entitled to the decoration.
"Comical," wrote veteran and former Obama strategist Brandon Friedman. "Non-Army people might see some gray area here, but to soldiers, there is zero question this CIB was awarded in error and Nehls was ineligible. The honorable thing to do would be to simply take it off and apologize. But Nehls has decided to actively steal valor."
"As a former enlisted Infantryman, you know damn well that s--- doesn't count after you commissioned," wrote the account for the /r/Army Subreddit. "Who did you bully in theater to get the CIB done."
"When I was an S1, if a reserve CA officer who never finished infantry OBC/BOLC walked into my office and asked about getting a CIB as provincial reconstruction team member, I would have laughed at him," wrote Army Times reporter Davis Winkie. "That’s how obvious of an administrative error this CIB is."
"The only discrepancy is you weren’t an 11 or 18 Series in 2008! You aren’t authorized the award!" wrote the account @StolenValor1. "Stop trying to use your Congressional 'power' to change the rules and regulations for the CIB. The order was REVOKED because you weren’t an Infantryman in 2008, you were Civil Affairs which means NOT ELIGIBLE for the CIB. You know this as well, stop trying to play the system!"
"What an absolute fraud," wrote Mike Lavigne. "If you wear the blue cord or are a LEGITIMATE recipient of the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, you should contact @RepTroyNehls and express your unhappiness with his dishonorable and selfish actions."
