Walz hits back at GOP attacks on his military record

• Vance, who served in the Marines, has attacked Walz for what he called "stolen valor garbage."
• Walz served in the Army National Guard for 24 years and attained one of the highest ranks an enlisted soldier can achieve.

What he's saying: "I am damn proud of my service to this country," Walz said while on the campaign trail in Los Angeles Tuesday.

• The Democratic vice presidential nominee said he served in the National Guard for more than two decades "for the same reason all my brothers and sisters in uniform do, we love this country."
• "I firmly believe you should never denigrate another person's service record," Walz said. "To anyone brave enough to put on that uniform for our great country, including my opponent, I just have a few simple words, thank you for your service and sacrifice."

Context: Walz, who retired from the Army National Guard in 2005 ended his military career as a command sergeant major.

• He became the highest ranking enlisted soldier to serve in Congress when he joined the House in 2007.
• "During his 24 years of National Guard service, he specialized in heavy artillery and retired as the highest-ranking enlisted National Guard soldier in southern Minnesota," his official campaign bio reads. "Governor Walz went to college on the GI Bill."

Go deeper:

• Banks demands Pentagon answers on Tim Walz's military record
• What's behind Trump and Vance's "stolen valor" attack on military vet Walz
• Walz, Vance could bring military muscle to the ballot