A retired Army officer has disputed Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s account of leading soldiers into combat in Afghanistan, Spotlight on Maryland reported, raising questions about his role during a documented deployment.
Retired Lt. Col. James A. “Jamie” Gottschling supervised Moore there. He told Spotlight that Moore performed his information operations duties well but said, “He didn’t have any troops assigned to him.” The interview was published Nov. 8.
In a transcript supplied by his campaign, Moore said in a Nov. 8, 2022, election-night speech that he “led soldiers into combat in Afghanistan.” Moore told CNN in a June 11, 2026, interview that he led a psychological operations and civil affairs team and traveled outside the base repeatedly. He said he had never been assigned to conduct offensive operations and denied mischaracterizing his military career.
Gottschling’s account of personnel assignments and Moore’s account of leading a team leave the scope of Moore’s authority in dispute. The disagreement does not concern whether Moore served in Afghanistan.
Army records reviewed by Spotlight place Moore there from Aug. 15, 2005, to March 14, 2006, including about a month of emergency leave. The Baltimore Banner separately reported that Pentagon records confirm a deployment from August 2005 to March 2006.
The Banner reported that records provided by Moore’s office show he received a Combat Action Badge after indirect rocket fire struck his base on Dec. 9, 2005. The Banner also reported that Marine veteran Anthony Del Signore, who said he traveled with Moore, recalled a convoy carrying them coming under fire at least once. Those accounts describe exposure to fire without establishing Moore’s command role.
Moore addressed a separate issue with his military record in a 2024 statement. He acknowledged listing a Bronze Star on a 2006 fellowship application before receiving the medal and called it an honest mistake. The Banner reported that Moore received the award at a Dec. 20, 2024, ceremony.
Moore’s CNN interview preceded Gottschling’s remarks. Spotlight said Moore’s office did not respond to its offer of an interview about the former supervisor’s account.
