There is much debate about the military service of Governor Wes Moore here in Maryland. He refuses to release his records, and his spokesperson claims he has thousands of sensitive medical records making it almost impossible.

The big debate began when then President Biden issued Governor Moore a bronze star. That was nearly 18 years after his service. Moore, while campaigning often mentioned he had one, when in fact, it had never been awarded. His claim was, I thought I did get one.

Wes Moore had written a book making claims to being, “the other Wes Moore.” His claim was he was raised just down the street, in Baltimore, from another man named Wes Moore who is in prison. He was showing how he struggled to “break free.” Turns out the truth is quite different. He never lived in Baltimore until he was in college. In fact, he led quite a privileged life.

The whole thing is about transparency. The elephant in the room is should he release his service records for public scrutiny? There are laws protecting him from doing just that. He does have a right to just say no. As an elected public official should he be forced to release those records? Does the public have a right to know all?

As a retired member of the Navy, I understand completely what may be in those records. There are things you would just rather people didn’t know about. Every service member receives personal evaluations. Those are a part of the record, not just medical records.

You may not want others to read the opinion of your superior officer. There are times when those opinions aren’t exactly praise. Personality does enter into the picture. Yes, we all know it shouldn’t, but it does and that is a simple reality. In the case of Governor Moore, it does make me wonder what it is he is hiding. What doesn’t he want us to know?

The thing for me is this, he has shown that he has a tendency to, shall we say, embellish things. By his own actions he brought this suspicion upon himself. The only way to clear it up would be to release his record.

I’ll take your word for it right up until I catch you in a lie, then I can’t trust you anymore. That’s the way I feel about all of that. Having the president, a member of your personal political party issue you a bronze star isn’t a good look! Saying you believed you were issued one but not remembering, that I find hard to believe. I’m no war hero, but remember every medal I was awarded.

Should anyone running for public office be required to provide their service records? If they should, who gets to review them? Should they be made available online for anyone to see? Or should a redacted version be available? Perhaps just the DD-214.

Well, the bottom line is this, we are just supposed to take your word for it. That’s how it works here in America. I can choose to vote for you, against you, or not to vote at all. You are not bound to prove your honesty, your integrity or your moral character. All of that is left for me to decide.

Is it stolen valor? It would be if he never earned that bronze star legitimately. Given his propensity to embellish things just a bit and his refusal to provide the actual documentation proving that he did earn that, I’d say it was at the very least “tainted valor.” I do have serious doubts about that.

The bronze star is issued for “meritorious or “heroic” achievement. Both of those designations are completely subjective. The recommending officer says the person deserves that. It’s like Obama getting the Nobel Prize for participation, never having really done a thing. A subjective award. Had it been in direct combat he would had also been awarded the “V” designation. He did not.

For me, it is tainted valor. Eighteen years after the fact, while engaged in politics, trying to gain public support, receiving a medal that was never issued by an oversight while claiming you forgot? Doesn’t add up to me. C’mon, I’m supposed to just take your word for it. Really?