Right-wing rag The Washington Free Beacon released a story today preposterously attacking the distinguished military record of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill.

Here are the facts:

Sherrill Spent More Than Nine Years On Active Duty And Flew Missions In Europe and the Middle East As A Sea King Helicopter Pilot. “After graduating from the United States Naval Academy in 1994, Congresswoman Sherrill spent almost 10 years on active duty in the United States Navy. She flew missions throughout Europe and the Middle East as a Sea King helicopter pilot, worked on the Battle Watch Floor in the European Theater during the Iraq invasion, and served as a Flag Aide to the Deputy Commander in Chief of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet. Congresswoman Sherrill also served as a Russian policy officer and worked on the implementation of our nuclear treaty obligations and oversaw the relationship between the U.S. Navy and Russian Federation Navy.” [Board of Visitors – Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), Merchant Marine Academy, Accessed 7/26/22]

Sherrill Is A Former Navy Helicopter Aircraft Commander. “Sherrill, who is a former federal prosecutor and former Navy helicopter aircraft commander, represents the state’s 11th Congressional District outside of New York City.” [The Hill, 11/18/24]

Sherrill Described Herself as a Helicopter Aircraft Commander Back in 2018. “Mikie Sherrill, a Naval Academy graduate, former Navy helicopter pilot and the Democratic candidate for New Jersey’s 11th District hopes to help improve the ratio. Sherrill told TIME her experiences in the Navy make her uniquely positioned to work with lawmakers across the aisle to get meaningful legislation accomplished. ‘When I was a helicopter aircraft commander, we never flew on a Democratic mission or a Republican mission,’ she said. ‘We always were able to work with one another, despite coming from all over the country and all different backgrounds. We were always able to work together and get the job done.’” [Time, 11/6/18]

Sherrill Achieved The Rank Of Lieutenant In The U.S. Navy. “Sherrill served in the United States Navy from 1994 until 2003, leaving at the rank of Lieutenant.  She is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis.” [New Jersey Globe, 11/11/20]

Sherrill Was Appointed To Be Lieutenant Commander Before Separating From The Navy.

[Congressional Record, 108th Congress, 1st Session, Vol. 149, No. 119, 9/3/03]

WIKIPEDIA EDITORS HAVE LONG REFUSED TO ACCURATELY DISPLAY HER RANK AS LIEUTENANT, CITING THE 2003 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD APPOINTMENT, LEADING TO PUBLIC CONFUSION

See HERE for LINK:

Sherrill served on active duty in the United States Navy for nine years, the final five in the rank of lieutenant.^[16] In 2003 Sherrill was nominated for promotion to the rank of lieutenant commander.^[17] She left the Navy in 2003 before obtaining a promotion to the rank of lieutenant commander.^[18]

WIKIPEDIA EDITORS RESISTED EFFORTS TO CORRECT THE RECORD AND ACCURATELY PORTRAY HER MILITARY SERVICE

Despite Attempts to Correct the Record, Wikipedia Still Includes A “Failed Verification" Note On The Line Accurately Describing Sherrill Having Left The Navy Before Obtaining The Promotion To Lieutenant Commander.

2019: Sherrill’s Campaign Corrected The Record With A CNN Producer.

Sherrill Corrected The Record Live On Air When An Anchor Said Sherrill Served In Combat, Clarifying She Served In A Combat Theater But Did Not Engage In Ground Combat.  [COLLINS:] You were someone who did serve in combat, so when you hear something like that do you think that Governor Walz should be more precise about how he discusses his service? Should he acknowledge and clarify that he wasn't carrying weapons in an actual combat zone? [SHERRILL:] Well, many of us have served in combat theaters. I wouldn't say that I served in ground combat - I haven't. But these are different ways that our military records show that we've served in theaters which are considered combat theaters but many of us feel like, look, here are people that have been on the ground really facing a different type of fighting than I did, say on a ship for example. So there's all different ways of characterizing this.” [CNN, 8/8/24](VIDEO)