Ex-Army Officer Calls Moore’s Service Claims ‘Disingenuous’
Ex-Army officer criticizes Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s military service claims, calling them misleading.
2 min read
Retired Lt. Col. James Gottschling, a former supervisor of Maryland Gov. Wes Moore during his 2009 deployment to Afghanistan, has called Moore’s claims about his military service ‘disingenuous.’
Service Claims Under Scrutiny
Gottschling, who served as the brigade’s fire support coordinator and Moore’s direct supervisor, stated that while Moore’s service in Afghanistan was ‘good,’ he was ‘not a paratrooper.’ Moore has previously described himself as having ‘the experience of an 82nd Airborne Division paratrooper who led soldiers in combat’ during his deployment.
Gottschling clarified that Moore served with the 82nd Airborne Division as an attached Army reservist in Afghanistan but was not in a jump status, did not receive jump pay, and was not in a parachutist’s position. He acknowledged that Moore was airborne qualified but emphasized that he neither trained with the brigade before deployment nor conducted training jumps.
Discrepancies in Military Record
Moore has faced scrutiny over discrepancies in his military service claims, including his Bronze Star award. He previously described the claim as an ‘honest mistake.’ Spotlight found no Army records substantiating Moore’s account of months of pre-deployment training with the 82nd at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Instead, records placed him in Military Police training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, during much of the brigade’s train-up period.
Moore, who has previously defended his military record, stated he has ‘nothing to hide.’ However, the scrutiny continues as questions arise about the accuracy of his service claims and the validity of his Bronze Star award.
Broader Implications
The controversy surrounding Moore’s military service highlights the importance of transparency and accuracy in public figures’ accounts of their past. As the governor faces ongoing questions about his service record, the situation underscores the need for credible evidence and clear communication in matters of public record.
Source: Breitbart
