A U.S. Army veteran has been investigating Republican Representative Troy Nehls for stolen valor and believes that Nehls’ actions are disrespectful to the military community. Nehls recently announced that he would no longer wear a Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) that he had been wearing since at least 2021, which is given to infantrymen or Special Forces who fought in active combat. Nehls faced criticism for wearing a badge that he now admits was rescinded by the Department of the Army. Nehls defended himself, claiming that only 47 CIBs have been rescinded out of 142,596 awarded in the past 20 years. He believes that the establishment is trying to discredit him by questioning his CIB.
The investigation into Nehls’ supposed stolen valor has been ongoing for over six months by Anthony Anderson, a veteran who runs Guardian of Valor. Anderson believes that Nehls’ strategy is to stop wearing the badge and hope the doubts surrounding his wearing it will fade away. The revocation of Nehls’ CIB in 2023 was due to his service as a civil affairs officer rather than an infantryman or Special Forces soldier. Anderson met with Nehls’ staffers to discuss the discrepancies in Nehls’ military records and account of how he received the CIB. Despite advising Nehls to apologize and address the controversy, Anderson claims communication was cut off, and Nehls wants the issue to disappear before the upcoming election.
Anderson emphasizes that the issue of Nehls’ stolen valor is a moral one, rather than a political one. He believes that the rules surrounding the CIB are strict for a reason and that flaunting such a prestigious award when others have earned it posthumously is disrespectful to the military community. Nehls, who served 20 years in the Army, should have known the rules regarding the CIB, according to Anderson. While some initially believed it may have been a mistake, Anderson’s evidence has convinced many that Nehls knowingly wore the badge without authorization. He expects Nehls to try to let the issue fade away and does not anticipate an apology from him to the military community.
Overall, the controversy surrounding Representative Troy Nehls wearing a rescinded Combat Infantryman Badge has sparked outrage within the military community, with many feeling that his actions are disrespecting those who have earned the award through legitimate means. Nehls’ decision to no longer wear the badge may be an attempt to distance himself from the controversy, but the investigation into his case continues. The issue has become a moral one for many, with calls for Nehls to address the situation and apologize for wearing the badge without authorization. As the controversy lingers, it remains to be seen how Nehls will handle the fallout and whether he will offer any form of reconciliation to the military community.
