In a candid admission, Maryland Governor Wes Moore has apologized for mistakenly presenting himself as a Bronze Star recipient.
Breitbart reported that Moore confessed to lying on a 2006 application where he falsely claimed to have received a Bronze Star, a revelation that has stirred concerns about the integrity of his military record.
Wes Moore, who served in the Army Reserve from 1996 to 2014, saw active duty when deployed to Afghanistan between August 2005 and March 2006.
During his service, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, recognizing his commitment and efforts overseas.
In 2006, seeking to continue his progression in national service, Moore applied for a prestigious White House Fellowship. It was during this application process that the Bronze Star was wrongly claimed—a medal he did not receive.
On the application, he wrote that the 82nd Airborne Division had honored him with the Bronze Star Medal and the Combat Action Badge.
Moore explained the error as an honest mistake borne from misinformation. According to him, his brigade commander had recommended him for the Bronze Star at the time and had verbally confirmed its approval.
This recommendation was seen as definitive, leading Moore to include the accolade in his application, as corroborated by Lt. Gen. Michael Fenzel, Moore’s mentor and then-superior officer.
Lt. Gen. Fenzel, who had a significant influence on Moore's military career, had initially informed Moore of the medal's approval. This information was deemed reliable by Moore, reflecting military protocol that usually respects the hierarchy's confirmations as final.
However, it was later clarified that the approval for the Bronze Star was never formally processed, and Moore did not receive the medal. This oversight was not corrected in time, leading to the continued misrepresentation of his military honors in public records and discussions.
This error was not isolated to just the fellowship application. Over the years, Moore participated in several public appearances, including a 2008 panel on PBS and a 2010 feature on The Colbert Report, where the inaccurate claim went uncorrected. Each occasion served as a missed opportunity to set the historical record straight, compounding the error further.
Despite the factual inaccuracies about the Bronze Star, Moore has been forthright about most aspects of his military career.
He has consistently praised the values instilled in him during his service—values such as prioritizing the safety of others, leaving no soldier behind, and adhering to the motto "Mission First, People Always."
These principles, he asserts, continue to guide his governance and his dedication to public service, as he clarifies his standpoint on the lessons learned from his days on active duty.
Addressing the media and public, Moore expressed deep regret over the inaccuracies. He acknowledged the misrepresentation as an oversight that should have been corrected, describing the entire experience as an "honest mistake" influenced by his trust in his commanding officers' approvals.
In his own words, Moore had received incorrect direct information about his commendations, which he passed along in good faith.
This error, however, does not overshadow his genuine achievements and the palpable pride he holds for his time with the U.S. Army and his comrades in arms.
Moore's apology came with an affirmation of his ongoing commitment to transparency and integrity, both as a veteran and as a governor. He reiterated his dedication to the values learned in the military and his unwavering commitment to serving the community and the nation.
In closing, Gov. Wes Moore's erroneous claim to the Bronze Star has been a point of contention, yet it opens a broader conversation about the verification of military accolades in public service applications.
Moore remains a figure committed to service, and his transparency in addressing this misstep reflects his dedication to honest leadership.