Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) is asking Army officials to explain why his Army Medal of Honor pin badge was revoked last year after his Republican colleagues criticized him for continuing to wear it and accused the Army of conducting a smear campaign.
Nehls, who served in the Army Reserves for 21 years and deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan, wears his Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB), which was issued to him in October 2008, on his suit jacket.CBS News investigation Last month, he learned the badge had been removed from his military record in March 2023. The designation was revoked because he served as a civil affairs officer while deployed in Afghanistan, and the badge can only be worn by infantry or Special Forces soldiers engaged in actual ground combat.
In a letter sent to U.S. Army Personnel Command on Tuesday, following another letter sent in late May, Nehls disputed the Army’s decision to pull the pin and asked for an explanation for why that happened.
“Furthermore, I believe this is a coordinated effort to disparage my military service and the service I have given to the American people as a Member of Congress,” he wrote, and called on officials to “get it right” by correcting his military record.
Neals, who was awarded the CIB while serving as a civil affairs officer with the 101st Airborne Division in Afghanistan in 2008, had three main questions for Army officials: Who within the 101st Airborne Division did personnel talk to about his appointment, whether the discrepancy was discussed within the division, and how many other CIBs were revoked during the same tour of duty that his was awarded.
In recent weeks, the Texas Republican has come under fire from fellow House members for continuing to wear a CIB while in the Capitol.
But Niels told reporters Tuesday he believes the Army is targeting him because of his support for former President Trump.
“What’s the discrepancy here?” he said. “How many soldiers had the CIB revoked, or was it just Troy Nehls from MAGA?”
He also disputed a CBS News investigation that found his official military record listed only one Bronze Star medal, not two.
Nehls’ congressional website states that he received two Bronze Stars. He also posted a photo In early May, social platform X posted documents acknowledging the awards in 2004 and 2008, along with the two medals.
