House Republicans criticize Rep. Nehls for wearing revoked military award pin

House Republicans are criticizing Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX) for wearing a military award pin on his lapel despite having the designation revoked last year because it was mistakenly given to him.

Nehls wears a Combat Infantryman Badge on his suit jacket despite an investigation from CBS News that found that the pin was revoked from his military record in 2023 because he served as a civil affairs officer during his time in Afghanistan.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 However, records obtained by CBS News show the badge was later rescinded after his records were amended due to his service as a civil affairs officer rather than an infantryman or Special Forces officer.

“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 that is used to correct any errors to discharge documents after they have been delivered or documented. “The DD215 did not include a Combat Infantryman Badge.”

However, Nehls continues to wear the badge, prompting criticism from some of his GOP colleagues who have also served in the military.

“It matters,” Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT), a retired Navy SEAL, told NOTUS. “As a former commander, it matters what you wear on your uniform. And if you didn’t earn it, you shouldn’t wear it.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-TX) also told the outlet. “That’s stolen valor.”

Nehls defended his military record despite the investigation, especially pushing back on its findings that the Texas Republican had only 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.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

“The Department of Defense (DoD) claims I was awarded only one Bronze Star,” Nehls said in a post on X. “Wrong. I have two.”

The Washington Examiner contacted Nehls’s office for comment.