Republican Rep. Troy Nehls has claimed to have received two Bronze Star medals and a Combat Infantryman Badge for his service in the U.S. Army in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, military documents obtained by CBS News show that Nehls only received one Bronze Star medal and that his Combat Infantryman Badge from Afghanistan was revoked in 2023 because he served as a civil affairs officer, not as an infantryman or Special Forces soldier. Nehls’ press secretary declined to provide an explanation for these discrepancies when contacted by CBS News.
While Nehls did serve overseas and earn a notable commendation, the discrepancies in his military record have raised questions about his claims of having two Bronze Star medals and wearing a Combat Infantryman Badge lapel pin. A Bronze Star medal is awarded for heroic actions in combat or meritorious performance under combat conditions. Nehls’ single Bronze Star medal was awarded to him in 2004 for his service in Iraq, but there is no record of a second Bronze Star medal in his service record.
In a 2020 campaign ad, Nehls is seen wearing his military decorations and claiming to have received two Bronze Star medals for his service in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, further investigation by CBS News revealed that Nehls only has one Bronze Star medal and that his Combat Infantryman Badge was revoked in 2023. The Combat Infantryman Badge lapel pin that Nehls was seen wearing in a photograph was actually a Combat Action Badge, which is awarded to soldiers actively engaging or being engaged by the enemy.
Nehls began his military career as an enlisted infantryman with the Wisconsin National Guard before becoming a civil affairs officer and rising to the rank of major. He was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge in 2008 for his actions in Afghanistan but had it revoked in 2023 due to his role as a civil affairs officer. Despite the discrepancies in his military record, Nehls has not provided an explanation for the inaccuracies in his claims of receiving two Bronze Star medals and wearing a Combat Infantryman Badge lapel pin.
The case of Nehls has raised concerns about the accuracy of claims made by public officials regarding their military service and decorations. While it is deeply offensive for a service member to display any medal they have not earned, Nehls’ situation is particularly confusing due to his legitimate commendations and the discrepancies in his military record. The Pentagon has confirmed that Nehls does not have a Combat Infantryman Badge and instead has a Combat Action Badge, which was retroactively awarded to him in 2006 for his deployment to Iraq in 2004.
