CNN anchor Brianna Keilar retracted her criticism of Sen. JD Vance's military service, acknowledging his honorable service in Iraq after facing backlash.

The dispute involving Keilar and her network focused on the military service records of both Vance and Democratic candidate Tim Walz, igniting heated exchanges between supporters on both sides and ending in what appeared to be vindication for the GOP vice-presidential nominee, as Fox News reports.

Keilar initially suggested that Vance had embellished his military experiences. During her Friday monologue, she defended Vance and recognized his honorable service in Iraq, a combat zone.

This came after backlash following her Thursday comments where she speculated that Vance might be an "imperfect messenger" to criticize Walz, emphasizing that Vance was a public affairs specialist who did not see direct combat.

Keilar's Reversal and Defense of Military Service

In her revised remarks, Keilar stressed that military service should be perceived as an asset rather than a liability, even if it doesn’t involve direct combat.

"JD Vance served honorably in Iraq, a combat zone where anything can happen and frequently does," she stated.

Keilar also highlighted the significance of veterans in politics. "They have unique insight into what America's men and women in the armed forces and their families have been through and need," she added, emphasizing the value of veterans on presidential tickets.

Vance's Response to Keilar's Comments

Following Keilar's initial remarks, Vance took to social media to voice his discontent. "Brianna this is disgusting, and you and your entire network should be ashamed of yourselves," Vance wrote.

He clarified that he had never claimed to see a firefight but had always been truthful about his Marine Corps service.

"I served in a combat zone. I never said that I saw a firefight myself, but I've always told the truth about my Marine Corps service," Vance declared.

He also questioned the accuracy of Walz's statements regarding his own military service, challenging claims made in a video by the Harris campaign.

The Controversy Over Walz's Service Record

Critics pointed to a video shared by the Harris campaign in which Walz spoke about wielding weapons of war, which some interpreted as implying direct combat experience.

Ret. Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Behrends criticized Walz's comments, suggesting they could mislead people into thinking Walz saw combat.

A CNN correspondent fact-checked Walz, confirming he was never in an active war zone. Instead, he was stationed in Italy during his deployment.

Walz, who served for 24 years in the Minnesota National Guard, held the title of command sergeant major for a time but retired as a master sergeant in 2005 for failure to complete necessary additional coursework for the higher rank.

Walz’s Military Record Revised

Following the controversy, changes were made to Walz's military record on the Harris campaign website. Initially labeled as "retired command sergeant major," it was updated to "served as a command sergeant major."

The controversy expanded when allegations surfaced that Walz retired earlier than planned, in an apparent desire to avoid deployment to Iraq in 2005. Tom Schilling, a veteran who served in the same battalion, supported this claim, asserting, "It's dishonorable what he did. He left somebody else up to take over his spot. He just ditched us."

Conclusion

The dispute over military service records between JD Vance and Tim Walz underscores the continued importance and sensitivity of military service in political discourse.

Keilar's retraction and clarification illustrate the complexities of addressing veterans' experiences accurately and respectfully.

The back-and-forth criticisms between the campaigns highlight the ongoing challenges faced by veterans in public life and the scrutiny they endure regarding their service records.