A Republican Oklahoma lawmaker has been accused of embellishing his military service record and has been removed from the rolls of the Disabled American Veterans.
Rep Mike Ritze of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, has faced criticism from two of his colleagues who are disabled veterans.
Reps Kevin McDugle and Josh West claim that ‘Ritze wears a Purple Heart. He does not have a Purple Heart.’
The Purple Heart is awarded to veterans wounded or killed while serving in the US military.
They also claim that Ritze says he was an Eagle Scout, ‘but according to National Headquarters, they have no record of Ritze being an Eagle Scout.’
‘If someone misrepresents their military record, it’s an insult to every veteran in America,’ West told NonDoc on Tuesday. ‘I hope Rep Ritze can provide an explanation.’
Ritze was notified this week in a letter from Disabled American Veterans that he had not documented his eligibility for membership.
Group National Adjutant J Marc Burgess asked Ritze in the May 7 letter to remove any reference to membership from his biography.
Ritze didn’t immediately respond Thursday to telephone and email messages.
Republican Reps. Kevin McDugle and Josh West are both combat veterans and accuse Ritze of wearing military decorations he hasn’t earned, including a Purple Heart.
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known for his conservative views is facing accusations from party colleagues that he embellished his military service record and has been removed from the membership rolls of a national veterans group.
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