In front of dozens of Legion family members, Department of Veterans Affairs secretary addresses issue he claimed to serve in Special Forces.
Saying there was “no excuse” for his error, Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Bob McDonald apologized for claiming to have served in U.S. Special Forces while in front of a large group of Legion family members Feb. 24 at the Washington Hilton.
In a CBS News report that aired in January, McDonald – a former Airborne Ranger – told a homeless veteran who said he had served in Special Operations that McDonald also "was in Special Forces." The story broke nationally Feb. 23.
McDonald addressed the issue in front of dozens of members of the Legion, American Legion Auxiliary and Sons of The American Legion in an event covered by major media outlets and streamed live. Click here to watch the full event from the live-stream archives.
“In an attempt to connect with that veteran and make him feel comfortable, I incorrectly stated that I, too, had been in Special Forces,” McDonald said. “That was wrong, and I have no excuse. I have great respect for those who’ve served our nation in Special Forces. They, and all veterans, deserve a Department of Veterans Affairs that provides them the care and benefits that they have earned. We at the VA are working hard to restore trust. Again, I apologize to those who have been offended by my statement.”
McDonald took a handful of questions following his statement. Only one focused on the Special Forces controversy; a Legionnaire asked if McDonald had reached out to Special Forces organizations.
“We’ve reached out to people who’ve contacted us,” McDonald said. “We’ve reached out to veterans service organizations. We’re trying to reach out to everybody. I’ve made a lot of phone calls today. We’re trying to do everything that we can to reach out to people.
“There was no ill intent meant. If you look at 61 years of my biography and résumé, nowhere on there will you ever find Special Forces. I made a mistake. I apologized for that. What I was trying to do was connect with a veteran and get that veteran into a home.”
American Legion National Commander Michael D. Helm – who served with the 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg, N.C., and earned his Ranger tab in 1972 – said afterward it would be a stretch to claim to be in Special Forces. “I’m an Airborne Ranger,” Helm said. “I have a brother who’s Special Forces. I would never claim to be something that he was, and he would never claim to be something that I was. It’s a pretty big stretch to say that you were trying to bond with somebody and claim a whole other military experience.”
Helm did say he thinks McDonald’s appearance sat well with some in attendance. “I think if you go out and talk to the other Legionnaires, many of them accepted that apology and are willing to move forward,” he said. “At the same time, you’re going to have a different set of veterans that, for them, it’s not enough. They’re very concerned about the Special Forces-Airborne Rangers difference. There’s still some questions for many veterans.”
Helm will testify in front of a joint session of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans’ Affairs Feb. 25. He was asked by a member of the media if the Legion would express support for McDonald during the hearing. “I think the secretary is doing certainly a credible job,” Helm said. “This certainly makes a challenge for him. But I’m more concerned about … claims, accountability, mental health – all those issues out there are the serious, serious ones that the secretary has to address.”
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