HOUSTON — A small but important military pin that Houston-area Congressman Troy Nehls often wears is at the center of a controversy involving a veterans watchdog group.
The Republican who represents District 22 is often seen wearing the Combat Infantry Badge, or CIB. He has it on in his official Congressional portrait and his profile pictures on social media.
The Army says the CIBs are awarded to soldiers who come under fire while engaged in active ground combat. According to the U.S. Army Human Resources Command, the CIB, “was developed to provide special recognition of the unique role of the Army Infantryman, the only Soldier whose daily mission is to close with and destroy the enemy and to seize and hold terrain.”
Nehls received the CIB in 2008. But in 2023, a review by the Army led to the revocation of the award. Nehls contacted the Army HRC asking for an explanation and this week posted his latest correspondence on X.
“I disagree with the Awards and Decorations Branch revocation of my CIB which was awarded by the 101st Airborne Division, as I have an 11B MOS qualification,” Nehls wrote. “I further believe this is a concerted effort to discredit my military service and continued service to the American people as a Member of Congress.”
In the social media post, Nehls shares a Department of Defense document purportedly showing he was awarded the CIB. The document shows a signature for Timothy J. Botset.
KHOU reached out to retired Army Maj. Tim Botset and he sent the following statement.
“I was shown the memorandum containing my signature block over a year ago. I informed the investigator that it is my signature block but not my signature. It reads “for,” which means someone else signed in my place. I know with absolute certainty that I did not sign it. I was on EML (Environment and Morale Leave) in Tennessee on the date indicated on the memorandum. Is this an honest mistake? Perhaps, but finding a copy of the 4187 and/or sworn statements that generated the memorandum will provide you the specifics behind the award. I do not know anyone in my unit that would have intentionally approved an award for someone that was not entitled. No one, for any reason, should knowingly wear unearned awards or badges—period.”
The issue over Nehls’ CIB award has been the focus of extensive reporting by CBS News and a military watchdog organization called Guardian of Valor.
“We went through his record with a fine-tooth comb,” Guardian of Valor CEO and retired Army Staff Sgt. Anthony Anderson told KHOU 11 News.
Anderson said because Nehls served as a civil affairs officer during deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq, he met the criteria for a Combat Action Badge, but not a CIB.
Anderson said he had reached out to Nehls’ congressional staff about the issue but was dismayed to see the congressman double down in his posts on social media.
“It looks like he's trying to force the Army to reverse their decision by using his congressional power, which is, you know, which he shouldn't do,” Anderson said.
The retired staff sergeant also denied Nehls’ assertion that the questioning of his service was done to discredit him or for political purposes.
“We are a nonpartisan group,” Anderson explained. “We don't care if you're Republican, we don't care if you're Democrat, Independent; our job, our mission is to protect the integrity of the military awards system.”
Anderson said he hopes the congressman reverses course.
“I would like to see him remove it, apologize to the veteran community and wear the badge he's authorized," Anderson told us.
KHOU reached out to Congressman Nehls’ press secretary and the congressman himself and are waiting to hear back. This story will be updated if a comment is provided.