Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX) is demanding answers from top Army officials about why a military award designation has been revoked after receiving criticism from some of his GOP colleagues that he should remove the pin from his suit lapel.
In a letter sent to the U.S. Army Human Resources Command on Wednesday, Nehls expressed his disagreement toward the revocation and demanded answers as to why his Combat Infantryman Badge was rescinded last year after receiving it more than a decade ago. The latest request comes nearly three weeks after Nehls sent an initial letter demanding answers, which the Texas Republican said went unanswered.
“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,” Nehls wrote.
Nehls outlined three questions he wants to be answered by the Army HR division, including information about who officials spoke with in the 101st Airborne Division about his designation. That division originally awarded Nehls with the Combat Infantryman Badge in 2008.
Nehls also asked whether the discrepancy was discussed with the airborne division and requested any correspondence between the two parties related to the decision. The Texas Republican also requested information on how many Combat Infantryman Badges have been revoked during the same missions for which he received the award, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Nehls attached the order initially bestowing the Combat Infantryman Badge on Oct. 21, 2008, arguing it is “imperative” the Army “get this right.”
Nehls responded to the criticism on Tuesday, telling reporters he believes he is being targeted for being a supporter of former President Donald Trump.
“What the hell is that discrepancy?” he said. “How many CIBs have been revoked from soldiers since enduring Operation Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom? That’s going to be a good, good question, isn’t it? So how many CIBs had been revoked from soldiers, or is it just Troy Nehls, Mr. MAGA guy?”
The letter comes after Nehls received some backlash from other House members for wearing a Combat Infantryman Badge on his suit jacket despite an investigation from CBS News that found the pin was revoked from his military record in 2023 because he served as a civil affairs officer during his time in Afghanistan. The badges are only awarded to infantrymen or Special Forces soldiers engaged in active ground combat.
Instead, Nehls has been awarded the Combat Action Badge, the Army confirmed to the Washington Examiner. That medal is given to soldiers outside those job fields who are “actively engaging or being engaged by the enemy,” according to the Army guidelines.
Military records show Nehls was given the Combat Infantryman Badge in October 2008 for his service in Afghanistan, which is also listed on his discharge documents. However, records obtained by CBS News show the badge was rescinded after his records were amended due to his service as a civil affairs officer rather than an infantryman or Special Forces officer.
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“The Army reviewed the record of Rep. Nehls in 2023 and issued a DD215 to correct the record,” said Army spokesman Bryce Dubee, referring to a military form used to correct any errors to discharge documents after they have been delivered or documented. “The DD215 did not include a Combat Infantryman Badge.”
Nehls has defended his military record despite the investigation, especially pushing back on its findings that the Texas Republican had earned one Bronze Star rather than two. Nehls later posted a photo last month that showed his two medals and the paperwork approving the designations in 2004 and 2008.