House Freedom Caucus Rep. Troy Nehls has been seen donning a Combat Infantryman Badge on his lapel, touting his service in Afghanistan — even though the award was revoked, the Army confirmed.
After weeks of being largely mum in public about the controversy, the Army broke its silence to NOTUS and later acknowledged the revocation to The Post.
“The Army reviewed the record of Rep. Nehls in 2023 and issued a DD215 to correct the record. The DD215 did not include a Combat Infantryman Badge,” Army spokesman Bryce Dubee told The Post.
A Combat Infantryman Badge, established in 1943, is awarded to infantrymen who engaged in active ground combat for the US.
“In 2023, 14 years after my retirement, suddenly, the Department of the Army rescinded my CIB. According to correspondence I received from the Department of the Army, 142,596 CIBs have been awarded over the past 20 years. Of these, only 47 CIBs have been rescinded,” Nehls said in a statement Tuesday.
Troy Nehls has demanded answers over why his Combat Infantry Badge was rescinded. CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
“Unfortunately for me, as an America First Patriot and an outspoken member of Congress, there are no lengths to which the establishment won’t go to discredit me, including my CIB, which I was awarded over 14 years ago. Nothing more needs to be said.”
Controversy over the Combat Infantryman Badge swirled last month following a CBS News investigation that revealed Nehls’ (R-Texas) Combat Infantryman Badge was rescinded in 2023.
At the time, Nehls fired back at the report, quibbling over its findings that records indicate he only received one Bronze Star medal for his service in the Army. He posted a photo to social media claiming he had two.
Later in May and then again earlier in June, Nehls penned a letter to the US Army Human Resources Command demanding answers about why the badge was revoked and voicing his disagreement over the move.
“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,” he wrote in a June 11 letter.
The Army spokesperson explained to The Post that Nehls served in the Wisconsin National Guard from July 1988 to November 2001 then in the Army Reserve from November 2001 to December 2008.
A Combat Infantry Badge like the one the Texas rep has been seen wearing. The Washington Post via Getty Images“He deployed to Bosnia from February to October 2000, Iraq from February to October 2004, and Afghanistan from February to November 2008, and held the rank of major at the end of service,” Dubee said.
Without specifically outlining the reasons for the revocation to The Post, the Army flagged two key requirements needed to be eligible for a Combat Infantryman Badge.
“A recipient must be personally present and under hostile fire while serving in an assigned infantry or SF primary duty in a unit actively engaged in ground combat with the enemy,” Army regulations stipulate.
Troy Nehls is a member of the hardline House Freedom Caucus. Getty Images“Personnel with other than an infantry or SF MOS [Special Forces Military Occupational Specialty] are not eligible, regardless of the circumstances.”
During the time of his service, the Lone Star rep was working as a civil affairs officer rather than an infantryman or Special Forces soldier, according to CBS.
Critics have accused him of stolen valor.
